USA2 SPOTLIGHT

LatinosAgainstAlzheimer's Executive Director Jason Resendez will receive the 2018 HerMANO award from MANA, a leading Latina organization, during a reception on Capitol Hill on May 17, 2018. The award will recognize LatinosAgainstAlzheimer's work to address the growing impact of Alzheimer's on Latino families. Past awardees include U.S. Senator John McCain and Dr. Juan Andrade, President of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute. Learn more here. 

FEEL GOOD STORY OF THE DAY

A May 10, 2018 BBC video segment featured cellist Jorge Bergero, creator of “Music for the Soul,” where professional musicians and singers play music for terminally ill and elderly people in Argentina and Latin America who aren’t able to go out to a concert. The group was inspired by his former girlfriend, who died from cancer in 2011. Bergero is an Outlook Inspirations nominee.

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

According to a May 15, 2018 GEN article, an international team of researchers found that boosting the PM20D1 protein in mice reduced Alzheimer’s disease-related pathologies, and depleting it promoted disease progression. “This variation is associated with the loss of activity of a neuroprotective gene called PM20D1; whoever possesses the variation has a greater probability of suffering from AD, so people carrying these variants could be excellent candidates for clinical prevention trials of the disease in the future,” said participating researcher Manel Esteller, MD, PhD of the Epigenetics and Cancer Biology Program of the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute. Also covered by Science Daily.

LIFESTYLE

A May 15, 2018 Science Daily article looked at the use of “exergaming” by people with mild cognitive impairment to improve complex thinking and memory skills, executive function, multi-tasking and decision making. Exergames are video games which require physical exercise. According to Cay Anderson-Hanley of Union College, lead author of a six-month study funded by the National Institute on Aging, “The goal is to explore even more effective ways to prevent or ameliorate cognitive decline in older adults by tailoring accessibility and level of mental engagement in interactive cognitive and physical exercise. The results suggest that the best outcome for brain health may result when we do both: move it and use it." 

CAREGIVING CORNER

Caregiving.com’s Virtual Caregiving Summit, “Our Best Selves,” is happening now through May 24, 2018. Watch video chats and conversations with National Caregiving Conference presenters. Watch videos and share comments to be entered in a chance to win a trip to Chicago to attend the Third Annual National Caregiving Conference (NCC18). 

PROFILES IN COURAGE

A May 13, 2018 NWI Times article spotlighted Jorie and Jim Stahl, caregivers for Jackie who has Alzheimer’s disease. Jorie (Jackie’s daughter) is at the family house several days a week to give her dad (Jim) a break from his full time caregiving duties. According to the article, “Jorie said Mother's Day is a tough holiday. The family planned to get together for a cookout at her house this weekend. But it's bittersweet, she said, because her mom won't know it's Mother's Day or who her kids or grandchildren are. "She can't read the card you give her," Jorie said, wiping tears from her eyes. "But we try to keep things as normal as we can." "

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

A May 15, 2018 Western Mass News broadcast segment and article highlighted Western Massachusetts residents who joined a rally in Boston to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and support increased state funding. In particular, they are fighting for passage of a bill (Bill H. 4116) to create a statewide plan to maximize resources with proper medical education, better patient care, and minimum training standards for social workers. Read more about the bill here.