MUST READS

A November 21, 2016 Miami Herald opinion piece by Elizabeth Crocco underscored the need “to urgently tackle Alzheimer’s disease.” According to the article, “It’s a heart-wrenching diagnosis that is affecting too many families around the world. Currently, more than five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, and as our population ages, this number could potentially skyrocket to 16 million by 2050. It is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S., causing tremendous financial disability and burden to those caregivers who assist them.”

A November 21, 2016 New York Times article reported that a “new study found that the dementia rate in Americans 65 and older fell by 24 percent over 12 years, to 8.8 percent in 2012 from 11.6 percent in 2000.” According to the article, “Dr. Denis Evans, a professor of medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, urged caution in accepting the conclusion that dementia rates were declining and, if they are, in accepting the possible explanations. Although he had nothing but praise for the abilities of the researchers, he noted that such studies were extremely difficult to do. Deciding if a respondent is demented can easily be inadvertently skewed, he said.” Also reported on by NPR among many other outlets. 

A November 21, 2016 Parade.com article profiled MSNBC anchor Richard Lui and his role as a caregiver for his father with Alzheimer’s. According to Lui, “I used to describe his Alzheimer’s as watching him die in front of me. Now I describe him as being reborn. We’re a religious, faithful family but, even without that layer, he’s the happiest he has been in his whole life. It’s a tough road for him and even though what’s coming in the future isn’t good, he’s not negative about that. That’s a lesson I can share with the world.”

A November 21, 2016 Barron’s article reported on the “fertile period” in Alzheimer’s research as Lilly prepares for an important announcement. According to the article, “Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY) and Biogen (BIIB) are far from the only two drug makers racing to deliver a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. But they are pretty much leading the pack.”