MUST READS

A May 2, 2016 New York Times article highlighted advice for Alzheimer’s caregivers from experts Dr. Mary MIttleman, a research professor of psychiatry and director of the Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Family Support Program at NYU Langone Medical Center, and Cynthia Epstein, a clinical researcher and social worker at the center. According to the article, “Caregivers must take care of themselves, as they too often become entirely focused on the person for whom they are caring. Research conducted at NYU Langone found that the emotional and practical support received from family and friends led to significantly fewer symptoms of depression and stress and better physical health of the caregivers. The study also found that those caregivers were able to keep their relatives with dementia at home for a year and a half longer than those who did not receive support. Recognition of the effectiveness of supporting family caregivers has led to new and expanded programs to improve their quality of life.”

A May 2, 2016 San Diego News article reported on the link between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. According to the article, “Akhtar is finding out more about the link between Alzheimer's and diabetes. ‘Generally,’ he says, ‘the people with diabetes have roughly two times higher the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.’ There are several reasons for that, he says, but the main reason centers on the sugar level in diabetic patient. High levels affect neuronal function and causes dysfunction in the powerhouses of the brain.”

A May 3, 2016 EurekAlert.org article highlighted the potential of social clubs to fill gaps in dementia support. According to the article, “Community-based social groups could play a crucial role in empowering people with early-onset dementia, according to new UBC research. The study, led by UBC nursing professor Alison Phinney, focused on an independently run program known as Paul's Club, which offers social and recreational activities three days a week out of a hotel in downtown Vancouver. Members range in age from mid-40s to late 60s.”

A May 2, 2016 GizMag.com article reported that “a game-changing blood test is being developed to give doctors a reliable method to detect the [Parkinson’s] earlier through clinical biomarkers.” According to the article, “The development of the blood test is the culmination of recent discoveries on the mechanisms of the disease. Scientists believe that neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's involve malfunction of cell mitochondria, the cells' energy factories. About 10 years ago, Fisher and his lab team discovered that symptoms in conditions linked to defective mitochondria could be caused by an "always on" alarm system in the cells.”

A May 2, 2016 EurekAlert.org article reported that “The Critical Path Institute's (C-Path) Coalition Against Major Diseases (CAMD) is announcing it will integrate its Alzheimer's clinical trial data into the Global Alzheimer's Association Interactive Network (GAAIN) data portal.”