My Birthday Wish

My name is Andres Martin and this week I turned 32 years old. I’m a proud father, husband, and veteran. Over the last couple of years, I’ve come to recognize how precious my birthdays are. My military service has taught me this, the birth of my daughter has taught me this, and my genes have taught me this. You see my family is from a region in Mexico that is host to the “Jalisco mutation,” a mutation which guarantees carriers will develop early-onset Alzheimer’s, and one for which I recently tested positive. My diagnosis answered a lot of questions. It

Welcome to the New Era of Alzheimer’s Research: How People with Alzheimer’s and Care Partners are Shaping the Future of Drug Development

This article was originally published by Lundbeck on July 17, 2019. By Mark Terry Leigh Callahan, PhD, is a respected epidemiologist and outcomes researcher who focuses on rheumatic disease. Her husband, John Winfield, MD, now retired, had a distinguished career as a researcher and rheumatologist. While their professional lives have focused principally on joints, they now find themselves at the leading edge of brain research. This is because John has Alzheimer’s, Leigh is his care partner, and together they are participating in a groundbreaking research project that seeks to generate patient/care partner insights and develop new meaningful, measurable outcomes that

Brain Health Redux

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s continues urgent call for a new approach to brain health across the lifespan

3 New Alzheimer's Studies' Goal: 'Preparing Us For A Cure'

This article was originally published in Forbes on July 21, 2019. George Vradenburg, the co-founder and chairman of the UsAgainstAlzheimer’s advocacy group is a man on a mission. And he is in a hurry. He’s not prepared to wait until 2025, the federal government’s deadline to recommend next-step solutions for Alzheimer’s disease through the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA). Instead, at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference this week, Vradenburg’s UsAgainstAlzheimer’s released Preparing Us for a Cure. It’s a collection of three new research studies on key areas of Alzheimer’s disease impacting the lives of patients, caregivers and communities. Vradenburg wants

Preparing Us for a Cure

During the 2019 Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC), UsAgainstAlzheimer's is releasing "Preparing Us for a Cure," three research products on key areas of Alzheimer's disease that impact the lives of patients, caregivers, and communities. This research underscores the importance of ensuring that the American healthcare system, payers, and other market entities are prepared to quickly and effectively deploy treatments and a cure for Alzheimer's disease. 'Preparing Us for a Cure’ is all about readying our healthcare system so that when treatments and a cure are ultimately developed, patients and caregivers aren’t forced to wait 10 more years for the healthcare

Dementia Friendly Worship: A Multifaith Handbook for Chaplains, Clergy and Faith Communities

Every person deserves the basic human right to live with value and purpose. This is, perhaps, one of our most strongly held beliefs, and the reason why we decided to write Dementia Friendly Worship: A Multifaith Handbook for Chaplains, Clergy and Faith Communities. The book is first-of-its-kind, and will hopefully enable every congregation and faith community in the country to welcome and serve those living with dementia, together with their caregivers and families. It is too often the case that dementia and Alzheimer’s rob people of their individuality, their personhood, and their dignity. It’s easy to think of those living

Father’s Day on a Journey with Alzheimer’s

I was scared at first. Even though I had been raised in a family of ten, had been married at the time for six years (of 43 years of marriage), and desperately wanted children, I was scared. Thoughts of becoming a father intimidated me. I was worried about the money, new responsibilities, and all the sleepless nights they would bring. I was afraid I would fail. But on July 13, 1983, in a basement delivery room at Boston’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Brendan McGeorge O’Brien was born, and Father’s Day had new meaning. He weighed in at nine pounds, two

SEN. CAPITO: Alzheimer’s disease is devastating families – We must make it a national priority

This article was originally published by Fox News on June 6, 2019. He alth care is a subject that remains front and center in so many of our national conversations and debates. It’s a leading talking point among 2020 presidential candidates. It continues to poll as a top concern among the American public. And it’s something I hear about regularly from constituents back home in West Virginia. Much of the talk related to health care issues has to do with flashier or more controversial topics such as "Medicare for All" or prescription drug prices, and there are good reasons for

Brain Health Equity Insights - May 2019

We’re thrilled to bring you the second edition of Brain Health Equity Insights, a platform that highlights UsAgainstAlzheimer’s (UsA2) intersectional approach to understanding and addressing brain health disparities through community engagement, research, health practice, and policy.

Physicians & Caregivers: A needed partnership in the fight against Alzheimer’s

“How are you doing?” That simple, common question conveys caring and concern. Nearly a decade ago, the American College of Physicians (ACP) recommended that doctors ask this question of those who care for older or chronically ill patients. But according to a new A-LIST® survey, caregivers don’t hear those words often enough from health care providers. The A-LIST® is an online community of individuals living with or caring for those living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Members participate in various studies and research projects, providing unique, self-reported data that represents the voice of the patient and caregiver community. This caregiver-focused