Alzheimer's Foundation of America |
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National Brain Game Challenge Is 'Personal' for Puzzle Master Merl Reagle
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Merl Reagle |
In just a few days, on September 30, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) will kick off the 2nd annual National Brain Game Challenge, an online game of skill in which contestants will race the clock to quickly solve a crossword puzzle crafted by Merl Reagle, one of the nation's best puzzle constructors.
Reagle, the mastermind behind the puzzle for the second consecutive year, is taking the cause to heart even more this time: Just this year, his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He originally got involved after he and his wife, Marie Haley, spent "1,000 days" as a caregiver for Marie's mother, who had a similar diagnosis.
On September 30 at 3 p.m. (ET), registered players will download a crossword puzzle containing a series of hidden clues and various wordplay. Up for grabs: a $2,500 first prize based on speed and accuracy in two categories--professionals and the general public, and $7,000 in prizes in total.
"About half the clues will be tricky in some special way and half will be normal, and by normal I mean mostly medium-hard - after all, it is a contest," said Reagle, whose nationally syndicated Sunday crosswords appear weekly in more than 45 newspapers.
Reagle teamed up with AFA to promote its ongoing efforts to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease and lifestyle choices that promote brain health.
For those who have not signed up yet, there's still time to get in on the fun! |
AFA Needs You...to Sign the Stop Alzheimer's Petition
 AFA has embarked on a necessary and aggressive petition campaign to urge policymakers to follow through on the funding and implementation of the historic National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease. Federal officials were mandated by the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) to craft the first-ever plan, and released it last May.
Now, AFA, as part of its "NAPA NOW" initiative, along with other stakeholders are collaborating on a "Stop Alzheimer's Petition" to ensure that the plan is carried out.
By signing the Stop Alzheimer's Petition, Americans are telling policymakers that eradicating Alzheimer's disease has to be a priority and support for long- term care services is necessary until we find a cure.
AFA asks that you to sign the petition today and help spread the word about this campaign. |
Survey: Multiple Barriers Prevent Accurate, Timely Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis
 Lack of definitive tests, not enough communication between people with Alzheimer's disease and/or caregivers and physicians, and denial pose the most common barriers in a physician's ability to formally diagnose Alzheimer's disease, according to a new survey released this week by Eli Lilly and Company, a pharmaceutical company.
The findings are problematic since physicians surveyed from the five countries (74 percent) acknowledge early diagnosis is advantageous since it allows people with Alzheimer's disease to begin treatment, and enables them and their caregivers prepare for the future.
The "International Alzheimer's Disease Physician Survey" polled nearly 1,000 primary care physicians, psychiatrists, neurologists, geriatricians and geriatric psychiatrists from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Japan about barriers to diagnosing Alzheimer's disease.
Almost half of the physicians surveyed said that Alzheimer's disease is often misdiagnosed (45 percent), and that once a formal diagnosis is given, it is always or often too late to intervene in a meaningful way (48 percent).
While the majority of physicians (57 percent) are moderately satisfied with current diagnostic tools, they identified a lack of definitive tests (65 percent), patient denial (65 percent) and stigma (59 percent), and limited information from their patients and/or caregivers to help them make a formal diagnosis (40 percent) as critical barriers to diagnosis.
These results come on the heels of AFA's recent survey on behavioral challenges, which found a delay a diagnosis because many caregivers initially mistake behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer's disease as "normal aging." Both underscore the importance of early detection of memory problems, a stance AFA has championed for years with its National Memory Screening Day. |
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Medicare, National Institutes of Health Face Automatic Cuts if Congress Fails to Act on Budget
 Medicare and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) could face steep budget cuts at the beginning of the New Year if Congress does not act to stop scheduled tax increases and automatic spending reductions to government programs, a process known as sequestration that resulted from last year's failure of Congress to pass a budget plan. These cuts could have a negative impact on Alzheimer's disease research and caregiver support services.
According to a recent report from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Medicare cuts under sequestration would reduce Medicare provider spending $11.1 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2013. Medicaid is exempt from sequestration.
In addition, under sequestration, discretionary spending for the NIH would be reduced 8.5 percent or about $2.5 billion, while mandatory spending would be cut another $11 million in FY 2013.
While it's unclear on how these cuts will directly impact people with Alzheimer's disease and their family caregivers, deep cuts to Medicare providers could impact beneficiary access to certain Medicare benefits and cuts in Medicare discretionary spending could impact funding for Older Americans' Act programs like respite care. Cuts in NIH grants, moreover, could halt research into promising drug therapies. |
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News to Use
- The National Forum on Disability Issues will hold a Webcast on September 28 at 12:30 p.m. (ET) that will feature United States Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Edward "Ted" Kennedy, Jr., son of the late United States Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA). They will present their respective party's positions on matters relating to Americans with disabilities.
- AFA and Senior Helpers will offer interactive dementia care workshops for healthcare professionals and families and caregivers with expert Teepa Snow on October 4 at the National 4H Conference Center in Chevy Chase, MD. The AFA Quilt to Remember will also be on display and open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For details and to register for the conferences, click here.
- AFA's monthly Care Connection free one-hour teleconference on October 11 at 1:00 p.m. (ET) will feature Beverly Moore, president and owner of StilMee Alzheimer Coaching Services in Quincy, MA, discussing sharing the care among siblings.
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News Updates
- Exercise and sleep hormone help mice with Alzheimer's disease... Results from a new study done on mice with Alzheimer's disease show that daily exercise combined with a daily dose of the sleep hormone melatonin reduced symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease, including behavior changes and learning and memory impairment. Read more...
- Low vitamin C and beta-carotene intake linked to dementia... Levels of the antioxidants vitamin C and beta carotene were significantly lower in people aged 65 to 90 with mild dementia compared to those without the disease, according to a new study. Taking vitamin E, lycopene and coenzyme Q10 did not produce any difference between the two groups. Read more...
- Anti-cancer drugs reverse memory loss in animal models... Researchers were able to prevent or reverse symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in fruit flies and mice genetically encoded with a human Alzheimer's gene by using a class of anti-cancer drugs. They found that using anti-cancer drugs to block the activation in brain cells of a cell signal called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which plays a major role in cancer. Read more...
- Scientists link cataracts and Alzheimer's disease... Researchers who examined a decade's worth of brain images of people enrolled in an eye study identified a gene linked to the development of both age-related cataracts and symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease. Read more...
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September 27, 2012
Volume 5 Issue 20
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Singles Event Is a Good Match for AFA
All About Singles, a matchmaking dating service based in Wilkes-Barre, PA, held a luau-themed fundraiser at the Genetti Hotel & Convention Center in Wilkes-Barre this summer to benefit AFA.
Close to 200 people attended the charity event organized by Sharon Smith, founder of All About Singles, and whose father is currently living with the disease. Thank you Sharon Smith and All About Singles!
To find out how you can hold a fundraiser for AFA, click here. |
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September 30, 2012
Test Your Mental Fitness With a Crossword This Sunday!
Contest begins September 30 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Register now.
October 11, 2012
Free Teleconference for Family and Professional Caregivers
"Sharing the Care Among Siblings"
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
Click here for call-in details.
November 9-11, 2012
Weekend of Prayer
Sign up to host a ceremony.
November 13, 2012
Sign up to host a screening.
October 25, 2012
Join Us for the 8th Annual
"For the Love of George" Cocktail Party & Fall Concert
Crimson
915 Broadway
New York, NY
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Event features a live concert by Atlantic Recording artist
Brett Eldredge.
To purchase tickets, click here.
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The Legacy Society
AFA's Legacy Society offers special recognition to individuals who have included AFA in their wills or estate plans.
Support AFA Monthly
Donors can now make recurring monthly donations to AFA, which will be automatically deducted from your credit card each month. You may cancel at any time. |
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Join us on Inspire
AFA's Support Community connects individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and their families, friends and caregivers to provide support and improve quality of life.
 
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