USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A January 26, 2016 McClatchy article (via Tri-City Herald) highlighted Hillary Clinton’s commitment to curing Alzheimer’s and supporting caregivers and families impacted by dementia. The article features LatinosAgainstAlzheimer’s caregiver and patient advocate Daisy Duarte and other caregiver voices identified by the UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Network. According to the article, “Daisy Duarte knows there may not be a cure for Alzheimer’s in time to help her 60-year-old mother, diagnosed with the disease years ago. But the 40-year-old Duarte, who’s tested positive for the gene that causes early-onset familial Alzheimer’s and expects to get the disease by her 65th birthday, hopes there just might be one for her…'Hopefully we will finally have a cure for this,’ said Duarte, who’s from Springfield, Missouri. ‘If we get the funding I really believe we could do it.’”

A January 26, 2016 Alzheimer’s News Today article highlighted a new partnership between Axovant and UsAgainstAlzheimer’s African American network to “reach a community poorly represented in late-stage clinical trials.” According to Stephanie Monroe, executive director of African Americans Against Alzheimer’s, “African Americans are at least two times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than non-Hispanic, white Americans but have been underrepresented in clinical research studies. We need to band together to increase participation in clinical trials of all demographics and encourage African American participation in particular to ensure the development of new safe and effective treatments for patients in all communities. We are excited about playing an important role in this campaign and working to find new treatments for this dreadful disease.” Watch a video highlighting the partnership here. 

MUST READS

A January 27, 2016 CBS News article reported on the “scientific quest to cure aging.” According to the article, “It's a pursuit that seems more like the plot of a science fiction movie than an actual goal of serious researchers around the world. But a number of scientists are fiercely working toward what was once only attainable in fables and fairy tales: they want to end aging…While those in the growing field of longevity research admit the task at hand is expansive and complex, they say big advancements have already been made and expect to see more in the near future.”

A January 27, 2016 Washington Post article highlighted Diane Rehm’s plans to work on important health issues after she retires, including Alzheimer’s and legalizing physician-assisted suicide. According to the article, “After she stops hosting the show, Rehm plans to speak out on Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and the right to die. ‘I plan to work for the station forever,’ she says, initially working three times a week raising money and helping in other ways. ‘I don’t want ever to retire from everything, and to work as long as I am able.’”

A January 26, 2016 Scientific American article reported that “For the second time in four months, researchers have reported autopsy results that suggest Alzheimer’s disease might occasionally be transmitted to people during certain medical treatments—although scientists say that neither set of findings is conclusive.”