SOKRATES (the Study of Knowledge and Reactions to Amyloid Testing), led by Emily Largent, PhD, and Jason Karlawish, MD from the IMPACT Collaboratory Ethics and Regulation Core, followed 80 cognitively unimpaired older adults for a year to understand the impact of learning the results of an amyloid PET scan, a common test used to determine the presence of brain amyloid, a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease.  The results of the study were recently published in PLOS One.

Click here to read the full article at PLOS One.

Click here to read a news blog from the Penn Memory Center about the study.

Jason Karlawish, MD and Emily Largent, PhD from the IMPACT Collaboratory Ethics and Regulation Core wrote an editorial reflecting on the unique ethical complexities around telling participants in an Alzheimer’s drug study that the study had abruptly ended. The story was also covered in the New York Times.

Click here to read the full JAMA Neurology editorial

Click here to read the article in the New York Times

Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH, leader of the NIA IMPACT Collaboratory Health Care Systems Core discussed prevention of dementia in a recent article in the Wall Street Journal.

The article from November 17, 2019 discusses findings from a report commissioned by the Lancet medical journal about dementia prevention research. The report shows that 35% of dementia cases may be preventable by using strategies such as exercise and engaging in stimulating memory activities. Dr. Larson, co-author of the Lancet report,  says dementia risk maybe be lowered by adopting some of these behaviors.

“When people ask me how to prevent dementia, they often want a simple answer, such as vitamins, dietary supplements, or the latest hyped idea,” says Dr. Larson. “I tell them they can take many common-sense actions that promote health throughout life.”

The Lancet report reviewed hundreds of studies that identify risk factors for dementia. The report found that controlling blood pressure, eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep can also help to prevent dementia.

This story is modified from an article on Permanente Medicine. To read the full news story, visit The Wall Street Journal website (subscription required).