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Hispanic Americans are at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, research shows

By Carousel Slider, In the News
Hispanic people are 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's. ‘Our America: Unforgettable’The documentary special, produced by ABC Owned Television Stations in partnership with ABC News, takes a looks at alarming data on Alzheimer’s disease through a Hispanic and Latino lens. Nearly 7 million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease, an irreversible and devastating form of dementia that gradually breaks down memory and thinking skills. But not everyone is equally at risk. Hispanic people are 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than white people, according to data from the Alzheimer's Association. "Our America: Unforgettable" is an hour-long special produced by ABC Owned…
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UCI Summer Institute Trains Undergraduates in Biostatistics and Data Science

By Carousel Slider, In the News
This summer, UC Irvine was again one of only 10 universities in the U.S. to host a free six-week program to train undergraduate students in the fundamentals of biostatistics, data science and computing. For the second year in a row, the Irvine Summer Institute in Biostatistics and Undergraduate Data Science (ISI-BUDS) brought students to UCI from across the nation and, as part of the training, offered hands-on experience conducting cutting-edge biomedical research. The ISI-BUDS Program Of the more than 150 applicants, 15 students were selected for the highly competitive program, which includes up to $500 in travel expenses, free housing,…
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OC Racism: Bad for Brain Health

By Carousel Slider, In the News
Whatever keeps the community up at night – or makes them pull the covers over their head to not face the day – probably won’t surface for years to come, but Dr. Karen Lincoln sees where it starts in the early stages through brain imaging. In and of itself, she said it’s not so much about sleep, but rather why advanced aging disproportionately impacts the Black community. Two of her landmark studies, Sleep Tight and Express Yourself, show how and why everyday discrimination and microaggressions are taking a dramatic toll on health. Earlier this year, Dr. Lincoln joined UCI faculty…
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Dianne Feinstein’s cause of death hasn’t been disclosed, but it likely wasn’t dementia

By Carousel Slider, In the News
Sen. Dianne Feinstein during a committee hearing in 2022. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) No cause of death has been disclosed for Dianne Feinstein, the longtime California senator who struggled with evident health problems in her final years before her death Friday. She was absent from the U.S. Senate for nearly three months earlier this year while recovering from a case of shingles that led to encephalitis, a rare complication that causes inflammation and swelling in the brain. She was briefly hospitalized in August after falling at her home and was often seen in a wheelchair in public. Indications that Feinstein, 90, was struggling with memory problems have…
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Consumers Can Now Buy a Blood Test to Evaluate Their Alzheimer Disease Risk, but Should They?

By Carousel Slider, In the News
iStock.com/ratthanan Consumers can order blood tests from the laboratory testing behemoth Quest Diagnostics to check their iron or vitamin D levels, learn whether they have a sexually transmitted disease, or determine whether their thyroid is functioning properly. And now, for $399, plus a $13 “physician service fee,” they can order a blood test that promises to help assess their risk of Alzheimer disease. In a press release, Quest Diagnostics noted that its AD-Detect Test for Alzheimer Disease is the first blood test available for consumers to purchase that measures a biomarker linked to the most common form of dementia. The test…
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Taking Medication For High Blood Pressure May Lower Your Dementia Risk

By Carousel Slider, In the News
Willie B. Thomas/Getty Images Treating high blood pressure in older adults reduces their risk of dementia, an analysis of previous research shows, providing more evidence that heart health and brain health are intimately connected. In a new meta-analysis, published Sept. 12 in JAMA Network Open, researchers found that older adults with untreated high blood pressure were 42% more likely to develop dementia during the study period compared to healthy older adults. This was true even among 70- and 80-year-olds. “The study suggests that successful treatment of hypertension might bring down the risk of developing dementia to the level of individuals with no hypertension,” said Dr. S.…
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Celebrating 2023 Lauds & Laurels Honoree Andrea Wasserman

By Carousel Slider, In the News
Dear Colleagues, I am thrilled to announce and celebrate four outstanding individuals who have been honored with Lauds & Laurels awards. These individuals have not only excelled in their respective fields but have also demonstrated exceptional dedication and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Dr. Tamera Hatfield, PhD, an alumna of our school, has been awarded the Distinguished Alumni award. Dr. Hatfield’s academic journey at the School of Biological Sciences and the UCI School of Medicine has culminated in her becoming a board-certified, fellowship-trained UCI Health obstetrician. Andrea Wasserman, the Chief Administrative Officer of the UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments…
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