Agitation in Dementia Webinar & Tip Sheet
Last month, we held an insightful talk – ‘Unraveling Agitation in Dementia: Tools for Care and Understanding’ with speaker, Dr. Jacobo Mintzer, geriatric neuropsychiatrist. The webinar offered effective strategies for managing agitation in individuals with dementia.
As a supplement to the talk, our ‘Managing Agitation Tip Sheet’ is a quick guide that provides practical steps and best practices in reducing dementia-related agitation.
Download the tip sheet here – https://www.agingresearchnavigators.com/tips
Diversity and Dementia
Latin Americans are highly underrepresented in Alzheimer’s studies even though they have disproportionately higher dementia risk compared to their white counterparts.
Alzheimer’s researcher Dr. David Xavier Marquez explains why Latin Americans have higher risk and what can be done to address that:
- Unspoken risk factors: silence and stigma. According to Marquez, many people within the Latino community don’t talk about Alzheimer’s. Dialogue about Alzheimer’s is essential to understanding the disease, how to recognize its symptoms, and how to lower risk.
- Clinical trial retention: The Latino community often faces specific barriers to joining and staying in a research study such as time commitment, travel, and language barriers. Studies that offer flexible scheduling, travel accommodations or hybrid and virtual options and Spanish speakers on the study team can support participant retention.
- The importance of family in Latino communities: Family members in the community are often likely to step up as caregivers and less likely to seek outside support which Marquez say can lead to “high rates of stress, depression, anxiety.” Research shows that caregivers may be twice as likely to develop depression and cognitive impairment themselves.
Memory Changes? Live Alone? Join the Living Alone with Dementia Project
Individuals who live alone and are experiencing memory loss are invited to share their experiences. Towson University Researcher, Dr. Laura Girling is conducting confidential interviews with people who live alone and have Alzheimer’s, dementia, or memory loss. Feedback provided in these interviews could help improve supports and structures that allow persons with memory loss to remain independent for as long as possible. Participation involves a single interview in the location of the participants’ choosing within Maryland or within driving distance of Maryland. Learn more here.
Unconditional: Healing Hidden Wounds Film
This new documentary, ‘Unconditional’ was created by Richard Lui whose father had Alzheimer’s disease. The documentary is about caregiving and mental health. You can watch the entire film for free here. Below is Richard Lui discussing the process of making the film.
What’s Happening in the Alzheimer’s Field?
Rosalynn Carter Has Dementia
Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady and champion for mental health, caregiving, and dementia support, has been diagnosed with dementia, according to a statement from the Carter Center. Rosalynn Carter and her family shared the news of her diagnosis to ‘increase important conversations at kitchen tables and in doctor’s offices around the country’ (around dementia). This news highlights the need for improved access to care and support for those affected by this disease. Read the statement here.
Sleep and Cognition
Past studies have found links between poor sleep and Alzheimer’s disease. Recently, a class of drugs called dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs) has been developed to help treat insomnia. NIH-funded researchers led by Dr. Brendan Lucey from Washington University are now launching a clinical trial to study the longer-term effects of orexin inhibition on people who are at risk for developing dementia. Further research is needed to better understand how this insomnia drug may lower levels of Alzheimer’s proteins. We will be watching for phase 3 testing outcomes. Learn more here.
For those in and around the Baltimore, Maryland metro area who have memory trouble and also have a hard time sleeping, there’s a study at Johns Hopkins that could help. Known as the REST study, it involves a common, FDA-approved sleep aid called trazodone. If you are over 55 and have not been diagnosed with sleep apnea, email the study coordinator HERE
AAIC 2023
The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC23), the largest AD research meeting in the world, will be held this year in Amsterdam and available online. The event is July 16-20. We are looking forward to the important discussions and announcements within the ADRD field. Learn more and register here.