USA2 SPOTLIGHT 

Alzheimer's Talks: What if we could stop Alzheimer’s before it starts? Dr. Eric Reiman, Executive Director of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, is at the forefront of a new wave of Alzheimer’s research. He, Dr. Pierre Tariot and their colleagues lead the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative, which is seeking a way to prevent Alzheimer’s before it even starts. On Monday, June 13, from 4 to 5 p.m. ET, Dr. Reiman will join us for an exciting episode of Alzheimer’s Talks. Sing up here. 

A June 6, 2016 Orlando Sentinel article about journalist and radio personality Diane Rehm highlighted her work with UsAgainstAlzheimer’s. According to the article, “Late last year, Rehm announced she would be stepping aside this year as host of her morning show. But she insists we haven't heard the last of her. She'll stay active with right-to-die and the charity organization Us Against Alzheimer's. "Though I am stepping away from the microphone ... I am in no way totally retiring," she says.”

In Case You Missed It: UsAgainstAlzheimer's and the GAP Foundation's partner the Brain Health Registry released a PSA featuring popstar Paula Abdul. Watch the PSA here and read a People Magazine article about her personal connection to Alzheimer's here. 

MUST READS 

Breaking News: A June 6, 2016 STAT News article reported that the Senate Appropriations Committee plans to propose a $400 million increase in funding for Alzheimer’s research at NIH as part of a $2 billion funding increase for the agency. According to the article, “The new bill also includes $1.4 billion for Alzheimer’s research — a $400 million increase over this year’s funding — and $300 million for President Obama’s Precision Medicine Initiative, an increase of $100 million, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record.” Also reported on by The Hill. 

A June 6, 2016 Huffington Post blog by Dr. Howard Fillit underscored the importance of partnerships to fighting Alzheimer’s. According to Dr. Fillit, “When the Lauder family founded the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) in 1998, they knew that proprietary boundaries would only limit efforts to develop effective Alzheimer’s drugs. So they resolved to make the ADDF’s knowledge available to everyone working to overcome this devastating disease—and all the other causes of dementia. Today, the ADDF partners with the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, family foundations, public charities, individual philanthropists and governments worldwide in this quest for cures.…Partnerships are critical to the success of our mission to find effective drugs to treat Alzheimer’s and other causes of dementia. By combining our resources and sharing expertise, we will conquer these diseases faster.” Howard Fillit, MD, is the Executive Director and Chief Science Officer for the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. 

A June 6, 2016 UPI.com article reported that “Greater communication between doctors and nursing home employees about the condition and treatment of dementia patients allowed specialists to participate in care, improving patients' health, according to a recent study.”

DISPARITIES SPOTLIGHT 

A June 3, 2016 Latino USA radio segment highlighted the struggle that Latino caregivers face when caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. According to the description, “We meet a 26-year-old woman who's been caring for her mother, who's had early onset Alzheimer's disease since she was 16. While rescuing her mother, in the end, she needed some rescuing herself.”