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Progress in Alzheimer’s Research — Lifestyle Implications
On October 1st, almost 300 members of
the Alzheimer’s community gathered at
Rockefeller University for the Chapter’s 22nd
Annual Meeting. There was anticipation in the air as a
record number of attendees filed into the auditorium to
hear a panel of esteemed scientists and researchers discuss
recent progress in Alzheimer’s research and how changes
in routine habits such as diet and exercise affect the risk of
Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Kicking off the program with a light touch, Lou-Ellen
Barkan, Chapter president and CEO, asked the scientists to
put the Chapter out of business as quickly as possible — by
finding a cure. On a more serious note, she then thanked
the Chapter’s staff and volunteers for their consistent hard
work and dedication.
Leading off the panel with a discussion about identifying
lifestyle risks for cognitive loss and dementia was Mary Sano,
PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, Director of the Alzheimer’s
Disease Research Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine;
Director of Research and Development, Bronx Veterans
Administration Hospital.
Scott Small, MD, the Herbert Irving Associate Professor
in Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, took
this idea a step further as he explained — from a biological
perspective — how lifestyles can affect Alzheimer’s disease
and cognitive aging.
The final presentation on managing and measuring
the effects of lifestyle changes for cognitive health was
made by Steven H. Ferris, PhD, the Friedman Professor
and Director of the Alzheimer’s disease Center, Center of Excellence on Brain Aging, New York University Langone
Medical Center.
The speakers focused on ways of minimizing cognitive
decline in healthy adults by maintaining a program of
regular exercise, cognitive and social stimulation, treating
treatable disorders like hypertension, diabetes, high
cholesterol, and protecting the brain from injury. Although
there is evidence that these activities might reduce the risk
of developing AD, the panelists emphasized that there are
factors we can control and factors we cannot control, such
as genetics.
Closing on a positive note, moderator Elemer Piros,
PhD, Senior Biotechnology Analyst at Rodman &
Renshaw, provided an overview of recent drug trials and
noted the increase in the number of companies currently
involved in research. Billions of dollars are currently
invested in Alzheimer’s-related drug development by over
60 companies worldwide. Dr. Piros emphasized that with
the growth of the aging population, it is imperative to find
a treatment, or a means of preventing Alzheimer’s.
Following an informative Q & A session expertly led by
Jed Levine, the Chapter’s Executive Vice President, Director
of Programs and Services, guests were invited to meet the
scientists up close and personal at a special reception.
As one caregiver noted as she headed home, “Just
knowing that these very smart people are working to find
a cause and cure, helps me sleep better at night.”
The Annual Meeting was sponsored, in part, by Rodman
& Renshaw, LLC; Medivation, Inc.;
and Pfizer Inc.
Congratulations to two members of our staff who were singled out by the media for their steadfast
commitment in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease!
Jed Levine, Executive Vice President, Director of
Programs and Services, was honored with a WESTY
Award by the West Side Spirit newspaper for his significant
contributions to New York City’s healthcare community.
The accompanying profile touted many of his
accomplishments including creating the prototype for
the National Safe Return program. Latino Outreach
Manager, Licet Valois, was featured twice in the New
York Post as a finalist for the paper’s prestigious Liberty
Award for going the extra mile to bring information
about Alzheimer’s disease and the Chapter to the Latino
community.
Difficult relationship issues that couples confront as dementia progresses to the late stages was the
topic of a compelling Wall Street Journal story in which
Jed was cited as an expert on helping people cope with
losing their loved ones to the disease. His interview
and letter to the editor in The Riverdale Press brought much needed attention to the issue of wandering and
the benefits of the MedicAlert® + Alzheimer’s Association
Safe Return® program. Similarly, Licet’s appearance
on Univision Channel 41’s morning news show
brought our message to a large Spanish-speaking TV
audience.
As always, Chapter President & CEO Lou-Ellen
Barkan was a constant presence in the news. From
her quotes in the New York Daily News about dementia
and the importance of staying physically and mentally
fit, to her advice in The Chronicle of Philanthropy on
how to land a job in the nonprofit sector, Lou-Ellen
is an important source for reporters who cover brain
health and nonprofits. Listeners to News Radio 880–
WCBS AM may also have heard Lou-Ellen this summer
discussing the Chapter’s first ever Memory Walk
held in partnership with the Brooklyn Cyclones, the
New York Mets Class A minor league team.
Finally, another exciting development has been
Newsday’s ongoing coverage of Alzheimer’s disease.
The New York City Chapter worked extensively with
the reporter, providing important information and resources.
Be sure to keep an eye on the Newsday Web
site for regular updates and new stories.
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