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A new $5 million pledge by the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation’s Diagnostics Accelerator aims to shed light on frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), the leading type of dementia affecting individuals younger than 60. The Diagnostic Accelerator has matched a $2.5 million investment from the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration for projects that will look for biomarkers for FTD, the discovery of which may contribute to early detection and differentiation of dementia.
In addition to reading our e-newsletter, be sure to visit Today’s Geriatric Medicine’s website at www.TodaysGeriatricMedicine.com, where you’ll find news and information that’s relevant and reliable. We welcome your feedback at TGMeditor@gvpub.com. Follow Today’s Geriatric Medicine on Facebook and Twitter, too.
— Kate Jackson, editor |
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Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation Focuses on Frontotemporal Degeneration
The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation’s (ADDF) Diagnostics Accelerator initiative has announced a new $5 million commitment to projects targeting the development of biomarkers for frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), the most common dementia for people under 60. A new $2.5 million research investment from The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) is being matched by a $2.5 million allocation of the ADDF’s Diagnostics Accelerator funds.
The Diagnostics Accelerator was launched in July 2018 through an initial funding commitment from philanthropists Bill Gates, ADDF cofounder Leonard Lauder, and others, including the Dolby family and the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, who share their commitment to combating the rising burden of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Over a three-year period, the collaborative initiative seeks to invest more than $35 million in the development of novel biomarkers for early, effective detection of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. In Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, biomarkers are most often tests of bodily fluids, including blood or cerebral spinal fluid, and neuroimaging scans such as MRI.
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Memory Loss and Medication
Recent studies have found that some anticholinergic drugs boost the risk of dementia. On the good side, awareness can make such drug use a modifiable risk and possibly help reduce the incidence of dementia. Read more »
Touch Your Toes! A Brief Measure of Executive Function in Older Adults
A new method for measuring executive function overcomes prior limitations and adds generalizability to real-world scenarios. Read more »
The Role of Social Workers in End-of-Life Care
The participation of palliative/hospice social workers is critically important to guide patients and families in navigating the many challenges as well as to identify opportunities to help them with the difficult process of end-of-life planning. Read more » |
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DFree Professional
DFree Professional, a wearable device for urinary incontinence, has been launched for use in hospitals, in-home agencies, and long term care facilities to help patients with bladder control problems. A noninvasive device, it relies on an ultrasound sensor to monitor the bladder and notify a caregiver via smartphone or tablet that the patient requires attention. The device reduces the need for incontinence products and decreases care time. Learn more »
Airthings Wave Plus
Airthings Wave Plus is an indoor air quality monitor for business and facilities. The battery-operated, wirelessly connected device can help protect individuals against radon, a naturally occurring odorless gas that’s the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. Learn more » |
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Have a product or service you want to market to geriatricians, other physicians and the geriatric care team of professionals who treat aging patients? Are you a recruiter looking to fill the many geriatric professional openings within a facility, physician practice or academic institution? Then utilize the reach of Today's Geriatric Medicine to accomplish your marketing goals and fill any open positions.
Coming up in our March/April 2019 issue is our Spring Showcase. Email a sales representative to be part of this unique advertising opportunity.
A resource for professionals looking for new opportunities, as well as those physicians just curious to see what's out there, our Physician Recruitment Center gives physician recruiters a powerful tool to fill partnership opportunities, academic appointments, and hospital staff positions. To support your product marketing or recruiting needs, e-mail our experienced account executives today at sales@gvpub.com for more information or call 800-278-4400! |
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Meet Zora, the Robot Caregiver
In Paris, a surprising phenomenon is transforming care for the elderly. A robot called Zora, programmed by a nurse on a computer out of sight of patients, provides comfort and relieves loneliness. According to a feature in The New York Times, in facilities around the world, 1,000 of these robots are in use, and experts suggest they may be an answer to the shortage of care providers.
Without Safety Net of Kids or Spouse, ‘Elder Orphans’ Need Fallback Plan
Aging poses special challenges for individuals who don’t have spouses or children to help them coordinate care and manage the tasks of daily living. According to reporting in The Philadelphia Inquirer, roughly 22% of older adults in America are or will become “elder orphans.” The newspaper reports on a study of the needs of this overlooked and vulnerable population.
Older HIV Patients Struggle With Loneliness and Depression — And Lack of Services
Nearly two-thirds of individuals with HIV in San Francisco are age 50 and older. They’re long-term survivors who face housing difficulties, loneliness, and mental and physical ailments, yet services to meet their needs are lacking. The San Francisco Chronicle reports on a survey that explores the health issues of older individuals with HIV and looks at the degree to which they receive adequate care.
Seniors Steamed Over Cuts to SilverSneakers Fitness Program
Older adults are up in arms about the discontinuation of SilverSneakers benefits by some insurance programs, according to Kaiser Health News. The program not only helps older individuals stay fit but also provides them with companionship. Many are scrambling to find alternatives to the popular program that gives elders access to group classes at more than 15,000 sites across the country. |
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