A weekly recap of the latest news about Alzheimer’s and dementia
Alzheimer’s Orange County compiles a weekly roundup of the latest news stories and developments about Alzheimer’s and dementia to keep you updated on what’s happening locally and all around the world. Check out this week’s headlines below:
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Leading Cause of Death in England and Wales
With statistics establishing Alzheimer’s as the leading cause of death in England and Wales last year, experts are now calling dementia the biggest health crisis of our time. People in the UK are now campaigning for the government to make reforms in adult social care, specifically pushing for the Green Paper – a proposal to cut lifetime social care charges. With rising mortality rates as well as vacancies in adult social care services, dementia and Alzheimer’s is proving to be one of our generation’s greatest health and care challenges. Read more here.
Even a Small Boost in Exercise Can Help Protect You From Alzheimer’s
A new study published in JAMA Neurology has researched the impact of physical activity in the build-up of beta-amyloid proteins in a group of older adults, whose ages averaged at 73. Beta-amyloid, what scientists consider one of the most likely causes of Alzheimer’s, accumulates in the brain and disrupts communication signals between cells. Many participants underwent significant brain advantages over the course of the study, despite only increasing their activity by a minimum of 3,300 steps. Read more here.
Hadassah Rolls Out Non-Invasive Brain Test to Help Detect Alzheimer’s
Hadassah Medical Center has entered a contract with General Electric, making it the sole producer of Vizamyl – a diagnostic agent involved in PET brain scans. It is able to gauge amyloid plaque density in adults with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of cognitive impairment; this opens the doors to technology that can detect the risk of Alzheimer’s in patients, and perhaps even help prevent or mitigate the progression of the disease. Read more here.
Canada’s New Dementia Strategy Needs Commitment to Be Successful
Canada has created a new national dementia strategy to address the growing impact that dementia-related diseases have on its citizens. The 5-year, $50-million plan will outline Canada’s priorities for dementia prevention, therapy, and improving the quality of life for those living with dementia and their caregivers. The strategy takes note of the plans of other countries and current dementia research, adopting a more holistic approach to dementia research to advance the community’s understanding of dementia and developing new approaches to stave off diseases like Alzheimer’s. Many speculate that this strategy will take an enormous amount of commitment, recognizing that eliminating stigma is arguably the biggest but most important challenge in implementing change. Read more here.
New Alzheimer’s Study With a Connecticut Connection: Patients’ Memory Improved
A study conducted by the University of South Florida Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute has found a reversal in patients’ memory loss through a bio-engineering based head device. The device uses electromagnetic waves to treat the disease. Through a partnership with Connecticut entrepreneur Eric Knight, the device has undergone great transformations in the past ten years and is expected to potentially be available in less than three years. Read more here.
