President Obama includes Alzheimer’s in State of the Union address

http://www.alz.org/news_and_events_alzheimers_in_state_of_the_union.asp?WT.mc_id=enews2013_02_13

Last night, President Barack Obama included Alzheimer’s disease in his State of the Union address. President Obama referenced the need for smart investment in research: “Today, our scientists are mapping the human brain to unlock the answers to Alzheimer’s.” The Alzheimer’s Association applauds the president for underscoring the importance of funding for medical research, especially to end the Alzheimer’s epidemic.
Read the Association’s statement >>

In his first State of the Union address of his second term, President Barack Obama spoke of the need for “investments in science and innovation,” with a specific reference to Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s Association applauds the president for underscoring the critical need for medical research and demonstrating that addressing Alzheimer’s disease is a national priority.

If we hope to change the trajectory of this growing epidemic, providing Alzheimer’s scientists with the resources they require must happen now to address one of the most significant cost drivers of Medicare and Medicaid. The average per-person Medicare costs for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias are three times higher than for those without these conditions. More than 5 million Americans are living with this progressive and fatal disease today. That number is expected to triple as baby boomers age.

The president and the Alzheimer’s Association agree that innovative research is essential to “unlock the answers to Alzheimer’s.” As the largest non-profit funder, the Alzheimer’s Association funds projects like the first-ever whole genome sequencing of participants in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), a public-private research project led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and funded with private sector support.

Just three weeks ago, the Alzheimer’s Advisory Council unanimously endorsed recommendations to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius as well as Congress, which include benchmarks to achieve the National Alzheimer’s Plan goal of preventing and effectively treating this fatal disease by 2025.

“The Alzheimer’s Association applauds the president’s acknowledgment of the need for Alzheimer’s research in the State of the Union, and calls on the president and Congress to take action in the coming days to fully support the implementation of the National Alzheimer’s Plan that was a result of bipartisan leadership,” said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. “The personal tragedy of this disease, along with the economic cost, demonstrates that there is no time to wait and smart commitment to Alzheimer’s research must be made now.”

Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. For more information, visit www.alz.org.

Contact: Alzheimer’s Association
Media line: 312.335.4078
Email: media@alz.org

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NFL, General Electric to form partnership to detect concussions

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/sports/football/nfl-and-ge-team-up-in-effort-to-detect-concussions.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

The National Football League (NFL) is planning to form a partnership with General Electric to develop technology that would detect concussions and help protect the brain. The NFL and GE are contributing at least $50 million to this initiative over four years.
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Evidence ties heart disease to risk of mental decline

http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=672863

Researchers have again tied heart disease and poor circulation to mental decline in older people, especially women, a new study shows. Scientists examined the cardiovascular and mental health of 1,450 people aged 70 to 89 and found that nearly one quarter of study participants developed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) over an average of four years of follow-up, and they confirmed a link between heart disease and mental decline.
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Learn more about the heart-head connection >>

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African-Americans make strides in Alzheimer’s disease research

http://act.alz.org/site/PageNavigator/FY13_Black_History_Month.html

During Black History Month, we’d like to honor African-Americans who work tirelessly in the field of Alzheimer’s research. Dr. Goldie Byrd is one such scientist striving to make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Dr. Byrd battles stigma every day in the hopes of bringing a better understanding of Alzheimer’s to individuals living with the disease, their loved ones and policy makers. African-Americans may be at a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease, so her work, and the work of others, is more important than ever.
Read about Dr. Byrd >>
Learn more about African-Americans and Alzheimer’s >>

During February, Black History Month, the Alzheimer’s Association sat down for a one-on-one talk with Dr. Goldie Byrd, an African-American scientist who has spent more than a decade researching the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease. Early in her career, Dr. Byrd recognized the impact of studying the nature of Alzheimer’s disease on a genomic level. Here are some of her thoughts on her observations and her motivations for continuing her research.

“I decided to focus my research on Alzheimer’s because it’s a disease of disparity, affecting some populations far more than others; its genetics aren’t well understood; and it had an impact on my family.

There’s a tremendous stigma about Alzheimer’s. People perceive it as affecting their social standing, their professional opportunities … they don’t want be associated with that kind of stigma, especially coming from a community that’s had an historical struggle to integrate.

I remember when people wouldn’t talk about cancer — it was taboo. Now people are proud to say they’re survivors. I want to create a buzz about Alzheimer’s so that people feel free to talk about it. I want more information out there and more literacy about the disease.

We need to do a better job educating people about how to care for those with Alzheimer’s — that will help with the embarrassment. And we need to provide resources to help caregivers who have an extraordinary challenge. This disease can strip a family of so many things, including their finances.

People also need to understand that the healthier we are, the healthier the brain will be. We need to increase physical activity, reduce stress, control high blood pressure and cholesterol, reduce obesity and eat a healthy diet. Often, these things are related to socioeconomics. But where we can make changes, we should. Education really is key.”

Dr. Byrd and her team were recently recognized with a $1 million grant for outreach activities. It will be used in part to support “Keeping Memories Alive” a project to bring better understanding about Alzheimer’s to all those with the disease, caregivers and policy makers.

Thank you, Dr. Byrd, for continuing to make an impact on all those affected by this devastating disease, and especially on the African-American community.

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http://www.alzheimers-illinois.org/app_error.asp

The Alzheimer’s Association® Greater Illinois Chapter is excited to announce our new mobile website. Using a smartphone or tablet, it’s easier than ever to access resources for caregivers, education program listings and locations for support groups.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s details and information about volunteer and advocacy opportunities among others are also available on the go.
Type alzil.mobi into your smartphone or tablet and browse our mobile website today.

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