December 10, 2013

Today's Top Alzheimer's News

Scientists and doctors call on G8 to back more dementia research and prevention policies, Michael Hodin calls on global health community to step up to Alzheimer's, and the need for the UK to back up diagnosis efforts with other services (read more). 
 

 

Must reads

  • A December 10, 2013 Bloomberg article reported that "111 signatories from 36 countries called on governments to back more research into [dementia] prevention, and policies such as promotion of healthier diets." According to the letter, "About half of Alzheimer’s disease cases worldwide might be attributable to known risk factors...Taking immediate action on the known risk factors could perhaps prevent up to one-fifth of predicted new cases by 2025.”
  • A December 9, 2013 Huffington Post article by Michael Hodin urged the global health community to "step up" in the same way they did in the fight against HIV/AIDS. According to Hodin, "As we redouble our commitment to eradicate AIDS on the occasion of World Aids Day last week, 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. The G-8 meeting in London can be such a milestone moment."
Global 
  • A December 10, 2013 The Guardian article highlighted the need for the UK to back up dementia diagnosis efforts with post-diagnosis support. According to the article, "Dementia screening should not be a tick-box exercise, which is what it has become. We should be looking at the consequences of any diagnosis and what the long-term implications are for the patient and their family. As it stands, there is little capacity in the system to offer timely post-diagnosis support, through memory services at the clinic and social services, in all of our newly diagnosed patients and their carers."
Research and science 
  • A December 9, 2013 Star Tribune (MN) article reported that the "world’s most powerful magnet for full-body imaging scans has arrived at the University of Minnesota, where it is expected to attract millions of dollars in research grants and play a significant role in a national project to map the human brain." According to the article, "Brain research is kicking into high gear in advance of what’s been called the “silver tsunami” of age-related disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, which threaten to swamp the health care system as the population ages. The research also may lead to advances in battling neurological disorders such as autism, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly called Lou Gehrig’s Disease."