Alzheimer's disease

On July 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) converted Leqembi (lecanemab), indicated to treat adult patients with Alzheimer's Disease, to traditional approval following a determination that a confirmatory trial verified clinical benefit. Leqembi, developed by Biogen and Eisai, was approved in January 2023 under the Accelerated Approval pathway...

The University of California, San Francisco and Northwestern University are testing a program for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's Disease. The program, titled LEAF (Life Enhancing Activities for Family Caregivers) is funded by a grant from the National Institute on Aging, and is designed to help lower stress and support caregivers. Participants must be the primary caregiver of someone with Alzheimer’s disease or probable Alzheimer's, be English-speaking, and have access to Wi-Fi.

Funded by ACL, this resource library collects digital materials from the Older Adults' Equity Collaborative member organizations to provide tools and guidance to the aging services network, providers, older adults and family caregivers. The resources included cover topics of social isolation and mental health, Alzheimer's and Dementia, disabilities, caregiving, retirement income and security, and emergency planning.

NIA has launched a new website designed to educate and support people whose lives are touched by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Alzheimers.gov is the federal government's portal to information and resources on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal disorders, and vascular dementia. It's goal is to connect people with Alzheimer’s, caregivers and advocates to federal resources that educate and support their needs.

The Alzheimer's Association has published the 2019 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report. This annual report offers insight into the burden of Alzheimer's and dementia on individuals, caregivers, government and the nation's health care system. The report provides an in-depth look at the latest national statistics on Alzheimer's prevalence, incidence, mortality, and costs. It also examines awareness, attitudes, and utilization of cognitive assessments among older adults.

This Road Map outlines actions state and local public health agencies and their partners can take to stimulate changes in policies, systems and environments. The goal is also to ensure that initiatives to address Alzheimer's can be easily and efficiently incorporated into existing public health initiatives. The Road Map outlines 25 action items for the field of public health to promote brain health, better care for people with cognitive impairment, and increase attention to caregivers.

The Alzheimer's Association convened the Alzheimer's Association National Plan Care Support Milestone Workgroup, including experts in clinical care, long-term services and supports, dementia care, and support research, and public policy. The workgroup reviewed the current literature regarding Alzheimer's support and care in the U.S. and on a global scale, and developed several milestones to help create a better care and support system.