New national plan focuses on Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment

Last year, the National Alzheimer’s Project Act called for a national plan to find a effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease by 2025. Yesterday, speaking to attendees of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Summit 2012: Path to Treatment and Prevention, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius presented the plan. As a national plan, the private and public sectors are involved.

As reported by Reuters, the results of two clinical trials were due to be released at the meeting. One of the studies involved amyloid, a protein closely identified with the disease. The other, which tested an insulin nasal spray to restore memory, has shown promise in the first prevention study of high-risk patients.

To complement the focus on developing new treatments, the government has launched a website to provide informational resources for families and caregivers.


Topics: Alzheimer's/Dementia