USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A July 6, 2016 UsAgainstAlzheimer’s statement urged the House passage of proposed Labor-HHS Funding bill containing increase for Alzheimer’s research. According to George Vradenburg, “We appreciate this understanding on Capitol Hill that Alzheimer’s disease is a growing national tragedy, affecting over 5.4 million Americans afflicted with the disease and millions more who sacrifice physically, emotionally and financially as caregivers. Many more lives will be devastated in the near and ongoing future if we don’t press for the scientific breakthroughs that will enable effective treatment and, eventually, a cure. This additional funding brings hope a little bit closer.”

MUST READS

A July 6, 2016 Science article reported that “the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is slated to receive a $1.25 billion increase, to $33.3 billion, in a proposed spending measure released today by a House of Representatives spending panel.” According to the article, “The draft bill released today by the House Appropriations committee includes $350 million more for Alzheimer’s disease research, compared with a $400 million bump for Alzheimer’s in the Senate bill.” 

A July 6, 2016 Los Angeles Times article reported that “New research into the genetic underpinnings of Alzheimer’s disease offers fresh evidence that the devastating brain disorder may gain a foothold years before dementia sets in, and takes a key step toward earlier detection of the disease.”

A July 6, 2016 Stanford Medicine article highlighted a neuroscience summer camp at Stanford that introduces teens to the field of mental health. According to the article, “Students worked in teams to present a capstone project at the end of the program that incorporated lessons learned and personal interests. One team designed an app to warn caregivers in multiple languages when an Alzheimer’s patient is wandering.”

A July 6, 2016 C-Span video clip of a floor speech by Rep. Scott Rigell (R-VA) focused on the need to address Alzheimer’s disease and highlighted his constituents touched by the disease.