USA2 SPOTLIGHT

Author and journalist, Greg O’Brien, joined Alzheimer’s Talks to speak about his journey into Alzheimer’s disease. Greg was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in 2009 and has been writing, chronicling and talking about the process ever since – including in his book, “On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s.” In this conversation, Greg shared his thoughts, strategies and experiences in a candid and personal conversation.

MUST READS

(Subscription only) According to a May 16, 2017 Boston Globe article, continued support of a vibrant biomedical ecosystem is not only a smart strategic investment, it’s also an economic and ethical imperative for our nation. Today, diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, and diabetes continue to devastate millions of people around the world and their families, and present significant challenges to the overall health care system. In 2015 alone, the United States spent $226 billion on care related to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. If no treatment or cure is discovered for the disease, that spending will increase to $1.1 trillion per year by 2050.

A May 16, 2017 AD Week video and article highlighted “The Day Shazam Forgot” - a collaboration where Shazam (mobile music identification app) appeared to have trouble remembering the songs people asked it to identify. When the app finally “remembered” the track, users were driven to a call to action about Alzheimer’s disease and invited to donate to the cause. The purpose of the campaign was to educate young people that Alzheimer’s disease can affect people as young as 40 years old. 

A May 9, 2017 Philadelphia Business Journal article spotlighted a Camden County College certificate program for the Alzheimer’s patient navigation model, which will train students to be “Alzheimer’s journey coordinators” - providing support to patients, families and caregivers as they manage the disease. The program is in collaboration with Princeton-based Otsuka America Pharmaceuticals. According to Camden County Freeholder Director, Louis Cappelli Jr., “I don’t believe there is a family I know of that is not affected by this horrific disease. Residents suffering from Alzheimer’s have a long, arduous journey and are in need of support and advocacy from a caregiver and a dedicated health care professional. This new program will create a real impact on a variety of different levels for patients and their families eliminating many of the tasks that are taxing for the caregiver unit.” 

RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

A May 16, 2017 Medical Xpress article reported that evidence shows that physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease, and regular physical activity may improve the performance of daily activities for people with AD, including general cognition and balance. "As there is no current cure for Alzheimer's, there is an urgent need for interventions to reduce the risk of developing it and to help manage the symptoms… Physical activity is a practical, economical and accessible intervention for both the prevention and management of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias,” said Kathleen Martin Ginis, UBC Okanagan's School of Heath and Exercise Sciences Professor.