May 28, 2013

Today's Top Alzheimer's News

Rep. Steve Cohen on supporting NIH funding, Dallas researcher knows Alzheimer's cure is within reach, and the need for a holistic approach to Alzheimer's diagnosis (read more).
 
 
 

Must reads

  • A May 28, 2013 The Hill opinion piece by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) urged congress to support NIH funding. According to Rep. Cohen, "That is why I am fighting to protect federal funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and why I authored an amendment during the debate on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to raise the proposed $3.5 billion NIH allocation to $10 billion. The NIH is our country’s foremost medical research center and has helped millions across the country suffering from heart disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other diseases. Despite the many accomplishments of the NIH doctors, scientists and researchers over the years, sequestration slashes funding for the NIH by more than $1.6 billion.
     "
  • A May 28, 2013 Los Angeles Times opinion piece by Dr. David Schubert, professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, highlighted the need for increased Alzheimer's research and funding. According to Dr. Schubert, "The existing ways of funding drug development for Alzheimer's and other age-associated dementia are not working, and it is in the interest of all of us to come up with better ideas. Irrespective of the mechanism, there must be a collective will of the American people to find a cure. Dementia is perhaps our greatest medical challenge, and the FDA is doing its part by making Alzheimer's disease clinical trials 
     much more expedient. But we also need to solve the funding
     problem." 
  • A May 28, 2013 Dallas Morning News article reported that Dallas researcher Dr. Michael Devous, director of the neuroimaging core for the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center
     , believes researchers are close to stopping Alzheimer's disease. According to Dr. Devous, "
    I think we’re going to cure Alzheimer’s disease, and we’re not far away from it...Ten years ago I didn’t think so, but we’ve made tremendous progress...We haven’t done it. We haven’t cured anyone from this disease yet, but I’m hopeful that the trials we’ve started will change the course of this disease in a positive way.”
 
International 
  • A May 27, 2013 Europa.eu post included a transcript of the European Commissioner for Research, Innovation, and Science Máire Goeghegan-Quinn's remarks at the EU's Healthy Brain: Healthy Europe conference. According to Quinn, "Brain research and innovation contribute to Europe 2020‘s, aims not just by improving quality of life and helping integrate patients back into their social and working lives, but also by creating jobs and increasing competitiveness through innovative new products such as medicines, diagnostics, nanotechnologies and robotics."
 
Research and science 
  • A May 27, 2013 Health Canal article reported that Curtin University researchers have found that a collaborative approach to Alzheimer's diagnosis is needed. According lead researcher Dr. Jonathan Foster, “A holistic approach combining a number of specialties including neuropsychological assessment is recommended. Such an approach means that we are likely able to identify the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease much earlier, so that targeted intervention programs can be recommended for those who are at higher risk of developing dementia.”