US Administration takes new steps to fight Alzheimer's disease

In the USA, the Obama Administration this week announced new efforts to fight Alzheimer’s disease, including immediately making an additional $50 million available for cutting-edge Alzheimer’s research. In addition, the Administration announced that its Fiscal Year 2013 budget will boost funding for Alzheimer’s research by $80 million. This latest announcement also includes an additional $26 million in caregiver support, provider education, public awareness and improvements in data infrastructure.

In January 2011, President Obama signed the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, which calls for an aggressive and coordinated national Alzheimer’s disease plan. The Act also establishes an Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care, and Services, which brings together some of the Nation’s foremost experts on Alzheimer’s disease to inform the development of the national plan. The preliminary framework for the National Alzheimer’s Disease Plan identifies key goals including preventing and treating Alzheimer’s by 2025.

“Today’s announcement reflects this administration’s commitment to confronting Health and Human Service (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, adding: “We can’t wait to act; reducing the burden of Alzheimer’s disease on patients and their families is an urgent national priority.”