My Alzheimer's Journey
Part 142 - The Week In Review April 17 - May 1
Welcome to the inaugural edition of The Week In Review.
This special article will be emailed to my Supporters (minimum of $25 per month donation). This Saturday and next Saturday I am sending The Week In Review. to everyone.
Monday, I wrote about AbbVie’s amyloid beta antibody known as ABBV-1758. AbbVie acquired this drug when they purchased Aliada in late 2024. While ABBV-1758 is impressive and shows early promise, the bigger story is the delivery technology - MODEL. Breaking the BBB is a goal of every neurological research scientist. I seem to visualize the BBB as a membrane surrounding the brain. According to Tanya Wallace, PhD, vice president of neuroscience discovery research at AbbVie, “despite the BBB’s importance, many seemingly basic biological questions remain unanswered, fueling additional global research.” The BBB consists of both cellular and acellular components. It is a sophisticated structure that regulates information flow between the periphery and the brain. Over the next several weeks, I will write more about the BBB so we can understand that the BBB is much more than just a membrane.
I wrote the Tuesday post while receiving my fifteenth Lecanemab infusion at the Duke Specialty Infusion Center. As I tend to do occasionally, I stepped up on my soapbox and spoke about the need for additional research dollars. I certainly never want to offend anyone while yelling from my soapbox. Yet, many things in Washington do not make sense to me. Can you imagine the impact one billion dollars would have on cancer and Alzheimer’s research?
I also reminded everyone to consider supporting my work with a monthly donation. While some people have sent donations, the vast majority have not. This is a frustrating situation for me. I average three hours per day researching and writing. I subscribe to several scientific journals. Additionally, there are basic office expenses and maintaining hardware and software. Most importantly, Linda and I need a source of income to bridge the gap between our Social Security income and my direct and indirect treatment expenses. If you find my articles have value, please consider supporting me at either the $25 or $40 per month level.
Wednesday, I wrote about the challenge managing agitation behaviors. I devoted most of the article to the new experimental drug, Masupirdine. This drug will soon begin Phase 3 clinical trials. I am excited about the potential of this therapy. What I did not know Wednesday is Axsome Therapeutics new agitation treatment drug, Auvelity would receive FDA approval the next day. It is great that agitation behaviors are getting a lot of attention. I will write about Auvelity Monday.
The Bio-Hermes study was the Thursday topic. Over the next year (and beyond), I believe the results of this project will be expanded by many leading biotechnology companies. The ability of a blood test to identity amyloid plaque and tau tangles has huge potential in terms of early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.
I wrapped up the week with Fun Friday. The peaceful marches for International Workers’ Day were much larger than I expected. Did anyone really pay attention though? As an optimist and a lover of American democracy, I hope someone understands the current frustration of many people.
While writing this article, Big Bit has been begging for food. Her bowl is full, so I have attempted to ignore her. As this video shows, that is always a challenge.
Thank you for your support. Have a great rest of the weekend.
From the moment I began My Alzheimer’s Journey, I knew that I wanted to build a space that was free and accessible to everyone - a resource for the patients, caregivers, researchers, and medical professionals who need this information most.
As this community has grown, so have the costs of keeping it running. Between professional journal subscriptions, scientific research purchases, and the several hours of research and writing I put into every single post, the expenses have become significant. While I’ve received occasional donations in the past, they haven’t been consistent enough to cover these mounting costs.
To ensure this blog remains a high-quality resource for the long haul, I’ve decided to formalize how you can support this mission. There are three ways you can support the publication:
Sometimes: Donate whatever you can, whenever you can. You will continue to have full access to the entire blog - nothing changes for you, and your support is deeply appreciated.
Supporters (minimum donation of $25/month): You’ll receive full access to the blog, my new Saturday feature, The Week in Review, and a permanent 5% discount at my online store.
Sponsors (minimum donation of $40/month): You’ll receive all the Supporter benefits plus a permanent 8% store discount and an invitation to a monthly live Zoom meeting. This will be an open space to talk, share, and ask me almost anything on your mind. I will schedule multiple times if needed to make sure our international friends can join in.
I never want a person’s financial situation to stand between them and the support they find here, but I also want to ensure My Alzheimer’s Journey is sustainable. If you’re able to, please consider contributing so I can continue to share insight with you and the many caregivers and families who are following My Alzheimer’s Journey.
Please support at the level that feels right for you. I am so grateful to have you alongside me on my Alzheimer’s journey.
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