CalOptima, which provides health insurance to Orange County’s low-income residents, announced on Friday, May 8, it is working with UC Irvine and the county Health Care Agency to provide intensive training on infection control to staff at 12 nursing homes. … Dr. Susan Huang, who teaches about infectious diseases at UC Irvine, is working with researchers and clinicians to develop the tools and training, and will measure their effectiveness with diagnostic and antibody testing.
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Contributed by Daniel Nation, PhD, UCI MIND Faculty Member, Associate Professor of Psychological Science at UCI APOE4 is the strongest known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Although the predominant view has been that APOE4 conveys risk for Alzheimer’s dementia primarily through its effects on amyloid levels, prior work has also shown that APOE4 has adverse effects on the blood vessels of the brain. In a recent study published in Nature, colleagues at University of Southern California and I demonstrated that APOE4…
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During this time of uncertainty, communities, businesses and families are being impacted like never before. People are also coming together to help others in unprecedented ways. And while we all are spending more and more time at home, many of us are looking for ways to strengthen our communities while maintaining the current health and safety recommendations from the CDC. I’d like to invite you and your families to make a real difference without leaving your home or opening your wallet. I’m an OC Mom and researcher at UCI MIND. We are seeking volunteers to sign up for our “Consent-to-Contact”…
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Contributed by Edwin Monuki, MD, PhD, Warren L. Bostick Professor and Chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UC Irvine A recent article in the The New York Times focuses on an issue of grave concern among US health care providers - the flood of unapproved “lateral flow” tests for detecting COVID-19 antibodies. This flood resulted from an FDA decision to allow antibody testing without their usual approval process in order to accelerate the national response to COVID-19. Unfortunately (and not surprisingly), this also resulted in an antibody testing market that one interviewee in the NYT article called the “Wild West”.…
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NPR reports May 1, 2020 4:22 PM ET - The Food and Drug Administration has given emergency use authorization to the antiviral drug remdesivir to treat hospitalized patients with the coronavirus, President Trump on Friday told reporters at the White House. Gilead CEO Daniel O'Day said remdesivir maker Gilead Sciences is donating 1.5 million vials of the drug and will work with the federal government to distribute it to patients in need...
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https://youtu.be/r4ZpVGrBw5o Nicole Schartz, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Andrea Tenner’s lab, shares her experience of what’s happening in her lab and her perspective on the pandemic. Dr. Schartz is also a member of REMIND. Research and Education in Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, or REMIND, is a campus organization led by UCI MIND predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees. It aims to encourage collaboration among the next generation of scientists and clinicians, and promote community outreach and education on neurodegenerative diseases.
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While doing a video interview with TIME, Craig Stark, professor at the University of California, Irvine’s Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, said that his eighth grade son was on a headset chatting with his friends while gaming. “I’m great with that,” says Stark. Still, he adds, “if you’re gaming 20 hours a day, let’s get out, let’s do some other stuff, let’s not just talk to each other on a screen. But in terms of the notion that video games are actively rotting the brain? No, I don’t see any evidence for that.”
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The UCI Health Affairs Vice Chancellor is delighted to announce the launch of OC-COVID19.org, a new website devoted to providing timely, useful, evidence-based information about the novel coronavirus pandemic to our friends and neighbors across Orange County. UCI and UCI Health are at the forefront of Orange County's response to this national emergency. Every day there are stunning examples of remarkable, cutting-edge clinical care provided by the UCI Health family. Our services are driven by innovation and research taking place across the university. In this way, the UCI community is leading the way to solutions that are local and global.…
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A message from the CA Department of Aging: Join us April 22 for a Caring for Family & Friends Check-In Call: Caregiving from Afar Are You Caring for Family or Friends from Afar During COVID-19? Whether you are providing support to an older person across town, across the country, or in a Nursing Home or Residential Care Facility, COVID-19 guidelines have presented new challenges and concerns. Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to connect with caregiving experts! Wednesday, April 22th, at 1pm the California Department of Aging (https://aging.ca.gov) and the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org) will host their 2nd of a…
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Police and fire agencies from across Orange County held a special drive-by parade at UCI Medical Center on Tuesday to show unity and support for the medical staff. Even though the salute was from a distance, they were able to touch hearts and lift spirits for those who are working long hours to get patients healthy. Meanwhile, Taco Bell's taco truck made a stop at the hospital to provide workers free lunch. … Next week, UCI Medical Center will get another dose of love, when the Anaheim Ducks send 200 meals a day.
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Amyloid accumulation not the only risk factor in Alzheimer’s risk Irvine, Calif. – April 8, 2020 – Amyloid is a key feature of Alzheimer’s disease, but the accumulation of these sticky proteins may not be the only risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study published this week. Other, modifiable risk factors, such as the amount of fats in our blood and how efficiently our bodies generate energy could also play important roles.
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#CANeedsYou covid19.ca.gov
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Contributed by Joshua D. Grill, PhD, Director of UCI MIND Dear friends, I read with interest this morning a blog post from the Director of the National Institute on Aging, Dr. Richard Hodes. Dr. Hodes refers to a “new normal,” in what can only be described the age of COVID-19. At UCI MIND, we are admittedly struggling a bit to adjust to this new normal. Our professional way of life—doing studies with older volunteers and gathering large and small community audiences to share our learnings and recommendations—has been turned upside down, as I know have been your own lives. While we…
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Orange County Aging Services Collaborative (OCASC) has compiled a list of local food resources available for seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic (list as of April 23, 2020): Senior Hour Grocery Stores Online Resources Regional Resources Delivery and Takeout Apps Restaurant To-Go Delivery Deals Pet Supply Delivery County Resource Food Source Spreadsheet By City South County Outreach Food Pantry Instructions (English) (Español) 211 Need Food Flyer (English / Español)
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Many local, national, and global agencies have been sharing information on COVID-19, so we have compiled several trusted sources of guidance for older adults. This is a rapidly-evolving situation and guidelines may change over time, so it's important to check major sources of information regularly.GLOBAL WHO: World Health Organization COVID-19 Quick Links Protect Yourself Questions and Answers Myth Busters Travel Advice NATIONAL CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidance for Adults at Higher Risk Who is at Higher Risk? Get Ready for Coronavirus Now Symptoms of Coronavirus (Español) How to Protect Yourself (Español) What to Do If You Get…
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Contributed by Emory University ADRC, Spanish translation by University of Kansas ADRC, Mandarin translation and Korean translation by UCI MIND ADRCPDF versions in multiple languages:
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Dear Friends of UCI MIND, I wanted to provide a brief update on the state of UCI MIND during the COVID-19 pandemic: Our faculty, staff, and trainees have responded admirably to this unprecedented and rapidly evolving situation. Whenever possible, research studies are being performed remotely for at least the next three weeks. If you are participating in a study or were anticipating doing so soon, you can expect to hear from the specific study team about how to proceed. If you are uncertain about your study, you can email questions to research@mind.uci.edu or call (949) 824-0008. We'll get back to you as soon…
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Last week, UCI MIND’s trainee-led organization REMIND hosted their 11th Annual Emerging Scientists Symposium. The event featured six trainee presentations from Gianna Fote in Drs. Leslie Thompson & Joan Steffan's lab, Heechul Jun in Dr. Kei Igarashi's lab, Arunima Kapoor in Dr. Dan Nation's lab, Dr. Sarah Hernandez in Dr. Leslie Thompson's lab, Dr. Ashley Keiser in Dr. Marcelo Wood's lab, and Dr. Davis Woodworth in Dr. Ahmad Sajjadi's lab. Presentations were followed by a keynote lecture from Dr. Carol Barnes from the University of Arizona and a trainee poster competition with over 30 innovative research projects on Alzheimer's disease…
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UCI MIND congratulates four members who have been named 2020 Physicians of Excellence. This distinction is given by Orange County Medical Association, and was published in Orange Coast magazine. There were more UCI Health physicians honored than from any other Orange County hospital or health system. Please join us in celebrating the achievements of these outstanding faculty. Click here to learn more >
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Stalked by the Fear That Dementia Is Stalking You The New York Times (Kaiser Health News) - Feb. 20, 2020 I spoke to half a dozen experts, and none was in favor of genetic testing, except in unusual circumstances. “Having the APOE4 allele does not mean you’ll get Alzheimer’s disease. Plenty of people with Alzheimer’s don’t have the allele,” said Mark Mapstone, a professor of neurology at the University of California, Irvine. “And conversely, plenty of people with the allele never develop Alzheimer’s.”
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Orange County Business Journal - Feb. 17, 2020 Dr. Ruth Benca, who is chair of the Psychiatry and Human Behavior School of Medicine at the University of California, Irvine in 2018 restarted the UCI sleep center. She’s designed a new, 6,000-square foot facility in Newport Beach … and has recruited doctors from a variety of fields, such as Dr. Kevin Im, who won a 2014 national award for a sleep study, Dr. Rami Khayat, the center’s medical director and expert on the effects of sleep apnea on cardiovascular diseases, and Dr. Behrouz Jafari, an expert in pulmonology. “We’ve built this…
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Contributed by Joshua D. Grill, PhD, Director of UCI MIND Early Monday morning (February 10, 2020), the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network Trials Unit (DIAN-TU) and Eli Lilly & Company announced disappointing results from a clinical trial of the monoclonal antibody, solanezumab, against the beta amyloid protein that accumulates in the brain of people with Alzheimer’s disease (press release >). The DIAN includes only the rare families who carry genetic mutations that cause an early-onset (3rd, 4th, 5th decade of life) form of Alzheimer’s disease. Solanezumab is also being tested as part of the Anti-Amyloid treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer’s (A4) Study, which is ongoing…
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Faculty members Mathew Blurton-Jones, PhD, Kim Green, PhD, and Masashi Kitazawa, PhD, are principal investigators (PI) of productive, independent laboratories at UCI MIND all aiming to target the underlying cause of and develop effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related disorders. How did they get to where they are now? After graduate school in 2003, they came together from different backgrounds to train with renowned scientist, Frank LaFerla, PhD, who continues to run a successful laboratory of his own at UCI MIND. Blurton-Jones, Green, and Kitazawa reflect on their training experience and what they believe to be their…
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It is with great sadness that UCI MIND shares news about the passing of Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan, founder of Frieda’s Specialty Produce and a tremendous supporter of brain research. Frieda was 96 years of age when she passed on Saturday. She was a pioneer in many powerful ways. A leader in the U.S. wholesale produce business since 1962, Frieda was the first woman to own and run her own firm. Her specialty was introducing unusual produce to the U.S. market, bringing more than 200 fruits and vegetables from around the world to America. She marketed each new product with…
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Jan 14, 2020 Announcements and research updates from the The Women's Alzheimer's Movement - WAM and UCI MIND Initiative to fund sex disparities in #Alzheimers research at University of California, Irvine. Congratulations to Mathew Blurton-Jones, PhD and Sunil Gandhi, PhD from the UCI School of Biological Sciences and Anshu Agrawal, PhD from the UCI School of Medicine, recipients of seed funding grants made possible by WAM Founder Maria Shriver and the Living Legacy Foundation led by VP and Executive Director Alisha Ballard.
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Contributed by Keith Swayne, UCI MIND Leadership Council Outstanding Philanthropist Keith Swayne, center, with Honorary Chairs and 2019 Legacy award honorees for Ueberroth Family Foundation Ginny Ueberroth, left, and Vicki Booth, right.(Tony Lattimore and Carla Rhea) - Daily Pilot It is humbling to be recognized as Philanthropist of the Year, particularly when I think about the many individuals who are working to make a difference in the world. The OC National Philanthropy Day event brought together Orange County philanthropists and non-profit organizations to celebrate our shared vision of improving our community. This is what drives me. I wish to use…
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Facebook Live Series - ASK THE DOC: Alzheimer's Research Today! This monthly series features short talks and Q&A with experts from the University of California, Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND), 1 of 32 congressionally designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers in the nation. Join UCI MIND on Facebook (@UCIrvineMIND) to learn about advances in research to improve Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Episode 11: "What is the link between Down syndrome and Alzheimer's?" This month, we’re joined by Ira Lott, MD, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics and Neurology at UCI School of Medicine. Dr. Lott is…
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Contributed by Joshua Grill, PhD On Thursday, December 5, attendees at the Clinical Trials in Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) Conference heard more from Biogen about its recently resurrected drug, aducanumab (see previous Blog). New data were presented that were consistent with what had previously been shared. Biogen claims that a single positive Phase 3 trial of aducanumab and a secondary analysis of data from a second, negative Phase 3 trial suggest a benefit among patients receiving the highest dose for the full duration of the study (18 months). In both cases, high dose aducanumab appeared to slow the rate of disease…
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Tune in this Friday, December 6th @ 9AM for the next episode of our monthly Facebook LIVE series, "What is the link between Down syndrome and Alzheimer's?" This month, we're joined by Ira Lott, MD, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics and Neurology at UCI School of Medicine. Dr. Lott is a child neurologist at UCI and CHOC Children's Hospital and Director of the UCI MIND Down Syndrome Program, which studies Alzheimer's disease in individuals with Down syndrome. His research has been supported by the NIH, the Alzheimer's Association, and the State of California, including the largest clinical research grant for Down…
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UCI MIND faculty members, Tallie Z. Baram, MD, PhD and Marcelo A. Wood, PhD are named among nine UCI researchers as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Dr. Baram, the Danette Shepard Chair of Neurological Science and Director of the Conte Center at UCI, is recognized for her distinguished contributions to the understanding of childhood and febrile seizures as well as early life adversity on brain development and their enduring consequences. Dr. Wood, Professor and Chair of Neurobiology & Behavior, is recognized for his distinguished teaching and contributions to the field of memory and addiction, particularly the…
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