We've been asked this question since we were kids. For the nearly 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease today, summer is much like every season. It brings a day-in, day-out battle to find help and hope in the face of pain and despair — throughout the summer and all year long.
Thanks to our supporters, this summer has been one of tremendous achievement for the fight against Alzheimer's. It started when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved another treatment that could meaningfully change the course of the disease for people living with early Alzheimer's. While not a cure, and not the answer for everyone, this treatment gives many a new option to get more time to plan for the future, spend time with family and lead more independent lives.
Our summer of progress continued at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference® 2024, where researchers reported on meaningful advancements including:
Risk and prevention: Several studies show that eating about two servings of processed red meat a week increased the risk of dementia by 14%, and that swapping a serving of processed red meat for a serving of nuts, beans or tofu may lower the risk of dementia by 20%.
Early detection and diagnosis: New blood tests that accurately and reliably detect hallmark brain changes of Alzheimer's may soon signal a shift to simpler, less-expensive and less-invasive detection and diagnosis, and support volunteer recruitment for treatment trials.
Treatment: The Association's Part the Cloud research grants program has invested in clinical trials targeting a variety of compounds, including repurposed drugs, addressing known and potential new aspects of the disease. A GLP-1 agonist, a class of drugs prescribed to treat diabetes and weight loss may also protect the brain. A study of one drug in people living with mild Alzheimer's showed reduced shrinking by nearly 50% in parts of the brain that affect memory, learning, language and decision-making, when compared to a placebo.
Friend, I'm deeply grateful for your participation in our community. You make progress like this — and everything we do — possible. But our work is far from done. More promising research efforts need funding if we are to find new, better ways to detect, diagnose, treat and, ultimately, cure this disease. Every day, more and more people turn to us for the care and support they so desperately need to live their lives to the fullest in the face of this disease.
We will not rest until everyone living with dementia of any kind — at any stage — can get the treatment, care and support they need and deserve. Your first gift today can go TWICE as far to advance our mission to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.
On behalf of everyone in the Alzheimer's Association community — and all the families your gift today will help — I thank you and wish you a joyful end of summer.
Best regards,
Michael Reich
Chief Marketing Officer
Your donation will strengthen our efforts to advance Alzheimer's care, support and research. From face-to-face support to online education programs and promising global research initiatives, your gift makes a difference in the lives of all those affected by Alzheimer's and other dementias in your community and across the world. Thank you for your continued support.
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