MUST READS

A May 17, 2017 Forbes article focused on Ti Randall of New York City, who has Alzheimer’s disease, and ran out of savings. He relied on Medicaid, which covers long-term care for at least 2 million older adults, to be able to remain at home. Proposed cuts under the American Health Care Act would mean that approximately 5 million fewer people annually would have coverage than under Obamacare. According to John Schall, CEO of Caregiver Action Network, for family caregivers, “Medicaid and home and community-based services can make all the difference.” Out-of-pocket expenses can add up to $10,000 a year for caregivers.

A May 17, 2017 The Washington Times article spotlighted the push by Congress to increase NIH funding for 2018. NIH Director, Francis Collins, testified that Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care will cost the government $259 billion this year in medical costs and lost benefits to the economy from caregivers who cannot work — which could reach $1.1 trillion by 2050. “It will absolutely break our budget if we don’t come up with something,” Dr. Collins said.

RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

A May 18, 2017 Scientific American article spotlighted a study which suggests that magnetic brain stimulation technology, neuroAD, producing small electric currents in the brain to regulate neural activity, gives a small benefit to patients with early Alzheimer’s disease. NeuroAD has been approved for use in Europe and the U.K., and the company (Israel-based Neuronix) submitted an application for FDA clearance last fall.

A May 17, 2017 Medical Xpress article highlighted results of analysis from the international Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), published this week in the journal, PLoS ONE. New biomarkers could help predict which Parkinson's disease patients will suffer significant cognitive deficits within the first three years of their diagnosis. The study authors assessed brain scans, genetic tests and analyses of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and found cognitive decline correlated with several biomarkers: changes in the dopamine system, global brain atrophy, particular genetic mutations, and markers of Alzheimer's disease. This is the first investigation to find each of these biomarkers, a mix of baseline and longitudinal, contributes independently to cognitive decline in early Parkinson's disease.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

According to a May 16, 2017 Xinhua Net article, Cuba will soon begin clinical trials for a new drug, NeuroEpo, which seeks to slow down the degenerative effects of Alzheimer's disease. This will be the first AD clinical trial in Cuba. NeuroEpo’s neuroprotective effects are expected to delay the deposition of the abnormal tau and amyloid proteins, thus reducing the rate of progression and severity of clinical manifestations. According to Leslie Perez, Center for Molecular Immunology Researcher, "Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease which does not retreat, and it will always advance. What we want is to help delay that degenerative process and improve the quality of life of that person (the patient) and their family.”

EVENTS AND RESOURCES 

An April, 2017 USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging paper suggests that intellectually demanding work is associated with a lowered risk of developing Alzheimer’s or other form of dementia. Jobs that are stimulating, have flexibility in decision making, involve complex tasks, and utilize logical reasoning, planning and problem solving, could promote better cognitive function in old age.