Must reads

• A December 20, 2013 NPR radio segment examined the impact of crossword puzzles on preventing dementia. 
• A December 19, 2013 Forbes article reported on the growing importance of early detection in the fight against Alzheimer's. According to the article, "But progress was thwarted by the failures of important clinical trials earlier this year, says Snyder. That’s why researchers are now trying to get ahead of the game by focusing their efforts earlier in the disease process, when potential treatments might be more effective.Historically, researchers studied patients with mild to moderate symptoms of Alzheimer’s, says Snyder. On one hand, these patients are easier to find because they come to clinics with symptoms, he says. On the other hand, by the time someone is diagnosable with Alzheimer’s, the therapies are far less likely to have any effect."
• A December 19, 2013 The Atlantic (via Government Executive) article reported on what the budget deal means for medical research funding. According to the article, "Even if funding were restored to pre-sequester levels, the budget deal does very little to reverse what many fear is America’s dwindling role as the world leader in biomedical research. While the U.S. continues to debate how much to cut from the NIH and other scientific institutions like the National Science Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control, other nations are increasing funding. China, which Collins said is preparing to increase research spending by 15 to 20 percent per year*, is aiming to outspend the U.S. in the next five years—not as a percentage of GDP but in absolute dollars."
• A December 19, 2013 Forbes article reported on five medical technologies revolutionizing healthcare including brain-computer interfaces. According to the article, "We’ve been hearing about BCIs for a little while now. The tech originated out of the desire to help paraplegics and quadriplegics control computer cursors with only their brains…Eventually, the hope is that such wearable tech will be used in the treatment of Alzheimer's, pain management and well, it’s hard to say. Point of fact: Harvard University researchers recently created the first brain-to-brain interface, allowing  a researcher to control both a rat’s tail and another human’s movements with his mind."