GAIN Could Treat Alzheimers in Some Patients - How to be Part of the Study

Good news for those who are concerned about Alzheimer's Disease.  I recently learned about a trial for a new drug called GAIN which appears to have had some success in restoring memory and reducing signs of Alzheimer's Disease in certain patients. The drug is currently undergoing human trials, and researchers are looking for volunteers between the ages of 55 and 80 who have been diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer's Disease.  Trial participants must also have a caregiver or family member who can attend study visits, report on how the subject seems to be handling daily living, and confirm that the patient is taking the medication.

It does not matter whether or not you are currently being treated with another medication in an effort to slow down the progression of your Alzheimer's Disease.  They will not ask you to stop any other medications you are currently using.  GAIN can be used alone or in addition to your current medications, not instead of them.  So far, the results of the study have been interesting and the researchers have been encouraged by what they have seen.   However, study samples have been small, so it is important that more people participate in the trial.

How Does GAIN Treat Alzheimer's Disease?

Readers of this blog will know that untreated gum disease in our mouth has been implicated in causing other health problems, included heart disease and an increased risk of dementia.  According to the website for GAIN, this drug trial, "is based on the growing body of scientific evidence that the bacteria P. gingivalis, commonly associated with gum disease, can infect the brain and cause Alzheimer’s disease." It is "an investigational drug designed to inactivate toxic proteins released by the bacteria and stop or slow further damage to healthy brain cells. A study in a small group of Alzheimer’s patients has shown promise in improving memory."

This is a revolutionary approach to treating Alzheimer's Disease.   While scientists have long suspected that toxic proteins in the brain contribute to Alzheimer's Disease, only recently have they discovered that some of those toxic proteins may be related to the gingivitis gum bacteria which also causes the loss of bone and teeth in the mouth, as well as other health problems.  In fact, they have learned that 90% of people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease have evidence of P. gingivalis in their central nervous system.

Where to Get More Information about GAIN

The trial is being conducted at 90 locations around the United States and Europe, as well as in the United Kingdom.  The researchers hope to find at least 500 study participants.  You can get more information about the drug and find out how to participate in the trial at gaintrial.com.  You can also download the study brochure which goes into even more detail about the drug and how you can participate in the trial, if you think you may be interested.  The study is being sponsored by Cortexyme.

More Ways to Cut Risk of Alzheimer's and Other Forms of Dementia

While this research on the effects of mouth bacteria on our brain is groundbreaking, there are additional ways you can help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease, dementia and other types of cognitive decline.  Diet, exercise, socialization and many other factors are also important.

You can develop your own personal plan to protect your brain by reading  "The Alzheimer's Solution."  (Ad)  It contains a great deal of helpful information, and I highly recommend it, since none of us want to lose our memories and our independence as we age.

More Conclusions from this Research

One obvious result of this research is the importance of caring for our gums and teeth if we want to live a long, healthy life, free from heart disease and dementia. While gingivitis is not the only cause of these health problems, it is one of the risk factors we can reduce or eliminate.


If you are interested in learning more about financial planning for retirement, where to retire, Social Security, Medicare, common medical issues as you age, and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.

Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase from an Amazon ad, I'll make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

You are reading from the article:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit:  Pixabay

Free Cancer Screening SCAM - Do Not Fall For It!

Nearly all senior citizens in the U.S. today are aware of the Social Security scammers who are calling our homes and threatening to cut off our benefits if we do not immediately give them our Social Security number, date of birth and other personal data.  We all know that if someone calls and says they are from the Social Security Administration, we should immediately hang up.  The government does not randomly call retirees about their Social Security or other benefits.   If officials need to contact you, they will send you a letter.  However, now that the Social Security scam seems to be losing steam, scammers have moved on to a new way to steal our information.  It is called the "free cancer screening scam," which sounds perfectly innocent.

How Does the Free Cancer Screening Scam Work?

In this scam, people receive a phone call from someone who offers them a free DNA test to check their cancer risk.  It sounds easy.  They will mail you a DNA kit, similar to the ones you might get from Ancestry or 23andMe.  You provide them with your saliva or a cheek swab, along with your 11-digit Medicare number and other identifying information, and mail the package back to them. DO NOT DO IT!!

In some places, they are doing more than calling people.  Instead, the scammers drive around and offer senior citizens $20 in exchange for their DNA sample and Medicare information.  In other cases, they have even gone to senior centers or assisted living facilities and offered to swab people's cheeks for the genetic material necessary for the cancer screenings.  Again, they ask for the client's Medicare ID and other personal information or, if the residents are not yet on Medicare, they agree to accept any type of medical insurance information.

Once the scammers have what they want, the patients never receive the results of the "test," which is actually never performed. What they really wanted was not your DNA sample. They wanted your Medicare or insurance information.

Do not put yourself at risk. Everyone should educate themselves about common scams.  A good way to do that is to read the AARP book "Outsmarting the Scam Artists: How to Protect Yourself from the Most Clever Cons."  (Ad) Thieves change the way they operate often, so it is up to you to learn when to be suspicious and how to protect yourself.

Why Do Scammers Want Your Medicare ID Number?

Your insurance information, particularly your Medicare number, is valuable to scammers.  It can be used to create some of the $60 billion in fraudulent claims which Medicare receives every year. Other insurance information can be used to steal medical care or defraud insurance companies, too.

These scammers start by charging Medicare anywhere from $6,000 to $30,000 for these unnecessary, fake DNA tests. In contrast, Ancestry and 23andMe will charge between $60 and $100 and will not ask you for your Medicare or insurance information.  In addition, they actually perform the tests!

When these scammers offer people the fake DNA tests, the victims are typically unaware that their Medicare account has been charged for the tests until the fees show up on a statement.  Since some people do not review their statements, especially if they have not been ill, they have no idea that Medicare was charged for the test.  Even if the victims notice the charge, they may believe the charge was legitimate, since they gave their DNA sample to the scammer.

Once the scammers have billed Medicare for the DNA test, they may also try to use your insurance number to obtain medical care, or they may sell your number to other people who want to use your number to get medical services for themselves.  For example, your number could be used to obtain a prescription for opioids or other narcotics. There are dozens of ways they can use your Medicare and insurance information to get money, drugs or medical care.

How to Protect Your Medicare Number

Never give your Medicare number out to anyone other than your regular medical providers.  Give your new Medicare number only to those providers you trust, such as your doctors, pharmacists, insurers, and those who work with Medicare on your behalf.

Say "no" to any offers of free medical tests from anyone other than your normal medical practitioners if the offer is contingent on providing them with your personal information. This doesn't mean you should avoid common tests at community health fairs where local nurses perform checks of your blood pressure, bone density, and simple scans.  Those community health fairs can be life saving. However, only participate if the services they offer are truly free and they do not require you to provide them with any financial or medical information.  They may ask for your phone number or email, so they can contact you about your results.

Be careful not to give your Medicare number to anyone who supposedly wants to offer you "free" medical services.  If their services are free, they should not need your Medicare or other insurance numbers.

Once you have given your Medicare information to your personal medical providers, do not carry your Medicare ID card in your wallet where it could be stolen and used by strangers.

Read your Medicare statements carefully and notify the Social Security Administration if you suspect Medicare has been charged for any services which you did not personally receive.  You can go to your local Social Security office or call them at 1-800-772-1213.

If you are interested in additional Social Security and Medicare information, retirement planning, where to retire, or wish find out about common medical issues as you age, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.

Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase from an Amazon ad, I'll make a small commission at no extra cost to you

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit:  DNA image from Google images

Alzheimers and Huntingtons Disease - New Research from UCI - MIND

About a year ago, I volunteered to be a guinea pig for the University of California - Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, better known as UCI - MIND.  As a result of my interest in their program, I now receive regular reports from them on their latest research into various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's Disease and Huntington's Disease.

Naturally, the major reason I volunteered for this program was to keep track of my own cognitive ability as I age, and do everything possible to avoid mental decline, if possible.  However, I also signed up so I could share what I learn with my readers.  In 2019, there were some encouraging news stories from the researchers at UCI - MIND about how doctors can improve their clinical management of dementia, as well as a potential therapy for Huntington's Disease, which also causes dementia.

Amyloid PET Scans Can Improve Care for Dementia Patients

The first thing they reported was what they discovered when researchers across the United States performed Amyloid PET Scans on 11,000 patients.  After reviewing the results in patients who had been diagnosed either with either mild cognitive impairment or dementia, doctors changed the care they had been giving to about 60% of the patients!  In other words, the original diagnosis for more than half the patients had been wrong.  The PET Scans revealed a number of errors in their original diagnosis.

Approximately 25 percent of patients who were thought to have Alzheimer's Disease had their diagnosis changed to non-Alzheimer's dementia after the PET scans.

Another 10 percent of patients who were not thought to have Alzheimer's Disease turned out to actually have Alzheimer's Disease.

Other diagnostic errors were also discovered after the PET scans.

Because of these PET Scans, doctors realized they needed to change the treatment they were giving many of their patients.  Unfortunately, this was a clinical study and amyloid PET scans are not covered by either Medicare or other insurance providers as a diagnostic tool before treating patients with dementia.  Hopefully, this will change in the future so that the treatments match the diseases causing dementia.  Meanwhile, if you or someone in your family is suffering with symptoms of dementia, you may want to talk to your doctor about the possibility of your loved one having a PET scan to confirm the suspected cause of their cognitive decline.

Hopeful News for Huntington's Disease Patients

The second report from UCI - MIND was about a drug called an antisense oligonucleotide or ASO.  It has been found to be a safe way to lower the Huntington protein which is linked to the genetic mutation identified with Huntington's Disease.  A large clinical trial is planned to see if this drug will also lead to the first treatment to slow the progression of Huntington's Disease.  This could make a tremendous change in the lives of the 30,000 people in the United States currently living with the disease, and the estimated 150,000 who are believed to be at risk of developing it.

How You Can Access the Latest UCI - MIND Research

You can keep up with the latest research and discover what is being learned at UCI MIND yourself!  Anyone around the world can ask questions of the UCI MIND researchers by following them on Facebook at @UCIrvineMIND.  On the first Friday of every month at 9:00 A.M. Pacific Standard Time you can watch and participate live in their Facebook series, Ask the Doc: Alzheimer's Research Today!  Each month they have a new topic which is discussed by a research expert, and Facebook Live viewers can type their questions into the comments box and receive an immediate answer.

You can also get on the UCI MIND email list at www.mind.uci.edu/events and watch past episodes of their Ask the Doc Facebook series on the UCI MIND blog and YouTube channel.  If you are concerned about developing any type of dementia, you will want to take advantage of this unique opportunity to have your questions answered by experts, or see how the experts answered the questions other people had during their presentation.  Meanwhile, I will continue to share some of the latest research news with my readers as they release it.

To get a good overview of Alzheimer's Disease and other types of dementia, as well as symptoms, causes, treatments and patient care, I recommend the helpful book, "Alzheimer's & Dementia for Dummies."  It is clearly written and a good source of information for anyone who has been diagnosed with cognitive impairment, or for anyone who is a caregiver for someone who is suffering from mental decline.

If you are interested in learning more about other common medical problems as we age, Medicare, Social Security, where to retire, financial planning and more, use the tabs or pull-down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional pages.

Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase from an Amazon ad, I'll make a small commission at no extra cost to you

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo of UCI taken by author.

Info in this report based on the Spring, 2019 issue of "MIND Matters"