MUST WATCH

A June 3, 2015 CBS New York broadcast segment reported on a “pen and paper” test for Alzheimer’s that some researchers think will help increase early diagnosis. According to the article, “But Schornstein recently tested a new approach that simply involves a pen, paper and a few minutes of her time. It’s called the SAGE test – or the Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam – and a new study shows it can reveal volumes about a patient’s mind.”

ICYMI: A May 22, 2015 PBS NewsHour broadcast segment reported that the number of seniors threatened by hunger has doubled since 2001 and is on track to get worse. Learn more in a photo essay here. 

POLICY AND POLITICS 

A June 3, 2015 Bucks County Courier Times article reported that “Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-RI), is once again urging fellow lawmakers to increase government spending on Alzheimer’s research by 34 percent.” According to Rep. Fitzpatrick, “It is vital that we act now to head-off what could be a crisis within the next generation…We must redouble our efforts to find a cure.”

A June 3, 2015 Sunrise Senior Living Blog post highlighted the growing government momentum to increase Alzheimer’s funding. According to the blog, “While serious conditions like HIV receive a significant amount of research funding, members of Congress have begun to feel that more money should go toward Alzheimer's disease, a condition for which there's currently no effective treatment…According to The Hill, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., explained that by 2050 the Medicare costs for Alzheimer's patients alone will account for approximately 31 percent of the country's Medicare budget. If researchers find a treatment method for the condition, this will help lower this figure.”

RESEARCH, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY  

A June 3, 2015 Alzheimer’s News Today article reported on the launch of a partnership between Fanfare Entertainmen and Muses Labs “to help develop, optimize, and market a next-generation personalized combination therapy for treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.” According to the article, “The MEND (metabolic enhancement for neurodegeneration) Protocol is designed to enable Alzheimer’s disease patients, their caregivers, family members, and doctors to benefit from a set of monitoring, measuring, testing, tracking, motivation, and adherence functions…The MEND Protocol incorporates personalized combination therapy for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that has been shown to slow cognitive decline in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease or its precursors, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or subjective cognitive impairment (SCI).”