Prominent Researcher Details the Latest in Alzheimer's Research

Every 67 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Researchers are pedaling fast trying to find that miracle cure, or, at the very least, develop effective treatments.

World-renowned Alzheimer’s research expert Dr. William H. Frey II of the HealthPartners Center for Memory & Aging in St. Paul, Minn., presented to more than 100 guests at Covenant Village of Golden Valley, a faith-based, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community, about the progress made in developing new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders. Specifically, he highlighted his patented research involving the use of nasal sprays to help treatments rapidly reach the brain while avoiding unwanted side effects.

“Anatomical barriers to delivering drugs to the brain has made it difficult to develop treatments for Alzheimer’s and other brain disorders,” explains Frey. “Non-invasive intranasal delivery is changing the way we treat brain disorders and making treatments we never thought possible, possible.”

Intranasal insulin, he explains, has been reported to improve memory, attention and overall functioning of patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, he says, research conducted in Germany showed intranasal insulin also improved memory in normal adults, as well.

Says Frey, “The brain needs glucose for energy, and PET scans of people with Alzheimer’s show there’s very little uptake of glucose into the brain. That’s why Alzheimer’s is sometimes referred to as ‘diabetes of the brain.’ Intranasal insulin can increase glucose uptake and increase brain energy.”

Frey also shared findings from his preclinical research using intranasal deferoxamine, an iron-binding drug, which looks promising for the treatment of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and stroke. Treatments aside, he said it is important not to become deficient in vitamin D, vitamin B12 or thyroid hormone, and also suggested developing daily habits that may help prevent the development of the disease. Mainly:

· Regular exercise

· Healthy diet that includes fruits, nuts and vegetables; and regular servings of fish high in omega-3 fatty acids

· Daily mental stimulation

· An active social life

· Quality sleep

· Stress management

“It’s not often we have an opportunity to hear from the researchers themselves about the progress made in Alzheimer’s research,” says Gary Gardeen, executive director at Covenant Village of Golden Valley. “Dr. Frey was a wealth of information, and he gave us practical daily tips we can apply in our lives now to help prevent the development of Alzheimer’s later.”

Dr. Frey is an adjunct professor of pharmaceutics and faculty member in neurology and neuroscience at the University of Minnesota and a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry. He has been interviewed on “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show,” “20/20,” and NPR’s “All Things Considered.”

Covenant Village of Golden Valley will welcome Minnesotan Adam Lindquist as he portrays America’s 26th president Teddy Roosevelt on Nov. 11, 2104, at 10 a.m. For more information or to register, visit www.CovenantVillageofGoldenValley.org or call (877) 804-7017.

About Covenant Village of Golden Valley

Covenant Village of Golden Valley, a faith-based, not-for-profit, continuing care retirement community, is located at 5800 St. Croix Ave. N., Golden Valley, Minn. It is administered by Covenant Retirement Communities, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit senior services providers. Covenant Retirement Communities serves 5,000 residents at 15 retirement communities nationwide and is a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church. For more information on Covenant Village of Golden Valley, call (877) 804-7017 or visit www.CovenantVillageofGoldenValley.org.