“The Aging Brain” as a Focus for Collaborative Analysis and Research

I‘m much overdue in writing about a terrific, recent workshop at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law on “The Aging Brain.” For me it was an ideal gathering of disciplines, including experts in neurology, psychology, health care (including palliative care and self-directed aid-in-dying), the judiciary, and both practitioners and academics in law (not limited to elder law).  Even more exciting, that full day workshop (11/18/15) will lead into a public conference, planned for fall 2017.  

Key workshop moments included:

• Preview of a potentially ground-breaking study of early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) centered on a family cluster in the country of Columbia with a genetic marker for the disease and a high incidence of onset.  By “early onset,” we’re talking family members in their 40s.  The hope is that by studying the bio-markers in this family, that not only early onset but later-in-life onset will be better understood. Eric Reiman, with professional affiliations with Banner Health, Arizona State University and University of Arizona, spoke at the workshop, and, as it turned out, he was also featured on a CBS 60 Minutes program aired a short time later about the family-based study.  Here’s a link to the CBS transcript and video for the 60 Minutes program on “The Alzheimer’s Laboratory.”  
• Thoughtful discussion of the ethical, legal and social implications of dementia, including the fact that self-directed aid-in-dying is not lawful for individuals with cognitive impairment. Hank Greely from Stanford University Law and Medical Schools, and Professor Betsy Grey for ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law led discussions on key issues.  As biomarkers linked to AD are identified, would “you” want to know the outcome of personal testing?  Would knowing you have a genetic link to AD change your life before onset? 
• Overview of recent developments in “healthy” brain aging and so-called “anti-aging” treatments or medications, with important questions raised about whether there is respected science behind the latest announcement of “breakthroughs.” Cynthia Stonnington from the Mayo Clinic and Gary Marchant from ASU talked about the science (or lack thereof), and Gary raised provocative points about the role of the FDA in drug approvals, tracking histories for so-called off label uses for drugs such as metformin and rapamycin.  

I very much appreciate the opportunity to participate in this program, with special thanks to Betsy Grey and federal Judge Roslyn Silver for making this possible.  I’ve also enjoyed serving as occasional guest in Judge Silver’s two-semester Law and Science workshop with ASU law students. Thank you! For more on the Aging Brain programming at ASU, see here.