Author Offers Character Naming Rights to Raise Money for Alzheimer’s Charity Creates Mission to Use Music as Weapon Against Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Lying in Dementia Care Teen Develops SafeWander Innovative Alzheimer’s App

Tess Gerritsen is an international bestselling author who is using her books to make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

After losing her father to the disease is in 2003, she launched her personal “War on Alzheimer’s,” asking readers to donate money for research in exchange for the opportunity to name characters in her newest book.

Learn more about this opportunity to raise money for Alzheimer’s.

International Bestselling Author Launches Personal War on Alzheimer’s

It is estimated that in 2015 alone, 700,000 people in the United States over the age of 65 will die with Alzheimer’s disease. It is a leading cause of death in the U.S. and costs the country billion of dollars in care costs.

International bestselling author Tess Gerritsen is no stranger to the physical, emotional and financial burden of Alzheimer’s. Her father died in 2003 with the disease and since then, the author of the Rizzoli & Isles series (also a popular TV show) has been dedicated to eradicating it.

She is troubled by the lack of public funds set for research and said:

“This is something I can do. It’s personal for me because of what my family went through, but it’s personal for everybody. We all know somebody suffering from Alzheimer’s.”

Turning a Challenge Into an Alzheimer’s Opportunity

Tess Gerritsen, by: Jacob Gerritsen

Gerritsen admits that naming characters has been a challenge for her in the past, saying she often goes through the phone book to find names that may work for her series. She recently took her naming problem to the masses, solving two problems with one campaign.

In 2013, she asked her readers to consider donating to the Scripps Research Institute in California and Florida to fight Alzheimer’s and, in return, two donors would be given the chance to name characters in one of her books. Over 400 people donated almost $28,000 to that campaign. In addition, she matched their generosity with a $25,000 donation herself. The winners of that fundraising campaign chose to name their characters in memory of loved ones lost to Alzheimer’s.

Gerritsen chose Scripps Research Institute to be the beneficiary of her contest because, according to their Charity Navigator score, most of the donations will go to research and not administration costs.

Beginning this month, she is starting a new fundraising campaign again raising money for Alzheimer’s research. Donate to Scripps and enter to win the opportunity to name a character (she warns that it could be villain) in her new book!

Learn more about Gerritsen’s War on Alzheimer’s and the opportunity to name a character on her GoFundMe page: http://www.gofundme.com/woa-2015

Will you donate to Scripps to name a character in her new book? What would you name your character? 

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The Effects of Medical Marijuana on Alzheimer’s Treatment Iron Levels Could Predict Your Alzheimer’s Risk Can a Sweet Tooth Increase Your Risk for Alzheimer’s? Study Shows How Extra Sleep Could Improve Memory

Marijuana is a controversial topic in the medical community, with some well respected doctors advocating for its use and others concerned about its long term effects and addictive properties. As researchers continue to explore the drug as a potential treatment to chronic and terminal illnesses, some studies are focusing their efforts on the effects of medical marijuana on Alzheimer’s treatment and symptoms.

Learn more about what these studies have found and why more work needs to be done in evaluating it as a treatment for the disease.

Medical Marijuana Brings Controversy to the Medical Community

Medical marijuana or medical cannabis has been used throughout the world and for thousands of years to treat disease or alleviate symptoms from disease.

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medical marijuana medications in pill form, dronabinol and nabilone. These two drugs are being used to treat nausea caused by chemotherapy and increase the appetites of people with AIDS.

However, because of its addictive properties and unknown long term effects, its usage today is controversial in the medical community. While medical marijuana has been shown to reduce nausea in people undergoing chemotherapy and help people living with HIV/AIDS some medical professionals are wary of using it as a treatment method.

Several organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine, have issued statements opposing its usage for medical treatment purposes.

Medical Marijuana and Alzheimer’s Prevention

A preclinical study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that very small doses of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a chemical found in marijuana, can slow the production of beta-amyloid proteins, thought to be a hallmark characteristic and key contributor to the progression of Alzheimer’s.

The study, published in August of 2014 is among others to support the effectiveness of THC in prohibiting the growth of toxic amyloid plagues.

Co-author of the study, Neel Nabar, cautions against drawing quick conclusions from their study saying:

“It’s important to keep in mind that just because a drug may be effective doesn’t mean it can be safely used by anyone. However, these findings may lead to the development of related compounds that are safe, legal, and useful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Using Medical Marijuana to Treat Dementia

While researchers have seen some success in using medical marijuana to fight the formation of beta amyloid plagues, a new study did not see a statistically significance difference when using medical marijuana to treat symptoms associated with dementia.

A research team from Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, Netherlands investigated the effects of medical marijuana on symptoms of dementia including depression, anxiety, aggression, insomnia and hallucinations.

The team divided their 50 participants into two groups with one group receiving 1.5 mg of medical marijuana pills and the other receiving a placebo pill. Participants took the pill three times a day for three weeks. After comparing the behavioral symptoms of both groups, researchers found there was no difference in the two groups.

Lead author of the study, Geke A.H. van den Elsen, is not giving up hope of a treatment saying: “Since the side effects were mild to moderate, it’s possible that a higher dose could be tolerated and could possibly be beneficial. Future studies are needed to test this. A drug that can treat the behavioral symptoms of dementia is much needed, as about 62% of dementia patients in the general community and up to 80% of nursing home residents experience these symptoms.”

What are your thoughts on using medical marijuana to treat Alzheimer’s and dementia symptoms? Share them with us in the comments below.

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Charity Creates Mission to Use Music as Weapon Against Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Lying in Dementia Care Teen Develops SafeWander Innovative Alzheimer’s App The Faces of Dementia an Online Quilt

Music’s ability to engage people living with Alzheimer’s disease has been studied and proven repeatedly. A new nonprofit called “Music Is Our Weapon” is bringing personalized playlists to people living with dementia.

Learn more about this nonprofit on a mission to use music against Alzheimer’s, and how it is improving the quality of life for people living with all stages of cognitive impairment.

Using Music to Break Through Cognitive Barriers

Many studies have shown that music has power to reach the hearts and minds of people with Alzheimer’s and dementia, even those in the most advanced stages.

A popular YouTube video shows the power of music to reach the depths of people who have not communicated with loved ones in years. A recent study showed that people with dementia can recall memories and emotions, and have enhanced mental performance after singing classic hits and show tunes from movies and musicals.

The power of music for all people, and especially those who are living with dementia, is undeniable.

Music Is Our Weapon

Last year, JP Maloney and Ashley Brightwell started a nonprofit called “Music Is Our Weapon,” with the goal of bringing music and personalized playlists to seniors with memory loss.

As they collect iPods, MP3 players, and other music-playing devices, they create a personalized playlist to increase engagement with the listener. Volunteers accompany Maloney and Brightwell to make their deliveries and help the users become familiar with their playlists and devices.

While their most popular genre is gospel, other genres are represented. The founders take the time to get to know the listener through a questionnaire and get as much information as possible about the listener to make a playlist that will meet their needs.

Co-founder Ashely Brightwell said:

“Music Is Our Weapon strives to connect with memory-care residents on an intimate level through music. Exposing these residents to music sentimental to their past personal experiences helps them rediscover themselves, as well as unlocking doors to special moments in their life. Music fills a void and acts as a vessel for care on an emotional level, care that no prescribed medicine can possibly provide.

Join the Mission to Use Music Against Alzheimer’s

As stated on the Music Is Our Weapon website:

“The overall mission of Music Is Our Weapon is to embrace the power of music and shed it in the proper light it merits. As any music blog does, we share a wide range of music. But what sets us apart is that we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that embraces the power of music in the fight to combat cognitive erosion. Music is woven deep into our neurological DNA and has the ability to positively affect us through the very darkness we are fighting through. Music is a powerful force for good in the world and the perfect platform for us. Music Is Our Weapon to fighting losing ourselves and those we love.”

The organization depends entirely on volunteers and relies on donations for new or used devices. To join their mission and the fight to combat cognitive erosion using music, you are encouraged to donate iPods, headphones and laptops, which are needed to create a personalized music program. Music Is Our Weapon also accepts monetary donations as well as iTunes gift cards.

The organization is looking to add to their volunteer base and would love to have people spread the word about their work, work at events, or take their time to help facilitate the music program. Learn more at: http://musicisourweapon.org/

Have you seen the positive effects of music on memory? Would you consider getting involved with Music Is Our Weapon? How so? Share your story with us in the comments below.

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Iron Levels Could Predict Your Alzheimer’s Risk Can a Sweet Tooth Increase Your Risk for Alzheimer’s? Study Shows How Extra Sleep Could Improve Memory How Snoring Can Affect the Brain

While our body needs iron to function properly, a recent study has found that too much iron in our brains may be a cause of Alzheimer’s disease.

Learn more about how measuring iron levels could predict your Alzheimer’s risk, as well as what this finding could mean for potential new treatment methods.

Higher Iron Levels in the Brain May Quicken the Onset of Alzheimer’s

Iron is important to overall health and well-being, with its main role being to provide hemoglobin which helps properly oxygenate cells throughout the body. Without enough iron one may feel tired, have decreased immunity, and even become anemic. However, too much iron can cause a danger to the body by damaging body tissues and bringing serious health concerns, including Alzheimer’s.

Knowing that previous studies have found higher levels of iron in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s, researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia studied what those iron levels meant and if higher iron levels in the brain made someone more likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

The research team observed 144 seniors who had mild cognitive impairment (MCI) for seven years and measured the iron present in each person’s brain. To do this, the team measured the amount of ferritin, a protein which binds to iron, in the cerebrospinal fluid. The team found that those with higher levels of iron at the beginning of the study were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s earlier than those with lower levels. Participants were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s three months earlier on average for every nanogram per milliliter of iron that people had at the beginning of the study.

Iron Levels and Alzheimer’s Treatment

Since finding that higher iron levels in the brain could mean earlier onset of Alzheimer’s one may wonder if medication that reduces iron in the brain could delay the disease. Researchers caution that one does not necessarily mean the other and that reducing iron levels does not necessarily decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

However, a study done over 20 years ago tested a drug that had success in reducing the rate of cognitive decline from Alzheimer’s by 50%.

Research team member Scott Ayton thinks it may be time to revisit anti-iron drugs saying:

“Perhaps it’s time to refocus the field on looking at iron as a target.”

What do you think about the connection between higher levels of iron in the brain and Alzheimer’s? Have you see any evidence of this in your loved one?

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