Latest news with #HopeCenter
Medical News Today
6 days ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
Alzheimer's: Common insomnia treatment may prevent brain damage
Common insomnia treatment may prevent Alzheimer's-related brain damage, an animal study suggests. Image credit: ljubaphoto/Getty Images. As many as 70 million people around the world live with a sleep disorder. Sleep disorders can impact a person's risk for several health conditions, including dementia and Alzheimer's disease. A new study has found that a medication commonly used to treat insomnia may not only improve sleep quality, but also protect the brain from a buildup of the protein tau, via a mouse model. 'Poor sleep quality and sleep disorders often appear years before other symptoms of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease and related disorders become apparent,' David M. Holtzman, MD, the Barbara Burton and Reuben M. Morriss III Distinguished Professor of Neurology and scientific director of the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders at the Washington University School of Medicine told Medical News Today . He is the senior author of a new study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience , which has found, via a mouse model, that a medication commonly used to treat insomnia may not only improve sleep quality, but also protect the brain from a buildup of the protein tau. For this study, researchers focused on a sleep disorder medication called lemborexant, sold under the brand name Dayvigo. 'Lemborexant belongs to a class of sleep medications called dual orexin receptor antagonists,' Samira Parhizkar, PhD, instructor at Washington University School of Medicine, and first author of this study, explained to MNT . 'These drugs work by blocking orexin — a protein in the brain that keeps us awake and alert.' 'By blocking the orexin signaling, the medication allows sleep to occur quickly and more easily,' Parhizkar continued. 'In other words, if your brain is like a light switch that keeps flicking on when you are trying to sleep, lemborexant helps turn that switch off, so your brain and body gets the rest it needs.' Scientists used lemborexant to treat a model of mice that were genetically prone to having tau buildup in the brain. 'In the healthy brain, tau protein acts as a 'track' that helps support the shape of cells and helps move nutrients and signals where they need to go,' Holtzman detailed. 'In Alzheimer's and a group of neurodegenerative disorders primarily affected by abnormal tau called tauopathies, abnormal tau loses its shape, integrity and therefore cellular functionality leading to tau tangles. The progressive build of these tau tangles leads to nerve cell death that contributes to memory loss, confusion among other cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's disease,' he explained. At the study's conclusion, researchers found treating the mice with lemborexant helped to prevent the buildup of tau in the brain, reducing the inflammatory brain damage that tau buildup is known to cause in Alzheimer's disease. 'The detrimental increase of abnormal tau is closely associated with heightened inflammatory damage in the brain,' Parhizkar said. 'Research from our lab and others has demonstrated that inflammation in the brain is a significant factor contributing to the brain damage seen in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.' 'Consequently, by decreasing both the abnormal buildup of tau and inflammatory damage, lemborexant may be highly effective in safeguarding the brain from these sources of injury,' she added. Additionally, scientists discovered that mice treated with the sleep aid had a 30–40% larger hippocampus volume compared to those not treated with the medication. 'The larger hippocampal volume indicates reduced brain damage and cellular loss in mice treated with lemborexant compared to those given vehicle control,' Holtzman said. 'In the latter group, abnormal tau protein continued to accumulate in the brain, resulting in cell damage, death, and therefore shrinkage of the hippocampus typically observed with neurodegeneration.' MNT also had the opportunity to speak with Gary Small, MD, chair of psychiatry at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, about this study. Small, who was not involved in the current research, commented that the findings from this new study are consistent with previous research linking restful sleep with better cognitive health. 'For example, my research team found that sleep quality is related to both objective measures of sustained attention and self-awareness of memory decline, suggesting that interventions for improving sleep quality may contribute not only to improving the ability to focus on a particular task but also in reducing memory complaints,' he told us. 'Other work has shown that restful sleep reduces brain amyloid and inflammation, which may explain why sleep benefits cognition. The Washington University team now sheds additional light on an underlying link between insomnia and cognitive impairment: accumulation of tau protein, particularly in brain regions controlling memory,' Small added. 'Nearly 40% of people in the U.S. complain of insomnia, which can lead to daytime fatigue, memory issues, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, depression, irritability, and disrupted work and social activities. Available medicines may lead to dependency and pose such side effects as daytime drowsiness, dizziness, headache, unusual dreams, and memory problems. Finding innovative treatments that reduce tau accumulation in the brain and promote restful sleep would have the dual effect of combating Alzheimer's disease and chronic insomnia' Still, Small cautioned that, while '[t]his study is encouraging […] findings in an animal model must move forward to clinical trials of human volunteers to determine the safety and effectiveness of this potential treatment.' Alzheimer's / Dementia Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia Drugs
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive collects 150,000+ pounds of food for area pantries
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – The results of 2025's Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive are in, with the total amount of food collected amounting to over 150,000 pounds for local pantries. In Green Bay, De Pere and Sturgeon Bay, officials say more than 155,000 pounds of food was collected for numerous food pantries throughout northeast Wisconsin. Combat Hunger event in Appleton aims to fight food insecurity among veterans Officials noted the big increase over 2024's total and that every pantry they partnered with, including the Salvation Army and Hope Center, received all the donations they requested, and more! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Collaboration a key element of Southwest Georgia Regional Job Fair
ALBANY — Yes, the Southwest Georgia Regional Job Fair Thursday is a high-priority event for the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission and its partners. But for EDC Director of Business Relations Marvin Oliver, the activities leading up to the job fair at the Albany Civic Center and the event itself are only a large piece of an ongoing puzzle. 'This is not just about numbers or even jobs that are available,' Oliver said of the event that is expected to attract as many as 1,400 job-seekers. 'It's about a community working together to address one of its major concerns: poverty. There are a number of great needs in our community, and a lot of them relate to joblessness. 'Unfortunately, the primary approach organizations in communities like ours seem to take is one of addressing individual resources. Everyone works in a silo. What I hope we can do with this job fair and continue to do afterwards is collaborate. Instead of everyone doing his own thing — and, often, it's the same thing — we can work together, pool our resources and take a more collaborative approach.' The Sherwood Baptist Church Hope Center is one of the job fair sponsors that is taking Oliver's concern to heart. The Hope Center has offered a pair of resume workshops at no cost and will offer one more on Tuesday at 6 p.m. leading up to the job fair. The workshop gives potential participants an opportunity to interact with employees at the job fair with a leg-up. 'This (resume workshop) is one of several ministries offered by Sherwood,' Hope Center Director Matt Nowicki said before the start of Friday's workshop. 'It offers job-seekers an opportunity to present themselves in a way that will help them in their efforts to find a job. 'We work well with the Economic Development Commission not just to help potential applicants with resume building but also on how the potential employees should present themselves, how to dress, on down to the finer points like how to shake hands.' Sherwood member and volunteer Phyllis Rolle said the three workshops leading up to Thursday's job fair are part of an ongoing project undertaken by the Hope Center. 'We'd actually had a workshop back before Hurricane Helene and had a good turnout for that session,' Rolle said. 'The whole program stems from the large number of individuals in the area who are not prepared for this challenge. 'Yes, we offer to help them build a resume — how to format it, what to put in it — but we also work with them to build the skills needed to complete a successful interview.' Albany resident James Robinson III, who is studying IT at Georgia Tech, came to Friday's workshop to help prepare for the job fair. He said he'll use the workshop to hone his resume as he searches for a job in his specialty area. 'I'm either going to return to school full-time or find a part- or full-time job in my area,' Robinson said. 'I recently moved back to Albany, and I'm looking for a job right now. I want to find something in data analysis, software engineering, information technology, artificial intelligence, robotics.' Robinson and other job-seekers should find plenty of opportunities at the job fair. Oliver said 38 employers already had signed up to be a part of the event, and he expects that number to grow to between 50 and 60 by Thursday. Among the businesses and agencies represented at the job fair are the U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force, Sunnyland Farms, MolsonCoors, Tyson Foods, Albany State University, the city of Albany's HR Department, the Albany Area YMCA, Aspire Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Service and the Albany Police Department. Oliver said the event's itinerary is planned to help in a couple of vital areas: resume building and giving special attention to the needs of veterans. A resume-building opportunity will be held from 2-4 p.m., and veteran job-seekers will be allowed in from 3-4 p.m., giving them an hour's head start before the general public is allowed in at 4 p.m. 'Having the resume workshop beforehand helps keep things from getting overwhelming,' the EDC director of business relations said. 'A large number of people come in needing help with their resume or with no resume at all, and that certainly hurts their chances of getting a job. We feel that helping these folks is an important part of the event. 'We also want to make sure we don't deter our veterans, who have served our country. Allowing them to go into the job fair first is our way of honoring them. We want them to know that they don't have to feel concerned about what we expect to be a large crowd. We'll make sure they get first opportunity to talk with employers.' Oliver said events like the job fair help the community attack poverty, one job at a time. 'Yes, this event allows job-seekers an opportunity to talk with employers who are hiring,' he said. 'But it's not just about the job fair. This is about building collaborations that continue to offer opportunities as we continue into the future.'
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
Nationwide EBT scam impacting Roanoke
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — A nationwide scam has made its way to Roanoke. Low-income individuals who rely on SNAP benefits for their grocery shopping are arriving at the check-out counter only to find their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) funds are missing. Several local food banks say that scam is starting to have a big impact on their operations. 'If we've got more people on the list than we have food, then that means we have to limit just a little bit more of what they'd be getting,' said Darlene Lewis, executive director of the Hope Center in Roanoke, which provides one of several food banks across the city. They have begun to receive calls from folks impacted by the scam, which will drive up demand on their limited supply. 'We will be getting the first person that was impacted by that [scam], and they told me they had seven children,' said Lewis. 'That's a heavy load to lift.' That means people that have not been scammed, but who rely on local food banks for healthy food, could also be impacted. As of Friday morning, at least 10 people in Roanoke have filed welfare fraud reports to Roanoke Police, stating their EBT funds were missing. Roanoke City Benefit Manager Lindsey Campbell provided WFXR with this statement Friday, acknowledging that they are aware of the nationwide scam, and the fact that it is now impacting the local community: The City of Roanoke Department of Social Services is aware of a nationwide EBT skimming/scam that has been happening for several months. While this issue has affected individuals across the country, it has also impacted some residents locally. This has resulted in stolen benefits for some users—some of whom recently noticed their accounts had been depleted after making purchases through certain online retailers. Initially, local agencies were able to replace stolen benefits; however, as of December 20, 2024, we are no longer permitted to do so due to federal regulations. We understand this is a hardship for many affected individuals, which is why it is more important than ever to take precautions to protect your benefits. Don't click on those road toll texts. Officials issue warnings about the smishing scam We have always encouraged Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to take precautions to protect their benefits. We advise EBT users to avoid utilizing third-party applications to manage their accounts and to be cautious when shopping online. The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) has introduced a new card lock/unlock security feature to protect SNAP benefits. This feature helps safeguard customers' EBT cards from skimming and other fraudulent activities that attempt to steal card numbers and PINs. The ConnectEBT app is the only officially licensed app for Virginia SNAP EBT benefits. Additionally, VDSS has directed local agencies to track instances of fraud and report where fraudulent transactions are occurring. This information could be used to help identify the source of the problem and potential solutions. For more information or assistance, individuals are encouraged to contact their local Social Services office or visit the Virginia Department of Social Services website. The fact that local and state agencies are no longer to reimburse stolen funds is what makes this scam so damaging. 'This is not like somebody misusing your credit card where you can dispute it and get the charges reversed,' said Julie Wheeler, president of the Better Business Bureau serving Western Virginia. 'These things, you don't get your money back.' The BBB says the scam has been harder to prevent than many because criminals are using multiple methods to steal funds. 'We can't control that,' said Wheeler. 'How we can control that is by having our cards locked. Keeping them locked and only unlock them when you're using them.' The BBB and Virginia Department of Social Services both say you can do that by downloading the Connect EBT app, which allows users to easily freeze their account. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Remarkable Woman: Darlene Lewis, founder of The Hope Center
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — Southwest and Central Virginia are filled with remarkable women, and we're introducing you to some during March during Nexstar's Remarkable Women contest. Roanoke's northwest side can often be overlooked, but one of our four contestants is committed to making that community shine with opportunity and hope. Darlene Lewis founded The Hope Center 10 years ago as a place of love to address the community's needs. On 11th and Moorman in Roanoke, Virginia, you can find a bright spot of hope in a neighborhood that can sometimes be overlooked. Remarkable Women: Meet Dr. Tonia Socha-Mower, making communities healthier through strategic fundraising 'This community has never been an easy one. It's, it's stricken with drugs, um, violence at times, uncertainty, um, a lack of access to resources,' said Briana Taylor, Hope Center Volunteer. In the past 10 years, Darlene Lewis has filled that need with The Hope Center. Remarkable Women: Meet Mary King, YOVASO Program Director 'She's magical in an otherwise abandoned area,' said Gregory Hunt, Hope Center Volunteer. Mrs. Lewis is a woman of faith; she says that in 1994, she got the calling to be a mother to the community. 'I mean, these grown people are calling her mama,' said Hunt. What she has created is a resiliency center.' Briana Taylor, Hope Center Volunteer Mrs. Lewis took a building filled with potential and hasn't looked back since. 'I got my first retirement check, and I paid the rent with it, and to me, it is a place of love,' Darlene Lewis, Founder of The Hope Center. 'When we first opened, we came in, we waited to see what the community needed.' More 'Remarkable Women' stories on Those needs include counseling, youth programs, a warming and cooling center, a clothing closet, a food pantry, and more. She's there to lend a helping hand. Donations and volunteering help fuel the Hope Center. Mrs. Lewis is always in charge of ensuring the community gets the essentials. 'Tuesdays are food day; we give out food boxes, where we pick up the food, box it up, and then distribute it on Tuesdays. And then we do the same thing on Saturday,' said Lewis. The Hope Center is open 7 days a week and is willing to embrace all who walk through its doors. 'I was homeless at one time,' said Charles Bratton, Hope Center recipient. Remarkable Women: Meet Pamela Irvine, the woman behind Feeding Southwest Virginia Charles shared that he was living in his car in 2023 when Mrs. Lewis found out, and she sprang into action. 'She helped me to get an apartment and someplace to stay,' said Bratton. Mrs. Lewis says it is her calling to help, no matter the need. The only reason that I'm here is because of the people.' Darlene Lewis, Founder of The Hope Center The Hope Center is a non-profit shared by Mrs. Lewis, and everything is volunteer- and donation-based. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
