2015 04-25-0830 a the challenge of alzheimer's

The Challenge of Alzheimer’s

1. Understanding the Disease2. What’s the Big Deal? 3. Is There a Cure?4. What Can We Do For

Ourselves?

The Challenge of Alzheimer’s

Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s

Dementia • Brain failure• Irreversible• A symptom

Alzheimer’s • A disease

Causes of Dementia

1. Alzheimer’s (60% - 80%)2. Vascular dementia (10%)3. Brain trauma4. Lewy Body Disease5. Fronto-temporal dementia6. Parkinson’s dementia7. Others

The Invisible Disability

Healthy and Demented Brains

Healthy Brain

Demented Brain

Lose on the Left, Retain on the Right

Left Brain Right BrainLogic FeelingFacts Imagination

Words SymbolsKeeps control Takes risks

More than One Sufferer

1. Understanding the Disease2. What’s the Big Deal? 3. Is There a Cure?4. What Can We Do For

Ourselves?

The Challenge of Alzheimer’s

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The 6th leading cause of death in the US Up from 12th 15 years ago

What’s the Big Deal?

2015 2025 2050

Americans with Alzheimer’s

5 million

14 million

7 million

280%

What’s the Big Deal?

2015 2050

Cost of Care

$1.2 trillion

$226 billion

530%

The Hidden Cost • 15 million family caregivers

• 18 billion hours of unpaid care

• Additional medical problems... stress, anxiety

1. Understanding the Disease2. What’s the Big Deal? 3. Is There a Cure?4. What Can We Do For

Ourselves?

The Challenge of Alzheimer’s

Reaching Critical Mass

Early 1900s – Discovery

1970s – Modern research

1980s – Awareness

1990s - Treatments emerge

2000s – Better understanding of causes, better diagnoses

2010s – National Alzheimer’s Project Act

Hope or Hype?

Treatment Horizon• Drug development: mice + 15 years

• Five FDA-approved drugs: symptom improvement only

• New research targeting underlying cause• Biogen – BIIB 037– Promising trial results

– Early 2020s?

– Symptom improvement

Rotary in Action

• Cure Alzheimer’s Fund

Not Enough Research Funding

$591 million

US Federal Research Budget Today

Not Enough Research Funding

$591 million

$2 billion

US Federal Research Budget Today

What Experts Say We Need...

1. Understanding the Disease2. What’s the Big Deal? 3. Is There a Cure?4. What Can We Do For

Ourselves?

The Challenge of Alzheimer’s

Stay Busy!Postponing retirement by five years lowers your risk of dementia by:

Stay Busy!Postponing retirement by five years lowers your risk of dementia by:

15%

Get Plenty of Exercise!

Regular exercise can reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s by

Get Plenty of Exercise!

Regular exercise can reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s by

15%

Go Outside and Play!Active social relations reduce our risk of dementia by:

Go Outside and Play!Active social relations reduce our risk of dementia by:

50+%

Get Plenty of Rest!Sleep helps prevent dementia because:

Get Plenty of Rest!Sleep helps prevent dementia because:

Brain cells clean themselves during sleep

The Power of Healthy HabitsHow much does our risk of dementia decrease if we....• Exercise regularly• Maintain healthy bodyweight• At least five servings of fruits and

vegetables every day• Don’t smoke• Use alcohol in moderation

60%

• Raise money• Raise awareness• Offer support to caregivers and

loved ones• www.alz.org

What Can Rotarians Do?

Thank You