Fighting Alzheimer's

JUNE 2019 | FUTUREOFPERSONALHEALTH.COM

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FIGHTING ALZHEIMER’S Steve Aoki

When not spinning out hits, the DJ and music producer is funding the future of aging science and brain research

Despite the costly threat Alzheimer’s poses, research on them is vastly underfunded Though they are often unrecognized, caregivers for Alzheimer’s patients deserve our care

How to Talk About Alzheimer’s When it comes to Alzheimer’s disease, saying nothing isn’t an option. Here are some tips for how to initiate care for a loved one in need.

t’s a conversation no family wants to have: talking to a loved one about memory loss or cognitive decline. In fact, a recent survey by the Alzheimer’s Association shows that nearly 1 in 3 people would rather say nothing if they noticed signs of Alzheimer’s in a family member, despite having concerns.

But silence comes at a cost. That’s because early detection and diagnosis offer important benefits that can include more time for critical care planning, better disease management, and providing diagnosed individuals a voice in their future care.

The mindful month June is Alzheimer’s &

Brain Awareness Month.

Earlier this month, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Ad Council launched a new campaign encouraging families to have important early conversations around Alzheimer’s. This national ad campaign, called “Our Stories,” features real accounts of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and the defining moments they knew something was wrong.

Close family members, who know their loved ones best, are typically the first to notice memory issues or cognitive problems, but they are often hesitant to say something — even when they know something is wrong. This new campaign encour-

Ruth Drew, Director of Information and Support Services, Alzheimer’s Association

ages families to notice early warning signs, trust their guts, and start a conversation.

Our stories are your stories The Our Stories website arms families with tools and resources to help them talk about Alzhei-

mer’s, including customizable conversation starters, a list of early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s, benefits of early diagnosis, a downloadable discussion guide, and more.

Here are just a few of the tips from the Alzheimer’s Association on how to start that difficult conversation:

friend, or trusted advisor who holds sway, include them in the conversation.

• Practice conversation starters. Be thoughtful in your approach. For example, consider an openended question such as, “I’ve noticed a few changes in your behavior lately, and I wanted to see if you’ve noticed these changes as well.”

• Have the conversation as early as possible.

Addressing memory or cognition problems early offers an opportunity to identify the cause and take action before a crisis situation occurs.

• Think about who’s best suited to initiate the conversation. If there is a family member, close

Talk it out Alzheimer’s disease is challenging, but talking about it doesn’t have to be. Having these important conversations can address concerns before a crisis situation arises and help put the individual and family on a better path for managing disease-related challenges. ■

Publisher Lindsay Waldman Business Developer Mac Harris Managing Director Luciana Olson Designers Tiffany Pryor, Lee Miller Copy Editor Seth Garben Director of Sales Shannon Ruggiero Director of Business Development Jourdan Snyder Director of Product Faye Godfrey Lead Editor Mina Fanous Production Manager Josh Rosman Content Strategist Vanessa Rodriguez Cover Photo Brian Ziff All photos are credited to Getty Images unless otherwise specified. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve USA Today.

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To caregivers everywhere, thank you.

UnitedHealthcare® honors the devoted wives and husbands, sons and daughters, neighbors and friends who help their loved ones with Alzheimer’s every day.

We’re on your side. Find resources and support at uhcforcaregivers.com.

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How Recognizing Commonalities Between Age and Alzheimer’s Can Lead to a Cure Rather than researching Alzheimer’s as a singular disease, looking at it through the lens of aging can help reveal treatment options that have gone heretofore unnoticed.

ith a growing aging population, Alzheimer’s disease is becoming the greatest health issue facing our country for the coming decades.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projects the burden of Alzheimer’s disease will nearly triple from the current 5 million to 14 million cases by 2060. The overall cost to society is overwhelming, as well as the cost to patients and their families in terms of physical and emotional suffering. In 2019, the estimated cost of Alzheimer’s and other dementias in healthcare, long-term care, and hospice totaled $290 billion. If we do not solve this health crisis, the associated costs could be as much as $1.1 trillion dollars in the coming decades.

Old and new approaches For many years, most drugs

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reaching late stage trials had a single target: the misfolded beta-amyloid proteins that constitute plaques. Unfortunately, therapeutic attempts have been largely unsuccessful in altering the disease course of Alzheimer’s disease with anti-amyloid drugs, leading many of us in the field to explore new approaches.

One of those approaches has led me to be more excited than ever about the state of research and drug discovery. Why? Because it is based on the biology of aging, which is gaining ground as an effective approach to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease. This approach stands out in a recent clinical trials report conducted by the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation.

That age-old question Aging is the greatest risk factor when it comes to the disease, and decades of research have

revealed common processes relevant to understanding why the aging brain is vulnerable to Alzheimer’s. For example, as people age, they are more likely to have chronic systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation, which is associated with poorer cognitive function and Alzheimer’s disease.

Other aging malfunctions include impaired clearance of toxic misfolded proteins, mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunctions (associated with diabetes), vascular problems, epigenetic changes (changes in gene regulation without alterations in the DNA sequence), and loss of synapses (points of communication between neurons) — many of which make people vulnerable to Alzheimer’s as well.

Where to go from here To defeat Alzheimer’s disease, we need to advance the diverse

pipeline of drugs aimed at these targets. Like other diseases related to aging, including cancer, it is likely a combination of drugs addressing multiple target pathways will be needed to effectively treat the disease.

Our understanding of Alzheimer’s is more robust than ever before. Heightened awareness must continue to keep Alzheimer’s disease a national health priority among the government, industry, medical and scientific, philanthropic, and patient communities. We all share a common vision of a healthy old age, and we must marshal our resources to achieve it.

I am certain that, one day soon, we will have drugs that are safe and effective in preventing, treating, and curing Alzheimer’s disease. n Howard Fillit, M.D., Founding Executive Director and Chief Science Officer, Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation

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Four Questions About Alzheimer’s You’re Likely to Ask, Answered Use this quick FAQ for a basic understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, its onset, and treatments.

Why Steve Aoki Wants to Change the Dialogue Around Brain Research Known mostly for his work in entertainment, Steve Aoki is also passionate about science — and, in particular, Alzheimer’s disease research.

Steve Aoki’s latest album is titled “Neon Future,” so it’s probably no surprise to hear that the DJ and music producer is fascinated by what lies ahead for humankind, particularly in the field of brain research.

“I’m obsessed with the human brain,” said Aoki.

“Ever since my father passed away [from cancer], I’ve wanted to know more about the human body, and how I could have helped [save] his life. And it led me down a pathway where eventually I just started to read a lot about the human brain, and I started to learn there’s so much we don’t know about the brain and it started to pique my interest.”

Calling on others To pursue this end, Aoki, through the Aoki Foundation, collaborates with organizations that help propel research on brain diseases MEDIAPLANET

such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and dementia — diseases which are becoming more prevalent every day.

Neither Parkinson’s nor dementia (the most common type being Alzheimer’s disease) has a cure, which is why Aoki has partnered with organizations out to change that.

The foundation donates to brain researchers who aren’t backed by pharmaceutical companies and need resources. “The biggest problem is funding because it’s hard to get investors,” said Aoki.

“You need technology, medical research, and money, and you need lots and lots of people,” he said.

“We will get there, but it takes time. We’ve eradicated so many diseases. The last big one was AIDS, and that’s under control.”

Demystifying brain disease Getting there, Aoki said, starts with meeting your audience where they’re at.

“In the end, I think the way that I like to invite people into this world is [through] science fiction.If we had

more funding for brain research organizations, we can turn death into a disease we can cure. We can use our mind in a way that has never been used before that is almost very superhuman.

“The area where science fiction becomes science class is an area where I like to put my two cents in and an area the Aoki Foundation likes to live in, and that’s very important to the dialogue,” he added.

Yet, a lot of the conversation around brain research is happening in the vacuum of small scientific circles or in obscure journals, Aoki noted. That’s why he called on others to begin talking about it amongst themselves and doing research on their own.

Yet, again, Aoki emphasized the importance of fundraising as the No. 1 priority and the biggest obstacle that brain researchers continue to face.

“We need more money and more manpower. I’m a believer that we can get there,” he said. ■

PHOTO: BRIAN ZIFF

What is Alzheimer’s disease and how is it distinguished from other dementias?

While the terms are often used interchangeably, “dementia” is an umbrella term for many types of diseases associated with cognitive decline and memory loss. “Alzheimer’s” references a specific diagnosis and is the most common form of dementia.

How is Alzheimer’s diagnosed?

It is commonly diagnosed after a memory screening rules out other reasons for cognitive decline. Having a historical record of a patient’s memory screenings can better a doctor’s ability to diagnose memory disorders earlier.

Is there anything that can be done to help prevent or delay the potential onset of Alzheimer’s?

Staying physically and mentally active are key. Keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels in check. If you are a smoker, quitting is important.

How can the barriers to Alzheimer’s diagnosis be addressed within the healthcare system?

Everyone with Medicare is eligible for an Annual Wellness Visit at no charge.

As part of that appointment, ensure your physician is performing a memory screening. Even if you are confident you will ace the test, creating a benchmark record will be helpful.

Your Medicare plan provider may offer additional support and benefits. Find the resources at: UHCForCaregivers.com Dr. Rhonda Randall, Board-Certified Physician, Geriatrician, Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare

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Grapes have over 1,600 natural plant compounds Research into the potential impact to our health when consuming grapes suggests that the whole grape— which contains over 1,600 natural plant compounds, including antioxidants and other polyphenols—offers a range of intriguing health benefits when included in our daily diet.

Help promote a healthy brain Grapes may help support a healthy brain. In a preliminary study conducted at UCLA, researchers found that consuming about 2¼ cups of grapes every day preserved healthy metabolic activity in regions of the brain associated with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, where metabolic decline takes hold*. A follow-up study is currently underway at UCLA, and additional human studies will be important to fully understand the role of grapes in this vital area of health.

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*Lee, J.K.; Torsyan, N.; and Silverman, D.H. (2017). Examining the impact of grape consumption on brain metabolism and cognitive function in patients with mild decline in cognition: a doubleblinded placebo-controlled pilot study. Experimental Gerontology, 87 (Pt A): 121–128.