http://www.alz.org/dm/nadam/nadam_wristband1_rollout.htm

My wife of 41 years, Joan, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease last year at the age of 62. Even though her mother had Alzheimer’s, the diagnosis was shocking. Like most people, we thought Alzheimer’s only affected the elderly.

Without a doubt, we’ve been on an emotional roller coaster ride. I thank God for the wonderful services of the Alzheimer’s Association. They have several programs that have helped us plan for the future, which is especially important for families dealing with younger-onset diagnosis.

Through it all, my wife is my inspiration. Long before her diagnosis, Joan was a passionate advocate for people with Alzheimer’s. Now that she can’t work, advocacy is her new career. And as her caregiver, my career has changed too. I travel less for work than I used to, because I want to spend as much time with Joan as possible. Every single minute is important.

I watched my father-in-law try to do everything for his wife during her illness, and he ruined his health – it was just too much for one person. I’ve decided that my best approach is to stay as healthy as possible and to seek support services when we need them.

If I could give advice to anyone facing a similar situation, I would say get all the support you can get. Love your spouse. Ask for help. Give to the Alzheimer’s Association. They are fighting to make a difference and provide services to caregivers and families like mine.

On behalf of my wife and family, thank you for your generosity.

Al Uronis, care partner and Alzheimer’s advocate
Hudson, Ohi

http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php

An attorney prosecutes her toughest foe: Alzheimer’s

After being diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s, Seattle attorney Myriam Marquez has dedicated her life to spreading awareness and finding a cure for the disease. Among her many activities fighting Alzheimer’s, Marquez is an Alzheimer’s Association Early-Stage Advisor.
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Learn more about living with younger-onset Alzheimer’s >>

http://crosscut.com/2012/10/03/health-medicine/110768/alzheimers-disease-prevention-cause-treatment-cdc/

http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php

Three drugs selected for DIAN TU clinical trial

Scientists at the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network Trials Unit (DIAN TU) have selected three drugs to be evaluated in the first phase of this innovative international clinical trial. The drugs each target beta amyloid — the main ingredient in the brain plaques found in people with Alzheimer’s — in a different way. The Alzheimer’s Association provided $4.2 million in funding for DIAN to build the essential infrastructure for its Trials Unit.
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http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/24400.aspx

http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php

Drug shows potential for people with mild Alzheimer’s disease

Solanezumab, an experimental Alzheimer’s drug, did not slow mental decline in each of two phase 3 clinical trials, but a positive effect was seen when data from both studies was combined. Drug maker Eli Lilly & Co. said that combining the results of the two trials showed a 34 percent slowing of mental decline for people with mild Alzheimer’s who took solanezumab compared to those taking a placebo. While more research is needed, the results suggest that a therapy targeting beta amyloid can have a beneficial effect on cognitive abilities in people with Alzheimer’s.
Read the article >>

http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=669437

http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php

Drugs Selected for DIAN TU Clinical Trial

http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/24400.aspx

Scientists at the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network Trials Unit (DIAN TU) have selected three drugs to be evaluated in the first phase of this innovative international clinical trial. The drugs (gantenerumab, solanezumab and a beta secretase inhibitor) each target beta amyloid in a different way. Beta amyloid is the main ingredient in the brain plaques found in people with Alzheimer’s.

This study, and other Alzheimer’s prevention trials that are starting soon, are very important, both for the Alzheimer’s research community and for people with Alzheimer’s and their families. While this trial is new and exciting and is taking the Alzheimer’s field in new directions for improving treatment and prevention, we still must continue to test other drugs and other treatment strategies and continue to develop treatments for people with late-onset Alzheimer’s dementia and those who are already experiencing symptoms.

http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/24400.aspx

Alzheimer’s Association Involvement

The Alzheimer’s Association is unwaveringly committed to finding better therapies and prevention strategies for Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, as well as providing support and education for people and families facing Alzheimer’s disease today.

The Association provided $4.2 million for DIAN TU. This funding was critical to launching this study for several reasons:

• As the global leader in patient advocacy, the Association felt that our support would create an opportunity to address Alzheimer’s in a shorter time frame with this unique group of individuals who have not traditionally participated in clinical trials because of their age and genetics.
• This is the first adaptive trial design in Alzheimer’s where more than one experimental treatment will be used and participants will be switched to the treatment that demonstrates the strongest effect within the first 6 months.
• With several companies participating in the partnership, it was clear that there needed to be infrastructure and platform funding supporting all three on a non-competitive level to initiate the study.

Additionally, during the candidate treatment selection phase, the Alzheimer’s Association participated as the conflict of interest risk manager for the candidate selection committee of academic trialists to ensure a fair selection of the final recommended compounds.

We must not stop now. The U.S. National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s was unveiled in May, and this plan must be speedily and effectively implemented. An additional $100 million is needed now for Alzheimer’s research, education and community support.

http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php