USA2 SPOTLIGHT 

A January 17, 2017 Alzheimer’s News Today article reported on UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Chairman, George Vradenburg’s reaction to the failure of the Eli Lilly’s solanezumab trial and how he continues addressing the efforts needed for research and clinical development for Alzheimer’s disease. Last week, Vradenburg applauded Lilly’s efforts in an open letter, along with that of patients and caregivers who contributed to the trials. The studies, he contends, brought valuable knowledge that will help any future drug development efforts.

A January 13, 2017 MarketWired article announced the appointment of Cyndy Cordell to Vice President of Provider Relations for Global Alzheimer's Platform Foundation (GAP Foundation), a nonprofit dedicated to reducing the time, cost and risk of Alzheimer's clinical trials. "The GAP Foundation is dedicated to helping bring new Alzheimer's treatments to market up to two years faster than today's practices allow. Cyndy's expertise in international and American healthcare systems and policy, coupled with her proven record of efficiency and community outreach, will help us advance that mission," said George Vradenburg, chairman of GAP Foundation and UsAgainstAlzheimer's.

MUST READS

A January 13, 2017 Woman’s Day article tells the story of Rev. Cynthia Huling Hummel, D.Min., who was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in 2011. Last year, at age 62, her diagnosis shifted to early-stage Alzheimer's.  A musician and Presbyterian pastor, she was inducted into the New York State Country Music Hall of Honor last October. “When I was finally diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment in the spring of 2011, at age 57, I felt a myriad of emotions. I was sad, of course, but I wasn't shocked because my mother was living with Alzheimer's and her only brother had died of the disease. In many ways, it was relief to put a label on my disability. I thought, I'm not crazy—there are physical changes happening in my brain that are causing problems with my memory. It was a relief to know that I wasn't imagining things. Before, people would try to commiserate by saying, oh, we all forget things.”

A January 13, 2017 Concord Monitor opinion piece by Rep. Annie Kuster calls on improving, not repealing, the Affordable Care Act.  She is listening to her constituents who are concerned about what a repeal would mean for them.  Kuster says, “Just imagine being denied necessary health care because you or a loved one suffered from a preexisting condition, such as Alzheimer’s, cancer or diabetes… I’m one of the first to admit that the Affordable Care Act is not perfect. I was not in Congress when the law was passed, and there are changes that I support. The fact is, the ACA is in place and has helped more than 22 million Americans gain access to health care and more than 100,000 of our friends and neighbors in New Hampshire depend on it.”

RESEARCH, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY

A January 13, 2017 Alzheimer’s News Today article revealed that Genervon Biopharmaceuticals recently shared a previously confidential list of 84 genes linked to Alzheimer’s disease, which are modulated by their investigational treatment GM6, in a move to encourage more neurological scientists to investigate broader, multi-target approaches to treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s and ALS. Winston Ko, Genervon’s CEO and Chairman, believes most AD (and other neurological conditions) clinical trials failed because traditional drug development approaches focus on single targets which, he argues, is not suitable for complex conditions such as Alzheimer’s.