March 31, 2016

Today's Top News

USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A March 31, 2016 UsAgainstAlzheimer’s press release announced the release of an analysis of the Alzheimer's drugs in Phase 3 clinical trials developed by UsA2 and ResearchersAgainstAlzheimer’s (RA2). According to Dr. David Morgan, founding member of RA2, “Despite the recent history of disappointment for Alzheimer’s disease advancements, we are cautiously optimistic about the progress of this next wave of innovation because we are seeing well-funded trials and concerted efforts to learn from past failures.” Read the analysis here

Upcoming Alzheimer’s Talks: On Monday, April 11, from 4 to 5 p.m. ET, we will discuss the exciting new analysis published by ResearchersAgainstAlzheimer’s, an UsAgainstAlzheimer’s network, showing the growing optimism that 17 promising Alzheimer’s medicines will emerge in the next five years. Sign up here


MUST READS AND WATCH

Must WatchA March 30, 2016 The New York Times “op-doc” underscored the impact of Alzheimer’s on one couple married for almost 63 years. According to the article, “It tells the story of Frank and Mary Jo Havlak, my fiancée’s grandparents, who have been married almost 63 years. Over the last eight of them, Mary Jo has lost most of her memory to Alzheimer’s. Frank still visits her at the Alzheimer’s care home every day he can, and sometimes I would tag along. As I watched him with his wife, those old wedding vows kept jangling through my head: ‘...in sickness and in health...til death do us part’.”

A March 30, 2016 UPI.com article reported that “Caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease means caregivers often skimp on their own food and medical care, and even sell their belongings to support their loved one.”


RESEARCH, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY 

A March 30, 2016 Emory News Center article announced the launch of the Emory Healthy Aging Study, “the largest-ever clinical research study in Atlanta with a goal of enrolling 100,000 people over the next four years.” According to the article, “The study will help researchers better understand what happens as we age and lead to more effective treatments and methods to prevent conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and more.”

A March 30, 2016 STAT News article highlighted Nestlé’s growing interest in health science. According to the article, “Its Nestlé Health Science subsidiary, which develops nutritional products to improve health, is pouring money into companies targeting conditions like gut infections, muscle loss, and Alzheimer’s disease. It just opened an outpost in the biotech hub of Kendall Square…But federal regulators don’t let supplement makers advertise with specific health claims. So while Nestlé can say its shakes and powders boost brain health in a general sense, it can’t say they treat dementia or stave off Alzheimer’s.”

A March 30, 2016 Healio.com article reported that “Researchers are using an innovation grant from the Regenstrief Institute in Indianapolis to study a social microvolunteering application for Facebook that provides support for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.”