From Cause to Movement
Shaping a World Without Alzheimer’s
Through Advocacy, Volunteerism, Referral
and Science
Ian Kremer, Esq.
Advocacy & Outreach Director
Alzheimer’s Association® National Capital Area Chapter
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Learning Objectives
 Our nation no longer has the option to
accept Alzheimer’s and related disorders
 Health care professionals, consumers and
the Alzheimer’s Association must collaborate
to advance diagnosis, care and research
 Our actions will accelerate science and
change the trajectory of the Alzheimer
epidemic
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From Cause to Movement
 Necessity & Opportunity
 National Priority
 Transformative Change
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Alzheimer’s: the Silent Epidemic
 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s
(including 200,000 with young onset)
 14.9 million unpaid family caregivers
 Alzheimer’s is the only top-10 cause of death
without a known way to prevent, slow or cure
 Unless we change the trajectory,13-16
million Americans will have Alzheimer’s by
mid-century
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Estimated Number of New Alzheimer’s Cases
(In Thousands)
New Cases in Thousands
1200
959
1000
820
800
615
600
400
377
411
1995
2000
491
454
200
0
2010
2020
Year
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Source: Hebert et al. (2001). Alzheimer Disease
Associated Disorders, 15(4), 169-173.
2030
2040
2050
Alzheimer’s Disease Impact on Baby Boomers
 One in six women and
one in ten men age 55
and older can expect to
develop Alzheimer’s
disease.
 One in eight people over
age 65 have Alzheimer’s
 One in two people over
age 85 have Alzheimer’s
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News You Can (and Must) Use
 Early Detection, Proper Diagnosis &
Documentation
 Sharing the News with Patient/Family
 Referral to Community Resources
 Participation in Clinical Trials
 Collaboration with Alzheimer’s Association
 Advocacy
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Alzheimer’s Disease:
Course, Prevention, Treatment Strategies
Intervention
Clinical
Clinical
State
State
Primary
Prevention
Normal
Brain
No Disease
Pathologic No Symptoms
State
Presymptomatic
AD
Early Brain
Changes
No
Symptoms
Secondary
Prevention
Mild
Cognitive
Impairment
AD Brain
Changes
Mild
Symptoms
Disease Progression
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Treatment
AD
Mild,
Moderate, or
Severe
Impairment
Treatment Outcomes in Alzheimer’s Disease
Functional ability
Cure
Maintenance
of function
Slowing of disease
progression
Treatment
Symptomatic
benefit
Natural Progression
Time
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Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch™
 Free, easy to use service
 Preview over 100 studies related to MCI,
Alzheimer’s and related disorders
 Match specific profiles of patient diagnosis,
clinical history and location with study criteria
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Medical Community Collaboration
 Purple Envelope Project
 Physician Outreach Project
 Jane.Priest@alz.org or 703-766-9018
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Advocacy Goals
 Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act
 HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act
(Health Outcomes, Planning & Education)
 National Alzheimer’s Project Act
(implementation input napa.alz.org)
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Our Vision:
A World Without Alzheimer’s
www.alz.org/nca
1.800.272.3900
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