Why I Ride: More than 6 million Americans live with this disease, and the over 11 million family members and friends who provide them with care. I ride for
- the accessibility and accommodations for those with disabilities, especially those brought on by neurodegenerative disease;
- the continued research of the alzheimers and related diseases to find therapies to improve outcomes and quality of life.
It's Personal: Earlier this year, a close relative of mine was diagnosed with Alzheimers. He prides himself on his memory and is diligent about wanting to use his intelligence and share his wisdom. The difficulties of disease are two pron
Why I'm Hopeful: Current research in Alzheimers is fervently following several compelling leads. The hallmarks of the disease that I learned over a decade ago: tau tangles, amyloid plaques, and microglial activation, are not the treatment target we once hoped. Instead, we can look to them as indicators and diagnostic features.
Much research is exploring therapies targeting the glymphatic system, a system discovered when I was in my early research career, which clears the protein accumulation from the fluid around your brain while you sleep. Everyone has it - another reason to get good sleep! This system is increasingly important in function as we age.
Another very intriguing target of interest is mitochondrial function. Mitochondria demonstrate dysfunction in brain disease, injury, and ageing. Proof of concept studies show that we can rescue damage with mitochondrial transfer. I am most hopeful for the promise in Regenerative Medicine Cell Engineering, for which I was fortunate to work in my early career.
Take Action: Right now, there is no shortage of ideas in Alzheimer’s research — only dollars. Which is why I am asking for your support. I am participating on the Ride to End ALZ®, a fully-supported, premier cycling event that supports the Alzheimer’s Association’s efforts to discover methods of treatment and prevention for Alzheimer’s disease.
With each mile I ride, I am raising funds to advance research toward the first survivor of Alzheimer’s. Thank you for cheering me on.
Cheer Me On!