April 13, 2017

Today’s Top Alzheimer’s News

MUST READS

An April 13, 2017 New York Times Magazine article tells the story of a man who was eventually diagnosed with Whipple’s disease, a rare infection that starts in the gut and can spread to the brain. He suffered extreme cognitive and physical breakdown, and was sent to see a dementia and cognitive disease-focused neurologist. His condition could have easily been mistaken for Alzheimer’s or dementia, but his rapid progression suggested otherwise.

An April 12, 2017 Business Insider article reported on a recent study suggesting that having reduced sensitivity to insulin may lead to more rapid decline in memory and other mental skills in old age, including those who don’t have diabetes. It is thought that high levels of blood sugar have a negative impact on blood vessels in the brain, which increases the risk for dementia. “There is growing evidence that insulin carries out multiple functions in the brain and thus poor regulation of insulin may contribute to accelerated cognitive decline and potentially to Alzheimer's disease,” according to senior study author, David Tanne, Tel Aviv University (Israel). 

MUST WATCH

An April 13, 2017 ABC News segment and article spotlights 19-month old Marian McGlocklin, who was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Niemann–Pick disease, type C, sometimes referred to as “childhood Alzheimer’s” because of its degenerative effects on the brain. Her family decided to try an investigational drug as part of the FDA's "compassionate use" program. Marian is the youngest patient to receive the drug and the outcome is uncertain. However, starting her on the drug early could be helpful because treating before symptoms develop can make a big difference. 

INDUSTRY UPDATES

According to an April 13, 2017 Boston Globe article, Biogen is seen as a leader in the race to develop the first successful Alzheimer’s therapy. The company is licensing an experimental drug called BMS-986168 which targets tau deposits in the brain, and will conduct mid-stage clinical trials.

RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

An April 12, 2017 Xinhua Net article spotlights the use of software to analyze social media comments and sentiments about Alzheimer’s and people who have the disease. The analysis found that 51% of tweets (by private users of Twitter accounts) contained stigma about the condition. When it comes to Alzheimer's disease, thoughtless or demeaning comments via social media can take an already-serious problem and make it worse. “It was shocking to me how many people stigmatized Alzheimer's disease and reinforced stereotypes that can further alienate people with this condition," said Karen Hooker, OSU College of Public Health and Human Sciences.