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Tag: Alzheimer's Disease

  • Eli Lilly Alzheimer’s treatment donanemab slowed disease progression in clinical trial

    Eli Lilly Alzheimer’s treatment donanemab slowed disease progression in clinical trial

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    An Eli Lilly and Company pharmaceutical manufacturing plant is pictured at 50 ImClone Drive in Branchburg, New Jersey, March 5, 2021.

    Mike Segar | Reuters

    The Alzheimer’s treatment donanemab, which is made by Eli Lilly, significantly slowed progression of the mind-robbing disease, according to clinical trial data released Wednesday by the company.

    Patients who received the monthly antibody infusion during an 18-month study demonstrated a 35% slower decline in memory, thinking and their ability to perform daily activities compared with those who did not receive the treatment, Eli Lilly’s data showed.

    Patients who took donanemab were 39% less likely to progress to the next stage of the disease during the study, according to the trial results.

    But the treatment’s benefits will have to be weighed against the risk of brain swelling and bleeding that can be serious and even fatal in rare cases. Three participants in the trial died from these side effects.

    Eli Lilly’s stock was up more than 6% in premarket trading Wednesday.

    Lilly plans to apply for Food and Drug Administration approval of donanemab as soon as this quarter, according to the company. The trial studied individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s who had a confirmed presence of brain plaque associated with the disease. 

    Dr. Daniel Skovronsky, Lilly’s chief scientific and medical officer, said donanemab demonstrated the highest level of efficacy of any Alzheimer’s treatment in a clinical trial. The company is working to get donanemab approved and on the market as quickly as possible, he said.

    And Skovronsky believes the FDA feels the same sense of urgency. 

    “Every day that goes by, there are some patients who pass through this early stage of Alzheimer’s disease and become more advanced and they won’t benefit from treatment,” he said in an interview with CNBC. “That’s a very pressing sense of urgency.”  

    Lilly previously applied for expedited approval of donanemab.

    The FDA rejected that request in January and asked the company for more data on patients who received the antibody for at least 12 months. Lilly said the data wasn’t available at the time because many patients were able to stop dosing at six months because the treatment cleared plaque quickly.

    Nearly half of patients — 47% — who received donanemab showed no disease progression a year after treatment began, compared with 29% who did not receive the antibody, according to the data released Wednesday.

    More than half of patients completed the treatment in the first year and 72% completed it in 18 months due to clearance of brain plaque. 

    In a separate measure, patients who received donanemab showed 40% less decline in their ability to conduct daily activities at 18 months. This means they could better manage finances, drive, pursue hobbies and hold conversations than those who did not receive the treatment. 

    “These are the strongest phase 3 data for an Alzheimer’s treatment to date. This further underscores the inflection point we are at for the Alzheimer’s field,” said Maria Carrillo, the Alzheimer’s Association chief scientific officer, in a statement.

    Brain plaque reduction

    Donanemab targets brain plaque associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The treatment significantly reduced the plaque as early as six months after treatment, according to Lilly. Many patients saw such significant reductions that they tested negative for plaque presence on their PET scans, according to the company.

    Donanemab cleared the plaque at six months in 34% of patients who had intermediate levels of a protein called tau that can become toxic and kill neurons. At 12 months, donanemab cleared the plaque in 71% of patients with the same tau levels.

    “It should be unequivocal that drugs that remove plaque, particularly if you can remove plaque completely and do it quickly, can lead to very significant clinical benefits for patients,” Skovronsky said in an interview.

    “The earlier in the disease course you do this, the more you can slow the disease,”  he said.

    Dr. Eric Reiman, executive director of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, said the results do not necessarily mean the plaque is completely gone, but donanemab cleared the plaque to such a degree that the treatment removed measurable evidence of it. The Banner Alzheimer’s Institute had two physicians who participated in the donanemab trial as principal investigators. 

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    Brain swelling and bleeding risk

    Donanemab can cause brain swelling and bleeding in patients that in some cases can be severe and even fatal. Three trial participants died from these side effects, according to Lilly.

    These types of side effects have been observed in other Alzheimer antibody treatments such as Eisai and Biogen’s Leqembi, which received expedited FDA approval in January. 

    Reiman said he’s encouraged by the potential clinical benefit to patients but it’s important to be clear about the risks.

    “We also need to be clear that there are side effects, including an uncommon but potentially catastrophic risk,” said Reiman. “And we need to continue to do our best to understand what that risk is for individual patients, to inform patients and family caregivers, and do everything we can to mitigate that risk,” he said. 

    About 24% of patients who received donanemab showed brain swelling on an MRI, but only 6% displayed actual symptoms. About 31% of patients had small brain bleeds called microhemorrhages, compared with 13.6% among patients who didn’t receive the treatment.

    Lilly said the majority of the cases of brain swelling and bleeding were mild to moderate and patients stabilized with the right care, but cautioned that serious and life-threatening events can occur. About 1.6% of the swelling and bleeding cases were serious, according to Lilly. 

    Skovronsky said every patient would need to have a discussion with their doctor that weighs the potential benefits of donanemab with the possible risks. 

    “On a population basis, our view is its benefits outweigh risks,” Skovronsky said.

    “FDA is the steward of that for the U.S.,” he said of the risk-benefit analysis that will determine whether donanemab wins approval.

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  • Apathy May Be Alzheimer’s Red Flag in Some People

    Apathy May Be Alzheimer’s Red Flag in Some People

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    April 7, 2023 — Michael K, a retired salesman, developed memory problems when he was in his late 60s. At first it was small things, like misplacing his keys or forgetting where he had parked the car. “Senior moments,” he called them. But his wife was concerned and asked him to consult a doctor, who diagnosed him with mild cognitive impairment, or MCI. 

    Despite his declining memory, Michael continued to enjoy the activities he had always enjoyed, at least for a while. He had always liked hosting, especially making “little spreads”— salads and dips — for his relatives when they came to visit. 

    “Everyone appreciated how my father made the table look nice for the guests,” said his son Neal, a computer programmer based in New Jersey, who asked that he and his father not be named for this article.

    But his father gradually lost interest in these activities, Neal said. 

    “He stopped being interested in interacting with the family and became more withdrawn,” he said. 

    Eventually, Michael was diagnosed with dementia.

    “In retrospect, I think my father’s apathy, together with some other personality changes, were part of the process leading up to his dementia,” Neal said. “We just didn’t realize it at the time.”

    Michael’s experience isn’t unique, according to a new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease that looked specifically at apathy in people with MCI.

    A team of researchers studied 1,092 individuals diagnosed with MCI. The study included slightly more women than men (59%), and participants had an average age of close to 72. 

    During an 8-year period, the researchers conducted close to 2,900 observations, with people in the study observed between 1 and 9 times (the typical participant was observed twice). 

    Family members and caregivers completed a questionnaire that asked about an array of symptoms, including apathy, and participants underwent many brain tests. 

    Of the group, 158 had apathy and 934 did not.

    During the study period, close to one-fifth of people converted from MCI to Alzheimer’s disease. Of those who had apathy, 36% developed Alzheimer’s, compared to only 14% of those without apathy. The shift to Alzheimer’s was also faster in those with apathy compared to those without (an average of almost 4 years vs. an average of almost 7 years). 

    Those who had apathy showed a 2.4-fold greater risk of conversion to Alzheimer’s.

    “In older adults with MCI, we found that apathy was a predictor of who would be more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease,” said senior study author Antonio Teixeira, MD, PhD, professor of psychiatry and head of the neuropsychiatry program at the McGovern Medical School, a part of UT Health in Houston.

    Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Ethnicities

    Previous research has suggested that apathy may predict progression from MCI to dementia. But these studies were conducted largely in non-Hispanic white people. According to Teixeira and his co-authors, that limits how much we can generalize the findings to other populations.

    That’s why the researchers studied people enrolled in the Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium (TARCC), which includes a significant percentage of Hispanic people, to explore the conversion rates of MCI to Alzheimer’s disease in this population as well.

    “A major novelty of our study is that we studied a heterogeneous population with a significant percentage of Hispanic research subjects,” Teixeira said. 

    Apathy as a ‘Red Flag’ 

    Neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as apathy, may be present in as much as 85% of patients with MCI and are also present in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.

    Teixeira defined apathy as “loss of interest and reduction in goal-directed behaviors,” noting that apathy often goes hand-in-hand with depression and there often is a “huge overlap” but that they aren’t the same thing.

    “Depression and disability can add to apathy, but not all people with depression or disability become apathetic,” he said. Conversely, “not everyone with apathy has depression, and apathy can indicate different things.”

    Making assumptions about the reason for the patient’s apathy can be problematic because a condition such as Alzheimer’s disease might be overlooked, or the patient might be given incorrect treatment,  Teixeira said. 

    An important take-home message for family members and caregivers is that “apathy in an older adult can be a ‘red flag’ that the person is developing a neurodegenerative condition, such as Alzheimer’s disease,” according to Teixeira.

    He advised people involved with the patient’s care to “bring the apathy to the attention of a physician, psychologist, or other health professional” because the presence of apathy “could either prompt further investigation or at least closer following.” 

    One of Many Factors

    Claire Sexton, DPhil, senior director of scientific programs and outreach at the Alzheimer’s Association, said that one of the strengths of this study is that the population is significantly more diverse than the populations in previous studies of apathy, MCI, and Alzheimer’s disease.

    “Based on the totality of research, it is still very likely that apathy is only one of many factors that influence the rate of progression from MCI to Alzheimer’s dementia,” Sexton said. The Alzheimer’s Association “believes that it is important for clinicians and family caregivers to monitor for and manage behavioral and neuropsychiatric symptoms, including apathy, throughout the disease course,” which “can be an important part of maintaining or improving everyone’s quality of life,” she said. 

    Neil’s father passed away at the age of 74, by which time the dementia had become very severe. 

    “I wish we had known more and gotten help for his apathy,” said Neal. “I hope that people reading this article will be more proactive than we were. My father’s quality of life might have been better for longer.”

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  • US health officials aim to ‘transform’ Alzheimer’s disease research with $300 million data platform | CNN

    US health officials aim to ‘transform’ Alzheimer’s disease research with $300 million data platform | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    The US National Institute on Aging is moving forward with efforts to build a real-world Alzheimer’s disease database as part of its aim to improve, support and conduct more dementia research.

    Last month, the agency, part of the National Institutes of Health, posted a notice of the grant for the six-year database project, setting its earliest start date as April 2024.

    The NIH confirmed Tuesday that plans are underway to fund the Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias’ real-world data platform.

    The National Institute on Aging intends to commit $50 million per year, starting in fiscal year 2024, to fund one award.

    The nonprofit Alzheimer’s Association is among those planning to apply for the grant.

    “The newly-announced NIA funding for a large-scale Alzheimer’s disease research database is truly exciting and a very important step forward for our field, and the Alzheimer’s Association will apply for that grant,” Maria C. Carrillo, Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer, said in an email Tuesday.

    “The Association is already leading ALZ-NET, which is a national network of physicians that is collecting data – including measures of cognition, function and safety – for patients treated with new FDA-approved Alzheimer’s treatments,” Carrillo said. “The NIA funding could expand ALZ-NET’s scope to the benefit of all stakeholders.”

    She added that the Alzheimer’s Association believes everyone should have access to treatments, regardless of their registration status.

    The real-world database “aims to transform” the Alzheimer’s disease research enterprise “by serving as a central hub of research access,” the National Institute on Aging said last week in its announcement of a webinar about the project that’s scheduled for April 19.

    According to the announcement, the aim of the data registry is to provide a comprehensive and diverse database that can “improve applicability and generalizability of findings,” be used as a tool for researchers and allow scientific questions to be answered more quickly.

    Last year, the National Institute on Aging convened an exploratory workshop to discuss gaps in real-world data and opportunities to expand real-world data sources for dementia research.

    Alzheimer’s disease, a brain disorder that affect memory and thinking skills, is the most common type of dementia, the NIH says.

    More than 6 million Americans are living with dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, and the number of people affected is projected to double in the next two decades, rising to 13 million in 2050.

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  • How these mice navigating a virtual reality game may help Alzheimer’s patients | CNN

    How these mice navigating a virtual reality game may help Alzheimer’s patients | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Researchers in New York developed a virtual reality maze for mice in an attempt to demystify a question that’s been plaguing neuroscientists for decades: How are long-term memories stored?

    What they found surprised them. After forming in the hippocampus, a curved structure that lies deep within the brain, the mice’s memories were actually rooted through what’s called the anterior thalamus, an area of the brain that scientists haven’t typically associated with memory processing at all.

    “The thalamus being a clear winner here was very interesting for us, and unexpected,” said Priya Rajasethupathy, an associate professor at Rockefeller University and one of the coauthors of a peer-reviewed study published in the journal Cell this week. The thalamus “has often been thought of as a sensory relay, not very cognitive, not very important in memory.”

    This new research, however, indicates that it could play a vital role in converting short-term memories to long-term memories. And Rajasethupathy said that should make the thalamus a key area of study for researchers attempting to help patients who suffer from conditions such as Alzheimer’s, who are able to recall old memories but may have trouble remembering new information.

    “it implicates a part of the brain — the thalamus — in the long-term storage of memories in a way that wasn’t even hypothesized by anyone else,” said Loren Frank, a professor of physiology at the University of California San Francisco, who was not involved in the study.

    Rajasethupathy noted that neuroscientists have long known that memories take shape in the hippocampus, and is the focus of the vast majority of research around conditions like amnesia and Alzheimer’s.

    Past research has “led to this model where memories are formed in the hippocampus but then become independent over time and slowly stabilized in the cortex,” the wrinkled, outermost portion of the brain. The question has been exactly how memories travel from one area to another, Rajasethupathy said.

    “That process has been mysterious, I would say, for more than 50 years,” Rajasethupathy said.

    It was the right time for her lab to attempt to pinpoint an answer, she added, thanks to new technology that allowed the researchers to track activity in multiple parts of each subject’s brain. The innovations enabled the team to trace how memories are traveling as the mice learned to navigate a maze.

    “I think what they did was technically very challenging,” Frank said. “Particularly where they were trying to (observe) activity from multiple neurons in three different areas at once, using this sort of fiber microscopes. That’s a pretty state of the art thing.”

    The study — led by Rockefeller graduate students Andrew Toader and Josue Regalado, working inside Rajasethupathy’s lab — involved strapping the mice into a headpiece designed to hold them steady while a machine used optical fibers to record their brain activity.

    The maze took them into various “rooms” that offered either incentives, such as sugar water, or deterrents, like a puff of air to the face.

    The mice returned to the maze for days, enough time for them to create long-term memories.

    “The analogy would be your birthday dinner versus the dinner you had three Tuesdays ago,” Toader said in a statement. “You’re more likely to remember what you had on your birthday because it’s more rewarding for you—all your friends are there, it’s exciting—versus just a typical dinner, which you might remember the next day but probably not a month later.”

    Meanwhile, the researchers used chemicals to inhibit parts of the mice’s brains to determine how it affected their ability to create and store memories.

    Not only did they find that the anterior thalamus was a crucial waypoint for these memories — they also found that by stimulating that area in the rodents’ brains, the researchers were “able to help mice retain memories that they would usually forget,” according to a news release about the study.

    Rajasethupathy added, “Some memories are more important to us than others. We found that, not only do mice need the anterior thalamus to consolidate memories, but that by activating it, we could enhance consolidation of a memory that mice would usually forget.”

    Rajasethupathy noted that there were some limitations to the study. It does not, for example, indicate that traveling through the anterior thalamus is the only route memories can take on their way to long-term storage.

    “I want to be clear that this is not the end all be all,” she said. “Maybe everything isn’t consolidated through this pathway. But I’m very confident this is one very important circuit.”

    This study also relied on mice, who don’t have identical brains to humans but have proven to be extremely useful models for discovering how our own brains function. The long-term memory storage process takes weeks in rodents, whereas it can take months for humans, Rajasethupathy added.

    It’s also possible that different types of memory take different highways, she noted. There are explicit memories, which focus on facts, figures and specific data points, and implicit memories are typically tied to emotion and can form without a person realizing it. The thalamus may not be involved in the same manner for both types of information.

    But Frank, the UCSF professor, said the study will have broad implications for future research, spurring more investigations into the thalamus’ role in memory storage.

    “It’s nice for the field to getting to the point where we can think about the long-term evolution of memories and really try to understand how that works,” he said. “And the study is definitely a step in that direction.”

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  • Terry Holland, who transformed Virginia basketball, dies

    Terry Holland, who transformed Virginia basketball, dies

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    Terry Holland, who elevated Virginia basketball to national prominence during 16 seasons as coach and later had a distinguished career as an athletic administrator, has died, the school announced Monday. He was 80.

    Holland died Sunday night, according to the school, which confirmed the death with his family. His health had declined since he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019 and he stopped taking his prominent courtside seat at Virginia home games.

    Holland took over a flailing program in 1974. The Cavaliers had had just three winning seasons in 21 years and Holland created a culture that proved a formula for success: His Cavaliers played rugged defense.

    Two of his first three teams finished with losing records but only one more did as Holland compiled a 326-173 record, led Virginia to nine NCAA Tournaments, two Final Fours and the 1980 NIT title. He also guided the Cavaliers to their first Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title in 1976 despite a modest 15-11 regular-season record.

    Including a five-year stint at Davidson, Holland’s record is 418-216.

    His biggest victory, however, likely was luring the nation’s most coveted recruit, 7-foot-4 Ralph Sampson of Harrisonburg, to join the Cavaliers for the 1979-80 season, and it was then that the turnaround took off.

    “Terry Holland,” Sampson told The Associated Press in an interview earlier this month when asked what made him choose upstart Virginia over more established suitors. “He was mainly the deciding factor. Good school, good teammates, good education, ACC. I mean, you had Dean Smith and all those people around, but he understood my demeanor and fit what I wanted in a coach. He was the perfect fit for me.”

    The Cavaliers won the NIT in Sampson’s freshman season and went to the NCAA Tournament for his last three years, reaching the Final Four in 1981 before losing to North Carolina in the national semifinals.

    Sampson, a future Hall of Famer, earned national player of the year honors in each of his last three seasons, and the profile his presence provided surely aided Holland in building his program. Virginia went back to the Final Four in its first season without Sampson, losing in overtime to Houston in the national semifinals, and appeared in the NCAA Tournament in four of Holland’s final six seasons as coach.

    Holland also built an extensive coaching tree, with many assistants moving on to become successful head coaches themselves. Among them: Rick Carlisle of the Indiana Pacers, Jim Larrañaga at Miami, Jeff Jones at Old Dominion and former longtime college coaches Dave Odom and Seth Greenberg.

    With two daughters of his own, Holland also had an appreciation for the women’s game, former Cavaliers coach Debbie Ryan said.

    “He knew that we had to go to Clemson and Georgia Tech, so he helped us to get the league to schedule both of us on the same days to play doubleheaders,” she said. “We would fly down to Clemson, bus to Georgia Tech and then fly back, the men’s and the women’s team together, so that it would save us all that wear and tear.”

    He also was always concerned about during the right thing, she said.

    “He wasn’t impressed with himself at all,” she said, describing him as a Southern gentleman. “He was just there to make sure these boys became men and they became good men.”

    When he stepped down as coach at age 48, it was to return to his alma mater, Davidson, as athletic director, beginning an administrative tenure that would bring him back to Virginia five years later in the same position. In 2001, he moved to special assistant to the president of the university, and in 2004, he began an eight-year stint as athletic director at East Carolina before retiring in 2012.

    ___

    More AP college basketball: http://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

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  • A Healthy Lifestyle Might Delay Memory Decline in Older Adults

    A Healthy Lifestyle Might Delay Memory Decline in Older Adults

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    Feb. 2, 2023 — A new study suggests that following a healthy lifestyle is linked to slower memory decline in older adults, even in people with the apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) gene, one of the strongest known risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

    A team of investigators in China analyzed 10-year data on over 29,000 older adults with an average age of 72 years. Of these, a fifth were carriers of the APOE4 gene.

    The investigators created a healthy lifestyle score by combining how much participants engaged in six activities: healthy diet, regular exercise, active social contact, cognitive activity, nonsmoking, and avoiding alcohol. Participants were grouped into having “favorable,” “average,” and “unfavorable” lifestyles.

    After adjusting for health, economic, and social factors, the researchers found that each individual healthy behavior was associated with a slower-than-average decline in memory during the decade, with a healthy diet emerging as the strongest deterrent, followed by cognitive activity and then physical exercise.

    Those with “favorable” or “average” lifestyle showed slower memory decline, regardless of whether or not they had the APOE4 gene.

    “A healthy lifestyle is associated with slower memory decline, even in the presence of the APOE4 allele,” wrote Jianping Jia, MD, PhD, of the Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University in Beijing, China, and co-authors.

    “This study might offer important information to protect older adults against memory decline,” they wrote. 

    The study was published online Jan. 25 in the BMJ.

    Senior Moments?

    Memory “continuously declines as people age,” but age-related memory decline doesn’t necessarily mean the person is developing dementia, according to the authors. 

    Factors affecting memory include aging, APOE4 genotype, chronic diseases, and lifestyle patterns. In particular, the role of lifestyle has been “receiving increasing attention” because, unlike a person’s genes or certain health conditions, lifestyle can be changed. 

    The researchers wanted to understand the role of a healthy lifestyle in possibly slowing memory decline, including in people with the APOE4 genotype. So they drew on data from the China Cognition and Ageing Study, which began in 2009 and ended in 2019. 

    At baseline, those in the study who were considered “cognitively normal”  completed tests of cognition and memory and also provided information about their lifestyle, health, and economic and social factors. They were then reassessed in 2012, 2014, 2016, and at the conclusion of the study. The long follow-up period allowed for evaluation of individual lifestyle factors on memory function over time.

    “Lifestyle” consisted of six factors:

    • Physical exercise (weekly frequency and total time)
    • Smoking status (current smoker, former smoker, or never smoked)
    • Alcohol use (never drank, drank occasionally, low-to-excess drinking, and heavy drinking)
    • Diet (daily intake of 12 food items: fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, dairy products, salt, oil, eggs, cereals, legumes, nuts, tea)
    • Cognitive activity (writing, reading, playing cards, mahjong, other games)
    • Social contact (participating in meetings, attending parties, visiting friends/relatives, traveling, chatting online)

    The people’s lifestyle was scored based on the number of healthy factors they engaged in, with “favorable” lifestyle consisting of four to six healthy factors, “average” lifestyle consisting of two to three healthy factors, and “unfavorable” lifestyle consisting of one to two healthy factors.

    Public Health Implications

    During the 10-year period, 7,164 people in the study died while 3,567 discontinued participation.

    Compared with the group that had unfavorable lifestyles, memory decline in the favorable lifestyle group was 0.28 points slower over the decade-long study, and memory decline in the average group was 0.16 points lower.

    Those with favorable or average lifestyle were almost 90% and 30% respectively less likely to develop dementia or mild cognitive impairment, compared to those with an unfavorable lifestyle.

    The authors noted some limitations in their findings. For one, the study was observational, meaning that we don’t know whether the healthy lifestyle actually caused slower memory decline, or whether the association might be due to something else. 

    Still, the findings “might offer important information for public health to protect older adults against memory decline,” especially since the study “provides evidence that these effects also include individuals with the APOE4 allele,” the study authors said. 

    ‘Important and Encouraging’ Findings

    Severine Sabia, PhD, a senior researcher at the Université Paris Cité, INSERM Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicalé in France, called the findings “important and encouraging.”

    That said, Sabia, who is also the co-author of an accompanying editorial, notes that “there remain important research questions that need to be investigated in order to identify key behaviors, which combination [of behaviors], the cut-off of risk, and when to intervene.”

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  • A wife remarried her husband after Alzheimer’s took his memory. She wants others to find joy amid loss.

    A wife remarried her husband after Alzheimer’s took his memory. She wants others to find joy amid loss.

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    Andover, Connecticut — Peter and Lisa Marshall’s wedding day was unforgettable, according to Lisa. But her husband quickly forgot it. 

    “It’s the saddest part because you want to reminisce, and you’re alone in the memory,” she told CBS News in 2021. 

    In 2018, Peter was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. Eventually, he not only forgot his wedding day, but he also forgot his wife. Lisa became just another nameless caretaker. 

    And yet, a whisper of their love must have remained — because all of a sudden, Lisa said, her husband started courting her, as if they’d just started dating. 

    One day, when a wedding scene came on TV, Peter pointed to the screen and said, “Let’s do it.” 

    “And I said, ‘Do what?’ And he pointed again. And I said, ‘Do you want to get married?!’ And he got this grin on his face and he said, ‘Yeah.’ So he fell in love with me again,” Lisa said. 

    Lisa accepted his proposal. In 2021, she staged a wedding for her already husband. 

    “I can’t even describe to you how magical it was. He was so present. And he was so happy. And it was very touching,” she said. 

    Lisa said Peter hadn’t been this lucid in weeks. But, it was a Cinderella moment. The clock struck midnight and by the next morning, their second wedding too was lost to the fog. But Lisa said she fully expected that.

    “I’m the one who’s going to remember that. And that’s going to help me heal later,” she said at the time. 

    Unfortunately, later came. Peter died about a year ago. 

    Lisa is now advocating for other Alzheimer’s patients and their families. She has also written a book called, “Oh, Hello Alzheimer’s.” 

    “I wanted people to understand the devastation of the disease, but mostly, I want people to continue to find joy, and really focus on being present with their loved ones,” she recently told CBS News. 

    Do that and, she says, Alzheimer’s will never defeat you, it will just make your love all the more invincible.

    To contact On the Road, or to send us a story idea, email us: OnTheRoad@cbsnews.com.   

    Steve Hartman


    Steve Hartman

    Steve Hartman has been a CBS News correspondent since 1998, having served as a part-time correspondent for the previous two years.

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  • House investigation says FDA approval process of Alzheimer’s drug was ‘rife with irregularities’ | CNN

    House investigation says FDA approval process of Alzheimer’s drug was ‘rife with irregularities’ | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    A congressional investigation found that the US Food and Drug Administration’s “atypical collaboration” to approve a high-priced Alzheimer’s drug was “rife with irregularities.”

    The report, released Thursday, was the result of an 18-month investigation by two House committees. It is sharply critical of Biogen, maker of the medication Aduhelm.

    The report says Biogen set an “unjustifiably high price” for Aduhelm to “make history” for the company, and thought of the drug as an “unprecedented financial opportunity.” Biogen priced Aduhelm at $56,000 per year, even though its actual effects on a broad patient population were unknown.

    More than 6.5 million people in the US live with Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to grow to 13.8 million by 2060, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. There is no cure, and effective treatments are extremely limited. Before Aduhelm’s approval in June 2021, the FDA had not approved a novel therapy for the condition since 2003.

    The investigation found that Biogen planned an aggressive marketing campaign to launch the drug, intending to spend more than $3.3 billion on sales and marketing between 2020 and 2024 – more than 2½ times what it spent to develop Aduhelm.

    Dementia, including Alzheimer’s, is one of the “costliest conditions to society,” according to the Alzheimer’s Association. In 2022 alone, Alzheimer’s and other dementias cost the US $321 billion, including $206 billion in Medicaid and Medicare payments, the association says.

    Aduhelm’s cost to patients and to Medicare would be significant, the new report says. It was one of the key factors behind a big increase in Medicare premiums in 2022, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

    In anticipation of “pushback” from providers and payers, the report says, Biogen also prepared a narrative to sell the value of the drug.

    The Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Committee on Energy and Commerce found that the collaboration between the FDA and Biogen in the approval process of the drug “exceeded the norm in some respects.”

    Biogen had initially discontinued Aduhelm’s clinical trials in March 2019 after an independent committee found that it probably would not slow the cognitive and functional impairment – the decline in memory, language and judgment – that comes with Alzheimer’s. But in June 2019, the FDA and Biogen started a “working group” to see whether the effort could be saved.

    The investigation found that the FDA and Biogen engaged in at least 115 meetings, calls and substantive email discussions from July 2019 to July 2020, including 40 meetings to guide Aduhelm’s potential approval. There may have been even more meetings, but the committees say the FDA failed to follow its own documentation protocol.

    The agency then collaborated with Biogen to draft a document used to brief an independent advisory committee that met in November 2020. The trial results were mixed, with only one showing a small benefit to patients.

    At that meeting, none of the committee’s members voted to say that the studies presented strong evidence that the drug was effective at treating Alzheimer’s.

    The meeting was unusual, according to one former FDA adviser who had sat on the committee for several years. Dr. Aaron Kesselheim told CNN in 2021 that the relationship between the FDA and the company was out of the ordinary.

    “There was a strange dynamic compared to the other advisory committee meetings I’ve attended,” the professor at Harvard Medical School said. “Usually, there’s some distance between the FDA and the company, but on this one, the company and the FDA were fully in line with each other in support of the drug.”

    When the FDA approved the drug, Kesselheim and two other members of the advisory committee resigned in protest. He later labeled it “probably the worst drug approval decision in recent US history.”

    The FDA often follows the independent committee’s recommendations, but in this case, it changed course and used its accelerated approval pathway, which sets a different standard of proof that a treatment could work.

    The committee members said senior FDA leadership told them that the shift in how the drug would be approved came after an FDA expert council meeting in April 2021 provided “unfavorable feedback” for the traditional approval process, according to the new report.

    The FDA also approved the drug for “people with Alzheimer’s disease,” a far broader population than was studied in Biogen’s clinical trials.

    Internal documents from the company said that Biogen accepted this broader indication “despite internal reservations about the lack of evidence of clinical benefit for patients at disease stages outside of the clinical trials and an unknown safety profile,” the report says. Leaders expressed concern that the company could lose credibility, and it developed a communications strategy to deal with the “anticipated fallout,” the report says.

    The committees recommended that the FDA document all of its meetings with drug sponsors, establish a protocol for briefing documents and advisory committees, and update its guidance for how Alzheimer’s drugs are developed and reviewed.

    The committees also recommended that companies clearly communicate safety and efficacy concerns to the FDA and consider the value assessments made by outside experts when setting drug prices.

    “The American people rely on FDA for assurance on the safety and efficacy of the medications they take. The number of patients and families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease will continue to increase, and it is crucial that FDA and drug companies adhere to established procedures and conduct themselves with the transparency necessary to earn public trust,” the report says.

    The FDA said in a statement that its “decision to approve Aduhelm was based on our scientific evaluation of the data contained in the application, which is described in the approval materials.”

    The agency says it is reviewing the committees’ findings and recommendations and says its own review found that the interactions with Biogen were appropriate.

    “It is the agency’s job to frequently interact with companies in order to ensure that we have adequate information to inform our regulatory decision-making. We will continue to do so, as it is in the best interest of patients. That said, the agency has already started implementing changes consistent with the Committee’s recommendations.”

    Biogen said in a statement Thursday that it has been working “cooperatively” with the investigation.

    “Biogen has been committed to researching and developing treatments for Alzheimer’s disease for more than a decade. We have been focused relentlessly on innovation to address this global health challenge, and have adapted to both successes and setbacks,” it said. “Biogen stands by the integrity of the actions we have taken.”

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  • Chris Hemsworth receives ‘strong indication’ of a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease while filming new show | CNN

    Chris Hemsworth receives ‘strong indication’ of a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease while filming new show | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Chris Hemsworth embarked on a personal and physically demanding journey for his new series “Limitless” that ultimately led to a sobering discovery.

    The “Thor” actor, 39, learns in one episode of the limited Disney+/National Geographic series – which shows him exploring ways to enhance his longevity and combat aging – that he has two copies of the APOE4 gene, one from each of his parents, meaning he has a heightened predisposition for developing Alzheimer’s disease.

    “They took all my bloodwork and did a bunch of tests and the plan was to on-camera tell me all the results and then talk about how you can improve this and that,” Hemsworth shared with Vanity Fair in an article published on Thursday. “And Peter Attia, who is the longevity doctor in that episode, and overseeing a lot of the show, called [“Limitless” creator] Darren [Aronofsky] and said, ‘I don’t want to tell him this on camera. We need to have an off-side conversation and see if he even wants this to be in the show.’ It was pretty shocking because he called me up and he told me.”

    Upon learning the news, Hemsworth said he “had a bunch of questions,” later adding that he “didn’t really know what to think. I was like, ‘Am I supposed to be worried? Is this concerning?’”

    He also said that the show then “became even more relevant and important for me, even more poignant than I ever thought it would be,” adding that APOE4 is “not a pre-deterministic gene, but it is a strong indication. Ten years ago, I think it was more thought of as determinant.”

    The new information, which Hemsworth said makes him “eight to 10 times more likely” to eventually develop Alzheimer’s disease, naturally caused him to reflect on death and his own mortality.

    “There was an intensity to navigating it. Most of us, we like to avoid speaking about death in the hope that we’ll somehow avoid it,” he told Vanity Fair. “We all have this belief that we’ll figure it out. Then to all of a sudden be told some big indicators are actually pointing to this as the route which is going to happen, the reality of it sinks in.”

    “Limitless,” which shows the Marvel star engaging in various stunts and practices to prolong and enhance his life, in fact deals with facing death in the final episode.

    “I think that’s my favorite episode. That’s where I worked with the death doula and people who worked in palliative care and end of life care and then spoke to a number of people who were at the end of their days or coming upon them – even younger people that were diagnosed with cancer and didn’t have long to live,” he shared.

    “Doing an episode on death and facing your own mortality made me go, ‘Oh God, I’m not ready to go yet,’” he later added. “I want to sit and be in this space with a greater sense of stillness and gratitude. And then you start talking about kids and family and going, ‘Oh my God, they’re getting older, they’re growing up and I keep slapping another movie on top of another movie.’ Before you know it, they’re 18 and they’ve moved out of house, and I missed the window.”

    In preparing the show for air, Hemsworth also mentioned that he was “offered a version of the episode where we didn’t talk about [his discovered genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s],” but that the prospect of helping others helped him to get over any hesitation.

    “I thought, ‘No, look, if this is a motivator for people to take better care of themselves and also understand that there are steps you can take – then fantastic.’ My concern was I just didn’t want to manipulate it and overdramatize it, and make it into some sort of hokey grab at empathy or whatever for entertainment.”

    Hemsworth, who most recently appeared as the MCU’s God of Thunder in his fourth solo outing in this summer’s “Thor: Love and Thunder,” is next set to appear in another sequel, next year’s “Extraction 2.” He is also wrapping up a yet-to-be-revealed role in 2024’s “Furiosa,” costarring Anya Taylor-Joy, set in the universe of “Mad Max.”

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  • Chris Hemsworth discovers he has rare genetic makeup that significantly increases risk of Alzheimer’s disease: “My biggest fear”

    Chris Hemsworth discovers he has rare genetic makeup that significantly increases risk of Alzheimer’s disease: “My biggest fear”

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    Chris Hemsworth’s new show with National Geographic on Disney Plus is “a mission to live better for longer.” But because of that show, he has come face-to-face with his “biggest fear” – that he might develop Alzheimer’s disease.

    During one episode of the show, the 39-year-old “Thor” actor underwent genetic testing to learn more about his present and future health. It turns out that Hemsworth has a rare genetic makeup with two copies of the APO4 gene, which has been connected to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. 

    “ApoE4 is the strongest risk factor gene for Alzheimer’s disease,” a 2021 study by the National Institutes of Health says, “although inheriting ApoE4 does not mean a person will definitely develop the disease.”

    While about 25% of the population has one copy of the gene, only 2% to 3% have two, according to that research.

    “The idea that I won’t be able to remember the life I’ve experienced or my wife, my kids, this is probably my biggest fear,” Hemsworth says in the show’s fifth episode. 

    During filming, the show’s longevity doctor Peter Attia first told Hemsworth about the finding off-camera, Hemsworth told Vanity Fair. That conversation, Hemsworth said, “was pretty shocking.” 

    “It was a pretty brief conversation, all things considered. I hung up the phone and my parents were there, at the time,” he told Vanity Fair. “…I told them, and then they had a bunch of questions. I had a bunch of questions, but no one answered them. I wish I’d had a more intense follow-up with it because I didn’t really know what to think. I was like, ‘Am I supposed to be worried? Is this concerning?’”

    Attia told Hemsworth in the episode that he is about 8 to 10 times more likely than the general population of developing Alzheimer’s. According to the National Institutes of Health, it’s also associated with early onset, which can happen anytime between someone’s 30s and mid-60s. 

    “There was an intensity to navigating it. Most of us, we like to avoid speaking about death in the hope that we’ll somehow avoid it. We all have this belief that we’ll figure it out,” Hemsworth reflected to Vanity Fair. “Then to all of a sudden be told some big indicators are actually pointing to this as the route which is going to happen, the reality of it sinks in. Your own mortality.”

    It’s also a disease that his family has significant experience with. Hemsworth’s grandfather has Alzheimer’s. 

    “He doesn’t remember who we are, you know his grandkids, but also his own children he forgets. It’s heartbreaking,” he says in the show. 

    He also told Vanity Fair that there are some days when his grandfather is “quite joyful and gives you a big hug.” 

    “I’m not sure he actually remembers much anymore and he slips in and out of Dutch, which is his original language, so he’ll be talking Dutch and English and then a mash-up and them maybe some other new words as well,” he said.

    Despite his genetic makeup and family history, Attia told Hemsworth, “it’s my belief that if we take every step possible, we can reduce your risk to that of anyone else.” 

    The finding propelled Hemsworth to take action. According to the National Institute of Aging, physical activity, blood pressure control and cognitive training – activities that help enhance memory, reasoning and processing speed – could help ward off the disease’s onset, although those findings are inconclusive.

    “It’s not like I’ve been handed my resignation,” he told Vanity Fair. 

    “When you have preposition to cardiovascular heart disease, cancer, anything—it’s all about sleep management, stress management, nutrition, movement, fitness. It’s all kind of the same tools that need to be applied in a consistent way,” he said

    But at the end of the day, Hemsworth told Vanity Fair that what matters most is making the most out of life for as long as you can. 

    “Whether or not any of this information helps you live longer, it’s about living better right now,” he said. “Whatever you do right now to benefit your future self is having a huge benefit in your current self. … Live with as big a sense of gratitude and love for life as you can.” 

    Li Cohen


    li.jpg

    Li Cohen is a social media producer and trending reporter for CBS News, focusing on social justice issues.

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  • Hundreds in metro Atlanta walk to find a cure at Walk to End Alzheimer’s

    Hundreds in metro Atlanta walk to find a cure at Walk to End Alzheimer’s

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    ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – From start to finish, there was nothing but love, support, and hope at this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

    For Harriet Watson and her family, this was far more than just another walk. Her brother was diagnosed when he was just 50.

    “I hated when he couldn’t remember a lot of things, some of the family members he couldn’t remember,” she said.

    They were among the more than 2,000 participants, many sharing stories of how they watched their loved ones’ minds slowly decline.

    “First they lose the fact that their loved one doesn’t know who they are, then after that, it’s the actual death,” said Laura Aranda, with Greenwood Place Assisted Living and Memory Care.

    Spencer Graves’ mother was just 55 when she was diagnosed.

    “My mom actually handed the car keys to my dad and said ‘If that’s true if that’s what is happening, I don’t want to drive anymore,’” he said.

    Participants held flowers of various colors, each corresponding to their relationship to Alzheimer’s, whether that be a caregiver, an ally in the fight, someone battling the disease, or someone who has lost someone. Atlanta News First was a proud media sponsor, with anchor Brooks Baptiste emceeing and sharing his very own experience.

    “In the case of my grandfather, there wasn’t really a conversation about how he was slowly but surely declining,” said Baptiste.

    Baptiste hopes events like this can bring more awareness to the debilitating disease, and raise money for research.

    “Something specifically that we see in the black community…people do not want to address this challenge that is really plaguing our community,” he said.

    Organizers said this year’s walk and fundraiser was a hit.

    “We’ve raised $521,000 and some change,” said Amy Richardson, senior director of development, Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia chapter.

    The organization hopes to keep that momentum alive, as researchers race to find better treatment options and ultimately a cure.

    Copyright 2022 WANF. All rights reserved.

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  • Rick Sharp Alzheimer’s Foundation Announces 3rd Annual ‘Alzheimer’s Day 2020’

    Rick Sharp Alzheimer’s Foundation Announces 3rd Annual ‘Alzheimer’s Day 2020’

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    This year’s event will feature renowned scientists and an opening meditation with special guest Deepak Chopra, M.D.

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Nov 11, 2020


    RICHMOND, Va., November 11, 2020 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The Rick Sharp Alzheimer’s Foundation, named in memory of the late CEO of Circuit City and founder of CarMax, has announced its 3rd annual “Alzheimer’s Day 2020.” While previous events have been held at the University of Richmond and the Science Museum of Virginia, this year’s event will be held virtually. Complimentary registration in advance is required – www.ricksharpalz.org. Previous speakers have included famed researcher Dr. Rudy Tanzi and New York Times best-selling author of “Still Alice” Lisa Genova.

    Panelists will include Dr. John Lazo of the University of Virginia, Dr. Constantine Lykestsos of Johns Hopkins, and Dr. Robert Innis from the National Institute of Mental Health. The evening will include special guest Deepak Chopra. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Catherine Franssen. The panel discussion will include the status of current research, the impact of COVID-19, and brain health.

    Sherry Sharp, founder of the Rick Sharp Alzheimer’s Foundation, said, “Since our inaugural event, we’ve met thousands of people and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to achieve our goal of curing Alzheimer’s Disease. Together, with your support, we have donated over $2 million and every penny raised goes directly to research.”

    Sherry also serves on the Board of Directors of Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (www.curealz.org).

    For more information about the event and sponsorship opportunities, contact Director of Donor Engagement Carli Nelson at 833.CURE ALZ, Option 1, and/or visit www.ricksharpalz.org.

    About Dr. John Lazo: Dr. Lazo is a professor of Pharmacology and Chemistry at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

    About Dr. Constantine Lyketsos: Dr. Lyketsos is the Chair of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

    About Dr. Robert Innis: Dr. Innis is Chief of the Molecular Imaging Brand at the National Institute of Mental Health. 

    About Deepak Chopra, M.D.: Chopra is an expert in the field of mind-body healing and a world-renowned speaker and author on the subject of alternative medicine.

    About Dr. Catherine L. Franssen: Dr. Franssen is currently the Scientist in Residence at the Science Museum of Virginia. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Longwood University.

    About the Rick Sharp Alzheimer’s Foundation: Rick Sharp was a business leader, husband, father, and friend to many. For over a decade, he served as the CEO of electronics retailer Circuit City. He went on to found car superstore CarMax, was a founding investor and Chairman of the Board of footwear brand Crocs, and electronics company Flextronics. Shortly after his death at age 67 from Alzheimer’s in 2014, Sherry founded the Rick Sharp Alzheimer’s Foundation. The non-profit focuses on supporting world-class research and increasing ALZ awareness. 100% of all money raised goes to finding a cure.

    Media Inquiries  
    Cara Dickens 
    Rocket Pop Media 
    cara@rocketpopmedia.com 

    Event Inquiries
    Carli Nelson
    Rick Sharp Alzheimer’s Foundation
    carli@ricksharpalz.org

    Source: Rick Sharp Alzheimer’s Foundation

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  • St. Catherine’s Village to Host Free Seminar on Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia on March 29

    St. Catherine’s Village to Host Free Seminar on Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia on March 29

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    Dr. Thomas Mosley will share the latest advances in Alzheimer’s and dementia research occurring at UMMC’s MIND Center during a free seminar at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison, Mississippi on March 29 at 2:30 p.m.

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Mar 12, 2018


    MADISON, Miss., March 12, 2018 (Newswire.com)
    –
    At 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 29, St. Catherine’s Village will welcome Dr. Thomas Mosley to its Commons Activity Room for an hour-long educational seminar. While the program is free and open to the public, seating is limited so reservations are required.

    Dr. Mosley, professor and neurological expert will share the latest advances in Alzheimer’s and dementia research happening now at the University Of Mississippi Medical Center’s (UMMC) MIND Center. Attendees also will have the opportunity to take a virtual look at the new Gertrude C. Ford MIND Research Center in UMMC’s state-of-the-art Translational Research Center.

    We are thrilled to have someone of Dr. Mosley’s expertise and standing speak to our residents, their families and anyone who is concerned about the cognitive health of their loved ones.

    Mary Margaret Judy, Executive Director at St. Catherine’s Village

    The MIND—Memory Impairment and Neurodegenerative Dementia—Center is one of the country’s leading research and clinical care services working to crack the code of Alzheimer’s disease. By combining pioneering research, population-based studies and more than 30 years of data with brain imaging and genetic technologies, the clinical team is making discoveries about Alzheimer’s and its risk factors. The disease affects 5 million Americans and more than 40 million people worldwide.

    The mission of the Gertrude C. Ford MIND Research Center is to uncover the underlying causes of Alzheimer’s and related dementias and to develop new treatments. Since the center opened, researchers have not only advanced the understanding of how the brain ages but also identified multiple factors that predict the development of dementia. Uncovering causes and risk factors can lead to improved management and possibly even prevention of cognitive decline with age.

    Dr. Mosley is the MIND Center director. A professor of medicine-geriatrics, he has an extensive background in clinical neuropsychology, behavioral neurology and population-based studies in neuroepidemiology. His research efforts have been largely devoted to uncovering how and why the brain changes with age and his contributions have been recognized with several awards. His work has led to discoveries about the brain that show that cognitive decline begins much earlier than previously thought—an insight that could translate into earlier detection and treatment. His latest work promises to push the frontiers of science and medicine by bringing together state-of-the-art brain imaging and powerful new genetic technologies.

    “We are thrilled to have someone of Dr. Mosley’s expertise and standing speak to our residents, their families and anyone who is concerned about the cognitive health of their loved ones,” said Mary Margaret Judy, executive director at St. Catherine’s Village. The continuing care retirement community (CCRC) offers two facilities for memory care: Campbell Cove and the Hughes Center. Both are licensed by the State of Mississippi as “Alzheimer’s Assisted Living” facilities and together, they offer a warm, home-like environment for individuals facing memory loss.

    The architecture at Campbell Cove and the Hughes Center follow design principles to minimize obstacles so that residents can maintain their independence as long as possible. For example, buildings feature wayfinding cues and circulation paths to guide people from one place to another. They also have small yet distinctive neighborhoods that allow for individual privacy while supporting family-size gatherings.

    Campbell Cove accommodates 36 individuals in three color-coded wings, each with a common living room and dining area along with 12 furnished private bedrooms. In the center is a large multipurpose area, arts and crafts room, recreation center, and kitchen. A secure walking garden and landscaped patios give residents the opportunity to spend time outdoors in a familiar and protected setting.

    The Hughes Center was created for individuals with advanced memory challenges and offers a calming ambiance for small-group sensory-stimulating activities. Each of the two distinct neighborhoods has 12 furnished private bedrooms and a common living room, dining room, kitchen, and screened-in porch and covered patio.

    Beyond the architecture, programming at the two facilities is person-centered with scheduled—but also unplanned—activities to enhance each resident’s quality of life. The staff follows a social model of care to support each person’s capabilities and affirm his or her dignity.

    St. Catherine’s Village offers skilled nursing dedicated to memory care, as well. A total of 24 private bedrooms with in-room showers are available for this living option, which combines person-centered memory care with skilled nursing services.

    Unparalleled services and facilities are the hallmark of St. Catherine’s Village, as is companionship, a caring staff, access to on-site resident-centered nursing care, and a mission-focused environment. The ministry encourages residents at all levels to enjoy the fullness of life, health, and faith.

    It is the first retirement community in Mississippi to earn accreditation by CARF-CCAC. This “commitment to excellence” seal signifies that the campus exceeds the standards established by the nation’s only accrediting body for CCRCs.

    St. Catherine’s Village is a service of St. Dominic Health Services, Inc. and is sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, who have owned and operated St. Dominic Hospital since 1946.

    Located on 160 acres in Madison, St. Catherine’s Village provides the right care at the right time through independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing as well as memory care.

    The free seminar on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is being held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 29 in the Commons Activity Room at St. Catherine’s Village, 200 Dominican Drive in Madison.

    The public is invited, but seating is limited so reservations are required. To ensure a seat, call (601) 856-0123, email village@stdom.com or log onto www.StCatherinesVillage.com. 

    Source: St. Catherine’s Village

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  • Madison Chamber of Commerce Names St. Catherine’s Village Large Business of the Year

    Madison Chamber of Commerce Names St. Catherine’s Village Large Business of the Year

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    Madison the City Chamber of Commerce—which is comprised of businesses, professionals and volunteers whose mission is to advance the city’s economic vitality and quality of life—presented the 2017 Large Business of the Year Award to St. Catherine’s Village.

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Jan 31, 2018


    Madison, Mississippi, January 31, 2018 (Newswire.com)
    –
    In January, Madison the City Chamber of Commerce named St. Catherine’s Village the city’s Large Business of the Year for 2017.

    Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler presented the award to Mary Margaret Judy, executive director; Felichia Fields, assistant executive director; and Scott Kersh, chief financial officer at St. Catherine’s Village. The continuing care retirement community (CCRC) offers unparalleled facilities, beautiful outdoor spaces, a thoughtful staff, resident-centered care, and a mission-focused environment.

    “St. Catherine’s Village truly embodies what Madison has achieved as a certified retirement community,”

    Mary Margaret Judy, Executive Director at St. Catherine’s Village

    “St. Catherine’s Village truly embodies what Madison has achieved as a certified retirement community,” said Mary Margaret Judy. “We are honored that the chamber appreciates the value we bring to the city.”

    To qualify as a certified retirement city, Madison passed a three-month intensive screening process conducted by Hometown Mississippi Retirement, the state’s official retiree attraction program. The city was evaluated on several criteria important to retirees: cost of living, tax rate, low crime, quality medical care, recreation, educational and cultural opportunities, and most importantly—a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

    Madison, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2017, also has been awarded the seal of approval by the American Association of Retirement Communities and is nationally ranked as one of the best retirement locations in the country. Both the chamber of commerce and the city actively promote Madison as a retirement haven.

    St. Catherine’s Village is no stranger to awards, itself. In 2017, it was named Best Retirement Community and Best Assisted Living Facility by the Clarion Ledger—recognition it received in 2016 and 2015, as well. In addition, Keep Mississippi Beautiful acknowledged the St. Catherine’s Village “Green Team” for its exemplary efforts in keeping Mississippi beautiful two years in a row.

    Furthermore, the all-inclusive life care community was the first in the state to earn accreditation by CARF-CCAC. This “commitment to excellence” seal signifies that the campus exceeds the standards established by the only international accrediting body for CCRCs. Furthermore, Campbell Cove and the Hughes Center are both licensed by the State of Mississippi as “Alzheimer’s Assisted Living” facilities.

    All adults 62 and older are welcome at St. Catherine’s Village, where they are encouraged to enjoy fullness of life, health and faith. Housing options include independent living in apartments and garden homes, assisted living in Marian Hall, memory care in Campbell Cove and Hughes Center, and skilled nursing in Siena Center. St. Catherine’s Village now offers skilled nursing dedicated to memory care, as well.

    In each lifestyle stage, residents pay a monthly fee that covers utilities, services and amenities that make living comfortable, carefree and secure. In addition to companionship, St. Catherine’s Village offers enriching activities with an activity director who coordinates a variety of clubs, groups and events to keep residents engaged, energetic and excited. The property boasts 160 acres of wooded grounds along with 24-hour on-duty security.

    St. Catherine’s Village is a service of St. Dominic Health Services, Inc. and is sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, who have owned and operated St. Dominic Hospital since 1946.

    With independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care, St. Catherine’s Village provides the right care at the right time for those in their retirement years. For more information, call (601) 856-0123 or log onto www.StCatherinesVillage.com. 

    Source: Stevens & Tate Marketing for St. Catherine’s Village

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  • St. Catherine’s Village Announces Fall Specials for New Residents

    St. Catherine’s Village Announces Fall Specials for New Residents

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    For a limited time only — St. Catherine’s Village is offering fall specials on several of its living options including memory care, skilled nursing, and independent studio apartments.

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Oct 3, 2017


    MADISON, Miss., October 3, 2017 (Newswire.com)
    –
     St. Catherine’s Village is celebrating the autumn season by offering new residents limited-time savings on several living options.

    Those who move into either the Hughes Center or Campbell Cove, which offers a home-like environment for individuals facing memory loss due to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, can save $1,000 per month for their first three months at St. Catherine’s Village. A limited number of rooms are available at monthly rates for individuals who are not enrolled in the community’s all-inclusive Life Care program.

    In the spirit of giving, we have reduced the short-term cost to move into St. Catherine’s Village and receive comfort, care and compassion.

    Mary Margaret Judy, Executive Director at St. Catherine’s Village

    For people who need 24-hour care, the $3,000 fall special also is available at Siena Center. The skilled nursing accommodations include private and semi-private rooms. Siena Center was twice voted the best nursing home in Mississippi by readers of the Clarion-Ledger.

    St. Catherine’s Village now offers skilled nursing dedicated to memory care, as well. A total of 24 private bedrooms with in-room showers are available for this new living option, which combines person-centered memory care with skilled nursing services.

    To qualify for the fall special at Siena Center, Hughes Center or Campbell Cove, residents must be new to St. Catherine’s Village and move in by Dec. 31, 2017.  Offer does not apply to respite stays.

    For a limited time, St. Catherine’s Village also is offering $300 in savings on monthly fees for three years to new residents of the Independent Living studio apartments. The cozy studio apartments with 413 square feet of living space are located in the heart of the community, near activities and on-site amenities. Each apartment comes with a fully equipped kitchen, individually controlled heating and air conditioning for year-round comfort, an emergency call system for personal safety, cable TV, utilities except telephone and Internet, regular housekeeping services, building maintenance, and 24-hour security.

    In addition to its variety of living options, St. Catherine’s Village features protected and beautiful outdoor spaces on 160 acres of wooded grounds in Madison, Mississippi. The private, gated community is the first all-inclusive life care in the state to earn accreditation by CARF-CCAC. This “commitment to excellence” seal signifies that the campus exceeds the standards established by the only international accrediting body for CCRCs (Continuing Care Retirement Community).

    With a caring staff, St. Catherine’s Village provides the right care at the right time for individuals in their retirement years. All residents have access to on-site person-centered care in a mission-focused environment that encourages everyone to enjoy fullness of life, health and faith.

    St. Catherine’s Village is sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois. The Sisters, who have owned and operated St. Dominic Health Service, Inc. since 1946, extended their healing ministry to the special needs of older adults with the creation of St. Catherine’s Village in 1988. Today, the not-for-profit, all-inclusive life care community offers adults age 62 or over a graceful lifestyle where independence and activity is a priority.

    For more information on all living options at St. Catherine’s Village as well as details on the fall specials, call (601) 856-0123 or log onto www.StCatherinesVillage.com.

    Source: Stevens & Tate Marketing for St. Catherine’s Village

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