August 26, 2016

Today's Top Alzheimer's News

MUST READS AND WATCH

An August 26, 2016 STAT News article explored the question “How do you honor a dementia patient’s end-of-life-wishes?” According to the article, “If the patient has dementia, the situation can be even harder. By the time a neurological disorder is diagnosed, many patients can’t think clearly or articulate their wishes for end-of-life care…The Conversation Project, an organization that publishes a guide called “the Conversation Starter Kit,” to help families through end-of-life conversations, recently released a sequel for families of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. Co-produced by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, it was co-written by Ellen Goodman, a Pulitzer-winning journalist who founded the Conversation Project and who lost her sister to Alzheimer’s disease roughly four years ago.”

An August 26, 2016 Miami Herald article highlighted the use of music to help stimulate individuals living with Alzheimer’s. According to the article, “Dan Cohen, founder of Music&Memory, came up with the idea after he realized how much he would miss music if he had to live in an assisted care facility. His background in technology and vocational rehabilitation led him to wonder why nursing homes didn’t have curated playlists on iPods for residents. Now Music&Memory has stretched throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, with nearly 1,000 people participating in the hour-long music sessions.”

An August 25, 2016 Miami Herald article reported on progress in the fight against Alzheimer’s. According to the article, “The CDC also reports there’s growing evidence that physical, mental, and social activities can protect against the disease. Along those lines, UHealth’s The Brain Fitness Pavilion, directed by Loewenstein’s colleague Dr. Philip D. Harvey, offers not only assessments of everyday skills but also a customized brain fitness training program. The pavilion uses BrainHQ, an online training program designed by Posit Science, that aims to help patients improve memory, concentration, attention and mental speed.”

Must WatchAn August 24, 2016 Reuters video highlighted the work of Dr. Richard Isaacson and his efforts to prevent and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.


RESEARCH, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY 

Aa August 25, 2016 Science Daily article reported that neuroscientists are standing up for basic cell biology research. According to the article, “Clinical trials and translational medicine have certainly given people hope and rapid pathways to cures for some of humankind's most troublesome diseases, but now is not the time to overlook the power of basic research, says UC Santa Barbara neuroscientist Kenneth S. Kosik.”

An August 25, 2016 UPI.com article reported that “Increasing levels of neuregulin-1 in the brains of mice with Alzheimer's reduced levels of markers for the disease and improved their performance on memory tests.”