USA2 SPOTLIGHT

In a “Your Life Your Legacy” video, Brenda Wright interviewed WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s Founding Member Jamie Tyrone, who has a 91% chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease because of a rare genetic pairing of ApoE4 from both sides of her family. Jamie talks about her new book, “FightingForMyLife,” co-authored by Dr. Marwan Sabbagh, about genetic testing, lifestyle interventions to reduce AD risk, and her own experience participating in a clinical trial.

MUST LISTEN

A July 4, 2019 NPR Morning Edition radio segment reported on the use of biomarker tests to accurately diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. Such tests are expensive, so the ADDF (Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation) is sponsoring efforts, via their Diagnostics Accelerator, to create cheaper, quicker and less invasive tests. According to the article, “…Those tests promise to be easier for patients, and less expensive to administer. But even detecting amyloid and tau in the brain won't be enough, [ADDF head Dr. Howard] Fillit says. People can have high levels of both and still do pretty well until something else shows up in the brain: inflammation… So researchers are working to identify biomarkers for inflammation.”

FINANCES

A July 5, 2019 P&T Community article highlighted a recent report by Transparency Market Research which found that the global Alzheimer’s drug market (cholinergic, memantine, and combined drugs) is anticipated to continue its expansion as the global population continues to age. The projected market value, by the end of 2025, will be around $6.4 billion, almost double its 2017 value. North America leads this trend. According to the article, “Owing to lack of awareness regarding the disease in various nations of Southeast Asia, the demand for drugs and research framework remains untapped. Nevertheless, the increased expenses of advanced drugs for the Alzheimer's treatment has affected the underdeveloped nations of Asia Pacific from utilizing these drugs.”

CAREGIVING CORNER

A July 2, 2019 Home Health Care News “Thrive” article, part of a series exploring the successes, struggles and strategies of home care owners and operators on the local level, looked at virtual dementia training tours. BrightStar Care of Bedford and Manchester became the first at-home care agency in New Hampshire to offer such tours for staff, families and referral sources. According to franchise owner Melissa Janicke, “The first step [was] putting our office team through it. It’s very important when we take on a client suffering from dementia that the office team can empathize with what they’re going through… I really feel that it’s powerful for anyone who is touching someone who is affected by dementia.”

HUMAN INTEREST

A July 5, 2019 Fansided article spotlighted NFL coach Brian Schottenheimer, son of the famed former Kansas City Chiefs head coach Marty Schottenheimer, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease since 2011. Brian recently began Tweeting about his father to help bring awareness to the condition. According to the article, “So far, Brian Schottenheimer is using Twitter to largely spread awareness about the disease and to pay tribute to his father as a great coach and mentor to so many players.”