May 20, 2013

Today's Top Alzheimer's News

Brain scans and Medicare/Medicaid policy, Alzheimer's patient advocacy, and HOPE (read more)


Must read and listen
  • A May 19, 2013 WashingtonExaminer.com opinion piece by Jeffrey Cummings, director of the Cleveland Clinic's Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, urged the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services to cover early Alzheimer's brain scans. According to Cummings, "Avoiding an early accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's is not an acceptable option and does not serve the patient's interests. Surely this new technology that promises to help us diagnose complex neurological conditions should be made available and reimbursed by CMS. After all, how much is a brain worth?"
  • A May 18, 2013 NPR.org audio story profiled Amy Goyer, an Alzheimer's caregiver who developed a blog and video series about caring for her father. 
 
Patient Advocacy
  • A May 19, 2013 Concord Monitor (NH) article profiled Alzheimer's sufferer Ginny Timmons' efforts to battle Alzheimer's through advocacy and by participating in clinical trials. After her diganosis, Timmons sent out a Christmas card with a note that read, "My recent diagnosis of having Alzheimer’s has resulted in an increased focus on mental and physical exercise; socialization; a need for medication and always prayers, and ACTION." According to the article, "At Boston University, Timmons is working with researchers who are trying to create a clinical test to diagnose or predict the development of Alzheimer’s. Current tests are mostly based on neurological images or cognitive abilities. The BU study is a pilot in the early stages, but also works on amyloid, trying to measure its levels in patients’ blood."
  • A May 17, 2013 Napa Valley Register (CA) article profiled Alzheimer's sufferer Cynthia Guzman's efforts to raise Alzheimer's awareness. According to the article, "Guzman, 64, is thankful that her disease was diagnosed at an early stage. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, she has been working as an advocate for Alzheimer’s research."
 
Regional 
  • A May 17, 2013 Press-Citizen.com (IA) opinion piece called on lawmakers to pass the Health Outcomes, Planning and Education (HOPE) Act. According to the author, "With 5.2 million Americans (and 69,000 Iowans) with Alzheimer’s — and this is expected to increase to 15 million Americans by 2050 — it is extremely important that Congress pass the HOPE legislation to provide diagnosis, care planning and medical documentation."