MUST READS

A February 9, 2016 Boston Globe article reported that “Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital recently found that giving a person more risk information than they expected actually decreases mental distress and encourages healthy lifestyle choices.” 

A February 8, 2016 USA Today opinion piece by Ron Marr highlighted the harsh impact of Alzheimer’s on families. According to Marr, “This isn’t how I’d planned to spend my 50s, but there are times when ethics and duty demand we set aside what we want for what is needed. Many of my friends are experiencing the same thing, and my family is luckier than most. Dad demonstrates no aggressive behavior. He retains the ability to handle matters of grooming and hygiene. He’s not aware that he’s not aware. That’s good…We are confronted with a pernicious irony that applies to my father’s mind as well as to the lives of all who deal with the ravages of Alzheimer’s.”

A February 8, 2016 The Hill article reported that the Senate Finance Committee is trying “to improve the way Medicare covers people with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s, so as to improve the coordination of care and bring about healthier outcomes at lower cost.”

A February 1, 2016 McKnight’s Senior Living article reported that “LeadingAge and senior living provider Integrace will honor Sanjay Gupta, M.D., chief medical correspondent for CNN, and advocate Alexander “Sandy” Halperin, D.D.S., with the 2016 Sen. William Proxmire Award at the third Great Minds Gala.” Dr. Halperin is a member of UsA2’s ActivistAgainstAlzheimer’s Network and a dedicated patient advocate. 

Must Listen: A January 26, 2016 STAT News Podcast: Choosing scientific sides in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

CAREGIVING 

A February 9, 2016 The Atlantic article highlighted the “unseen and widely ignored” challenges that women face while caring for aging parents.

A February 8, 2016 The Washington Post article reported that difficult conversations about nursing home care and institutionalization are becoming more commonplace. According to the article, “Like many caregivers, Harris was concerned that being in an institution would hasten her husband’s decline. People in her position engage in a constant calculus: How long can you hold a job, take care of a declining loved one, and stay healthy before something cracks? Where is the line between self-abnegation and self-preservation? How do you balance the best interests of the sick person and those of other family members? A couple of generations ago, families were more likely to care for their parents at home — but people didn’t live as long. Thanks to modern medicine, even those with devastating illnesses such as Alzheimer’s can live many years past their diagnoses. But caring for them at home becomes increasingly difficult as cognition and self-care skills worsen. Safety, of the patients and of other family members, can also become a factor.”

INTERESTING READS FROM THE WEB

The Jewish Press: Israeli Scientists Find Protein in Blood to ID Alzheimer’s Disease

Chicago Tribune: Treatment gives hope to teen with disorder known as childhood Alzheimer's

The Washington Post: Super Bowl Sunday: The day America celebrates football — and brain damage