This Week in Alzheimer’s

05 Saturday Nov 2016

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Advocacy and Awareness, Call to Action, Caregivers, Face of Alzheimer's, Galaxy A List, Helpful Resources, Inspiration, November-National ALZ Awareness Month, Research, Round Up, Support system, Treatments and Therapies, USAgainstAlzheimer's

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a list, alzheimers, alzheimers news, alzheimers research, alzheimers support, alzheimers week in review

New Alzheimer’s/Cognitive Impairment Benefit from CMS!

On November 3, 2016, it was announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized its decision to pay for cognitive and functional assessments and care planning for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive impairments. This milestone marks the first time people living with Alzheimer’s disease will have paid access to care planning with a medical professional. Read more here.

Does Deep Brain Stimulation Boost Memory in Alzheimer’s Patients?

Researchers at Toronto Western Hospital and Johns Hopkins University are hopeful about a clinical trial involving deep brain stimulation. One might think of this as a pacemaker for the brain; electrodes are implanted in the brain and deliver a steady stream of electrical impulses to the part of the brain that regulates memory. The study is currently moving into its third and final phase. Read more here.

Greg O’Brien Honored

Journalist, author, and advocate Greg O’Brien received the inaugural Bea Lerner Valor Award at September’s third annual UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Out of the Shadows Dinner. The award is given to a person living with dementia and is named to honor the mother of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s co-founder, Trish Vradenburg. Read more here.

National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

The White House issued a Presidential Proclamation declaring November 2016 as National Alzheimer’ Awareness Month. Read more here.

Alzheimer’s Talks: Dr. Rudy Tanzi

The transcript and recording from October’s Alzheimer’s Talks call have been posted. The call featured leading researcher, Dr. Rudy Tanzi, who spoke in depth about his new work on a microbial hypothesis of the causes of Alzheimer’s disease. You can find the transcript and recording here.

Easy Actions You Can Take to Make a Difference!

Take 30 seconds to provide hope to others touched by Alzheimer’s!! Introducing Adversity 2 Advocacy’s Project Hope Exchange! Learn more here.

Join the A List 1000 today! It just takes 5 minutes, and gives you an opportunity to help shape the future. Learn more here.

Participate in the Health-eBrain Study to help advance the cognitive health of caregivers. Learn more here.

Participate in a caregiver study being conducted at Xavier University. Learn more here.

Looking for Support?

Join the UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Facebook Support Community! We have members all over the world who possess a vast amount of experience and who understand what you’re going through. Although each of our stories is unique, we’re bonded by a common experience – Alzheimer’s (or some other form of dementia). The Community provides a safe place to share fears, frustrations, and the moments of joy we all hunger for. Find us here.

Book Giveaway

Last but not least, click here to enter for a chance to win a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living With Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias. In the book, you’ll find 101 stories that will inspire, validate, and comfort you. Winner will be drawn Friday, November 11.

Alzheimer’s Association International Conference: Why Does Gender Matter & More

21 Tuesday Jul 2015

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Advocacy and Awareness, ALZ Assn - National, Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC), Pharma, Research, Risk

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Alzheimer’s Association Graphic

As 4,000 of the leading Alzheimer’s researchers from 65 countries continue to collaborate in Washington this week, we’re so hungry for hopeful news. One topic getting a lot of attention is the apparent gender inequality where Alzheimer’s is concerned.

We know that women comprise two-thirds of American living with Alzheimer’s, but why is that? In the past, the statistic that has been largely attributed to the fact that women outlive their male counterparts.

Gender Differences

Growing evidence suggests there may be more to the story. Several gender-related studies are being discussed at the AAIC this week, and the findings are interesting. Consider this:

Women with MCI (mild cognitive impairment) decline at a rate almost twice that of men.

When PET scans were used to check amyloid levels in 1,000 subjects, an obvious disparity was identified. It seems women’s brains tend to contain more amyloid than the brains of men, which would seem to put them at higher risk for Alzheimer’s.

Women who undergo surgery with general anesthesia experience more cognitive issues than men.

The question remains, why? Why are the incidences of Alzheimer’s in women so much greater than in men? That mystery, we hope, will be solved sooner than later.

News, News, and More News

As expected, there is an abundance of news coming out of this week’s conference. If you’re interested in reading more, the Alzheimer’s Association has published the following list of articles from various sources. You can also find a list of press releases on the AAIC page.

New wave of Alzheimer’s research aims to diagnose, treat much earlier
— CBS News

Growing evidence links sleep problems, Alzheimer’s
— Associated Press

Saliva test may catch Alzheimer’s disease
— CNN

With millions more expected to develop Alzheimer’s, more research funding demanded
— The Los Angeles Times

Too much TV can raise the risk of Alzheimer’s, new study suggests
— The Washington Post

Your School Grades Affect Your Risk of Dementia
— TIME

Biomarkers identified patients most likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease
— Psychiatry Advisor

Alzheimer’s scientists to meet in D.C. amid signs of progress for treatment
— The Washington Post

Researchers Looking for Ways to Predict Alzheimer’s Before It Starts
— NBC News

Saliva seen as possible diagnostic tool for Alzheimer’s disease
— The Washington Post

Study Shows Promise in Detecting an Individual’s Likelihood of Developing Alzheimer’s
— The Wall Street Journal

Alzheimer’s Drugs In The Works Might Help Other Diseases, Too
— NPR