GENE WILDER the ACTOR's WIDOW SHARES THEIR STORY of LOVE and LOSS the Jones Family Raised $20 Selling Lemonade Fun Virtual Run Garage Alice T
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SUMMER 2020 Love and Loss When You Can’t Be There TELEHEALTH for Alzheimer’s Do You Need Long-Term Care Insurance? ASKING FAMILY for Help GENE WILDER THE ACTOR'S WIDOW SHARES THEIR STORY OF LOVE AND LOSS Fun The Jones family raised Run $20 selling lemonade T-Shirt Fundraiser donatedAlice $50T. from walking dogs Virtual Bake Garage Sale Sale Social Media Fundraiser FundraiserBirthday START FUNDRAISING FOR ALZHEIMER’S TODAY Mike A. raised $1,000 The Courage to Take Action campaign was created to highlight the courage it takes to from a Bike Ride Fundraiser To create a virtuallive with or in-personAlzheimer’s fundraiser and to be with an advocatephysical distancingin the fight guidelines against the in mind,disease. go to: ALZINFO.ORG/FUNDRAISING ON THE COVER 16 Gene Wilder The late actor is remembered by his widow and an upcoming documentary. Page 16 Photo courtesy of Karen Boyer Wilder Boyer Karen of courtesy Photo FEAT U R ES 8 Love—And Loss— From a Distance 10 Virtual House Calls: Telehealth for Alzheimer’s 13 A Fond Farewell to Elaine Markland DEPARTMENTS 5 From the Executive Director’s Office 6 8 13 News Briefs 14 Fisher Center Research 20 Fitness Strength training makes for strong bodies and minds. 22 Food Indulge with healthy desserts. 24 Long-Term Planning 22 Do You Need Long-Term Care Insurance? 26 Caregiver’s Corner Asking Family Members for Help 27 Scientist Spotlight Summer 2020 | ALZinfo.org | 3 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Zachary Fisher, Founder (1910–1999) Barry R. Sloane, Chairman and Treasurer Martin Edelman, Howard Lutnick, Vice Chairmen FDR Station, P.O. Box 220 David H.W. Turner, Secretary New York, NY 10126-2873 800-ALZ-INFO (800-259-4636) Dr. Manny Alvarez Hon. Betsy Gotbaum 212-915-1328 Dr. E. Ratcliffe Anderson, Jr. James L. Nederlander, Jr. ALZinfo.org Gerry Byrne Richard J. Salem Hadley Fisher Dr. Moshe Shike Lucretia Holden, Publisher Christina Hall, Editor Dr. Marc Flajolet, Science Editor SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD Jerry Louis, Graphic Designer Toby Bilanow, Bernard A. Krooks, Gary Joseph LeBlanc, Michael W. Young, Ph.D., Chairman Contributing Writers Torsten Wiesel, MD Cori Bargmann, PhD Hermann Steller, PhD Nathaniel Heintz, PhD Sidney Strickland, PhD Preserving Your Memory is a product of StayWell 800 Township Line Road, Suite 100 Yardley, PA 19067 267-685-1200 Charlotte Robinson, Managing Editor Snap a photo of this QR code* Susan Androff, Design Manager to get more information Michele Leopold, Production Director about Alzheimer’s disease! Linda Wasmer Andrews, Lauren Arcuri, Kevin Gault, Cindy Kuzma, Jennie McKee, *Download a free code reader app for your smartphone at your phone’s marketplace Contributing Writers © Copyright 2020 by the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. Cover photo: Daniel Smith / Getty Images No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. Articles in this publication are written by professional journalists who strive to present reliable, up-to-date health information. For advertising information, please contact: However, personal decisions regarding health, finance, exercise and other Fisher Center Foundation StayWell matters should be made only after consultation with the reader’s physician or 212-915-1322 267-685-1200 professional adviser. All editorial rights reserved. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. 4 | Preserving Your Memory | Summer 2020 From the ED Reflecting on Matters of the Heart o doubt this year will go down as one of the lab’s latest scientific breakthroughs (page 14) the most volatile in recent history. The and spotlight Senior Research Associate Jean- N COVID-19 pandemic forced us to slow Pierre “JP” Roussarie (page 27). down because our existence depended upon it. We also honor actor Gene Wilder. I remember Photo by Jodi Jones We acknowledged the essential workers putting the first time I saw Willy Wonka & the Chocolate their lives on the line for us. We witnessed the Factory and the effect it had on me as a child. As best of humanity as volunteers emerged to help the strange and magical owner of a candy factory, deliver food and aid to senior citizens, and folks Gene was a comedic genius; many of his characters found creative ways to get things done while shared a tender vulnerability. In August 2016, navigating their new normal. Gene died from complications of Alzheimer’s Meanwhile, life and loss continued, but saying disease at age 83. His wife and caregiver, Karen, goodbye to loved ones was more devastating graciously shared some of her memories of Gene when it couldn’t be done in person. This issue with us, including unexpected challenges and of Preserving Your Memory offers insights from lessons learned (page 16). Lisa Henry on what to do when you cannot be We hope the rest of 2020 is a little gentler there (page 8), Valarie Benning Thompson on to you. As always, thank you for your continued the importance of long-term planning (page 24) support of our mission. Your generosity is making and advice about asking family members for help a difference in our research and the quality of our from Gary Joseph LeBlanc (page 26). online Information Program. I encourage you On the heels of the pandemic, we saw a brutal to spread the word about our Courage to Take history of racism repeat itself. Communities acted Action campaign (page 2). and recorded what was not being covered on the Be kind to yourself and others and stay safe. news, while others took to the streets to protest inequality and injustice. Warmest regards, Against this backdrop of chaos, however, we’ve found reasons to celebrate, such as the retirement of Fisher Center lab assistant Elaine Markland after 41 years of service (page 13). With a sharp mind and Lucretia Holden, SHRM-CP a beautiful smile, Elaine does not look old enough to be retiring from anywhere! We recognize, too, Executive Director About the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation Since 1995, the Fisher Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, We want to hear from you. has provided hope and help to the public by funding research into the cause, care and cure of Alzheimer’s disease and creating much-needed information What additional Alzheimer's programs. Our internationally renowned scientists are at the forefront of research topics could we cover? that provides a conceptual framework for modern-day investigations into Alzheimer’s disease. Do you have any questions The Fisher Center Foundation has earned Charity Navigator’s highest 4-Star for the experts? rating for nine consecutive years for fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency. We are now in the top 1% of all charities rated. Send us an email to For more information or to make a donation, go to ALZinfo.org/donate. [email protected]. Summer 2020 | ALZinfo.org | 5 News Briefs Let the Sunshine In Exposure to bright light may improve sleep and ease depression and agitation in people with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new report. Bright light therapy has been used also showed fewer symptoms of Other research has found that for decades to treat “winter blues” depression and agitation. The massage, touch therapy, exercise, and other mood disorders. findings were published in the music therapy and other nondrug A new study suggests that light Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. treatments can be an effective way therapy, or even spending more No one is sure how light therapy to reduce aggression and agitation time outdoors in sunlight, may works. But light is known to help in people with Alzheimer’s disease. have benefits for people with reset the body’s biological clock. In many cases, they should be Alzheimer’s disease as well. Light also stimulates melatonin given priority in treating disruptive Researchers studied 46 women and other hormones involved in behaviors in people with dementia, and men with Alzheimer’s disease mood and sleep regulation. before drugs are tried. who were living in Alzheimer’s care Light therapy is far safer than The study authors recommend facilities in New York and Vermont. antipsychotic drugs, which are that people with Alzheimer’s For four weeks, the subjects often prescribed to people with disease have regular exposure to were exposed to bright light that Alzheimer’s to ease agitation natural light in their homes during simulated sunshine via specially and aggression, but which can the day and go outside whenever designed floor lamps or light boxes. have dangerous, and even fatal, possible, including for walks. The bright lights were placed side effects. in bedrooms, dining rooms and other common areas, so they were exposed to bright light for much of the day. The researchers found that exposure to the bright daytime light significantly improved sleep quality. During the light period, subjects 6 | Preserving Your Memory | Summer 2020 Stay Social! Reading In this time of social • Reach out to friends and distancing, a growing number neighbors and ask how Is Good of people find themselves they’re doing. Helping wary of social interaction. But others, even if it’s a small for the social isolation has been linked gesture, can be incredibly to a 50% increased risk for powerful and rewarding Brain Alzheimer’s disease. and a good reminder of A recent study of 260 older purpose. women and men, published in • Pick up the phone and JAMA Network Open, found give someone a call. that those who lost a spouse Hearing a person’s voice were at increased risk for offers a level of closeness People who never learned to read cognitive decline.