Advisory Council Previews 2013 Action Steps on National Alzheimer's Plan

The Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services at its quarterly meeting last week to discuss implementation of the national Alzheimer's plan got word that the revised plan will be released mid-month and received an advance look at some of the features that will be included in it.

In previewing some new action steps, federal officials on the council disclosed that the annual update will include recommendations to further engage public health departments on brain health, coordinate greater caregiver support with the Department of Veterans' Affairs, and prevent elder abuse at home and in long-term care facilities.

Also at the meeting, Alistair Burns, the UK's National Clinical Director for Dementia, and Yves Joanette, scientific director for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute on Aging, presented updates on current initiatives in their respective countries.

Click here to access the materials distributed at the April 29 meeting.

Longevity May Protect Against Dementia

A new study offers some hope that children of parents who lead long lives may be spared cognitive impairment.

Researchers found that men and women born to parents who lived long lives-defined as older than 85 for women and 83 for men-were about 40 percent less likely than peers to show signs of cognitive impairment between ages 65 and 79.  

May Marks Older Americans Month

This month marks the 50th anniversary of Older Americans Month, an observance introduced by President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

At its inception, just 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthdays, and about a third of them were living in poverty with scarce programs to meet their needs. Today, there are more than 40 million adults who are 65 and older. 

The Female Face of Alzheimer's Disease

As Mother's Day approaches, our thoughts turn to all things "mom." The lives of an increasing number of mothers, grandmothers, daughters, granddaughters and other women have been touched by Alzheimer's disease - either through their own diagnosis or that of a family member.

• Groups Help Seniors Brush Up on Tech Skills - Whether you're a novice or just looking for a tech tune-up, there are a growing number of programs nationwide geared toward helping seniors to better understand and interact with technology.
• The Sweet Sounds of Music - The benefits of music therapy for people with dementia are often touted. Psychology Today offers some simple suggestions for incorporating music into your caregiving routine.  
• Gifts for Caregivers --Looking for last-minute gift suggestions for moms, grandmothers and female caregivers this Mother's Day? Check out AFA's exclusive Hearts of Care sterling silver jewelry, as well as these creative ideas. 

• Brain Cells May Function Like a GPS System - The findings of a recent study suggest that brain cells may be the original and perhaps most exacting internal GPS system. Neurophysists at the University of California Los Angeles built a virtual reality environment for rats that enabled the researchers to better understand how brain neurons create maps of surrounding space. Read more...
• Cheers! Raising a Glass of Bubbly May Help Protect Memory - Researchers in the UK have uncorked an interesting bit of information: a compound found in Pinot noir and Pinot meunier grapes - both of which are used for champagne - can help hold forgetfulness at bay. Read more...
• Lab-Cultivated Human Brain Cells Grow in Mice - Scientists at the University of California San Francisco have found that a specific type of human brain cell developed in the laboratory grows seamlessly when transplanted into the brains of mice. These findings offer hope that such cells may help in treating conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. Read more... 
• Berries Pack Brain Health Benefits - A new study suggests that regular consumption of strawberries and blueberries may help clear the amyloid protein tangles, the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Read more...
• A New Perspective on the 'Alzheimer's Gene'-- For years, researchers have thought that the APOE gene increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease by producing a protein that binds to amyloid beta, possibly making it easier for plaques to form. In a new study, researchers show that APOE and amyloid beta don't bind together in cerebrospinal fluid and in fluids present outside cells grown in dishes, which indicates they are unlikely to bind together in the fluids circulating in the brain. Read more...