News and Events
DRUG TRIAL: CONCERT (DIM18)
New Zealanders with Alzheimer's disease and their family/whānau may be interested in a new trial to determine whether Dimebon, combined with Aricept, safely improves cognition (thinking and awareness), memory, daily functioning, behaviour and the ability to care for oneself.
Aricept is a cholinesterase inhibitor, prescribed to people with Alzheimer's disease for the improvement of cognitive function and Dimebon is an antihistamine drug, mainly used for allergies.
This is an international study which is recruiting from New Zealand, Australia, USA and Western Europe. The study is being facilitated in Australasia by an Australian Clinical Research Organisation, Novotech. They are calling for people in Auckland and Christchurch to participate. The trial has the approval of the New Zealand Multi-Region Ethics Committee, and is going to be run through The Memory Clinic in Auckland and The Canterbury Geriatric Research Centre located at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Christchurch.
For more information, please visit http://www.concertstudy.com or freephone 0800 222 337
Latest Alzheimer's and dementia news
World Alzheimer's Day - painting at national office
Check out photos on Flickr and Facebook
Sign the Global Charter to make dementia a global health priority
Alzheimer's Disease International has developed a Global Alzheimer's Disease Charter to draw attention to the urgent action needed from governments and stakeholders to make Alzheimer's disease and other dementias a health priority around the world!
The Charter was launched on World Alzheimer's Day - 21st September 2008.
Read the Charter in full.
Photo winner!
Congratulations to Alzheimers Nelson for winning the Awareness and Appeal Week with their photo of local member of Parliament Nick Smith, board member Ross McKechnie and Field worker Sue Cochrane.
Awareness and Appeal Week photos on photo sharing site Flickr
Click here
Alzheimers documentary, The Mysteries of Alzheimers
This documentary will play on NZ TV this coming Monday night at 11.30pm.
"Three million people are suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease in Europe alon, proving a real need to research the causes of dementia. This documentary presents cuurent scientific investigations. "
Cue Television on Freeview Channel 23 or Sky Digital 110
Auckland band Motocade raise over $100 busking for Alzheimers New Zealand as part of Jono's New Show on C4.
New brain scanning technique investigates Alzheimer’s disease
One of the most powerful MRI scanners in the country is being used by researchers from the University of Otago, Christchurch to advance our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease by measuring how the brain works in relation to eye movements.
Descent into dementia
William Utermohlen’s self-portraits reveal his descent into dememtia over the span of nearly four decades.
Dementia on Family Care Radio
Alzheimers New Zealand Board Chairperson Eileen Smith talks to Family Care Radio about life with her husband Ray, who has dementia. Other topics include Wellington's Chelsea Club - a social club for people with dementia - and a review of books, amongst other stories. Click here to listen to dementia topics on Family Care Radio.
Aging wisely: two new blogs
Vibrant and Healthy Living: Tips for Brain Health and Successful Aging is written by Tori Deaux, a respected author on brain fitness and caregiving and Caregiving: The Sandwich Generation is written by Carol O'Dell, author of Mothering Mother: A Daughter's Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir and regular speaker at Alzheimer's and dementia events in the USA.
HBO's new documentary: The Alzheimer's Project
The Alzheimer's Project is an exciting new four-part documentary made for American channel HBO. You can watch all four documentaries on You Tube.
Here is the teaser.
GPS shoes for people with Alzheimer's
On Wednesday 10 June, Radio New Zealand's Kathryn Ryan interviewed Andrew Carle, Director of Assisted Living/Senior Housing Administration at George Mason University in Virginia about developing GPS shoes for people with Alzheimers on her Nine to Noon show.
$15,000 and $10,000 grants available for dementia research
The following grants are available from the Alzheimers New Zealand Charitable Trust:
$15,000 for research focused on the medical aspects of dementia.
(The Alzheimers New Zealand Charitable Trust gratefully acknowledges the Estate of Dorothy Grace Swan for this grant.)
$10,000 for research focused on the social aspects of dementia.
(The Alzheimers New Zealand Charitable Trust gratefully acknowledges the Albert (Pat) Devine Charitable Trust for this grant.)
For more information about these grants, please visit the Alzheimers New Zealand Charitable Trust, or download the application form here.