The rate of Alzheimer's diagnosis has declined steadily in recent decades, but as baby boomers age, the number of new cases continues to rise. The top risk factor for dementia is age, and by 2030 more than one in five Americans will be 65 or older. That means the prevalence of Alzheimer's in the U.S. could exceed 13.8 million people by 2060.
When Juli comes home after work, her husband doesn't regale her with stories about his photography business the way he once did. Instead he proudly shows her a pill container emptied of the 20 supplements and medications he takes every day. Rather than griping about traffic, he tells her about his walk. When they go out to a favorite Mexican restaurant, he might opt for a side salad instead of tortilla chips with his quesadilla. "He's actually consuming green food, which is new," says Juli, who asked to be identified by only her first name to protect her husband's privacy.
Researchers at the University of Bath said current diagnostic tools are missing the first 10 to 20 years of Alzheimer's, but believe a new Fastball test could transform the way the disease is detected. The 180-second passive test, that records electrical activity in the brain while participants view a stream of images, has been found to reliably identify memory problems in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) a condition that can lead to Alzheimer's.
Walking and diet are two of the simplest ways we know to boost BDNF, a key protein that helps brain cells grow, repair and communicate. Higher BDNF levels are strongly linked to better memory and slower cognitive decline.
Amityville's new Barbara Rabinowitz Education & Resource Center includes even a special transit-focused room to teach families how to travel with their affected loved ones - using items such as real LIRR train seats and an airplane row.
The nasal spray contains an experimental monoclonal antibody meant to reduce the Alzheimer's-related inflammation in Walsh's brain, marking a novel approach to treatment.
