The challenge of testing new Alzheimer's drugs

If you've ever had a loved one with Alzheimer's, you've probably learned about the challenge of testing new Alzheimer's drugs. The best way to fix Alzheimer's would be to prevent it before it starts. That's the goal of researchers who have developed a new way to test the effectiveness of drugs.

Rather than using random participants, OHSU researchers now select only people at high risk for Alzheimer's. This helps eliminate false results and the participants are highly motivated to report accurately. The ultimate goal is a drug that can prevent or slow the advance of Alzheimer's. Imagine a world without this terrible disease—OHSU IS ON IT!

Tags: OHSU, Alzheimer's

Consent form improves emergency care for kids

My daughter suffered a concussion recently and I thought about how lucky I was to be by her side in the emergency room.  Dozens of times a year, a child suffers an accident or has an allergy attack when a parent is at work or unavailable to respond quickly.

OHSU: Reducing the cost of health care

It’s such a shame that health care has been politicized when rising health care costs are at the core of the long term debt questions for both the federal and the state budgets. OHSU will play a big role in helping us understand the enormity of the problem and some of the solutions. 

As health economist John McConnell writes on OHSU’s blog, “We're currently in the dark ages when it comes to knowing what works in containing costs in the health care system.”  His research team was awarded $5 million in grants and gifts to begin researching best practices and outcomes—information that will have significant impacts on the future of health care in Oregon. Given that Governor Kitzhaber  has already started to implement the health insurance exchange programs, OHSU will likely have plenty of best use practices to examine. 

I’m looking forward to learning what really works!    Read more on OHSU's 96k blog.

-Sheila

Preventing children’s injuries during the holidays

The holidays are such a beautiful time to enjoy the glow of Christmas lights, the warmth of fire and the smell of Christmas tree, but the OHSU effect reminds us that with every new decoration and toy, there’s a potential risk to small children and pets.  Dr. Ben Hoffman, Medical Director at OHSU Doernbecher Tom Sargent Children’s Safety Center, highlights a couple key things that sometimes get overlooked.

Must Have Skills for 2013

Feeling slow on Turkey Day – The OHSU Effect

Are we prepared for a natural disaster?

Hurricane Sandy was one of those deadly hurricanes with a nice name and a wicked effect on our nation’s psyche. When you see people suddenly without shelter or power, it makes us all re-evaluate our own emergency preparedness. Our family sat down after Hurricane Sandy wiped out much of the New Jersey coastline and reviewed what it is we’re supposed to do in case of an emergency.

Cell phone dead again? Not with Everpurse.

Attempts at solving the problem of being stuck with a dead phone and no way to charge it have varied from the old, like asking the bartender if there's a cord and plug behind the bar, to wireless pads strategically placed in nightclubs, to iPhone cases with their own battery life.

Festival of Positivity

Add a little positivity to your weekend!

Express Your Thanks

Continuing its long history of support for active members of the military, veterans, and their families, Bank of America has launched a campaign that will raise up to $250,000 for Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).