To help families affected by Alzheimer's navigate limitations during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic but still looking to celebrate Mother's Day, the Alzheimer's Association offers tips to help plan for in-person or virtual celebrations, states the Chicago Daily Herald . The association recommends that families follow a person-centered approach by focusing on what is enjoyable for the person with Alzheimer's, like looking at family pictures or enjoying their favorite food. Small gatherings may be preferable if the person gets overwhelmed in large groups, with simplicity being key. Holding to the person's normal routine will help prevent Mother's Day from becoming disruptive or confusing, and families should plan for breaks so the person can rest in a quiet area away from noise and crowds if needed. Video chat platforms like FaceTime, Skype, and Zoom are useful when holding virtual celebrations, and families should prepare ahead of time to ensure the platform is one that the person with Alzheimer's can access easily. The event also could be enhanced by a slideshow that features favorite pictures of mom and cherished family photos.

An animal study published in the FASEB Journal found that Alzheimer's disease progression could be slowed by decreasing inflammation in the brain before memory problems and cognitive impairment develop, reports EurekAlert . "Starting an intervention at the earliest stage of the disease, when cellular and molecular alterations have already been triggered but major damage to the brain has not yet occurred, could offer a way to reduce the number of people who go on to develop full Alzheimer's dementia," said University of Rome Professor Caterina Scuderi. The outcomes of the animal study suggested that rebalancing neuroinflammation in specimens that exhibit altered neuroinflammatory parameters could be helpful. "Our results help demonstrate that neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease is an extremely complex phenomenon that can change over the disease's progression and varies based on factors such as affected brain area," noted Scuderi. "We hope that these findings will prompt scientists to further investigate neuroinflammation at the earliest stages of the disease, which may represent an important pharmacological target."

A study in Science Advances used human brain tissue to build a three-dimensional quasi-brain model that developed Alzheimer's disease pathology when exposed to the herpes simplex virus HSV-1, reports STAT . Brain-like tissue infected with the virus became riddled with amyloid plaque-like clumps, in addition to developing neuroinflammation and deteriorating electrical signal conductivity. The researchers genetically converted skin cells from human foreskin into neural stem cells, which in four days formed neurons, glia, and other neural structures in the brain. Within days of infection with HSV-1, the quasi-brains' neural cells developed dense, plaque-like globs similar to amyloid plaques typical of Alzheimer's. Inflammation levels climbed and cells cohered into abnormal clumps, and started overproducing the proteins PSEN1 and PSEN2, which raise the risk of Alzheimer's. Moreover, the neurons' ability to send and receive electrical signals sharply dropped. Administering the herpes drug valacyclovir reduced neuroinflammation, purged many of the plaque-like deposits, and improved brain function.

Psychedelic drugs are being investigated for the benefits they can offer older adults suffering from intractable mental health conditions in terms of quality of life and end of life, reports Forbes . Older Americans suffer disproportionately from chronic pain and accompanying ailments such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Therapy protocols currently being studied combine a limited number of therapy sessions with a psychedelic substance, in between intensive pre- and post-treatment sessions. ATAI Life Sciences founder Christian Angermayer expects that psychedelic treatments will eventually be fully integrated into the healthcare system with attendant insurance coverage. Positive preliminary outcomes of clinical studies by the Medical Affairs Professional Society using 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine for treating post-traumatic stress disorder, and Compass Pathways for psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression, have persuaded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to grant them Breakthrough Therapy Designation, as they "may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies." These studies have demonstrated that a significant number of recipients of a single course of psychedelic therapy undergo a life-changing experience that endures over time.

Brookdale Senior Living CEO Lucinda "Cindy" M. Baier has joined the New York Stock Exchange Board Advisory Council, reports WICZ . She will spend two years on the board, which proactively addresses the need for inclusive leadership by matching diverse candidates with companies seeking new directors. Brookdale has been recognized for its devotion to diversity under Baier's guidance. The firm is one of a small number of companies nationally that features four female board members. In addition, three Brookdale board members, including Baier, and one former director were recently listed among WomenInc. Magazine's 2019 Most Influential Corporate Directors. "I'm honored to have been asked to join the Council and help boardrooms across the country become more diverse," Baier said. "I strongly believe that diverse boards lead to more collaborative working environments and ultimately better run companies."

A study in the Journal of the Endocrine Society found that older men with age-related sarcopenia are more likely to develop diabetes, while older women do not exhibit this pattern, reports EurekAlert . "Age-related muscle loss may be an under-recognized target for interventions to prevent the development of diabetes in older adults," said Johns Hopkins University's Rita R. Kalyani. "We found that relatively lower lean body mass with aging was related to a higher incidence of diabetes in men but not women, and partially related to body size." The researchers examined 871 men and 984 women, average age 60 years at the initial visit, and monitored up to 15 years. Dual x-ray absorptiometry revealed an association between age-related lower lean body mass and incident diabetes in men but not women. "Future studies that use more direct methods to assess skeletal muscle mass may give further insights into these relationships and the sex differences that we observed," Kaylani concluded.

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) have developed a chemical compound that decreases amyloid plaque concentration and neuroinflammation, which play key roles in Alzheimer's disease, reports New Atlas . A study in ACS Chemical Neuroscience detailed the L1 compound's effectiveness. "L1 . . . interacts with different regions of the beta-amyloid peptide, as well as with metal ions," said UIUC's Liviu Mirica. "When tested in mice genetically predisposed to develop Alzheimer's-like pathologies, our compound could cross the blood-brain barrier, reduce neuroinflammation, and decrease the levels of amyloid plaques and of p-tau aggregates associated with these plaques." The researchers observed that a compound exhibiting this kind of effectiveness against these various factors related to Alzheimer's is atypical. They envision L1 becoming a leading candidate in the development of advanced treatments for the disease.

A study from University of British Columbia Okanagan Professor Jenn Jakobi in the Journal of Frailty & Aging demonstrates that strength training with free-weights that gradually builds intensity can combat declining health associated with aging, reports Medical Xpress . Jakobi's lab assessed 21 women over the age of 65 before they became frail, split into two groups. One cohort participated in a progressively intense free-weight exercise program three times weekly for 12 weeks, with a regimen that mimicked movements of normal life, and which may become difficult for some as they get older. The second cohort maintained their normal routines, with measurements of muscle strength and performance compared after the 12-week course. The exercise group improved their muscle performance and reduced their frailty, without injury. "Traditionally, older adults opt for low-intensity, and low-resistance exercise because they believe that heavy free-weight exercise isn't right for them," Jakobi noted. "Our findings show the opposite."

Professionals of all generations appear to be resorting to "portfolio careers" to earn their livelihood by combining freelance jobs, consulting gigs, short-term projects, board membership, and other engagements during the COVID-19 crisis, reports Fast Company . Such professionals may be better poised to remain gainfully employed after the recovery, especially as companies balance fixed costs with growing demands for new capabilities and talent to protect their cash flow. FreshBooks reported that 49 percent of current freelancers are older than 50, while Wonolo said even before the pandemic, baby boomers have led other generations in the global gig economy as they assume more jobs, earn more money, and gain better feedback than their younger peers. Another attraction of freelancing to boomers is the sense of personal purpose it can offer, and commitment to causes they support. Moreover, boomers' portfolios have prepared them for portfolio careers, enabling them to apply their long-term expertise to draw higher contracted rates than younger generations. Boomers are advised to scale up gradually to the gig economy, marketing themselves strategically and spending conservatively at first.

A local grocery owner in New Jersey's Bergen County recently donated paper towels and toilet paper for the residents of the Westwood Senior Housing community, reports NJ.com . The donation came from Inserra Supermarkets, which operates 25 ShopRites and PriceRite outlets in the area. Owner Larry Inserra Jr. was inspired to make the donation, including free delivery, when his friend Glenn Bartlett asked if he could purchase paper products for his grandmother, a resident at Westwood. "Sometimes the most generous acts are now when we're so much in need of kindness," said Westwood nurse administrator Julie McGaffin. She said the community is designed to keep seniors out of nursing homes by allowing them to live in their own apartments with enhanced services to ensure well-being.