Table of Contents:
Quote of the Day
Interesting Stories This Week
More hope for Alzheimer’s drugs
Responding to YOU!
Doctors diagnose, nurses heal and caregivers make sense of it all.
Interesting Stories This Week:
Common Sunday Dinner herb could fight dementia and diabetes
Brown University neuroscientists help identify a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease progression
Shellfish, Dark Chocolate: The Link Between a Copper-Rich Diet and Sharper Memory
4 things to know about a new study on lithium and Alzheimer’s disease
How High Is Your Dementia Risk?
More hope for Alzheimer’s drug
There are more potential new medicines being tested for Alzheimer’s.
138 drugs are currently being tested.
This is good news as the more drugs that are tested, the greater the chance that new and effective medicines will soon become a reality for people living with dementia.
Drugs for all stages of Alzheimer’s are being tested.
This could lead to new treatment approaches eg oral therapies or injections that could be taken at home rather than in a hospital.
The number of drugs entering early-stage clinical trials has increased from 27 to 48 this year.
These are looking at a wide range of approaches including vaccines and engineered immune cells.
There are currently 182 clinical trials globally.
40 are middle and late-stage trials that could publish their results this year.
These include medicines that are already approved to treat other conditions, and which are now being tested for Alzheimer’s.
A Problem Shared is a Problem Halved
Every week, we share an honest story from a caregiver — the things most people are too afraid to say out loud.
This Week’s Caregiver Story-
"Since my husband’s diagnosis, I’ve noticed our friends don’t come around as much anymore.
At first, everyone checked in, but now it feels like people are avoiding us. It hurts, because I need support more than ever, but instead, I feel more isolated."
Harvey says:
This is something I hear often, and it’s incredibly painful. Dementia doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed, it changes relationships, too. Friends and even family sometimes pull away, not because they don’t care, but because they don’t know what to say or how to help.
That doesn’t make the loneliness any easier.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
It’s not your fault. Their absence reflects their discomfort, not your worth.
Be specific about what you need. Many people want to help but feel unsure. Asking directly — “Could you sit with him while I shop?” — can make it easier for them to step in.
Seek new circles of support. Dementia groups, carers’ cafés, or even online communities can fill the gap when old connections fade.
Protect your energy. It’s okay to grieve friendships that have changed, but also give yourself permission to invest in people who show up consistently.
Please remember: you are not alone, even if it feels that way. There are people, professionals, other carers, communities, ready to walk beside you. Reaching out, like you’ve done here, is a brave step towards finding that support.
Warmly,
Harvey
If something’s been on your heart lately, let us know. We read every word. Your voice could offer comfort to someone else navigating the same journey.