Congress passes $122 million increase for Alzheimer's research, an Alzheimer's sufferer dies in handcuffs, and USA2 Chairman George Vradenburg's January 15 congressional testimony on the global impact of dementia (read more).  

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• A January 17, 2014 The Pharma Letter article reported that "An unprecedented $122 million increase for Alzheimer's research, education, outreach and caregiver support stemming from the efforts of Alzheimer's Association advocates was passed swiftly by the US Congress." According to the article, "The funding allocated for Alzheimer's disease includes a $100 million increase for the National Institute on Aging for Alzheimer's research, which will be added to what the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates will be $484 million in Alzheimer's research funding across NIH in fiscal year 2013. A further $3.3 million has been provided to support Alzheimer's caregivers, $4 million to train health professionals on issues related to Alzheimer's disease, $10.5 million to expand the home and community based caregiver services and $4.2 million for outreach activities to raise awareness. Additionally, the National Institutes of Health's BRAIN Initiative will receive $30 million to support brain research that could impact several diseases, including Alzheimer's."
• A January 16, 2014 BBC News article reported that "An 84-year-old immigration detainee suffering from dementia, who was declared unfit for detention, died in handcuffs." According to the article, "Doctors said the Canadian man was unfit for detention or deportation after diagnosing him with Alzheimer's disease, but he was not released and no referral was made to social services. Medical notes described him as "frail, 84 years old, has Alzheimer's disease ... demented. Unfit for detention or deportation. Requires social care".He had been in handcuffs for almost five hours when he died, the report said."
• You can find the full testimony of USA2 Chairman George Vradenburg a January 15, 2014 Congressional subcommittee hearing on the global impact of dementia here.