USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A December 1, 2019 “Interrupted By God” blog post by The Very Reverend Tracey Lind reflected on her personal work on forgiveness. Lind has early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and is an outspoken UsAgainstAlzheimer’s advocate. “All of us have broken relationships, moments and places in our lives that require forgiveness. As we approach the holiday season, I would invite you to take the time to ask yourself: "Who in my life needs forgiveness?" And, I would encourage you to make that work part of your holiday preparation, maybe even consider it could an early present to yourself and someone in your life.”

FINANCES

A December 2, 2019 CNBC broadcast segment put the spotlight on Biogen, which will release its new aducanumab data later this week at CTAD (Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease). Baird biotech analyst Brian Skorney predicts Biogen’s stock will fall, and could tumble even further if investors believe it likely to be rejected by the FDA. According to the article, “Skorney said Monday that he is “calling [Biogen’s] bluff. “We do not think that data validates anything near receiving approval from the FDA,” he said. Biogen had no comment.” Also covered by: Investors Business Daily, Fierce Biotech, and others.

POLITICS

A December 2, 2019 Florida Politics article focused on a new bill which would create the state of Florida’s Office of Alzheimer’s Disease, within the Department of Elder Affairs. Reps. Matt Willhite and Scott Plakon, whose wife had AD, are leading the effort. More than half a million Floridians have Alzheimer’s. “The legislation that we are introducing today will help to position Florida as a national leader as we tackle how we, as a state, can provide services for our constituents who currently live with this disease and the 1.1 million caregivers that sacrifice so much,” said Plakon.

CAREGIVING CORNER

A November 29, 2019 KVUE ABC broadcast segment highlighted “A Gift of Time,” a new adult daycare center opening in spring 2020 to care for people with Alzheimer’s disease. Vic Figurell, who lost his wife to AD, is helping to open the center. “There is research that indicates adult daycare centers extend the time the person can be living at home. That would’ve allowed me to delay that inevitable decision for some time longer. How much longer? I don’t really know. In retrospect, I would’ve taken another day, another week, another month if I could've had it.”