May 31, 2013

Today's Top Alzheimer's News

Long-term Alzheimer's care, Samuel L. Jackson raising Alzheimer's awareness, and tech tools to help with caregiving (read more).

Must reads
  • A May 30, 2013 PBS Newshour segment profiled a mother and daughter and their struggles with long-term Alzheimer's care. According to the article, "After being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, professional artist Mary Wyant slowly lost her ability to paint and the ability to take care of herself. Ray Suarez examines the story of Mary and her daughter Rebecca, who is now her mother's legal guardian and primary caretaker, about the daily struggles of long-term care."
  • A May 30, 2013 MediaBistro.com article reported that actor Samuel L. Jackson has launched a campaign on the social media site Reddit to raise awareness for Alzheimer's. Jackson is encouraged readers to share a 300-word monologue on Reedit for the chance to have him read the work and fly the winner to the UK. According to Jackson, "I’m doing this for one of my favorite non-profits, Alzheimer’s Society, as my family have been unfortunate enough to have been affected by the disease."
 
Research and technology 
  • A May 30, 2013 La Jolla Light (CA) article reported that the University of California San Diego launched the Center for Brain Activity Mapping (CBAM). According to the article, "The new center will undertake development of a new generation of tools to enable recording of neuronal activity throughout the brain as well as conduct brain-mapping experiments and data analysis. CBAM will bring together researchers from neuroscience, engineering, nanoscience, radiology, chemistry, physics, computer science, and mathematics."
  • A May 30, 2013 Mobilledia.com article highlighted "tech tools" to assist with Alzheimer's caregiving. According to the article, "GPS and smartphones, among other digital tools, can help ease the burden of those giving care. "We're in the infancy of what technology can do for caregiving and it's only going to grow," said Beth Kallmyer, vice president of the Alzheimer's Association. Some options can connect caregivers, like my dad, to a support system, giving them advice during the frustrating time in their lives…For any family dealing with the disease, those recollections ring true. But while we wait for more effective treatments, technology can help sufferers extend their independence and help those who love and care for them live more active lives. I'm just hoping caregivers, like my dad, can ease that burden and watch his grandchildren play baseball."