Widowed brain health expert hopes for future dementia treatments

The World Health Organization reports that 55 million people worldwide suffer from dementia.

With the aging population expected to double over the next 20 years, experts know that therapeutic breakthroughs are needed.

Sarah Hoit knows this all too well. She lost her husband to dementia a year ago.

“It’s a tough and long goodbye,” Hoit said. “Over the past four years, we were losing him piece by piece. And he was very non-verbal. My kids are 20 and 21, and they’ve lost their dad, and we’re on our own as a family.

The loss makes his job all the more important.

She is Chief Social Impact Officer for BioLife Inc., a pharmaceutical company specializing in neurodegenerative diseases.

“Our hypothesis is that neuroinflammation, so brain inflammation, is central to the biology of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological conditions,” she said.

Hoit applauds the many recent scientific breakthroughs from a list of research companies in this space, BioVie being one of them.

“We’re really hopeful,” she explained. “Our early data from our phase three study suggests that our molecule NE3107 may reduce brain inflammation and appear to improve cognition, memory and function.

It is now in phase three, and clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are expected to begin next year.

“It’s a pill that’s taken twice a day,” Hoit said. “[It is] non-invasive, and side effects are almost nil. A mild headache in 10% of trial participants,” Hoit said.

In search of a cure, Hoit also co-founded a global brain health initiative called Social Impact Partners.

“Now is not a time for competition,” Hoit said. “We truly believe there is a deep need for collaboration, increased funding and awareness.”

Part of that awareness is making sure people know they can control some of their brain health by focusing on good sleep, diet, exercise, and social interactions.

“About 75% of what happens to us we can affect every day by what we do and how we live,” Hoit explained. “It’s called epigenetics. It is the study of our behavior; how our diet, exercise, and environment affect how our genes work,” Hoit explained.

She also wants to help the millions of families and caregivers.

“Getting from partner to caregiver, to being the one who has to decide when the car keys are taken out, to deciding when the family is safe, that’s a really tough road to walk,” Hoit said.

Hoit keeps Scott’s memory alive by telling his story, supporting science and fighting for a cure.

“One of the biggest things we did was donate his brain to research,” she said. “I know that’s hard for people to hear, but maybe that’s the thing that helps people the most.”

She hopes people will also sign up to be part of the upcoming clinical trials.