Dr. Karen Edwards is Professor and Chair of the UCI Department of Epidemiology. Her primary research focus is in genetic epidemiology and the use of multivariate approaches to define phenotypes for complex diseases. Dr. Edwards’ genetic epidemiology research covers a broad range of conditions, including diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, melanoma and Parkinson’s Disease. She also studies interactions between environmental factors (particularly diet) and genetic susceptibility (Gene x environment interactions) and several interdisciplinary projects that focus on the ethical, legal or social implications of genomics and applications to clinical and public health practice. Dr. Edwards received a MS in Nutrition…
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Respite care provides short-term relief for primary caregivers. Find out more about how to get support from the National Institute on Aging: https://bit.ly/35YKagz Older adults and caregivers are facing unprecedented challenges as a result of COVID-19, and advocacy for respite care is needed now more than ever. California's revised budget cuts critical funding for programs and services for older adults. It eliminates funding for Community-Based Adult Services, the Multi-purpose Senior Services Program, and reduces funding for In-Home Support Services. The changes proposed will have a tremendous impact on local organizations as well as the community members who depend on them. To…
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Hear UCI MIND faculty member and Chair of the UCI Department of Epidemiology, Dr. Karen Edwards, lecture on "Disease Detectives: COVID-19 and Contact Tracing" this Thursday, May 21, 2020 at 12:30 PM. Register here > About Dr. Edwards: Dr. Karen Edwards is Professor and Chair of the UCI Department of Epidemiology. Her primary research focus is in genetic epidemiology and the use of multivariate approaches to define phenotypes for complex diseases. Dr. Edwards’ genetic epidemiology research covers a broad range of conditions, including diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, melanoma and Parkinson’s Disease. She also studies interactions between environmental factors (particularly…
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Unique Considerations for Public Health Communities in Various Settings COVID-19 and dementia present unique considerations for public health professionals in a variety of different settings. The livecast series focuses on three settings: Homes and Community-Based Settings, Emergency Departments and Hospitals, and Long-term Care Facilities. Please Register for each Livecast Separately Dementia Vulnerabilities in Homes and Around the Community Monday, May 18 from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. ET REGISTER Dementia Challenges in Emergency Departments and Hospitals Monday, May 18 from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. ET REGISTER Dementia Vulnerabilities in Long-Term Care Settings Tuesday, May 19 from 3:00…
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UCI MIND Faculty member Dr. Edwin Monuki participated in multiple LIVE videos this week to discuss the current state of testing for COVID-19 in Orange County. The presentations were hosted by UCI Stem Cell Research Center and Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, and you can view the videos below: JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tJTJGcGx1Z2lucyUyRnZpZGVvLnBocCUzRmhyZWYlM0RodHRwcyUyNTNBJTI1MkYlMjUyRnd3dy5mYWNlYm9vay5jb20lMjUyRkFzc2VtYmx5d29tYW5DUE4lMjUyRnZpZGVvcyUyNTJGMTk3NTU1MDMxMjI5MTMwJTI1MkYlMjZzaG93X3RleHQlM0QwJTI2d2lkdGglM0Q1NjAlMjIlMjB3aWR0aCUzRCUyMjU2MCUyMiUyMGhlaWdodCUzRCUyMjMxNSUyMiUyMHN0eWxlJTNEJTIyYm9yZGVyJTNBbm9uZSUzQm92ZXJmbG93JTNBaGlkZGVuJTIyJTIwc2Nyb2xsaW5nJTNEJTIybm8lMjIlMjBmcmFtZWJvcmRlciUzRCUyMjAlMjIlMjBhbGxvd1RyYW5zcGFyZW5jeSUzRCUyMnRydWUlMjIlMjBhbGxvd0Z1bGxTY3JlZW4lM0QlMjJ0cnVlJTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGaWZyYW1lJTNF
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“If successful, we hope that treatments such as Aviptadil may change the chances of survival for these patients,” says Dr. Richard Lee, who is leading the trial at UCI. Carlos Puma for UCI Health UCI Health will initiate a clinical study of a drug to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients who face a high mortality rate because of acute inflammation that fills their lungs with fluid, a grave condition that even mechanical ventilation cannot improve. Aviptadil, which has a 20-year history of use in human clinical trials for lung ailments, will be employed in a phase 2b/3 clinical study…
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CalOptima, which provides health insurance to Orange County’s low-income residents, announced on Friday, May 8, it is working with UC Irvine and the county Health Care Agency to provide intensive training on infection control to staff at 12 nursing homes. … Dr. Susan Huang, who teaches about infectious diseases at UC Irvine, is working with researchers and clinicians to develop the tools and training, and will measure their effectiveness with diagnostic and antibody testing.
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The Center for Biotechnology and Global Health Policy and the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center have partnered to host a virtual panel of experts discussing COVID-19. The event takes place Thursday, May 14, from 7 to 8 p.m. Four experts, including UCI MIND faculty member Dr. Ed Monuki, will address the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Monuki recently blogged about the state of antibody testing. Hear more on this topic at the virtual panel. Register here. It will be streamed on Facebook at facebook.com/UCIStemCell and on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Pau-eWPE0RY. For further information, contact Judy Baek at Judy.baek@uci.edu
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California’s stay-at-home order has been especially tough for one caregiver population: Family members caring for someone who has dementia. Because of the novel coronavirus, adult daycare centers are closed temporarily and home services have been put on hold, cutting off critical support systems for this group. Here are a few tips from UCI Health for anyone now caring for a family member with dementia, provided by Jung-Ah Lee, PhD, an associate professor at the UCI Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing: Read the full article here >
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UCI has launched the ASSIST Program – Assisting & Serving Socially Isolated Seniors via Telephone. UCI medical and nursing students who have been mobilized received the program training, and are ready to be paired with older adult participants who would like to receive regular check-ins via telephone just to chat and/or to receive referrals to community resources during this difficult time while they are self-isolating. The flyer is linked here and provided below. If interested, please call: (714) 497-0315.
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During this time of uncertainty, communities, businesses and families are being impacted like never before. People are also coming together to help others in unprecedented ways. And while we all are spending more and more time at home, many of us are looking for ways to strengthen our communities while maintaining the current health and safety recommendations from the CDC. I’d like to invite you and your families to make a real difference without leaving your home or opening your wallet. I’m an OC Mom and researcher at UCI MIND. We are seeking volunteers to sign up for our “Consent-to-Contact”…
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Contributed by Christian Salazar, PhD, UCI MIND Project Scientist The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on families all across our country, with 70,000 reported deaths to date. Early in the pandemic the data had suggested that African Americans were being admitted to the hospital and dying in disproportionate numbers. In fact, an analysis by the Washington Post revealed that coronavirus death rates were about six times higher in black majority counties than in white majority counties. More recent data also showed that Latinos and Indigenous groups like the Navajo people were dying in excess numbers. What could explain…
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We could all use a laugh in these uncertain times. If you’re a person with Alzheimer’s disease, a family member, or caregiver, you can join LaughterOnCall for their virtual Lunchtime Laughter meetings, Monday-Friday at 12 PM PST. This webinar offers a light-hearted, engaging way to laugh and cope with feelings of isolation that can come from social distancing. To register, visit https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uZEtdemurzIq_pN_HCQ7TY2I8cpa4NsoGQ OR e-mail info@laughteroncall.com to sign up. LaughterOnCall may record these meetings for quality purposes.
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We’re pleased to announce the “Focus on Aging” webinar series with the Administration for Community Living, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the National Institute on Aging. The first webinar, “Supporting Older Adults in Emergencies: Preparedness, Response, and Recovery” will be held May 13 at 1:30-3:00 p.m. ET. Register today! https://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/focus-aging-federal-partners-webinar-series A message from: Nina Silverberg, PhD Director, Alzheimer's Disease Centers Program Division of Neuroscience National Institute on Aging National Institutes of Health
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Contributed by Edwin Monuki, MD, PhD, Warren L. Bostick Professor and Chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UC Irvine A recent article in the The New York Times focuses on an issue of grave concern among US health care providers - the flood of unapproved “lateral flow” tests for detecting COVID-19 antibodies. This flood resulted from an FDA decision to allow antibody testing without their usual approval process in order to accelerate the national response to COVID-19. Unfortunately (and not surprisingly), this also resulted in an antibody testing market that one interviewee in the NYT article called the “Wild West”.…
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NPR reports May 1, 2020 4:22 PM ET - The Food and Drug Administration has given emergency use authorization to the antiviral drug remdesivir to treat hospitalized patients with the coronavirus, President Trump on Friday told reporters at the White House. Gilead CEO Daniel O'Day said remdesivir maker Gilead Sciences is donating 1.5 million vials of the drug and will work with the federal government to distribute it to patients in need...
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ASK THE DOC! UCI MIND Facebook LIVE Video Series This monthly series features short talks and Q&A with experts from the University of California, Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND), 1 of 32 congressionally designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers in the nation. Join UCI MIND on Facebook (@UCIrvineMIND) to learn about advances in research to improve Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Alzheimer's disease, clinical trials, and COVID-19 About the Speaker: Dr. Gillen received his PhD in Biostatistics from the University of Washington and leads the Data Management and Statistics Core for UCI MIND’s NIH-designated…
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HHS launched https://telehealth.hhs.gov. This site is a central source of information on telehealth resources and tools for patients and providers.
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Over the weekend, the CDC added six new coronavirus symptoms to its list. The new symptoms include chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and a loss of taste or smell. Watch for symptoms People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19: Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Or at least two of these symptoms: Fever Chills Repeated shaking with chills Muscle pain…
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Alzheimer's disease, clinical trials, and COVID-19 Join UCI MIND for a live Q&A on Facebook with Dr. Daniel Gillen, Professor and Chair of Statistics at UC Irvine, this Friday, May 1st at 11:00-11:30 AM PST. About the Speaker: Daniel Gillen received his PhD in Biostatistics from the University of Washington and leads the Data Management and Statistics Core for UCI MIND’s NIH-designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. He is an elected fellow of the American Statistical Association and widely recognized for his work in the design and analysis of clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease and other health conditions. Dr. Gillen serves…
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The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) announced the creation of a hotline for current In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) recipients. The hotline staff will be available to discuss recipients’ urgent needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Recipients can call (714) 825-3000 and press option 4.
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https://youtu.be/r4ZpVGrBw5o Nicole Schartz, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Andrea Tenner’s lab, shares her experience of what’s happening in her lab and her perspective on the pandemic. Dr. Schartz is also a member of REMIND. Research and Education in Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, or REMIND, is a campus organization led by UCI MIND predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees. It aims to encourage collaboration among the next generation of scientists and clinicians, and promote community outreach and education on neurodegenerative diseases.
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While doing a video interview with TIME, Craig Stark, professor at the University of California, Irvine’s Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, said that his eighth grade son was on a headset chatting with his friends while gaming. “I’m great with that,” says Stark. Still, he adds, “if you’re gaming 20 hours a day, let’s get out, let’s do some other stuff, let’s not just talk to each other on a screen. But in terms of the notion that video games are actively rotting the brain? No, I don’t see any evidence for that.”
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The UCI Health Affairs Vice Chancellor is delighted to announce the launch of OC-COVID19.org, a new website devoted to providing timely, useful, evidence-based information about the novel coronavirus pandemic to our friends and neighbors across Orange County. UCI and UCI Health are at the forefront of Orange County's response to this national emergency. Every day there are stunning examples of remarkable, cutting-edge clinical care provided by the UCI Health family. Our services are driven by innovation and research taking place across the university. In this way, the UCI community is leading the way to solutions that are local and global.…
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Contributed by Bill Edwards, UCI MIND Leadership Council and Speakers Bureau Member, former Alzheimer’s Caregiver, CEO and Global Advisor for Edwards Global Services, Inc. “It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.” Charles Darwin As a father, grandfather, business owner, and volunteer for UCI MIND, my life has been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Here in Southern California, my daughter and I are, of course, shut in. We seldom go out except once a week to shop or to exercise. Less than 50 miles on the car in a…
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A message from the CA Department of Aging: Join us April 22 for a Caring for Family & Friends Check-In Call: Caregiving from Afar Are You Caring for Family or Friends from Afar During COVID-19? Whether you are providing support to an older person across town, across the country, or in a Nursing Home or Residential Care Facility, COVID-19 guidelines have presented new challenges and concerns. Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to connect with caregiving experts! Wednesday, April 22th, at 1pm the California Department of Aging (https://aging.ca.gov) and the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org) will host their 2nd of a…
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Women's Alzheimer's Movement (WAM), led by Maria Shriver, recently featured brain health tips from UCI MIND Director Dr. Joshua Grill on Facebook. Here's what he had to say: https://youtu.be/KaQ5z7d7XP8 “Adjust your expectations. Life is not normal right now. Be forgiving of others and of yourself. We may not be able to live up to our personal or professional goals of ourselves during this time. I’m a person who works very hard and wants to accomplish a lot, but I’ve had to come to grips with the fact that I’m not going to accomplish as much as I want to in…
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Contributed by Steve O’Leary, former Caregiver, UCI MIND Leadership Council Member Transition: passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another : change (Merriam-Webster) How well do we accept the transitions we face in our life, especially as we grow older? I don't know about you, but I've been through a whole bunch of transitions, especially in the past few years! Sold my company. Lost my wife. Fought off disease. Found the Lord. Death of my closest friend. Learning to love again. And the list goes on! Now I'm facing - we're facing - a new major transition…
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Police and fire agencies from across Orange County held a special drive-by parade at UCI Medical Center on Tuesday to show unity and support for the medical staff. Even though the salute was from a distance, they were able to touch hearts and lift spirits for those who are working long hours to get patients healthy. Meanwhile, Taco Bell's taco truck made a stop at the hospital to provide workers free lunch. … Next week, UCI Medical Center will get another dose of love, when the Anaheim Ducks send 200 meals a day.
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Shared by NAMI OC, Thrive NYC has compiled a list of mental health apps that can be useful during this time. These apps include mindfulness, well-being, depression, anxiety, stress, substance use, and pain. English: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/app-library/ Spanish: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/es/ For those in Orange County who need help or someone to talk to: NAMI Warm Line: 877-910-9276 New Hope Crisis Hotline: 714 - NEW HOPE (714-639-4672) There is a Teen Line open from 6:00PM - 10:00PM Pacific at (310) 855 - 4673 or you can text 839863. The app can be downloaded at: https://teenlineonline.org
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Contributed by Ahmad Sajjadi, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology The ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives are so profound that I fully expect us to, at least in our own heads, divide our life events to pre- and post-pandemic. I cannot think of a similar example in my life that affected every single aspect of my daily living. Of course, like others, I have developed strict rituals for disinfecting myself and everything I touch, and it takes me about 10 minutes to enter my house from a shopping trip! Negatives aside, it has also been…
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Older adults should stay home and avoid nonessential travel at this time to limit risk of exposure to COVID-19. People who must leave the house, those who care for older adults, and older adults living in close quarters with others can take precautions to limit transmission with cloth face coverings. The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be…
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Contributed by Virginia Naeve, Caregiver and UCI MIND Leadership Council Member Most people are just happier when on a schedule. Adults and children alike. It’s especially true if someone has Alzheimer’s disease. If you want to see someone with Alzheimer’s dementia turn upside down and backwards, change their schedule. Move them to new living quarters, admit them to the hospital for a health issue, or have a national disaster or upheaval. Like Covid-19. My Mom suffered with Alzheimer’s disease for almost 9 years. I wasn’t prepared for any of it. It took me years to figure out what was going…
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Visit our blog at www.mind.uci.edu/blog to stay informed. Upcoming 2020 Videos:
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COVID-19 Health Literacy Project All of these materials are reviewed and vetted by physicians and medical school faculty members at the Harvard hospitals. These materials are created in collaboration with Harvard Health Publishing. These materials are freely available for download and distribution without copyright restrictions. Get Fact Sheets in 30+ Languages COVID-19 Resources Provided by UIC School of Public Health This fact sheet library currently offers versions in up to 15 different languages. Fact Sheet Library
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#CANeedsYou covid19.ca.gov
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Contributed by Joshua D. Grill, PhD, Director of UCI MIND Dear friends, I read with interest this morning a blog post from the Director of the National Institute on Aging, Dr. Richard Hodes. Dr. Hodes refers to a “new normal,” in what can only be described the age of COVID-19. At UCI MIND, we are admittedly struggling a bit to adjust to this new normal. Our professional way of life—doing studies with older volunteers and gathering large and small community audiences to share our learnings and recommendations—has been turned upside down, as I know have been your own lives. While we…
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Orange County Aging Services Collaborative (OCASC) has compiled a list of local food resources available for seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic (list as of April 23, 2020): Senior Hour Grocery Stores Online Resources Regional Resources Delivery and Takeout Apps Restaurant To-Go Delivery Deals Pet Supply Delivery County Resource Food Source Spreadsheet By City South County Outreach Food Pantry Instructions (English) (Español) 211 Need Food Flyer (English / Español)
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Many local, national, and global agencies have been sharing information on COVID-19, so we have compiled several trusted sources of guidance for older adults. This is a rapidly-evolving situation and guidelines may change over time, so it's important to check major sources of information regularly.GLOBAL WHO: World Health Organization COVID-19 Quick Links Protect Yourself Questions and Answers Myth Busters Travel Advice NATIONAL CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidance for Adults at Higher Risk Who is at Higher Risk? Get Ready for Coronavirus Now Symptoms of Coronavirus (Español) How to Protect Yourself (Español) What to Do If You Get…
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