MUST READS

A January 4, 2016 Live Science article explored the question: How Does the US President Decide on Science Policy? According to the article, “The OSTP worked to make more than 180,000 federal datasets and collections available to students, entrepreneurs and the public. It produced the first-ever U.S. innovation strategy, launched the Precision Medicine Initiative (providing more than $200 million to accelerate a new era of personalized medicine), embarked on a Cancer Moonshot initiative and launched the BRAIN initiative that resulted in a doubling of research funding for Alzheimer's research at NIH between 2012 and 2017…President Trump can use science and innovation to achieve his goal to restore American greatness, whether it is through launching a new “moonshot”-type initiative or creating advanced manufacturing jobs. With history as a guide, appointing a respected science advisor and director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy will help him accomplish his goals.”

A January 4, 2016 Drug Discovery & Development Magazine articlereported that “Just 20 conditions make up more than half of all spending on health care in the United States, according to a new comprehensive financial analysis that examines spending by diseases and injuries.” According to the article, “The conditions leading to the most spending in nursing care facilities are Alzheimer's and stroke, while the condition leading to the most spending in emergency departments is falls.”

A January 4, 2016 Business Wire release announced that “Alzheon, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing new medicines for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological and psychiatric disorders, announced today that Stanley B. Prusiner, MD, has been appointed Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the company.”

A January 3, 2016 MedGadget.com article reported that “Artists often develop new creative techniques late in life, often at the same time as they begin suffering from dementia.” 

A January 3, 2016 AOL.com article highlighted the link between healthy eating and brain health. According to the article, “[Terry Davidson] concluded that increased consumption of foods like sugary drinks, high-fat dairy and processed meats can damage our hippocampi, impair our decision making and hurt our memories. And it just makes us eat more of that bad stuff. He calls it "the vicious cycle of cognitive decline."