Writing Test Might Predict Alzheimer’s

The New York Times: Alzheimer’s Prediction May Be Found In Writing Tests 
Is it possible to predict who will develop Alzheimer’s disease simply by looking at writing patterns years before there are symptoms? According to a new study by IBM researchers, the answer is yes. And, they and others say that Alzheimer’s is just the beginning. People with a wide variety of neurological illnesses have distinctive language patterns that, investigators suspect, may serve as early warning signs of their diseases. (Kolata, 2/1)

Big Think: How Anti-Tau Immunotherapies May Treat Alzheimer's Disease 
At the Feinstein Institutes, Dr. Philippe Marambaud and his colleagues have been focusing on the lesser-explored Alzheimer's component: abnormal tau. In healthy brains, tau plays several important functions, including stabilizing internal microtubules in neurons. But in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, a process called phosphorylation changes the structure of tau proteins. This blocks synaptic communication. Dr. Marambaud said there are good reasons to think anti-tau therapies may effectively treat Alzheimer's. (Johnson, 2/1)

WTHI Indiana: The Alzheimer's Association Is Pushing For House Bill 1542 To Pass
The Alzheimer's Association is urging lawmakers to pass house bill 1542. This is geared toward strengthening Indiana's approach to Alzheimer's and dementia. House bill 1542 will do three main things: Require the state of Indiana to have a dementia coordinator within state government. Have a revised and updated plan for Alzheimer's dementia diseases for the state and provide basic training for first responders on how to engage with folks who have dementia. (Williams, 2/1)

Singer Tony Bennett has disclosed he is battling Alzheimer's disease —

NPR: Tony Bennett Has Alzheimer's Disease
The family of legendary singer Tony Bennett — a staple presence who introduced generations to the American songbook and pop standards — says he has Alzheimer's disease. The announcement was made in a profile of Bennett published by AARP The Magazine on Monday; his wife, Susan Benedetto, says that he was diagnosed with the debilitating disease in 2016. On Monday morning, Bennett's Twitter account posted a note in the singer's name, writing: "Life is a gift - even with Alzheimer's. Thank you to Susan and my family for their support, and AARP The Magazine for telling my story." (Tsioulcas, 2/1)

CBS Los Angeles: Tony Bennett’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Again Puts Spotlight On Link Between Music, Memory 
Despite the debilitating diagnosis, [Tony] Bennett’s wife, Susan, said the 18-time Grammy winner does not need cue cars to sing his classics. The link between music and memory is something scientists and doctors at UC Irvine are continuing to study at UCI Mind — an institute for memory impairments and neurological disorders that’s at the forefront of Alzheimer’s disease research. “It turns out that, not surprisingly, the brain handles different kinds of information differently, and music is different from language, from recognizing words, and other things and things around us,” Dr. David Sultzer, director of clinical research at UCI Mind, said. “So how the brain works with music is different, and it appears to be less affected by the Alzheimer’s process than for example written words or memory for information that we learned yesterday.” (2/1)

Fox 2 Now: Why Some Families Keep An Alzheimer’s Diagnosis A Secret 
Legendary singer Tony Bennett’s family has broken their silence and revealed that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Sarah Lovegreen of the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter joined Fox 2’s digital reporter Aprylete Russell to discuss why some families keep an Alzheimer’s diagnosis a secret. She says it is not easy for any family to break the silence around a loved one’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease. (Russell, 2/1)