MUST READS

According to a May 2, 2017 UPI article, stroke prevention appears to correlate with a reduction in dementia in people 80 years and older. A person who has had a stroke is twice as likely to develop dementia, because the diagnosis of stroke may include undiagnosed prior silent strokes that can affect cognitive abilities. “By successfully fighting off the risks of stroke -- with a healthy diet, exercise, a tobacco-free life and high blood-pressure medication where needed -- we can also curtail the incidence of some dementias,” said Joshua Cerasuolo, doctoral candidate in epidemiology and biostatistics, Western University's Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry.

A May 1, 2017 AlzForum post reported that late Sunday night, Congress reached agreement to boost funding for the National Institutes of Health by $2 billion for the fiscal year 2017, including a $400 million increase for Alzheimer’s disease research. According to Robert Egge of the Alzheimer's Association, “If signed into law in a few days, that will be a doubling of Alzheimer’s research in just two years, which is absolutely remarkable. This clearly shows that Congress understands the importance of medical research.” Also covered by: Bloomberg and Scientific American.

INDUSTRY UPDATES

An April Otsuka release announced top-line results from two multinational phase III clinical trials evaluating brexpiprazole in the treatment of agitation in patients with (Alzheimer’s type) dementia. Approximately 700 trial participants were enrolled, between the ages of 51-90, with a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer’s disease and symptoms of agitation.

RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

A May 2, 2017 NIH Director's Blog by Dr. Francis Collins spotlighted recent progress by an NIH-funded research team in developing a simple blood test for detecting levels of tau. Such a test is a promising alternative to current, more invasive medical tests and imaging techniques. The next step would be to pair this promising new test with clinical trials to prevent or slow Alzheimer’s disease.

A May 2, 2017 Kansas City Business Journal article highlighted the Collaborate2Cure series from the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute, with two speakers sharing new approaches to treating Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Russell Swerdlow, Director of the University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Center, focuses on mitochondrial dysfunction in late-onset AD and changes to brain energy metabolism. The research of Dr. Eli Michaelis, University Distinguished Professor for the University of Kansas Medical Center, is centered on the role of inherited mitochondrial DNA variations in the risk for AD.

A May 2, 2017 CBS Philly segment and article reported on research from the University of Pennsylvania on genetic testing and two new drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease. The research targets people whose relatives have AD. It’s a first-of-its-kind project to combine genetic testing and counseling with screening. For certain people at high-risk, there are experimental drugs that target amyloid plaque in the brain. Learn more about participating in research related to Alzheimer’s disease.

CAREGIVER CORNER

A May 2, 2017 Forbes article focused on the role of male caregivers in America -- 16 million and growing. They now represent 40% of the 40 million family caregivers of adults in the U.S. “Although most male caregivers agree that caregiving is stressful, very few reach out for help; they often avoid talking about their situation with others and don’t feel comfortable discussing the emotional challenges of caregiving,” said Icaro Doria, Chief Creative Officer of DDB New York (who created an AARP/AD Council PSA about male caregivers).