Black History Month is a month for all people to celebrate and learn about the diverse and important contributions of Black Americans to American society and culture, as well as to reflect on the ongoing fight against racism, inequity and discrimination.

Mayo Clinic News Network is profiling Mayo Clinic physicians who are focused every day on achieving health equity through their work.

Meet Dr. Floyd Willis, a family medicine physician and investigator at the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. He is dedicated to connecting minority patients to research, clinical trials and care.

Watch: Black History Month - Dr. Floyd Willis on the importance of inclusive Alzheimer's Disease research

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:27) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please "Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"Many describe Alzheimer's and other memory loss diseases as the silent killer," Dr. Floyd Willis says. "It can insidiously creep into your family or your neighborhood."

Dr. Willis has been a practicing family medicine physician for more than 30 years. He's drawn to problem-solving, particularly ones that have a community-wide impact.

"Black people in America are about twice as likely to get Alzheimer's disease and other memory loss disorders — and there are interesting and complicated reasons behind that," Dr. Willis says.

Connecting the community to solutions is why he has helped the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center in Jacksonville, Florida, recruit participants into research studies.

"It's extremely important to understand how we can predict who might get it and, if possible, discover early treatments for (Alzheimer's disease)," Dr. Willis says.

High blood pressure, diabetes and obesity have been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease — factors that are also disproportionately higher in Black Americans.

"Often, communities are unaware that treating those chronic diseases and keeping the body healthy also keeps the brain healthy," Dr. Willis says. "It's important that we get this information out, as it may be a way to reduce some of this increased risk for African Americans."

The Alzheimer's Disease Research Center's outreach in Jacksonville's historically Black communities revealed a deeper understanding of cultural barriers.

"It's key to build trust for someone to reveal all of these very personal things about their mind, their brain, their thought, which some people equate to their spirituality," Dr. Willis says. "Once you can convince people that, yes, you can trust the system, and yes, memory loss is something that we should talk about — it's not just a thing that happens to everyone, as they get older — some of it can be prevented."

Dr. Willis says a change in memory doesn't automatically mean a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

"The things that can affect the heart and the things that can affect the kidneys can also affect the brain," Dr. Willis says. "Work with a primary care physician to get all of those things that injure the arteries under control."

In his decades of outreach and advocacy, Dr. Willis says what drives progress is diverse representation — from patients and study participants to researchers and physicians — and "...partnering with the community."

"Involving the community in the work that (researchers) are doing, asking them what they find important, what they want us to study, and then try to put your priorities in with them," he says.

Related posts:

• Black History Month: Dr. Alyx Porter on shaping the future generation of physicians
• Read more about Alzheimer's disease research at Mayo Clinic
• Plasma biomarker screening could improve accuracy, health equity in Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis

For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, and other safety protocols were followed.

The post Black History Month: Dr. Floyd Willis on the importance of inclusive Alzheimer’s Disease research appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

According to drugmakers Eisai and Biogen, a Phase 3 clinical study on a potential new Alzheimer's disease drug shows promise. The study findings show that the drug, lecanemab, reduced clinical decline of people with Alzheimer's disease by 27% compared with a placebo after 18 months of treatment.

"This is very good news for Alzheimer's disease patients and their families," says Dr. Ronald Petersen, a neurologist and director of Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. "While this is not a cure for the disease, it represents a step in the right direction by slowing cognitive decline."

A monoclonal antibody, lecanemab shows promise in removing amyloid plaques from the brain. Plaques are one of the defining features of Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Petersen adds: "These data suggest that we can intervene on the amyloid process and slow it down. Now, we need to move earlier in the disease process to treat people who are amyloid positive but clinically normal."

The study included 1,795 participants with early Alzheimer's disease in Japan, the U.S., Europe and China. 

The drugmaker has requested accelerated approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The study results will be presented at the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Congress (CTAD) in November and is expected to be published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

"We look forward to additional data from this study and other studies investigating disease-modifying therapies that will attack the underlying disease process itself," says Dr. Petersen.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological disorder affecting about 6 million people in the U.S and over 55 million people worldwide. This number is projected to rise to 139 million globally by 2050. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.

Brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease can lead to growing trouble with:

• Memory
• Thinking and reasoning
• Making judgments and decisions
• Planning and performing familiar tasks
• Changes in personality and behavior

There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. Medication may temporarily improve or slow progression of symptoms. 

On average, people with Alzheimer's live between three to 11 years after diagnosis, though some may survive for more than 20 years.  

In the study, brain swelling was seen in 12.5% of those who received the medication, compared to 1.7% in the placebo group, according to the drugmakers. Many of those patients, however, did not experience any related symptoms. Of those in the lecanemab group, 2.8% experienced symptoms. The frequency of brain hemorrhages was 17% in the lecanemab group and 8.7% in the placebo group, with very low rates of symptomatic hemorrhages.

Overall, the frequency of bleeding or swelling in the brain was 21.3% in the treated group compared to 9.3% in the placebo group. The prevalence of the side effects was lower than in similar experimental drugs. With monitoring by a physician, these side effects appeared to be manageable.

The drugmaker has requested accelerated approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The study results will be presented at the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Congress (CTAD) in November and is expected to be published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

Disclosures

Dr. Petersen has previously consulted with Biogen and Eisai. He was not involved in the design or execution of clinical trials for lecanemab.

Read more about Alzheimer's disease and dementia:

• New computational model proposed for Alzheimer’s disease.
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Reducing dementia risks.
• Mayo Clinic expert provides tips for reducing dementia risk.

The post Mayo Clinic expert offers perspective on experimental Alzheimer’s disease drug appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration approved aducanumab to treat Alzheimer’s disease, which is a progressive brain disorder that is the most common cause of dementia. 

Aducanumab targets amyloid plaques in the brain that are believed to be an essential component of Alzheimer’s disease. But what does the approval of a new Alzheimer's drug mean for patients?

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Ronald Petersen, a Mayo Clinic neurologist and director of Mayo Clinic’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, and Dr. David Knopman, a Mayo Clinic neurologist, discuss the challenges ahead to identify the appropriate patients for treatment with aducanumab.

Watch: Dr. Ronald Petersen and Dr. David Knopman discuss new Alzheimer's drug.

Read the full transcript.

Read more: FDA approves aducanumab to treat Alzheimer's disease

_____________________________________________________

Disclosures

Dr. Petersen has consulted with Biogen on aducanumab, but he was not involved in the design or execution of the clinical trials.

Dr. Knopman is a former member of the FDA's Peripheral and Central Nervous System Advisory Committee, but he was recused for the aducanumab advisory hearing because he was a site principal investigator for one of Biogen's aducanumab trials.

Mayo Clinic campuses in Rochester, Minnesota, and Jacksonville, Florida, participated in aducanumab clinical trials.

____________________________________________

For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

The post Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Mayo Clinic experts discuss new Alzheimer’s treatment option appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. The disease affects almost 6 million Americans, according to the Alzheimer's Association. As the population ages, it’s predicted that the number of people in the U.S. with Alzheimer's could more than double by 2060. Current Alzheimer's disease medications may improve symptoms temporarily or slow the rate of decline, but there is no cure or treatment that alters the disease process in the brain.

On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Ronald Petersen, director of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, will share an update on ongoing research and the fight against Alzheimer's. Also on the program, Dr. Waleed Brinjikji, a Mayo Clinic diagnostic radiologist, will discuss interventional radiology, a specialty where radiologists not only read and interpret scans, but also take part in the actual treatment of certain conditions. And Dr. Reade Quinton, a Mayo Clinic pathologist, will discuss the work he does in anatomic pathology and share his love of magic.

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Use the hashtag #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Access archived shows or subscribe to the podcast.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Alzheimer’s disease update appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Ronald Petersen, director of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, will share an update on ongoing research and the fight against Alzheimer's. Also on the program, Dr. Waleed Brinjikji, a Mayo Clinic diagnostic radiologist, will discuss interventional radiology, a specialty where radiologists not only read and interpret scans, but also take part in the actual treatment of certain conditions. And Dr. Reade Quinton, a Mayo Clinic pathologist, will discuss the work he does in anatomic pathology and share his love of magic.

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Miss the show? Here's your Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

Use the hashtag #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Access archived shows or subscribe to the podcast.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Alzheimer’s disease update / interventional radiology / pathology and magic appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:00) is in the downloads. Read the script.

Is there anything you can do to prevent memory loss or cognitive decline as you age?

“The National Academies of Science reported that there may be three factors that can reduce the likelihood of developing cognitive decline later in life. The first was intellectual exercise.”

Dr. Petersen says the second factor is controlling blood pressure, especially during middle age.

“The third was aerobic exercise. Getting out there, being physically active, may reduce your risks of developing cognitive decline later.”

Dr. Petersen says this information is good news, because most people can work to embrace a healthy lifestyle that includes staying active mentally, working with their health care providers to control blood pressure, and moving more.

“I think that, as our lifestyles are changing ─ hopefully, becoming more healthy ─ that those kinds of risks will be reduced somewhat.”

Dr. Petersen also says eating a heart-healthy diet that includes fruits; vegetables; whole grains; lean meats; low-fat dairy; and fats, such as olive oil, may help, as well.

Dr. Petersen also says that the intellectual exercise referred to in the study was a specific type of training developed for the research.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: 3 factors that may help prevent memory loss appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Alzheimer’s disease

In an effort to find a breakthrough, researchers are turning to new types of drugs. “I think the approach using immunotherapy is very popular right now,” says Dr. Ronald Petersen, who is the director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Mayo Clinic. "So, by this, we mean that we are giving antibodies to individuals” to counteract degenerative changes in the brain.

The antibodies target unwanted excess proteins — ideally before they can kill nerve cells in the brain, explains Dr. David Knopman, a Mayo Clinic researcher and behavioral neurologist. Among the nearly two dozen clinical trials underway at Mayo Clinic to fight Alzheimer’s is one called the A4 Study. Dr. Knopman says, “The A4 trial was conceived as a way to try to prevent the cognitive impairment of Alzheimer’s disease from occurring in the first place.” With more information, here’s Dennis Douda for the Mayo Clinic News Network.

Watch: Testing a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

Journalists: A broadcast-quality video pkg (2:40) is in the downloads. Read the script.

The post Immunotherapy: Testing a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Alzheimer’s disease

That’s why, in 2011, after unanimous approval by Congress, the National Alzheimer’s Project Act was signed into law. Ever since its inception, the director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Ronald Petersen, has chaired the advisory council that helps set priorities for a national strategic plan of action.

“The advisory council advises the secretary of Health and Human Services on the content of the plan,” says Dr. Petersen. “And the plan itself is then used by advocacy organizations to go to Capitol Hill and lobby for increased funding for various aspects of Alzheimer’s disease – primarily research, but also for the delivery of care and services.” Dr. Petersen says the effort seems to be paying off. Here’s Dennis Douda.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: A broadcast-quality video pkg (0:58) is in the downloads. Read the script.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: National plan to address Alzheimer’s disease appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Myth or Matter-of-Fact: Everyone has at least some risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeartRadio.

Listen to this program at 9:05 a.m. CT on Saturday, November 28 and follow #MayoClinicRadio.

Access archived shows.

Mayo Clinic Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Alzheimer’s Research Update appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Myth or Matter-of-Fact: Everyone has at least some risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Miss the show?  Here's the Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

Follow #MayoClinicRadio and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeartRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

Access archived shows.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Alzheimer’s Update/Colon Cancer Screening/SAD appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.