Newsletter 1st Quarter 2015

OUR MISSION
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:
• Book Review:
“Season of Caring”
Page 3:
• Community Outreach
• What Others Are Saying
Page 4:
• “All Things Senior” Expo
Page 5:
• ARPF Research Update
Page 6-7:
• Donor List – Thank You!
Page 8:
• Give while you Shop
with Amazon Smile

OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS
PRESIDENT/MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.
VICE PRESIDENT
Randal Brooks, MA, LPC
TREASURER (interim)
Kirti K. Khalsa
SECRETARY
Kirti K. Khalsa
MEMBER
Carolyn Lucz
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Karen Bazinet, PHR
CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Simran S. Stuelpnagel
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Tryn Rose Seley
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COUNCIL
Chief Scientific Advisor
Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, Ph.D.
Ma Gloria Borras-Boneu, M.D.
GRD Health Institute – Barcelona, Spain
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
Karen Koffler, M.D.
Medical Director, Canyon Ranch Miami Beach Miami Beach, FL
Helen Lavretsky, M.D., M.S.
Professor, Department of Psychiatry UCLA Semel Institute and Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital – Los Angeles, CA
George Perry, Ph.D.
Dean and Professor, College of Sciences University of Texas at San Antonio – San Antonio, TX
Michelle Sierpina, Ph.D.
Founding Director
UTMB Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning University of Texas Medical Branch – Galveston, TX

“Forget-Me-Not”
N E W S L E T T E R

President’s Message
The Future of Alzheimer’s Prevention

I just attended a virtual summit on the future of the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The goal is to eradicate this mind-robbing illness by 2025. This is of great importance to us as individuals, as well as Americans, because of the burgeoning epidemic of Alzheimer’s. Not only are we losing loved ones but we are also becoming financially challenged. In fact, it’s been predicted that if a way to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s disease is not made available to Americans, Medicare may go bankrupt. Alzheimer’s also affects millions more around the globe.The biggest take-home message is that prevention is now being spoken about freely, as a reality. There is a great opportunity to encourage and promote prevention strategies with momentum on academic and federal levels.As you are aware, the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation (ARPF) has been advocating for lifestyle and prevention for over two decades. In fact, we were the first to do so. And now, these ideas are scientifically proven to improve health.Our work and support of the FINGER study bears that out. FINGER is the largest study in history on Alzheimer’s. The first 2 years have been completed with positive results and the second wave of 7 years is underway, with your ARPF helping to design and support this critically-important research.Beyond FINGER, we have been actively studying the effect of our simple, 12-minute Kirtan Kriya meditation for well over a decade now. We have 2 additional studies ongoing at UCLA, and The University of West Virginia Medical School. These projects involve Kirtan Kriya to prevent the progression of early memory loss. (See Page 5 for our latest findings.)In case you’re wondering about drugs, recall that I’m an anesthesiologist by training, so I’m certainly not opposed to the use of pharmaceuticals that work. However, as of yet, the available FDA approved drugs don’t fit that bill very well.

In the meantime, available funding for Alzheimer’s disease research is not what it should be. Therefore, it wouldn’t be mindful of me to close without asking you for your continued financial support for our innovative work. And, as I know many of you consider yourself to be spiritual, it is a great blessing to support a worthwhile cause.

I believe our work is worthwhile, and I hope you can help us continue this much-needed research to spare your children and grandchildren the pain of watching their loved ones go through this illness. You can donate one time, or make a monthly contribution at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/AlzheimersPrevention.

Thank you so much.
Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.
Founding President/Medical Director

Book Review:
Seasons of Caring: Meditations for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers

The ARPF has a connection to this lovely new book. As an interfaith collection, ARPF Chief Operating Officer Kirti Khalsa contributed two meditations from the Sikh faith.

Dr. Dharma’s words: Seasons of Caring is a sweet and inspiring volume, rich in diversity, compassion and depth. I found many comforting words of reflection and meditation in this book. It’s a must-read for anyone involved at any level of caregiving.

More from the “Seasons of Caring” website: www.usagainstalzheimers.org/networks/clergy/seasons-caring

“Seasons of Caring: Meditations for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers” is an interfaith volume with more than 140 original meditations from seventy religious leaders and care specialists – many caregivers themselves – representing seventeen faith traditions. Each writer draws upon his or her years of experience to offer words of hope, encouragement and understanding to those who are now on this journey, and to give voice to the unique challenges confronting Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers. We are honored to include the artwork of Lester E. Potts, Jr., created while he was a client at Caring Days Adult Dementia Daycare Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Offering the gifts of hope, encouragement, compassion and empathy to those on the difficult journey of caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, Seasons of Caring is primarily intended for the much-needed comfort and support of caregivers.

The book is organized around themes and metaphors of seasonal transition, with each of the four seasons paralleling the various stages of life. The 141 entries open with quotes from scripture, sacred text or other inspirational texts. The original writings by seventy-two authors representing a great diversity of spiritual traditions range from thoughtful meditations to poignant personal stories, moving poems and meaningful songs. Each offering is followed by a prayer and words of comfort and encouragement.

The book is a product of the ClergyAgainstAlzheimer’s Network, an interfaith national network of clergy, laity, and faith organizations working to focus attention on improved treatment, better care, and a cure for dementia. It’s also an educational tool for support groups and advocates. Inspiring and uplifting, Seasons of Caring champions the dignity of all those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and is a powerful resource in raising awareness about this disease and helping to remove its stigma.

We are delighted to provide an update on the status of the “Remember to Relax” study, which is being funded in part by your ARPF. The title of the study is Meditation vs. Simple Relaxation for Improving Memory and Related Outcomes in Adults At-Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Kim E. Innes, who has a Masters and PhD of Science in Public Health. This study is investigating the efficacy and feasibility of a 6-month Kirtan Kriya meditation program compared to a relaxation music listening program for enhancing memory, sleep, mood, and well-being, reducing stress and improving related indices in 60 older adults with early memory loss.

Assessment: Assessment visits have proceeded smoothly. Parking, always a concern at a large university such as WVU, has been a non-issue, proving readily accessible to participants. Those coming from off-campus can drive right up to the front entrance and make use of valet parking if they desire.
Assessments have been well-tolerated. Many of our study participants are quite knowledgeable about phlebotomy, and have expressed approval of the practices we employ. They appreciate that we use skilled phlebotomists with experience drawing blood from pediatric or cancer patients, and that we use butterfly needles for their safety and comfort. Blood samples are taken for a baseline, and again at 3 months, which will be stored, and as we receive further funding, allow measurement of signs of inflammation, cellular aging, and gene expression, and assessment of changes over time in these potential mediators.

Enrollment and Retention: Enrollment of all 60 participants is now complete. Retention has thus far been excellent, with only 4 participants withdrawing from the study to date (2 per group; 21 KK group, 20 ML group). The participants range in age from 50 to 84 years and are predominantly female (85%), white (93%), non-smokers (67%), married/cohabiting (65%), and college-educated (58%). 73% are employed.
Baseline Memory Functioning questionnaire scores were comparable to those of adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment, and substantially lower than those reported in a community-based sample of 452 adults, aged 60-80 years old. This suggests success in capturing a population at-risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

Preliminary findings: Of the 41 participants followed for the 6-month study period to-date, 91% completed the 12-week program, as well as the follow-up assessments. Adherence in both groups has been excellent, both during the 12-week active phase and the 3-month post-intervention period. Participants report high satisfaction with both programs on their exit interviews. Those assigned to the Kirtan Kriya program showed significant improvements at 12 weeks in perceived stress, sleep, well-being, and multiple domains of mood and cognitive function. These gains were sustained or further increased at 3 months post-intervention. This data further supports the feasibility and acceptability of the Kirtan Kriya program, and suggests that this practice has multiple beneficial effects in older adults experiencing early cognitive decline.