November 21, 2013

Today's Top Alzheimer's News

George Vradenburg highlights the importance of "The Alzheimer's Disease Summit: Path to 2025," the impact of Alzheimer's on Latinos, and Paul Allen funds concussion research (read more). 

 

Must reads

  • A November 20, 2013 Huffington Post piece by USA2 Chairman George Vradenburg highlighted the importance of "The Alzheimer's Disease Summit: Path to 2025". According to Vradenburg, "It is understandable that there is a limited appetite for healthcare investment in the U.S. and around the globe today. Purse-strings are tight, and the outcomes of healthcare investment can seem far in the distance. But this is mistaken. Alzheimer's is an unparalleled threat to 21st century fiscal sustainability, and a short-term view of pennies saved will create a long-term result of dollars wasted. Let's hope the tick-tock news frenzy over the rollout of ACA subsides and our attention can be re-directed to the grave and growing global threat of Alzheimer's. The Path to 2025 Summit helped to point us in the right direction. Now it is critical that we all move forward together." 
  • A November 20, 2013 Voxxi article reported on the impact of Alzheimer's on the Latino community. According to the article, "The Alzheimer’s Association indicates there are several main factors that contribute to the high percentages of Latinos with Alzheimer’s Disease. Chronic illness tends to be the most influential of factors for Latinos, as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and stroke–all of which disproportionately affect Latinos–increase an individual’s risk for degenerative brain disease…Latinos also need to work toward overcoming the cultural stigma associated with any brain disease or mental condition. Data indicates a fear of mental disease keeps many Latinos away from doctors and physicians who could address Alzheimer’s disease in the early stages."
  • A November 20, 2013 The Seattle Times article reported that Seattle Seahawks owner and former Microsoft executive Paul Allen will fund concussion research. According to the article, "That conversation led to a Seattle-based collaboration launched Thursday — and bankrolled by Allen’s foundation — to study the way blows to the head can damage the brain. Among the questions the scientists hope to answer is whether even mild concussions early in life can lead to dementia decades later."