Alzheimer’s Association International Conference Research Updates
I was so inspired by the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference® 2016 (AAIC®). We heard from members of the dementia research community about exciting breakthroughs that will drive the field forward. While we are thrilled about the news from the last seven days, we urgently need your continued support to keep up this incredible momentum.
Please allow me to share just a few examples of important research breakthroughs presented this week:
- Smell and eye tests could provide simple, early, low-cost tool(s) for detection of memory decline and dementia. Using newly-validated biomarkers to create tests that are non-invasive and less expensive than current methods (such as PET scans) could lead to dramatic improvements in early detection and treatment of the disease.
- While nearly two-thirds of the 5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s are women, new data suggests that men may receive a dementia-related misdiagnosis more often than women. The study highlights the need for better tools to provide accurate and timely diagnosis to offer the best care possible, as early as possible, to both women and men.
- People whose work requires complex thinking and/or activities — particularly working with people, rather than data or physical things — may be better able to withstand the onset of Alzheimer’s — more proof of how “cognitive reserve” may protect the brain from disease.
Your generosity helped make this and other research possible. Today, we need your support more than ever to continue the progress announced this week. Together, we can accomplish even more.
Please give generously today.