Must reads

• A December 1, 2013 The Telegraph article reported that "Leading charities are urging world leaders to draw up a shared global plan to tackle dementia, ahead of the first ever G8 summit on the condition." According to the article, "In a letter, published in the Daily Telegraph, the charities warn that: “Dementia currently costs the world $604 billion. If dementia were a country, it would be the 18th largest economy globally. As we all live longer, dementia is spiralling out of control, holding healthcare systems to ransom.” They say the summit is a unique opportunity for international leaders to tackle dementia on a global scale and could bring about a monumental step in research to find away to prevent the disease, and treat it effectively." Find letter here. 
• A December 1, 2013 UPI article reported that "people are less likely to experience dementia and Alzheimer's disease today than 20 years ago." According to the article, "Improved healthcare for physical and mental health are linked to a worldwide trend of less Alzheimer's disease or delayed Alzheimer's, U.S. researchers say…In 2008, Langa and Larson reported one of the first studies suggesting a decline in U.S. dementia rates, using information from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study. Since then, several studies in Europe confirmed the trend -- and the reasons behind it: People are completing more years of school, which helps the brain fight dementia, and have more awareness about ways to prevent heart disease, another big risk factor for Alzheimer's."
• A December 1, 2013 Fiscal Times opinion piece by Michael Hodin highlighted the "unlikely connection between AIDS and Alzheimer's." According to Hodin, "As with AIDS in Africa, the social and fiscal disruptions are at least as consequential for Alzheimer’s, as reported in the Alzheimer’s Disease International 2013 report: Fifty percent of all care over the next decades will be sucked into this illness…As we redouble our commitment to eradicate AIDS, perhaps the global health community will also step up to the Alzheimer’s crisis. We need health leaders to be joined by the private and public sectors – and the rest of us as well."

• A December 1, 2013 Chicago Tribune article reported on a Northwestern University program that pairs Alzheimer's sufferers with medical students to teach about Alzheimer's care and diagnosis. According to the article, "Winship and Worthington have been paired up in the Buddy Program at the Feinberg School. The program matches medical students with people who have early-stage Alzheimer's disease for a year of visits, outings and, possibly, friendship.The purpose is twofold: to give the still-active patients an enjoyable and productive activity and to let medical students develop a deeper understanding of Alzheimer's by getting to know someone who has it. It is crucial that they gain such insight, said Darby Morhardt, education director of the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center at Feinberg, who created and runs the Buddy Program."
• A December 1, 2013 USA Today article reported on programs that "reframe" dementia and focus on making new memories. According to the article, "Newer programs that support those with memory loss, as well as their caregivers, honor the idea that these duos "still have so much to give and so much to offer each other," said Kristin Cahill, education coordinator at the Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Center at the University of Michigan."