February 23, 2016

Today's Top News

USA2 SPOTLIGHT 

A February 22, 2016 Arizona Daily Star article highlighted the stories of individuals who decided to get tested for genetic risks associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia, including LatinosAgainstAlzheimer’s patient advocate Daisy Duarte. According to the article, “Daisy Duarte, also 40, made a different decision. She got tested immediately after learning about the genetic mutation in her family…She tested positive. Ultimately, though, she’s satisfied with her decision to know. Her brother and sister, who both have children, have chosen not to find out. Duarte is participating in a clinical trial through Washington University and says she’s happy to be part of helping to find a cure.”

 


MUST READS

A February 23, 2016 The Washington Post article profiled NPR radio personality Diane Rehm and her “retirement” plans, including advocacy for issues like Alzheimer’s. According to Rehm, “The fact of the matter is, I’m not retiring. I’m stepping away from the microphone, but I’m going to continue to work — at WAMU in some capacity, on behalf of trying to find a cure for Parkinson’s, trying to find a cure for Alzheimer’s and speaking out personally about what I believe is the right to die.”

A February 22, 2016 The Chicago Tribune article reported that the the Long Term Care Financing Collaborative is “pushing for a new national universal care policy.” According to the article, “Among the possibilities considered by the Long Term Care Financing Collaborative would be getting employers to automatically enroll their employees in long-term care insurance policies at work, with employees paying regularly toward insurance from each paycheck. The goal would be to get insurance companies to offer long-term care insurance again after fleeing the market during the last few years, and getting people to enroll in more affordable insurance than has been offered previously. The government would play a role in covering the most drastic, or catastrophic, risks. Most Americans do not realize that Medicare and other health insurance won't take care of the bathing, dressing and other help seniors often end up needing as they become frail or suffer debilitating diseases like Alzheimer's later in life. They and their families are left with crushing financial burdens.”

A February 22, 2016 Ktar News (Arizona) article reported on the looming Alzheimer’s and dementia crisis in Arizona. According to the article, “Dr. Marwan Sabbagh, director of Barrow Neurological Institute’s Memory and Alzheimer’s division, does not shy away from calling it an epidemic. ‘It is an epidemic,” Sabbagh said, adding that not only because of the Baby Boomer swell, “but because the life expectancy in 1900 was 47… in 2100 it’s supposed to be 89.’” This is the first of a five part series looking at the effects of Alzheimer’s in Arizona. Read part two here


INTERESTING READS FROM THE WEB

Washington Business Journal: D.C.-based Chase Pharmaceuticals in midst of major fundraising round for Alzheimer's drug

Science Alert: New Alzheimer’s treatment fully restores memory function