New Hope For Parkinson’s Disease Victims

A Hospice Nurse visiting an Elderly male patient

There has been a dearth of new drugs and treatment options for those suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.  It’s extremely debilitating and often comes with the unfortunate side effect of dementia.  However, the Michael J. Fox Foundation and other organizations have recently come up with options for the disease which impacts 1 million Americans and for which 60K new cases are diagnosed each year.  In the three decades since Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with the disease, it has become the fastest growing brain disease.  Only Alzheimer’s disease has more victims.  Thanks to an explosion of funding for the disease (Michael J. Fox Foundation has provided $1 billion in funding since its formation in 2020 and the National Institutes for Health (NIH) provided $242 million in funding in 2020) “we have turned the corner,” according to Haydeh Payami, a professor of neurology and genetics at the University of Alabama’s Birmingham School of Medicine.  Some highlights of recent development include:

  • In 2018 a clinical trial found that high-intensity treadmill workouts three times a week meaningfully slowed the progression of Parkinson’s during the six months of the study.
  • Significant research has been done on personalized genetic medicine. Dozens of genetic misfires are now suspected of being responsible for Parkinson’s disease.  You can find clinical trials at clinicaltrials.gov.
  • A huge observational study called the Parkinson’s Progressive Markers Initiative (PPMI) is trying to find cases early by monitoring symptoms that sometimes precede the typical tremors such as loss of sense of smell, constipation and sleeping disorders. The study is targeting enrolling 4,000 people in person and a whopping 500k online to identify markers that can lead to new treatments.
  • The biggest success has been with surgically implanted brain stimulators which use electrical impulses to improve symptoms such as tremors and rigidity. In 2020, the FDA approved Medtronic’s new stimulator with BrainSense Technology.  It can sense and record the brain’s electrical signals.  It is now in clinical trials for something called ADAPT-PD which is testing whether the BrainSense technology recordings can be used to adjust stimulation automatically.

https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-2021/parkinsons-research.html

Carmel, CA TikTok Videos on Dementia And Alzheimer’s Caregivers Violate Privacy

The Wall Street Journal today ran an article on family caregivers who post videos with a loved one who is suffering from dementia. It profiled Dan Salinger, who posted a video of his dad, who has dementia, trying to start his car. The video went viral with the two men arguing while 875K people watched. Dementia-related hashtags have amassed 2.8 billion views on TikTok, and are part of a growing category of posts related to medical conditions and disorders. I personally value my privacy and have warned friends and family members not to post about me on Social Media without my permission. Unfortunately, those with Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia can’t give informed consent. Think twice about posting about someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia on Social Media, particularly photos and videos. Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and my grandmother had this terrible disease when they passed away. There are some great folks at the Alzheimer’s Association in Ryan Ranch that can help you deal with this devastating disease. They also have a 24-hour hotline at 800-272-3900. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Monterey, CA Daytime Sleeping A Red Flag For Alzheimer’s And Dementia

A senior woman sitting and looking out from the window

According to a new study by UC San Francisco, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, getting too much sleep during the day could be a sign of Alzheimer’s Disease or some other form of dementia.  For 14 years, researchers studied 1,401 seniors who had annual cognitive testing and wore a watchlike device that monitored their mobility.  Although some napping is normal for older adults, the study found that daytime naps of longer than one hour were associated with a 40% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared with those who napped less.  The study also found that the average duration of daytime naps increased with age for everyone, including healthy adults.  However, it doubled after a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment and nearly tripled after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease (Kiplinger’s Retirement Report, May 2022, page 15).  Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and grandmother had this horrible disease when they passed away.  There is a wonderful group of people at the Monterey Alzheimer’s Association in Ryan’s Ranch who can help you through this painful journey.  They also have a 24-hour hotline at 800-272-3900.

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 shows the tablet to the senior female patient

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

A microscopic look at Alzheimer’s Disease

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 caregiver showing documents to the senior

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 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

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

Four old people giving a thumbs up

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.”  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.