February 29, 2016

Today's Top News

USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A February 28, 2016 USA Today article highlighted a growing movement for “dementia-friendly communities” to better prepare everyone from waiters to police officers to support them and their caregivers. The Dementia Friendly America movement is focused not just on increasing sensitivity and reducing stigma but on “helping people stay in their homes and their communities as long as possible.” In 2015, eight communities, including Boston, Denver and the state of Minnesota, launched dementia-friendly plans; in 2016, 80 additional communities have expressed interest. UsAgainstAlzheimer's is a funder and supporter of Dementia Friendly America. 

A February 26, 2016 Huffington Post blog post shared journalist John W. Fountain’s story of his mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s. The post highlighted that “blacks with Alzheimer's represent a growing trend of Americans, and are twice as likely as whites to ‘develop late-onset Alzheimer's disease’ and ‘less likely to have a diagnosis of their condition, resulting in less time for treatment and planning.’” The article cites the AfricanAmericansAgainstAlzheimer's Network as a resource. 


MUST READS

A February 26, 2016 Washington Post article reported that researchers from the Mayo Clinic have found that while keeping active can protect against the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, it doesn’t stave off the underlying disease itself. Their new study, which was published in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurologists, finds that even when symptoms are not apparent, the biological markers of Alzheimer’s seem to march forward despite intellectual enrichment.

February 29, 2016 Boston Herald article reported the announcement of a key research site for the final trial of a new medication, which investigators say is on track to become the first approved treatment in 13 years for the as-yet incurable illness. The approval would be a boon for Alzheimer’s patients, given the 99 percent failure rate of drugs to treat the devastating disease over the past 10 years, researchers say. 

A February 28, 2016 Arizona Daily Star article discussed the way that the meanings of words and phrases can change dramatically for those suffering from Alzheimer’s as the disease progresses. The author of the article shared his experiences with these changes as the sole caregiver to his wife.


INTERESTING READS FROM AROUND THE WEB

People: Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Awarded for Charity Efforts Inspired by Mother-in-Law's Alzheimer's Diagnosis: 'I Found Something That Mattered to Me'

The Huffington Post: I Finally Found Alzheimer's Silver Lining

The Guardian: Could music projects cut the cost of dementia care?

The Huffington Post: 5 Delicious Recipes To Help Ward Off Alzheimer's Disease