UsAgainstAlzheimer’s mission is to end Alzheimer’s by 2020. We fight for increased investment in research; greater collaboration across industry, science and government; acceleration of clinical trials; and improved quality of life for people living with dementia and their caregivers.

To amplify these efforts, the organization produces Alzheimer’s Talks, a free monthly teleconference series featuring top researchers and national leaders in policy and care. Through Alzheimer’s Talks, participants can stay up to date on the latest from leaders in the Alzheimer’s community and progress toward ending this devastating disease. Joining the conversation is easy: you can call in or listen to the live web stream, ask questions and join the twitter discussion. If you miss a live call, you can listen to our podcast and read the transcript. Through a single call we have reached more than 5,000 people.

In case you’ve missed them, we’ve had many outstanding guests and discussions over the last four years. Here are just a few of our audience favorites:

1) Important Alzheimer’s Blood Test Research

Researchers have discovered a first-of-its-kind blood test for Alzheimer's disease that can predict – with 90 percent accuracy – if a healthy person will develop Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment within three years. Dr. Howard Federoff, the Executive Vice President for Health Sciences at Georgetown University Medical Center and Executive Dean of Georgetown University School of Medicine, led the team and briefed us on why his biomarker study is a potential game-changer, including by helping researchers identify individuals who might be appropriate for clinical studies to find medicines that could be effective before clinical symptoms appear.

2) Have You Had ‘The Conversation?’ End-of-Life Choices: Be Proactive

Did you know that 90% of Americans say it’s important to discuss their and their loved ones’ wishes for end-of-life care, but only 30% actually do?

Pulitzer-prize winning writer Ellen Goodman founded The Conversation Project to help everyone have this difficult conversation with family members about their end-of-life wishes. Ellen shared with us why she founded the organization and specific tools and resources to help you begin talking with your loved ones, including their Conversation Starter Kit.

3) Can Coconut Oil Really Help with Alzheimer’s?

Dr. Mary Newport believes coconut oil gave her a few extra good years with her husband. It's thought by some that your liver converts part of coconut oil to ketones, which serve as an alternative fuel to the brain and some anecdotal stories suggest that coconut oil could be effective against both neurological and physical symptoms.

Now, the Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute at the University of South Florida (USF) is running the first-ever randomized clinical trial to investigate whether anecdotal reports of the effectiveness of coconut oil in treating Alzheimer's can be verified. You can get involved – USF is looking for participants between the ages of 60-85 who have a documented diagnosis of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Click here to find out more about how you or someone you know can enroll in the USF trial.

4) Before I Forget with Dan Gasby

Dan Gasby is the partner in marriage and business with B. Smith, the incredible woman who broke down barriers as a restaurant owner and model and is now facing the challenge of her life: Alzheimer’s disease. Dan and B. just published a heartfelt book, Before I Forget: Love, Hope, Help and Acceptance in Our Fight Against Alzheimer’s. He stressed the importance of clinical trial participation, particularly for African-Americans to ensure that medicines work for everyone. One way that anyone can help accelerate innovative medicines is by signing up for the Brain Health Registry, where you can play brain games online to help researchers and get more information on clinical trials.

5) First-of-Its-Kind Alzheimer’s Trial

Dr. Reisa Sperling is leading a first-of-its-kind study into a new drug treatment that could prevent memory loss before symptoms show. Dr. Sperling is leading the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's study (A4 study for short) which targets amyloid, a protein that builds up in the brain 10-20 years before memory loss.

The A4 study tests a drug called Solanezumab to see whether it can help the brain clear amyloid and slow the memory associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The study is being conducted in 61 locations and up to 10,000 individuals between 65-85 who are cognitively normal are needed to screen for the study in hopes of finding 1,000 to participate. They are particularly trying to recruit minority individuals, who are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s to learn about the factors that increase risk in these individuals. For more information, or to see if you are eligible visit http://www.a4study.org.

Check out the Alzheimer's Talks webpage for all the previous calls and information on upcoming calls.

Elizabeth Plant is the Director of "Alzheimer's Talks."