In a clinical trial that could lead to treatments that prevent Alzheimer’s, people who are genetically guaranteed to develop the disease but who do not yet have any symptoms will for the first time be given a drug intended to stop it, US federal officials announced Tuesday. Experts say the study will be one of the few ever conducted to test prevention treatments for any genetically predestined disease. For Alzheimer’s, the trial is unprecedented, “the first to focus on people who are cognitively normal but at very high risk for Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Francis S. Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health. Most participants will come from the world’s largest family to experience Alzheimer’s, an extended clan of 5,000 people who live in Medelln, Colombia, and remote mountain villages outside that city. Family members with a specific genetic mutation begin showing cognitive impairment around age 45, and full dementia around age 51, debilitated in their prime working years as their memories fade and the disease quickly assaults their ability to move, eat, speak and communicate. Three hundred family members will participate in the initial trial. Those with the mutation will be years away from symptoms, some as young as 30. “Because of this study, we do not feel as alone,” said Gladys Betancur, 39, a family member. Her mother died of Alzheimer’s, three of her siblings already have symptoms, and she had a hysterectomy because of her fears that she has the mutation and would pass it on to her children. “Sometimes we think that life is ending, but now we feel that people are trying to help us.” The $100 million study will last five years, but sophisticated tests may indicate in two years whether the drug helps delay memory decline or brain changes, said Dr. Eric M. Reiman, executive director of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in Phoenix and a study leader.
Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the goal as part of the first National Alzheimer's Plan.
An additional $50m will be added to research funding during 2012.
About 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer's or related dementias, a number expected to reach 16 million by 2050, at a cost of $1tn (£625m).
In addition, the plan calls for better training of doctors in a bid to better recognise the symptoms of the disease, increased support for care-givers and public awareness of the disease, as well as better data tracking.
President Barack Obama has earmarked an additional $80m in his 2013 budget plan for Alzheimer's research in what was described as an effort to "jumpstart" efforts to reach the 2025 goal.
New research
As part of the plan, the Department of Health and Human Services also launched a website to provide information and resources to care-givers.
Mrs Sebelius said the Alzheimer's plan was a "national" effort and not a centralised push by the federal government.
"Reducing the burden of Alzheimer's will require the active engagement of both the public and private sectors," she said.
The plan was unveiled as part of a two-day National Institutes for Health (NIH) symposium focused on the fight against the disease, held as researchers prepared to announce two clinical trials designed to treat Alzheimer's.
"We are at an exceptional moment," said Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health.
One trial tests the use of a drug that attacks amyloid - a protein thought to be a cause of Alzheimer's. The trial will involve 300 patients from an extended family who show no symptoms but are genetically likely to have the disease earlier in life.
The trial will be funded through the National Institutes of Health as well as the Banner Alzheimer's Institute in Phoenix, but with most of the funding from Genetech, the drug's US manufacturer.
The second trial will test an insulin nasal spray's ability to restore memory for those with the disease.
Previous research has linked Alzheimer's to diabetes, especially to the adult-onset form of the disease.
The plan comes as the US moves to implement its healthcare reform law, which currently faces scrutiny and possible repeal by the Supreme Court.
Research and advocacy group the Alzheimer's Association estimates that treating the disease would carry a $200bn price tag in 2012 and a cost of $1tn by 2050, including $140 billion in costs to government healthcare programmes Medicare and Medicaid.
Source: CARDI.ie via BBC
New Drug Trial Seeks to Stop Alzheimer’s Before It Starts
Experts say the study will be one of the few ever conducted to test prevention treatments for any genetically predestined disease. For Alzheimer’s, the trial is unprecedented, “the first to focus on people who are cognitively normal but at very high risk for Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Francis S. Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health.
Most participants will come from the world’s largest family to experience Alzheimer’s, an extended clan of 5,000 people who live in Medelln, Colombia, and remote mountain villages outside that city. Family members with a specific genetic mutation begin showing cognitive impairment around age 45, and full dementia around age 51, debilitated in their prime working years as their memories fade and the disease quickly assaults their ability to move, eat, speak and communicate.
Three hundred family members will participate in the initial trial. Those with the mutation will be years away from symptoms, some as young as 30.
“Because of this study, we do not feel as alone,” said Gladys Betancur, 39, a family member. Her mother died of Alzheimer’s, three of her siblings already have symptoms, and she had a hysterectomy because of her fears that she has the mutation and would pass it on to her children. “Sometimes we think that life is ending, but now we feel that people are trying to help us.”
The $100 million study will last five years, but sophisticated tests may indicate in two years whether the drug helps delay memory decline or brain changes, said Dr. Eric M. Reiman, executive director of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in Phoenix and a study leader.
CARDI.ie
Anti-Ageing: The secret of healthy ageing
All too many of us probably rely on a combination of good genes, good luck and GP check-ups to get us through our later years, believes nutrition expert Patrick Holford, co-author with journalist Jerome Burne of The 10 Secrets Of Healthy Ageing.
"As little as 10 years ago it was thought that having good genes was your best bet for ageing well. That's no longer true. According to the latest research, there's a great deal we can do to stay healthy as we age."
Scientists, he says, have discovered that markers for how well you are ageing - found in every cell in your body - can be altered by, among other things, the kind of exercise we do, the food we eat and the way we handle stress.
A persuasive argument for focusing on ageing is that, in general, we're all going to be around a lot longer.
The average lifespan in the UK has increased to 78 for men and 82 for women.
source CARDI.ie
Planning for the future: University of Ulster
Jordanstown on Thursday 24th May 2012.
Planning for the future
THE FOCUS OF THE CONFERENCE: The conference is to disseminate the most-up-to date evidence on how other countries support ageing family carers to continue to care for their older relative with a learning disability. Dr Taggart and his research team will also present the findings of their ongoing two-year research study ”Exploring the needs of ageing family carers of older adults with learning disabilities in N. Ireland”: funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust. It is anticipated that the conference will also create a forum for debate and discussion around current issues for ageing family carers relating to future planning, the use of community services and developing priorities for new styles of day care and residential services.
This one-day conference will bring together a range of academics, researchers, policy planners, commissioners, service providers including voluntary and private providers of care, front-line staff and family carers. The morning session will focus on ’identifying and meeting the needs of ageing family carers of older people with learning disabilities’. The afternoon session will focus on ‘using evidence to inform policy, services and practice for ageing family carers of older people with learning disabilities’.
The conference is funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust, London and HSC Research & Development Division, Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland.
TRAVEL: The conference is taking place at the Loughview Suite, University of Ulster, Jordanstown Campus, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, BT37 0QB.
REGISTRATION: There is no fee to attend this conference.
If you have any questions or queries about the conference you can e-mail Dr Maria Truesdale-Kennedy at mn.truesdale@ulster.ac.uk or telephone 02890366498.
The Voice of Older People, Donegal... has got "Wedding Fever"
The plot is humorous cocktail of mishaps and misunderstanding all resulting in much hilarity and slapstick in vintage Sam Cree style, a classically funny play that will appeal to audiences of all ages.
Come along to the Balor Theatre on Tuesday the ht at 8:30 for great night of family entertainment.
Ticktets cost €12:00
South of the Border -
Ballroom of romance
On Saturday 28th November The Voice of Older People held its first South of the Border Ballroom of Romance in Ballyshannon. The dramatic part of the evening was presented by the Ballytour Players under the directorship of Maura Logue.
The company also joined us on Wednesday 2nd and Saturday 5th December in Donegal Town and Ardara where the craic was mighty!
We have commissioned Maura to work with groups in all our 7 network areas if there is a demand and so if you and your members would like to re-live those days of the 50’s Parish Hall dances and are willing to commit several weeks to rehearsals please let us know.
Fortunately the three dances were held in local hotels who were generous enough to give us their venue free of charge as they were happy to be associated with a community event like this one; perhaps you would like to run the evening as a fund-raiser? The Donegal Town groups asked that some of their door money go to a local charity, Blue Stacks Foundation.
The Milford 65+ Group are holding a fund-raising dance on Friday, 26th February and any one looking for a different night out and a bit of a laugh should mark this date in their diary.
AGM Details
On Thursday 12th November the Voice of Older People, Donegal held its Annual General Meeting in the Isaac Butt Visitor’s Centre in Cloghan.
The meeting was attended by our accountant, Dessie Lynch from Brian McDaid & Company, who presented the Company’s accounts and chaired the election of the new committee and directors.
Due to the resignation of 3 directors during the year there was no requirement for any of the attending directors to step down. Mary McGeehan (Buncrana), Breege Connor (Bundoran) and Angela Apitius (Letirmacaward) were all nominated and agreed to join our Board. The committee paid tribute to Roisin Lee who has stepped down from the committee on health grounds.
Our current Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer were all thanked for their work over the past year and re-elected unopposed.
Staff gave an outline of the work that the Project is planning over the next year, including the development and support of the seven networks, the working with Donegal County Council to building of a “Older Adult-Friendly County” and the introduction of training for members interested in expanding their advocacy and leadership skills.
The Company would like to thank all those who attended the meeting, and the staff at the visitors centre who looked after us so well.
The Voice of Older People is managed by a fourteen-person Management Committee, elected annually at our AGM. The date of this meeting is circulated to all the groups and individuals on our data base.
The staff are based in The Volt House in Raphoe and are always contactable for advice and information sharing.
