Dear Sir,

As a scientist — and the caregiver of someone who has Alzheimer’s — I’m committed to accelerating medical research. When we learned about Alzheimer’s Association^® TrialMatch^®, a free service that makes it easy to find clinical trials, my wife and I wanted to get involved.

My wife, Sheryl, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2008. Through Trial Match, she enrolled in an 18-month study of a drug that may help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s by testing some of the disease’s underlying causes. The trial results were promising enough for the study to continue this summer, and Sheryl will participate again.

We don’t know yet if Sheryl received the actual medication or a placebo (an inactive pill, liquid or powder that has no treatment value). We do know that without clinical trials, there can be no new treatments or a cure.

If Sheryl got the drug and it slows the disease, that’s great. But even if she received the placebo, we know her participation will benefit Alzheimer’s research. I encourage anyone who wants to help fight this disease to register with Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch today.

Thank you,

Palmer Holden, PhD
Iowa City, IA

Hospitalization with Alzheimer’s may increase mental decline

A hospital stay for a person with Alzheimer’s could lead to accelerated mental decline and other negative outcomes such as an increased risk of going into a nursing home, new research confirms. About one quarter of people with Alzheimer’s in the study had accelerated mental decline during the year following hospitalization. Researchers also found that number nearly doubled if the individuals experienced delirium, though they noted that certain steps can help prevent delirium in hospitalized patients.
Read the article >>

http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=665866

Advisor tells story of his younger-onset Alzheimer’s experience

Lee Ferrero was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 62. A member of the Alzheimer’s Association Early-Stage Advisory Group, Lee is eager to put a face to Alzheimer’s and alert individuals, communities, the media and local organizations about the critical need to act on this disease and to help find a cure.
Read Lee’s story >>
Learn more about younger-onset Alzheimer’s >>

http://blog.alz.org/lees-story-my-diagnosis-of-younger-onset-alzheimers/

Honor people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers on The Longest Day™

Today, June 20, the longest day of the year, teams across the Northern Hemisphere are participating in Alzheimer’s Association The Longest Day™, a sunrise-to-sunset endurance activity to honor the passion, dedication and strength displayed by people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers, and to raise funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. This event is about love, patience, strength and endurance, but it’s also about a challenge. Be a part of The Longest Day by following a participant’s journey.
Be a part of The Longest Day >>
Read The Longest Day blog posts >>

http://act.alz.org/site/PageNavigator/longest_day_home.html

Study of berries shows possible role in slowing memory decline

Consumption of berries and flavonoids showed a slower rate of cognitive decline in women aged 70 and older, new research shows. In a study that assessed over 16,000 women, researchers found that greater ingestion of blueberries and strawberries correlated with slower rates of cognitive decline for up to 2.5 years. The women who showed the most improvement consumed two or more servings of the berries each week.
Read the blog post >>

http://blog.alz.org/why-berries-may-delay-memory-decline/?WT.mc_id=enews2012_06_13

Erectalis