USA2 SPOTLIGHT

An April 6, 2018 Medium piece by LatinosAgainstAlzheimer's executive director Jason Resendez highlights five ways partners can help address health disparities during National Minority Health Month. According to Jason, "Let’s take steps this month to address the disproportionate impact of dementia by promoting healthy aging and brain health among Latino families." 

MUST READS

An April 6, 2018 Los Angeles Times article focused on the work of Lisa Mosconi at the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medical College. She points to hydration as a key component of brain health. According to Mosconi, "There are no studies that look specifically at water intake and Alzheimer’s. But some look at the brains of people who are not drinking, and they show many parts of the brain get thinner and lose volume over time in people who are dehydrated. If you don't drink water, it looks like your brain is aging faster."

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

An April 4, 2018 Labiotech article featured the start of a Phase IIa clinical trial in Spain on the Alzheimer’s drug ORY-2001, for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. The trial will monitor changes in memory, behavior and variations in biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid. ORY-2001 provides an epigenetic treatment approach by targeting enzymes that regulate genes involved in AD.

An April 4, 2018 The Conversation article spotlighted the vascular hypothesis as a potential root cause of Alzheimer’s disease. The hypothesis emphasizes the importance of maintaining good cardiovascular health. According to the article, “There are no cures for Alzheimer’s disease, only drugs to manage some of the symptoms. The new treatments that are being investigated tend to focus on removing plaques, which may or may not recover function. But perhaps a better target for drug developers would be medicines that treat changes to the blood vessels, before brain cells are affected.”

LIFESTYLE

An April 5, 2018 WRAL “5 On Your Side” broadcast segment and article focused on a new study which finds that a salad a day, with leafy greens, is a key to brain health. According to the segment, “Consumer Reports said several studies support the link between diet and cognitive function, including a host of foods that may reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Foods such as nuts, berries, beans, olive oil and even a daily glass of wine are all on the menu.”

YOUTH FOCUS

An April 4, 2018 Osceola Sentinel-Tribune article spotlighted postgraduate doctoral student at Iowa State University Joe Webb, who was awarded two highly-competitive national fellowships in his quest to study Alzheimer's disease. Webb’s paternal grandfather had AD. According to Webb, “I realized that in studying the disease, how to help come up with a cure, it could be fulfilling to a number of people, not just the patients I would care for as a physician. It could help future generations."

DEMENTIA AND THE ARTS

An April 5, 2018 WWSB ABC 7 broadcast segment and article told the story of painter Dorthea Wendlandt, who at age 90 has been painting for 80 years. Although she has Alzheimer’s disease, she still paints every day. Her husband, Bob, bought her an easel to use where she lives in the Arden Courts community, where people with AD are encouraged to continue their passions from younger years. "She'll keep painting, she's gonna be around a long, long time and she's gonna be painting everyday," said Bob.