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:
New Piece of Alzheimer’s Puzzle Found
Neurologist and professor of the University of Alberta Jack Jhamandas recently discovered a possible new lead in treating Alzheimer’s disease. Jhamandas and his team found two strings of amino acids, or peptides, that significantly improved the memories of mice with Alzheimer’s disease. The peptides even reduced some of the physical harm done to the brain by the disease, making Jhamandas even more optimistic in developing a new drug. Read more here.
Alzheimer’s Memory Loss Reversed by New Head Device Using Electromagnetic Waves
The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease published an article on the findings of an open clinical trial by NeuroEM Therapeutics that showed the reversal of cognitive damage due to Alzheimer’s disease – thanks to the company’s wearable head device designed for in-home treatment. By the end of the trial, none of the patients wanted to return their head devices, one of them remarking that they’ve “come back.” Read more here.
How to Care for Someone with Alzheimer’s Disease
Medical News Today provides a great resource for new caregivers, sharing nine tips to help people care for those with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as self-care tips and advice on when to seek professional help. They also make sure to break down Alzheimer’s disease into its three stages – mild, moderate, and severe – to help educate caregivers and categorize symptoms. Read more here.
AAN Recommends People 65+ Be Screened Yearly for Memory Problems
The problem with mild cognitive impairment and other more minor forms of dementia is that people will often ignore the signs and overlook the need for a diagnosis or treatment, either because their memory problems are not yet severe enough to affect their daily lives or because they mistake their problems as a regular part of aging. The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) recommends annual assessments of those ages 65 and older in order for physicians to provide the highest quality patient care. Read more here.
Walking Patterns Identify Specific Types of Dementia
Interestingly enough, there is a possibility that someone’s walking pattern may be a key indicator of not only whether or not they have dementia, but also the specific type of dementia they have. People with Lewy body dementia tend to vary their step time and length of their strides as well as walk in a more asymmetric manner, versus people with Alzheimer’s disease. With a new way of gauging someone’s dementia, researchers are hoping to move towards more accurate diagnoses and better treatment for patients. Read more here.
