2nd Quarter 2016
The Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation (ARPF) is dedicated to the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease by funding research studies and providing educational outreach and memory screenings.
INSIDE
On the Cover:
• President’s Message
Page 2:
• New Medical and Scientific
Advisory Council Member
• President Obama Signs
Older Americans Act
Page 3:
• SIMPLE Conference Invitation
• What Others Are Saying
Page 4:
• Community Outreach Update
• “What It’s Like”
Page 5:
• ARPF Research Update
Page 6-7:
• Donor List – Thank You!
Page 8:
• In Memoriam
PRESIDENT/MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.
VICE PRESIDENT
Randal Brooks, MA, LPC
TREASURER Silvia Serrano, BA, MBA
SECRETARY
Kirti K. Khalsa
MEMBER
Edward Steinfeldt, MA
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Simran S. Stuelpnagel
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COUNCIL
Chief Science Officer
George Perry, Ph.D.
Dean and Professor, College of Sciences
University of Texas at San Antonio, TX
Ma Gloria Borras-Boneu, M.D.
GRD Health Institute – Barcelona, Spain
Hiroko H. Dodge, Ph.D.
Kevreson Research Professor of Neurology
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Oregon Health & Science University,
Portland, OR
Karen E. Innes, MSPH, Ph.D.
Western Virginia University School of Public Health – Morgantown, WV
Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Boston, MA
Miia Kivipelto, M.D., Ph.D.
Aging Research Center and Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Karolinska Institute – Stockholm, Sweden
Helen Lavretsky, M.D., M.S.
Professor, Department of Psychiatry UCLA Semel Institute and Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital – Los Angeles, CA
Arti Prasad, M.D., FACP
Professor of Medicine
Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine
Executive Director, UNM Center for Life Albuquerque, NM
Michelle Sierpina, Ph.D.
Founding Director
UTMB Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning University of Texas Medical Branch – Galveston, TX
“The 4 Pillars of Alzheimer’s Prevention” is published
quarterly by the Alzheimer’s
Research & Prevention Foundation
An Update on Stress, Meditation and Alzheimer’s Prevention
I recently wrote a review article that was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, entitled Stress, Meditation and Alzheimer’s Prevention: Where the Evidence Stands. This topic is near and dear to my heart, because I feel that the impact of stress on our brain health is so under-appreciated.
This review first provides a historical perspective of how chronic stress may be a risk factor for neurodegeneration, Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
The article then proceeds to discuss a proven antidote for stress: an ancient practice that is now being studied scientifically. Meditation is over 5,000 years old, but is only in the early stages of scientific inquiry. What is known, however, is that yogic meditation improves brain function, increases cerebral blood flow, enhances mitochondrial function, improves the synapse, and increases the size of the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and other important areas in the brain.
Meditation may also help prevent Alzheimer’s disease by decreasing proven risk factors, such as sleep problems, inflammation, depression, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The article reviews basic types of meditation and highlights a simple, 12-minute, brainenhancement exercise known as Kirtan Kriya (KK). KK is safe, affordable, fast, and effective. It has been shown to improve memory in subjects with SCD and MCI, enhance mood, decrease anxiety, and improve genetic and cellular health; turning off bad genes that generate inflammation, and turning on good ones that balance immunity.
KK also increases an enzyme called telomerase by 43 percent, the largest increase ever recorded. Research suggests increased telomerase may foster better overall health and brain longevity. While other meditation approaches, such as mindfulness or MBSR are timeconsuming and perhaps expensive, KK is affordable (essentially free) and takes only 12 minutes a day.
The article also discusses a new concept, called Spiritual Fitness, the new 4th Pillar of Alzheimer’s Prevention, which is a combination of psychological well-being and spirituality. It has been shown in studies that Spiritual Fitness has a beneficial effect on the prevention of AD. Although this writing is directed to physicians and scientists, due to the very technical writing style, I feel this information is vitally important for the general public as well. In fact, one of my goals in writing it was to also have doctors and healthcare providers share this knowledge with their patients.
Take a look at the full article, available on our website. Also available on the website and through CDs, are the instructions for KK.
I would like to hear from you with questions or comments about this topic. Please feel free to email me at drdharma@alzheimersprevention.org.
Yours in Brain Health,
Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.
Founding President/Medical Director
Introducing our Newest Medical and Scientific Advisory Council Member
Hiroko H. Dodge, Ph.D
Dr. Dodge has been directing two Alzheimer’s Disease Centers’ Data Cores jointly: the National Institute on Aging (NIA)-funded Layton Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Center (ADC) at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), and the Michigan ADC. She has more than 20 years of experience working as a statistician in the field of dementia research. In addition to her statistical expertise, her research interests cover a wide range of areas, including epidemiology of dementia; cross-cultural comparisons on healthy aging between Okinawa, Japan, and Oregon¡Xcollaborating with the Okinawa Centenarian Study project; application of demographic methods to clinical research; and longitudinal data analyses and clinical trial methods. She recently created a Professional Interest Area (PIA) entitled “Clinical Trials Advancements and Outcomes” in the International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research (ISTAART, an international AD research organization sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association). This PIA creates an international researchers’ forum where innovative clinical trial approaches, developments of outcomes sensitive to trial effects, and unique non-pharmacological trials are being introduced and discussed. Her most recently completed NIA-funded Research Project Grant (R01) examined whether stimulations through social interactions using modern communication technologies (pc, webcams, and Internet) could improve cognitive functions. She holds Fellow status at the Gerontological Society of America, and serves as a statistical editor for several dementia-related journals.
President Obama Signs Older Americans Act
On April 7, 2016 the federal Older Americans Act (OAA) was unanimously passed by the Senate. The bill, passed the House of Representatives in March, 2016, was signed into law (Public Law 114-144) by President Obama on April 19, 2016.
The Older Americans Act was originally enacted in 1965. Since that time, it has provided funding for programs and services that help older Americans remain in their homes and communities longer. The OAA’s provisions for transportation services, nutrition programs such as Meals on Wheels, and support for family caregivers, are essential to the health and well-being of our nation’s elders.
We at the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation applaud Congress for passing this bipartisan legislation and would like to extend a big congratulations to the aging organizations and advocates who dedicated their time and resources to seeing this bill through to final passage.
ARPF Invites You to the SIMPLE Conference & Retreat
7th Biennial Symposium of Integrative Medicine
Professionals in the Land of Enchantment
(SIMPLE) July 11-14, 2016.
The 2016 SIMPLE program will host many distinguished and expert speakers who will provide like-minded learners with the latest original research and updates in the field of complementary and integrative medicine including physician wellness, self-care, nutrition, geriatrics and palliative care, herbs and botanicals, mind-body medicine, and so much more.
This Conference will feature speakers in the integrative medical field including Dr. Arti Prasad, Professor and Chief of General Medicine, Geriatrics, and Integrative Medicine, and the Founder and Executive Director of the UNM Center for Life, and ARPF President Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa. This symposium is open to health care providers, patients and community members.
In addition to this wonderful educational opportunity, the conference schedule will allow mornings with your family and loved ones to experience the magical quality that Taos has to offer.
For additional information and to register, visit http://som.unm.edu/cme/2016/simple.html
What Others Are Saying About ARPF
Community Outreach Update:
ARPF Work Well-Received at AiA Conference in Washington, D.C.
On March 20-24, 2016, I was honored and excited to present a poster on behalf of ARPF at the Annual Aging in America Conference, sponsored by the American Society on Aging, in Washington, D.C. The topic of the poster was yoga/meditation and Alzheimer’s prevention, and it was met with a great amount of interest.
Overall, it is rewarding to see the recognition of ARPF’s evidence-based research regarding Kirtan Kriya from the conference-goers, and that its practice is continuing to positively impact concerned individuals, caregivers, and the other professionals in training at this Conference.
I believe that ARPF’s research is giving individuals the encouragement to use this dynamic meditation process to achieve measurable medical outcomes in addressing cognitive impairment in aging.
Laura J. Kokoska, RN
Presenting ARPF Poster
What It’s Like — to Provide Customer Service for ARPF
by Marilyn Kaler
I love that I am able to speak directly to many people by phone to answer questions about ARPF and our mission. Many people I’ve met by email also make fulfilling relationships networking about good brain health. They are satisfying connections. While not everyone is a “happy camper,” I am able to offer solutions and assistance and, in some cases, our regrets.
I receive inquiries through info@alzheimersprevention.org and by phone. I make outgoing calls (and emails) for outreach to individuals and organizations. We offer our brochures to educate and support a wide range of people across the U.S. and Canada.
The website, of course, offers items worldwide.
Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW), I’ve served in skilled-care rehab centers and residential care¡Xincluding specialized residences for people with dementia. In business, I’ve performed Customer Service and worked as a Receptionist.
I recently attended a health fair representing ARPF, and I was so “jazzed’ to experience how excited one lady was to receive a puzzle as our raffle prize. Her joy was pouring out of her. She charged me with joy at her excitement. What a gift I received!
Please call upon me to assist you by phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you.
ARPF Research Update:
Yoga Research Sponsored by ARPF More Effective than Memory Training
A new study sponsored by your ARPF shows that a simple yogic meditation produced significant improvements
in memory function in baby boomers. This research was carried out by Helen Lavretsky, M.D., Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UCLA and was just published in the prestigious Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease with the title “Changes in Neural Connectivity and Memory Following a Yoga Intervention for Older Adults: A Pilot Study.”
Because an average of 35 percent of community-dwelling adults experience some Subjective Cognitive Decline, the ARPF and Dr. Lavretsky decided to research an integrative medicine approach to impact this trend. A simple yoga-based meditation called Kirtan Kriya (KK), a non-traditional modality in the scientific-research arena, was chosen to test its value as a positive brain health prevention and/or healing option in regards to memory and cognition deterioration resulting from the aging process.
In one blind study (evaluators did not know who had what treatment), 81 people who were 55 or older were recruited to validate previous studies carried out by ARPF on KK, demonstrating that this yoga meditation would be helpful in the fight against dementia. A score of 0.5 on the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale ascertained that each individual chosen for the study already exhibited Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
Forty-two of the 81 participated in Memory Enhancement Training (MET), the gold-standard process used to prevent cognitive dysfunction. The remaining 39 participated in a one-hour-a-week session of Kundalini Yoga (KY) — yoga that focuses on breathing techniques and meditation. Secondly, each of the 39 had a daily assignment to practice KK at home.
During 12- and 24-week follow-ups, all 81 participants were evaluated on memory, verbal fluency, mood, and executive functioning. At the 12-week mark, results clearly indicated that both groups had significant improvement in both recall and visual memory. Verbal fluency was significant only in the MET group. The KK group showed measurable executive functioning improvement at 12 weeks.
At 24 weeks, both groups had significant and sustained memory improvement. However, only the KK group showed sustained improvement in executive functions. This group also presented marked decreased symptoms of depression, apathy, and emotional distress.
Ed Note: Your contributions have helped demonstrate, once again, that the regular practice of yoga, including KK meditation, is a safe and simple method for improving and sustaining improvement in brain fitness.
To obtain a copy of the study results, as published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, please email us at: info@alzheimersprevention.org.
| JANUARY to MARCH 2016 |
THANK YOU to Our Generous Donors! |
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| Donations Made In Honor Of: Adelina Robert DeCoteEfrain Gonzalez Hector Garcia William Lau Maria P. Haney Ruth Hargis Shirley Hart Robert Gordon Hayes Leon Keller Carolyn Lucz Sondra Ogurek Annello Pepe Regina Shields Corporate Donors: Mesa Motor Sports Products United Health Group |
Individual Donations Many Anonymous Donors Larry D. Ables Gloria Achterberg Rebecca Agan Meryl Altabet Madyson Aman John Anderson Jonathen Anderson Keirrra L. Anderson Lucas Christopher Angil Kimm & Steve Applegate Nancy Archie Gary Arnold Lynnette D. Baccus Ibrahim Bah Sharon Barger Keith A. Bauer Robert Bechel Mark Bell Richard E. Benson Cindy Bentley Yvonne N. Beooks Bertha L. Beown Melissa Bergman Sevart Bernard Bryce Bogart Michael Boggs Alan Bolataev Tom Bonnet Julianna M. Boor Valerie Border Carlos Borges Courtney B. Boscoe Dorina A. Botas Rene R. Bourgeois Aubrey Boyakin Melissa Bradford Noel D. Bradford Edith Brown I. Brown Jonnie Brown Margie Bunch Miriam Burbach John E. Butcher Angela Calarco |
Lody Jennifer T. Cariazowatts Richard A. Carlson Deena Carroll Gerardo A. Castellanos Richard Castro Carol Cavanaugh Steve Cavuto Dee Dee S. Chavers Debra A. Chebuhar Jaime A. Cheman Donald Chuck Jennifer Ciaccio Kenneth A. Clark Janice Clemons-Armstrong Neil P. Cochran David E. Coffill Scott R. Cohen Heather Collupy Barbara J. Contreras Perry Cook Hunter Medell Cooper Anthony Corona Linnea J. Coyne John Craft Annette Crain Ansley Crawford Eileen Culbreth Joel Danner Alex Daverede Dylan Harper Dempster Robert Denitzio, M.D. Lynn W. Dennie Stephanie L. Denny Anne Determan Donna Devine Mark Dickey Kelly Didriksen Penny Doll Michael R. Dombrowski Dennis Donovan Cynthia L. Doughty Kim K. Douglas Myles B. Drake Debbie Dunbar Kyle Duncan William F. Dunn |
Mary M. Eary Douglas B. Eddy Myra C. Edwards Haley Ehlinger Kianmehr Ehtiatkar Douglas E. Erway Ricardo Escamilla Kylor R. Eutsler James Fargo Gretchen S. Fau Roland S. Feghali Judith Feiner Francisc Femenia Mark Fielding Mark S. Filipek Michael G. Foecking Harry F. Francis Jaime A. Freitas, Jr. Melanie Galloway Sylvia J. Gantt Stephanie Garner Tara Garner Richard Garrison Andrea K. Gentry Teresa Gerlitz Stephen Gibbons Kathlena Gibson Sandra K. Gill David Goetz William Golden Michelle Goldwater Rosalia Gonzales Kenneth E. Goodling Timothy A. Gosnell Gretelf Graf Ivana Grakalic Dragoslav Grbovic Ruta Green Frances Greiman Tiffany N. Griffin Joan Grona Alice Gumbs Craig S Hall Roger L. Hanlon Dianne Harrison Wendell D. Harrison |
Sema D. Hashemi John Hatfield Amdrea J. Hawk Kristia Hayes Kathleen Healy Matt Helser Walter C. Herin, Jr. Jennifer Herrmann Edna Mary Hicks Kevin A. Hidalgo Orin R. Hilmo Judith L. Hines Yolanda Moniqu Hines Tracy Ann Hockman Andrew Thomas Holba Harriette Holland Cynthia Hoof Linda Hope Sarah Hopkins Michelle I. Howerton Timothy R. Huizenga Valerie Jackson Mary Fatehbir K. Jacobson Oharra James Robert J. Jobst, Jr. Carol Johnson Danielle Johnson Gregg Johnson Peter Johnson Terryl Johnson Katherine Johnston Kurt M. Johnston Frank C. Jones Gary Jones Jacqueline Jones Crystal Kehoss Carol Keiman Katherine J. Kerchner Brenda Kissinger Susan Klein Danielle Kneita Ted Knowles Bayard Koch Kenneth Kochevar Kristen M. Kopczynski John Krebs |
William J. Kuhn, III Marjorie Kulak Suzanne S. Kumashiro Barry D. Lehr Melvin K. Lentz Hailing Liu David Lloyd Jayne Lobert Silvia Lom-Ajan Eggen Loren Debra Lovoy Gary W. Lowe Michelle S. Lowesolis Linda D. Luczak Lonnie B. Lynk Sierra T. Mack Amy M. Mackey Michael D. Malarkey Sherry Maloney Carolyn Mariano Carmen Marquez Larry Martin Jessica L. Martinez Marcia R. Mathews Rose Marie Mattis Dallas Maupin Joseph J. May Deborah A. Maynard Sandi McCabe Tammisha McCoy Sue-Del McCulloch Carol McDonald Michael J. McGuirl Frank McNally Tamara J. Metcalf Michael A. Michaels Sam & Barb Midkiff Adam J. Milewski Catherine A. Miller Elizabeth Miller Norman Miller Andrew C. Mintier Johnny Mixon Rebecca Moak Itay Moav Allison Monroe |
| Irene M. Monteilh Kelly S. Morgan Elizabeth A. Morin Brenda Morris Kelly J. Morrison Lynn M. Mullen Michael Nance Jessica Neff Makayla T. Ngoun Patrick K. Nicholson Janice Noble Cheryl Nobrega James Norton Ryan E. Ocampo Todd W. Ochsendorf William R. O’Donnell Joyleen R. Okamoto Kevin Omalley Linda Orkin Donald Orrico Antoinette Ortiz Jessie Ownbey B. Ox Maxx E. Palmer, II Bianca Pardo James R. Paterson Armand Pellerin Denneen L. Peterson Loretta Phillips Elena Pietron Frances Pinckney Joy Pochatila Aaron Pondrom Robert K. Pope Pamela S. Porsch Edward Pratt Cindy & Pat Quinn Rosemary E. Rankin Marie Y. Regelski Mike Reno Sarah Revers Rosella Richardson Robert Ridgeway |
Kimberly Jo Riggle Joseph M. Robbins Tyra D. Roberts Jackie Roller Jennifer Ross Russell Roth Dylan Scott R. Sablad Eli Salahuddin Alexis Rachel Samloff Catherine J. Sanders James P. Sauers, Jr. Joshua Stephen Saunders Erin S. Saynuk Donald Scerini Jean M. Schaid Donna Schlicting Lisa Schmidt Diane M. Schmit Zachary J. Schneider Sharon Schoeppel Kimberly Schrag Francis A. Scott Donald Scull John Selewski Margaret Sessions Danielle Shepard Michael S. Simic David Simon Sean E. Sindler Luque Slaughter, Jr. Christie P. Smith Jan L. Smith Linnea Smith Victoria Lee Smith William Smith Suzan Snook Darci Southworth Steven Stafford James G. Stevens Chelsea Stockton Sylvia Streitberger Ananthram Swami Teisha Sykes-Deel |
David B. Tabler Steven L. Taylor Christopher M. Thackaberry Timothy Thimmig Karen Thompson Wendy Thurston Kevin Tingley Toni Todd Marc Torsien Robert Trimmer Sarah Trobaugh Dorothy Truman Linda W. Tuttle Annamarie Ugoletti Kasey L. Vail Nicole M. Valdez Marilyn Vasques Scavo Victor Gary K. Vinovich Steven Walker David Wassink Kadee Waterbury Quenton D. Watson Daniel L. Weekley Eugene Weinreis Patrick C. Weld Kenneth Wenzel, III Danica Ann Wheelock Janice Whitcomb Katharine Wiles Nicole Williams Kim Willment Lashonda Wires Anita Witthaus John Wyland John Yalch Marc E. Yardley Christine Yates Frances York Albert Zara Lisette Zeeuw Melinda Zeimantz Mary Ann Zelinsky |
The ARPF is a proud participant in the following workplace campaigns: Adobe Aetna Foundation AmazonSmile Foundation American Express AT&T Bank of America British Telecom Century Link Citigroup Citrix CVS Dressbarn Discover Duke Energy Foundation General Mills Just Give IBM Liberty Insurance Lockheed Martin Macy’s Microsoft National Instruments Corp. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. Roll Giving United Health United Way YourCause Wells Fargo |
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The ARPF mourns the passing of longtime Board member, Carolyn Ann Lucz, who served from 2002 until 2015. An innovator, supporter, friend, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. We are grateful for her generous spirit and will miss her greatly. Our heartfelt condolences to her family.
Discover all the exciting activities the ARPF has in store for you by visiting us on the web at
www.alzheimersprevention.org,
following us on Twitter at
https://twitter.com/PreventAD,
or ‘Liking’ us on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/PreventAD
The ARPF is a Proud Member of
