explaining research in a way that’s easy to understand
UC San Francisco researchers, in collaboration with the unique Brazilian Biobank for Aging Studies (BBAS) at the University of São Paulo, have shown that the earliest stages of the brain degeneration associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are linked to neuropsychiatric symptoms including anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbances.
Source: Early Alzheimer’s brain pathology linked to psychiatric symptoms
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have demonstrated a new technology can help reduce a widespread problem that harms some 1.5 million people every year – medication error.
Of the valid alerts, 75 percent of them were for potentially life-threatening prescription errors, giving researchers a validation of of MedAware’s probabilistic, machine-learning approach (provided it is based on high-quality, complete underlying data).
Source: Harvard study of almost 800k lives shows MedAware technology reduces medication error
The 12 biggest and best science stories of 2016
This article comes to us from NPR (National Public Radio out of the US). It talks about how recent research into Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment and the decades of research before haven’t yielded the positive results we have all been hoping for. But, that there are still people working hard in this field and searching for new possibilities based on the unsuccessful results so far.
It’s not the most positive read, but it does show how there are many hypotheses for how and why Alzheimer’s disease develops and progresses and even more hypotheses for potential treatment.
Whether it’s antibiotics, probiotics or vaccines, the list of potential Alzheimer’s treatments being considered goes on.
“The bottom line is we need to take more shots on goal,” says Isaacson. “The next frontier is recognizing that there probably isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, and that using targeted therapies based on a person’s own biology and genetics will bring the most benefit. The future of Alzheimer’s therapeutics is in precision medicine.”
In a statement, Lilly’s chairman, president and CEO John C. Lechleiter said the company was “disappointed for the millions of people waiting for a potential disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.”
Read the full article on CNN.
The RemoAge project will tackle the challenge of supporting people with dementia and other frail older people to age at home in remote and sparsely populated areas of the northern periphery of Europe. Long distances and limited resources are two challenges to overcome.
Tested and evaluated service packages will meet this challenge. The service packages will include methods to support the elderly with health and social care needs, flexibility to individual needs and an increased level of remote support.
Expected results are improved access to personalized services in direct support in daily life, support to family carers and health personnel, but also increased involvement of the community.
Target groups:
– Frail older people, including people with dementia, in remote communities
– Family carers and family members of the frail older people
– Community members
– Health and social care professionals
The target groups will be involved throughout the project in a participatory process from the identification of needs, the adaptation of services and the evaluation of services. A main focus of the project is to develop and implement person centred services that are by definition services adapted to the individual needs of the frail older person and their family.
Source: Project
Overlæge og leder af hukommelsesklinikken på Roskilde Sygehus, Peter Høgh, holder tirsdag den 29. november foredrag i Slagelse.
Source: Demensekspert fortæller om nyeste viden – Magasinet Pleje
If you are like the majority of people, you use the internet to search for health information. In fact, during my PhD studies, I found that care partners with someone with dementia look up health information more than the general public. While it is great that there is so much information out there and that people are sharing experiences and research, it can also be overwhelming. Especially if you don’t know how to tell if the information you are getting is accurate and reliable.
Luckily, there is the NGO (non-governmental organization) Health On the Net. They strive to ensure that the public gets safe, quality health information and have trusted sources to go to.
Some 7’300 sites are now formal HONcode subscribers, that is, they have a unique ID number and are indexed by us. About 80 per cent of these are US sites, but the proportion of European and other non-US sites is growing. The HONcode now exists in 34 language versions, in addition to English (see, for example, http://www.hon.ch/HONcode/Chinese/).
They suggest searching on websites belonging to hospitals, universities and government agencies. There are also websites that have obtained HONcode certification, including:
Some other tips:
Look for the HONcode seal, often on the bottom of the webpage. 
Add the term HONcode to a Google search.
Use Khresmoi, a search engine bringing together certified sites.
Search directly on HON.
Click on the link to check out their infographic for more tips and information:
The study indicates people dealing with aphasia, whether it be from Alzheimer’s, dementia, a stroke or some other neurological issue, can benefit from a telehealth platform that enables them to stay at home and connect with trained specialists, no matter where they’re located.
Video link with specialists helps dementia patients improve communication skills
Source: Study: Telehealth Helps Dementia Patients Recover ‘Lost’ Words
With the 2016 US Presidential election nearing a close, everyone in my social circles seems to be talking about it. Even though I haven’t lived in the US for 11 years, the election is a main topic both with my friends and family in the US and those here in Denmark.
But, not many are asking about how the election will effect dementia research or services for people effected by the syndrome. Continue reading
research*eu results features highlights from the most exciting EU-funded research and development projects. It is published 10 times per year in English. The August/September 2016 issue is a special feature on ‘Dementia: investing against the trillion dollar disease’.
Issue 55 – August 2016/September 2016
Interviews:
Other highlights:
You can download it for free here: http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/research-eu-results-magazine-pbZZAC16007/;pgid=GSPefJMEtXBSR0dT6jbGakZD0000VCTF9fYd;sid=a9NobXoofeZodS3fMVj2yhgNyRAUPX37bQA=?CatalogCategoryID=Yriep2Ix6ucAAAEvxusQ_v3E
And check out other issues from research*eu results here: http://cordis.europa.eu/research-eu/magazine_en.html
© European Union, 2016
Researchers found a specific genetic pattern that corresponded to elevated expression of tau and b-amyloid proteins and weak regulation of protein homeostasis, indicating a high likelihood of future plaques and tangles in those with this gene grouping.
An Ohio State University researcher is enrolling patients in the first U.S. clinical trials of two drugs being tested in the treatment of Lewy body dementia, one of the most common but least talked about neurodegenerative diseases.
Source: Ohio State researcher testing drugs to treat Lewy body dementia
One trial is testing the safety and effectiveness of RVT-101, a once-a-day pill that researchers think can restore cognitive function, or thinking skills, in people with Lewy body dementia. About 240 people will be enrolled in the United States, Spain and France for this six-month study.
People with the disease, between the ages of 50 and 85, who are interested in learning more about the trials can call the Wexner Medical Center at 614-293-4376.
Rapporten er udarbejdet af Sundheds- og Ældreministeriet med inddragelse af Sundhedsstyrelsen, Sundhedsdatastyrelsen, KL, Danske Regioner og Nationalt Videnscenter for Demens samt en række andre aktører og ministerier.
Bl.a. peger rapporten på en række udfordringer, som den kommende demenshandleplan forventes at tage fat på, skriver Sundheds- og Ældreministeriet i en pressemeddelelse.
Og læse rapporten her: http://www.sum.dk/~/media/Filer%20-%20Publikationer_i_pdf/2016/Statusrapport-demens-2016/Statusrapport-paa-demensomraadet-i-dk.ashx
Doctor Dementia and the Dementia Adventure 