Super Foods Can Stave Off Dementia


A number of studies have been performed on the relationship between various foods and the onset of dementia.  One showed that walnuts can improve cognitive function.  Another that blueberries can boost memory.  And fish oil supplements can lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.  The Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet—both of which encourage you to eat lots of fresh produce, legumes, nuts, fish, whole grains and olive oil have been shown in multiple studies to provide protection against cognitive declines.  And they can be delicious if prepared with lots of fresh spices.

 

New Alzheimer’s Drug Could Hit The Market In 2024

A doctor and patient in a room with a laptop.


Biotech company Alzheon Inc. just raised $50 million in venture capital to complete clinical trials of an oral medication which will be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease.  The drug will be tested in a late-stage Phase 3 clinical trial with 300 people.  If the study is successful, Alzheon expects to seek FDA approval for the drug in 2024.  Sadly, another recent drug to hit the market called Aduhelm by Biogen is not available for widespread use after Medicare said last week it would only cover the cost of the drug for patients enrolled in a clinical trial.

Pebble Beach, CA Early Alzheimer’s Disease Is More Common Than One Might Think

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A new report from The Alzheimer’s Association found that 12-18% of adults 60 and older have “mild cognitive impairment†while more than 1 in 10 older adults have early stage memory or cognitive problems.  Many doctors and patients “think that it might be normal aging, and that’s something that needs to be addressed,†Maria Carillo, chief science officer of the Alzheimer’s Association, told USA Today.   “They can be diagnosed, and a delay of a diagnosis can be harmful,†she said.  Sadly, a survey of 801 primary care doctors found that 72% had difficulty differentiating normal aging from cognitive impairment.  And 60% of doctors were unfamiliar with using tests such as spinal taps or brain scans that measure disease markers such as amyloid or tau.

Monterey, CA Caregiving For A Family Member Can Take A Team, Particularly If They Have Alzheimer’s

A woman helping an older person with papers


Providing caregiving for a family member can be physically and mentally exhausting, particularly if they have Alzheimer’s disease or some other sort of dementia.  At least one in five Americans provides unpaid care to family members in the home, according to a 2020 National Alliance for Caregiving/AARP report.  Fortunately, technology has increased the care options with free apps such as CareZone, Mediasafe and MyMeds which can reduce medication management safety issues.  Wearable technology like Apple and Android smartwatches let the user take and send calls and texts from their wrist, with emergency communication, health tracking, alerts, fall detection and GPS tracking options.  And the app market seems to change on almost a daily basis.

COVID-19 Can Cause Dementia For Those 60+

A close up of the word coronavirus with an image of a virus


A new study which was published this week in the journal JAMA Neurology found that COVID-19 survivors over the age of 60 may face heightened risk of mild cognitive impairment, cognitive decline and even dementia.  The study followed more than 1,400 COVID-19 survivors aged 60 or older and used their uninfected spouses as a control population.  Participants were tested on their cognitive functions using a questionnaire and a telephone interview six months after their discharge and then again 12 months after being released from the hospital.  At the end of the study, 12% showed cognitive impairment.  Of that group, 3% had dementia and another 9% had mild cognitive issues.  The researchers also said that 15% of those with severe COVID-19 developed dementia compared to just 1% amongst those who had a mild case of it.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/A-new-study-says-COVID-19-can-cause-dementia-Is-17012645.php?sid=5936af7424c17c09a38000c4&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headlines&utm_campaign=sfc_morningfix

Medicare Under Fire For Not Covering Most Claims For New Alzheimer’s Drug, Aduhelm

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Drugmakers and patient advocacy groups are pushing back against a federal proposal to cut off most Medicare payments for a new drug from Biogen Inc. to treat Alzheimer’s, called Aduhelm.  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last month proposed to limit coverage of the drug to patients enrolled in clinical trials which are sanctioned by the agency.  The proposal would apply to similar drugs still in development and not yet approved that work by reducing amyloid protein in the brain.  The high cost of the drug and questions over its efficacy are behind the decision of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

AARP Finding Solutions To Live Longer In A Healthy Manner

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It’s important to increase longevity only if we can find ways to do so in excellent health.  When the United Nations declared the years 2021 to 2030 the “Decade of Healthy Aging,†it noted that there is a growing gap between how long someone will live and how many healthy years of life he or she can expect. AARP recently convened an international panel of experts for its Global Conference on Redefining Health : New Approaches for How We Live And Age.â€Â  The focus is on ensuring access to health care services for all older adults, strengthening the availability of long-term care, supporting aging in place and caring for older people in crisis conditions.  They have made significant progress.  Just one example is the U.S. hospital-at-home program which works to reduce strain on the health care system by offering us quality care in our own homes.  This has been particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has many hospitals overloaded.  The program has been so successful in the U.S. that its’ been expanded into Asia, Australia and Europe.

Medicare Deals A Blow To Those Wanting To Take The New Alzheimer’s Drug Aduhelm

A woman looking out of the window at her home.


Medicare officials announced yesterday that coverage for the new Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm should be restricted to patients that are participating in approved clinical trials.  After a thorough review of the scientific evidence and discussions with various stakeholders, their research team at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services concluded that there remain significant doubts as to whether the potential benefits of Aduhelm for patients outweigh the safety risk. Scientists are worried about side effects such as headaches, dizziness, falls and brain bleed.   The maker of the drug, Biogen, said that the decision “denies the daily burden of people living with Alzheimer’s disease†and that the clinical trial requirement “will exclude almost all patients who may benefit.â€

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/11/health/aduhelm-medicare-alzheimers.html?campaign_id=4&emc=edit_dk_20220112&instance_id=50069&nl=dealbook&regi_id=52105769&segment_id=79435&te=1&user_id=7052b81671c57203c64c377c7522baa7

Future of New Alzheimer’s Drug, Aduhelm, Up To Medicare

A close up of some blue and yellow cells


Despite a recent price drop of roughly 50% for Aduhelm, the new drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, it is still extremely expensive at $28K per year, and its future now lies in the hands of Medicare.  They will meet this month to decide whether or not the government will cover this infusion drug for senior citizens.  Because the vast majority of prescriptions for this drug are likely to be for those on Medicare, this will be a very important decision for Biogen, the manufacturer of the drug.  Although the FDA has approved the drug, clinical trials showed the drug had significant safety risks and the benefit to patients is unclear.  Therefore, its approval for Medicare reimbursement is anything but a shoe-in.  Medicare almost always approves drugs which have received the stamp of approval of the FDA, but in this case it has not—researchers at Medicare have been studying the drug for over a month.  “It’s truly unprecedented,†James Chambers, a researcher at the Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health at Tufts Medical Center, told the Wall Street Journal.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/31/health/aduhelm-alzheimers-medicare.html?campaign_id=4&emc=edit_dk_20220103&instance_id=49255&nl=dealbook&regi_id=52105769&segment_id=78510&te=1&user_id=7052b81671c57203c64c377c7522baa7

Monterey, CA Tips For Warding Off Alzheimer’s Disease

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Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and my grandfather had Alzheimer’s disease when they passed away.  It’s a terrible disease for which there is no cure.  However, there are ways that you can try and keep the disease at bay including:

  1. Protect your heart – Four major risk factors directly relate to heart health: high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and smoking.  Work towards keeping blood pressure and cholesterol low by eating a healthy diet.
  2. Exercise – According to Dr. Richard Isaacson, this can be the brain’s first defense against amyloid plaque. Try and get at least thirty minutes of exercise per day.
  3. Stay Socially and mentally active – Getting together with family and friends can be difficult during the COVID pandemic, but getting social stimulation is important, even if you have to do it over a zoom call.
  4. Avoid head injury – This is easier said than done, but studies have found that even mild head trauma can result in dementia. Wear a seatbelt, play sports safely and treat any head injury immediately.
  5. Treat depression, hearing loss, and substance abuse – Excessive alcohol consumption, hearing loss and depression all increase the risk for dementia.

Source: American Brain Foundation and Brain Life, the Academy of Neurology’s patient and caregiver magazine and website.

 

If you or a family member are struggling with Alzheimer’s disease or some other type of dementia, go talk to the good folks at the Alzheimer’s Association’s Monterey Chapter in Ryan Ranch.  They also have a 24-hour hotline you can call at 1800-272-3900.