MUST READS 

A December 7, 2016 EurekAlert! article reported that researchers have discovered a possible biomarker for Alzheimer’s. According to the article, “The team devised an imaging tool to watch both Aβ and MAO at the same time in mice, and observed that as Aβ plaques increase (that is, as Alzheimer's progresses), MAO activity also increases. The team also showed that there are three distinct phases of MAO activity that change along with Alzheimer's progression: a slow initiation stage, a subsequent aggressive stage and finally a saturation stage. The authors say these results suggest that MAO could be helpful as a biomarker to someday diagnose and monitor the disease in patients, possibly using body fluids.”

A December 7, 2016 Boston Business Journal article reported on Biogen’s efforts to develop an Alzheimer’s drug. According to the article, “Biogen (Nasdaq: BIIB) has a lot riding on the early-stage results for aducanumab, which are scheduled to be announced at the Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's Disease, an annual industry conference in San Diego…The data expected this week is from the same Phase 1b study, a so-called "titration arm" in which the doctor can adjust the dosage of the drug for each patient over time to maximize the drug's effect. The company is already conducting Phase 3 trials in hopes of getting approval as soon as possible, but those results aren't expected until 2020.”

A December 7, 2016 News Medical article reported that “the incidence of hip fracture is higher among those with Alzheimer's disease, regardless of other characteristics.”

A December 6, 2016 PBS Newshour broadcast segment highlighted development of 21st Century Cures legislation. According to the description, “In Congress, lawmakers are close to passing a major bill that would increase funding for the FDA, the NIH and the effort to fight opioid abuse. The measure would also introduce more flexible standards for drug approvals, reducing the need for costly clinical trials. Lisa Desjardins reports and Hari Sreenivasan speaks with Sydney Lupkin of Kaiser Health News and Ed Silverman of STAT News for more.”