Browse Publications
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Document, TestimonyAlliance Calls for Increased NIH Appropriations in FY 2014
On March 15, 2013, the Alliance for Aging Research submitted testimony to the House Appropriations, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee, calling for $32 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in FY 2014. To justify this increase, the Alliance highlighted important NIH-supported work administered through the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and other of the NIH's 27 Institutes and Centers. Particular attention was paid to advances in understanding the basic biology of aging and its link to chronic disease and the formation of a Geroscience Interest Group (GSIG) comprised of 20 Institutes and Centers to coordinate discussion and action across the NIH on research into the processes of aging that underpin most major age-related disease.
To read the Alliance's testimony, click here.
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ReportThe Silver Book: Persistent Pain
February 2013Around 100 million Americans live with persistent pain--more than are affected by diabetes, cancer, and heart disease combined. This latest volume of The Silver Book brings together all of the data on persistent pain, all into one place. -
Alliance in the News, Feature ArticleFollowing Katz at FDA
February 11, 2013 | Steve Usdin, Washington Editor
Related topics: Alzheimer's Disease Drug Development PolicyOn February 11, 2013, Steve Usdin, Washington Editor of BioCentury, published an article in BioCentury The Bernstein Report on Business focused on the future of the FDA’s Division of Neurology Products following the expected retirement later this year of the current Division Director, Russell Katz, M.D. Representatives from the biopharmaceutical industry and the patient advocacy community were interviewed for this article, including Daniel Perry, President & CEO of the Alliance for Aging research and Chair of the ACT-AD Coalition. Mr. Perry highlighted ACT-AD’s positive relationship with Dr. Katz and expressed hope that Dr. Katz’s successor will approach the review of therapies for Alzheimer’s disease with similar openness and flexibility.
To read the BioCentury article, click here.
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Get Mad ColumnHelping Stop a Devastating Disease: The ACT-AD Coalition Continues its Important Work in Alzheimer's
Winter 2013
Related topics: Access to Breakthroughs Alzheimer's Disease Drug Development Health PolicyAlzheimer's disease is a slow, dehumanizing, and fatal disease that strikes 1 in 8 people over the age of 65. While it's typically thought of as a disease that affects memory, it goes well beyond memory loss and eventually leads to death. -
Science in the SpotlightMuscle Loss & Aging: Combatting Sarcopenia and Lost Independence
Winter 2013 | Alliance for aging Research
Related topics: Access to Breakthroughs Aging Research Drug Development Geriatric Training HealthTypically, our muscles grow larger and stronger as we age. That is, until about the time we celebrate our 30th birthdays. That’s when most of us start down the other side of the hill and begin to gradually lose our muscle mass, strength, and function. While it’s usually not very noticeable in our 30s and 40s, the loss increases exponentially with age and tends to accelerate between the ages of 65 and 80.
This progressive loss of muscle mass is called sarcopenia, and it’s found to play a major role in the increased frailty, disability, and functional impairment that too often come with aging. While sarcopenia is a condition that is not uncommon with age, we don’t have to just sit back and accept it. There are things we can do to slow its progress, and current research promises to make that trip over-the-hill less traumatic. -
Get Mad ColumnTaxes or Medical Research? Tensions Rise in the Battle to Reduce the Deficit
Winter 2013 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Access to Breakthroughs Aging Research Federal Funding Health PolicyThe country did not go over the "fiscal cliff" thanks to the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA), which was passed by Congress on New Year’s Day. While fears loomed that lawmakers would fail to act in time, ATRA addressed the expiration of numerous tax credits, raised some revenue, and temporarily delayed automatic spending cuts scheduled to take effect on December 31, 2012. When ATRA became law America earned a temporary reprieve from imminent economic catastrophe. However, our health and personal economic security may still suffer from the fallout resulting from actions taken by policymakers struggling to find a more permanent solution to the nation’s fiscal woes. -
Feature ArticleThe Month of Love and Heart Health
It’s that time of year where people throughout the world exchange candy, flowers, and sentimental gifts with their loved ones, and those that they hope to love. While many of us believe—especially those who grumble at the thought of the lovey-dovey holiday—that Valentine’s Day was invented by greeting card and chocolate companies to up their profits, it actually has a long, and somewhat dark history.
Heart health advocacy organizations are hoping to add to the history of Valentine’s Day by designating the month of love “heart health month” and making it another reminder of how important it is that we protect and cherish both our loved ones and our hearts. -
Fact SheetThe Silver Book: Atrial Fibrillation
February 2013 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Aging Research Cardiovascular Disease Health Medical Innovation Policy Prevention StrokeAtrial fibrillation impacts between 2.7 and 6.1 million adults and can lead to stroke, heart failure, dementia, disability, and death. It also costs a tremendous amount of money--at least $6.65 billion each year. This latest factsheet from The Silver Book brings the leading data on the burden of the disease and the value of innovation to reduce that burden, all into one place. -
Document, Feature ArticleTranslating Innovation to Impact
December 17, 2012 | Katie Maslow, MSW, Scholar-in-Residence at the Institute of Medicine
Related topics: Aging Research Alzheimer's Disease Policy Quality of Care ResearchThis white paper presents the findings and recommendations from a review of the state of the art non-pharmacological treatments and care practices for people with Alzheimer's or other dementias and their family caregivers. It is intended to support deliberations by the Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care and Services, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and other government and private organizations about hot to make effective non-pharmacological treatments and care practices available to people who will benefit from then. Its development resulted from a public-private partnership between AoA and the Alliance for Aging Research, with funding from the Metlife Foundation. -
DocumentAssessing Stroke and Bleeding Risk in Atrial Fibrillation
This expert consensus statement makes important recommendations on the use of stroke and bleeding risk tools, the decision to anticoagulate, the incorporation of patient preferences, and more. -
ReportThe Silver Book: Vision Loss Volume II
More than 38 million Americans age 40 and older are blind, visually impaired, or have an age-related eye disease, and adult vision loss costs our economy more than $51 billion a year. With major advances in vision research bringing new prevention and treatments, it is critical that support for research and incentives for innovation remain a priority.
In order to highlight this important data and encourage conversations and policies that look to investments in innovation rather than short-term cost-cutting and health care rationing, the Alliance for Aging Research has teamed up with the Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (AEVR) during their Decade of Vision, to release Volume II of The Silver Book®:Vision Loss. Volume II brings updated data on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma—which along with cataract, are the eye diseases that disproportionately impact older Americans. This new volume also highlights the exciting changes and discoveries in vision research and treatment from the past 5 years. -
Get Mad Column, NewslettersAlzheimer’s Treatment and Care at a Crossroads: Pursuing All Avenues to Provide Relief
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, you’ve most likely wondered if there are any ways to relieve some of the burden of the disease, in addition to the pills to manage its symptoms. For many diseases like heart disease and diabetes, changes to diet and exercise are as high on health care providers list of advice for patients as a prescription for medication, but this isn’t the case with how they approach Alzheimer’s disease. -
NewslettersAt-A-Glance: Aging Research News
Leading researchers and authorities on aging are constantly making news with their breakthroughs and discoveries. Below is a small sample of the articles, podcasts, blog postings, and other media that highlight some of this important information on aging, age-related disease, and the science behind getting old: -
Feature Article, NewslettersDo We Have to Age the Way We Age? Dan Perry Takes This Question to the TEDMED Stage
Fall 2012
Related topics: Aging Research Federal Funding Longevity Medical Innovation Policy Prevention ResearchTEDMED is most known for its annual conference--a medical spin-off from the TED conference where people come to share big ideas and foster new ones. But TEDMED is also a community of people who are all passionate about the future of health and medicine, but in amazingly different ways. -
Newsletters, Science in the SpotlightHarnessing Technology & Science: Researchers Collaborate to Build an Unprecedented Resource
Recognizing both the power of technology and the priceless health information contained in the human genome, Kaiser Permanente and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), have formed a groundbreaking collaboration in order to produce one of the largest biobanks in the world. -
Alliance Views, NewslettersKnow Your Pulse: It Could Save Your Life
Think back and try to remember if your doctor or another health care professional checked your pulse during your last visit? Not with a stethoscope but with their fingers on your wrist? If you’re like many people you’re sure that they listened to your heart and checked your blood pressure, but you’re also pretty sure no one has taken your pulse in a while.
While listening to your heart with a stethoscope helps your doctor evaluate the functioning of your heart and its valves, a simple pulse check can better evaluate your heart’s rate and rhythm. -
Science in the SpotlightUnder Treatment of a Treatable Disease: T.A.K.E. on Glaucoma
An estimated 2.3 million Americans are living with glaucoma and because it is a disease of aging, that number is expected to climb during this decade—surpassing 3.3 million by 2020—a 50% increase. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that are associated with elevated eye pressure that can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss. That vision loss can usually be prevented with early detection and proper treatment and disease management, yet glaucoma continues to be one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S. -
Feature ArticleGo4Life: NIA Campaign Encourages Exercise at All Ages
Exercise is good for your health. Not surprising right? We’ve all watched countless news reports and read stacks of stories extolling the virtues of regular exercise. So why do only 30% of adults between the ages of 45 and 64 report that they engage in regular physical activity? That number gets even lower as we age with only 25% of people between the ages of 65 and 74, and 11% of those ages 85 and older, saying that they exercise regularly. Keep in mind that those numbers are probably higher than reality because people tend to over-estimate how much they exercise when they are reporting it to others. -
Alliance ViewsThe Common Denominator: The Key to Extending Healthspan
Spring 2012 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Aging Research Health Medical Innovation Policy Prevention ResearchMost people know what lifespan is—the average length of life of a species, often measured within a sub-population like “Americans” or “women.” Essentially—how long we live. But few have even heard of healthspan. Dictionary.com defines it as the “period of one’s life during which one is generally healthy and free from serious disease.” Essentially—how long we live in good health. -
Get Mad ColumnAn Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure: Are We Sacrificing Health for a Balanced Budget?
Spring 2012 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Federal Funding Health Medical Innovation Policy Quality of CareLast summer, lawmakers were not just feeling the heat of the August sun in Washington when Congress passed the Budget Control Act of 2011(BCA). Under pressure to raise the country’s debt ceiling, the BCA allowed the president to do so by up to $2.8 trillion, but only by requiring the deficit to be slashed by $2.3 trillion over the next decade. Not a bad trade, right? Think again. The methods used to make these cuts could take a fat slice out of the federal budget that pays for research to prevent diseases we all fear as we grow older like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and heart disease. -
Alliance in the News, Alliance Views, VideoDan Perry on BioCentury This Week: Alzheimer's Research
In a March 18th interview with BioCentury This Week, Alliance for Aging Research President & CEO Daniel Perry shares his thoughts on U.S. funding of Alzheimer’s research. Perry also calls for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to adopt biomarkers and other tools to detect and treat Alzheimer's disease earlier. -
Alliance in the News, Science in the SpotlightAlzheimer’s Biomarkers are Ready for Research
March 7, 2012
Related topics: Aging Research Alzheimer's Disease Brain Health Drug Development Drug Safety Health Medical Innovation Policy ResearchIn a March 1st interview, Dr. John Morris, co-chair of the Alzheimer's Disease Biomarker Expert Working Group (convened by the Alliance for Aging Research), explains what biomarkers are and how they will help research in the field of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia.
John C. Morris is the Harvey A. and Dorismae Hacker Friedman Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Professor of Pathology and Immunology, Professor of Physical Therapy, and Professor of Occupational Therapy at Washington University. He also is the Director and Principal Investigator of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.
For More info on the promise of biomarkers in Alzheimer's, click here. -
BrochureTaking a Closer Look at Age-Related Macular Degeneration
This popular brochure has been updated to reflect the latest advances in detection, prevention, and treatment (released in November 2011). It guides readers through the latest information on age-related macular degeneration symptoms and risk factors, while offering ways to help reduce risk. The widely used Amsler Grid can still be found on the back cover. -
Document, TestimonyAlliance President Makes Remarks at a Hearing on Prescription Drug User Fee Act Reauthorization
On October 24th, Alliance President & CEO Daniel Perry presented remarks at a public meeting on the fifth reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA). PDUFA IV, currently set to expire in September of 2012, authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to collect user fees from companies wishing to submit their products for agency review. The intention is that the fees would be used to provide an additional revenue stream for FDA to hire more staff, improve systems, and establish a better managed drug review process to speed up the delivery of needed therapies to the public. The PDUFA reauthorization process has historically been conducted through negotiations between the Agency and regulated industries, however the current round of negotiations allowed for patient groups to engage in monthly consultations with FDA representatives to enable all stakeholders to have an early voice in shaping the PDUFA V agreement.
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Document, Fact SheetDetecting Glaucoma: Assessing Your Eye Health with a Comprhensive Eye Exam
This tip sheet tells you what to expect during a comprehensive eye exam--the key to detecting glaucoma and preventing its serious consequences. -
DocumentOur T.A.K.E. on Glaucoma
A Declaration from the Glaucoma Working Group to Take Action to Know your Eyes
Today, more than 40 million Americans are age 65 or older. By 2050, it is estimated that figure will rise to 88.5 million. Our nation is aging rapidly, and this demographic shift likely means longer hospital stays, more doctor visits, and greater healthcare expenditures for more and more Americans. If you're a Baby Boomer and looking ahead to your silver years, you already have plenty to think about: retirement, the economy, elderly parents, and young adult children. It's hard to find time to focus on your health--especially if you feel healthy! -
Fact SheetThe Facts About Afib
The most common type of arrhythmia—or abnormal heart rhythm—atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a disorder of the heart’s electrical system that affects an estimated 2.3 to 5.6 million people in the US. During AFib episodes the heart’s upper chambers (the atria) beat irregularly and out of sync with the heart’s lower chambers (the ventricles). In some people these episodes come and go. In others they are chronic and occur regularly. In both cases, the arrhythmia itself isn’t generally serious; however, abnormal blood flow and strain to the heart can lead to serious medical conditions.
Download to learn more about what it means to have AFib, risk factors, treatment options, and making the right treatment decision for you. -
Living LegendAt-A-Glance: Aging Research News
Leading researchers and authorities on aging are constantly making news with their breakthroughs and discoveries. Below is a small sample of the articles, podcasts, blog postings, and other media that highlight some of this important information on aging, age-related disease, and the science behind getting old:
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Feature ArticleConscious Aging: Through Their Art, a Couple Finds Beauty and Peace in Aging
Who hasn’t looked in the mirror only to find someone staring back with too many wrinkles and gray hairs? Someone who we don’t recognize because that person is way too old? When Alice and Richard Matzkin found themselves and their loved ones confronting bodies being etched by time and pulled down by gravity, they became overwhelmed by fear. -
Science in the SpotlightThe Balancing Act: Managing Atrial Fibrillation
Every year around 75,000 Americans learn that they have atrial fibrillation. Some are diagnosed after noticing that their heart is racing or skipping beats. Others feel chest and throat pressure that they think is a heart attack. Or they go to their doctors feeling tired-out and weak all the time. Some feel nothing at all. -
Alliance ViewsSilver Scholars: Valuing Active Aging
Summer 2011 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Aging Research Medical Innovation Policy ResearchWe make decisions using economics every day. Deciding whether or not to spend money on something we usually find ourselves weighing the benefits against the costs. Should I buy an iPhone so I can check my e-mail on the train, or get the free phone and check when I get home? Should I buy the more expensive house that’s closer to work, or the one in a more affordable neighborhood with a longer commute? Should I hire someone to paint my house, or take the time to do it myself? -
Get Mad ColumnCan We Work the Bugs Out? In Search of the Next-Generation IPAB
Summer 2011 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Federal Funding Health Policy Quality of CareAn IPAB is not the latest device created by Apple to play music or store your online files. IPAB is the Independent Payment Advisory Board and its purpose is to oversee costs in Medicare. The only similarity between IPAB and an iPAD is that both are small and complex units with tremendous power to change lives. But for those receiving their health care under the Medicare program, IPAB’s changes may not be for the better. -
ReportThe Silver Book: Chronic Disease and Medical Innovation in an Aging Nation - Thrombosis
March 2011 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Cardiovascular Disease Health Medical Innovation Policy Prevention Research StrokeThis latest volume in the important Silver Book collection focuses on atrial fibrillation, stroke, and venous thromboembolism--three of the most common causes of and results of thrombosis. The data in this volume emphasize the tremendous burden of thrombosis, especially as our population ages, as well as the potential value of innovation in reducing this burden. -
NewslettersAt-A-Glance: Aging Research News
Leading researchers and authorities on aging are constantly making news with their breakthroughs and discoveries. Below is a small sample of the articles, podcasts, blog postings, and other media that highlight some of this important information on aging, age-related disease, and the science behind getting old: -
Get Mad ColumnBracing for the Silver Tsunami: Aging Research May Save Lives and Money
Investigators supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) are on the cusp of research breakthroughs that could enhance their abilities to predict and intervene earlier in the processes of many age-related chronic diseases. In particular, rapid progress in recent years in advancing understanding of the aging process has led to considerable knowledge of how scientists might increase human health in later life by opposing the primary risk factor for most disease of aging—aging itself. -
Science in the SpotlightTreating Valve Disease: Successful Options for All Patients
Each year, as many as 5 million Americans are diagnosed with valve disease. There are a number of different types of valve disease and all of them involve defects or damage to one or more of the heart’s four valves. While some types are not serious, others can lead to major complications, including death. Fortunately, most valve disease can be successfully treated with surgery in patients of all ages and races. -
Feature ArticleTreatments for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Going Head to Head
Spring 2011 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Access to Breakthroughs Drug Development Drug Safety Health Medical Innovation Policy Quality of Care Research Vision LossExciting treatments make slowing and even restoring vision loss in wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) patients a reality. Two of the most frequently used treatments are currently in the spotlight as they go head-to-head in clinical trials comparing their effectiveness, and to some extent, exploring their costs. -
Alliance ViewsSuper Agers: Sharing Their Secrets
A new website from Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University—SuperAgers.com—highlights the findings from more than a decade of aging research and features some of the centenarians that shared their secrets, and their DNA, for this seminal project. -
BrochureLa Enfermedad de Alzheimer: Ayudandote a Ayudar a un Ser Querido
In order to educate family caregivers on how to care for themselves while caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, the Alliance for Aging Research created this workshop kit. This translated workshop kits assist community groups in hosting workshops for Spanish-speaking family caregivers. -
BrochureLa Enfermedad de Alzheimer: Ayudándote a Ayudar a un Ser Querido - Guía para Líderes
El propósito de este taller es educar a los familiares encargados de cuidar a
un ser querido con la enfermedad de Alzheimer a darles el mejor cuidado
posible sin descuidar sus propias necesidades. Esta Guía para Líderes servirá
de guía para los que trabajan en el ambiente de la salud, personal médico,
coordinadores comunitarios, etc, y les ayudará con la conducción del taller. -
BrochureLa Enfermedad de Alzheimer: Ayudándote a Ayudar a un Ser Querido - Guía paraQuienes Cuidan a Personas con la Enfermedad de Alzheimer
Como familiar y persona encargada de cuidar a alguien con
la enfermedad de Alzheimer, tienes demasiadas tareas y
mucho que hacer. Hay tanto por aprender, tantas cosas que
planear, tantas preocupaciones. Por eso necesitas leer ésta
guía, no solamente por la persona a quien cuidas, si no
además por tí mismo. -
NewslettersAt-A-Glance: Aging Research News
Leading researchers and authorities on aging are constantly making news with their breakthroughs and discoveries. Below is a small sample of the articles, podcasts, blog postings, and other media that highlight some of this important information on aging, age-related disease, and the science behind getting old: -
Alliance ViewsThe Changing Face of HIV/AIDS: A Graying Epidemic
When the AIDS epidemic first shook the nation in the 1980s, no one with the virus was expected to live long—let alone reach old age. But thanks to the discovery of effective drug therapies, most people with the disease can now look forward to living well into their senior years. Add to that the fact that older Americans are becoming newly infected at an alarming rate, and HIV/AIDS is clearly no longer a problem for the young. -
Get Mad ColumnWhat is the 510(k)? Balancing Benefits, Safety, and Patient Needs
What does a tongue depressor have in common with an artificial knee and a heart monitor? This is not trick question or an unsolvable riddle—all three are medical devices that must go through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval. Many of us are exposed to medical devices on a regular basis but few of us give much thought to who develops these products, and even fewer take the time to consider how their benefits and safety were measured. The process by which these products are evaluated and allowed for public use is essential to the quality of life of millions of people in the U.S., however most Americans know very little about it. -
Science in the SpotlightManaging Diabetes Innovative New Breakthroughs on the Horizon
Diabetes in the U.S. is continuing to rise at an alarming rate, fueled in large part by the obesity epidemic and our increasingly sedentary lifestyles and poor diets. Every year, more than 1.6 million Americans develop diabetes—joining the ranks of the more than 28 million Americans who already have the disease. -
Feature ArticleSearching for Answers & Hope Learning About a Disease that Steals Memories
Summer 2010 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Alzheimer's Disease Brain Health Caregiving HealthFirst they told her she had Alzheimer’s disease. Next they suggested that the medications they had prescribed to control her anxiety and depression were the cause. Then they told her it was Parkinson’s. It was years before doctors finally figured out what was making Susan Grant’s mind slip away. -
Fact SheetTalking with Your Doctor About Valve Disease
This quick guide to talking with your doctor about valve disease includes information for patients who think they may have a valve problem, as well as for those who know they have valve disease. This resource can help make these important conversations with your doctor a little bit easier. -
Fact SheetValve Disease: Patient Information
This fact sheet includes basics on valve disease--what it is, how you get it, how you know you have it, how it's diagnosed, and how it's treated. It also covers broad treatment options, what to expect after surgery, and a list of helpful resources. -
DocumentThe Severe Burden of Diabetes on America's Seniors
May 2010
Related topics: Access to Breakthroughs Diabetes Health Medical Innovation Prevention ResearchIn an Alliance for Aging Research and American Diabetes Association joint briefing, Dr. William Rowley from The Institute for Alternative Futures presented on the economic burden of diabetes and the need for continued research into prevention, management and treatment options. His slides are available here. -
DocumentHuman Burden of Diabetes and The Importance of Research
May 2010
Related topics: Access to Breakthroughs Diabetes Health Medical Innovation Prevention ResearchIn an Alliance for Aging Research and American Diabetes Association joint briefing, Dr. K.M. Venkat Narayan from Emory University in Atlanta presented on the human burden of diabetes and the need for continued research into prevention, management and treatment options. His slides are available here. -
Alliance ViewsAortic Stenosis: Under-Diagnosed and Under-Treated
Spring 2010 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Cardiovascular Disease Health Quality of CareAortic stenosis is a type of heart disease where the aortic valve becomes narrowed over time, obstructing blood flow to the body. It is more common with age and if left untreated, can lead to heart disease, significantly decreased quality of life, heart failure, and even death. Fortunately, aortic stenosis (AS) can usually be treated with surgery in patients of all ages. -
Get Mad ColumnCAN You Help Find a Cure?: Funding May Mean the Difference Between Life and Death
Spring 2010 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Access to Breakthroughs Drug Development Federal Funding Medical Innovation PolicyAfter a long fought battle over how best to structure meaningful health reform legislation, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law in March. Many media sources are reporting on the negative financial impact some health reform provisions might have on the country, but little attention has been focused on positive aspects of the bill that could make a real difference in the lives of many people suffering from, or who will face, serious and life-threatening illnesses. -
Science in the SpotlightOur Sick Environment: Threatening Healthy Aging
Spring 2010 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Aging Research Health Nutrition Prevention ResearchHeadlines continue to be filled with news about how we are “pre-programmed” for disease, but our genes are not the only things putting us at risk. When it comes to age-related chronic diseases, major risk factors like genetics, age, gender, and environmental factors appear to interact to cause disease. -
Feature ArticlePain and Confusion: Figuring Out How to Safely Treat Pain
Are you or a loved one dealing with persistent pain but confused about what medications are safe? Understandably so! Treating persistent pain can be challenging and now warnings about the risks of leading pain relievers have left many of us wondering what we can do to safely treat our pain. -
Brochure, DVDManteniéndose Firme: Prevención y Tratamiento de la Osteoporosis, Materiales para Taller
In order to educate women recently diagnosed or at risk for osteoporosis about the disease, the Alliance for Aging Research created this workshop kit. This translated kit assists community and health groups in hosting workshops that teach Spanish-speaking women how to best manage their prevention and/or treatment, and empower them to communicate with their doctor. -
BrochureManteniéndose Firme: Prevención y Tratamiento de la Osteoporosis, Guía para Líderes
El propósito de este taller es educar a mujeres que recientemente fueron diagnosticadas con, o están en riesgo de sufrir de osteoporosis, sobre esta enfermedad. La información administrada en este taller ayudará a las articipantes a entender más todo lo referente a la osteoporosis, sus factores de riesgo, diagnóstico, y tratamiento.Tambien ayudará a las participantes a aprender a prevenir la enfermedad o, para aquellas que ya han sido diagnosticadas, a vivir con la enfermedad y mantener una buena calidad de vida. En definitiva, esta información ayudará a las mujeres a manejar mejor la prevención y/o tratamiento de esta enfermedad, y ayudará a equiparlas y darles los medios para poder comunicarse con su personal médico. -
BrochureManteniéndose Firme: Prevención y Tratamiento de la Osteoporosis
Una de cada dos mujeres en Estados Unidos de más de 50 años de edad sufrirá durante su vida una fractura debido a la osteoporosis. Estas fracturas son un problema grave, ya que pueden limitar su independencia y su nivel de actividad por muchos años.
Usted puede protegerse de la osteoporosis. Si aprende todo lo posible sobre este problema, si adopta medidas preventivas y habla con su personal médico sobre los tratamientos, podrá proteger la salud de sus huesos y conservar su independencia. -
Document, TestimonyAlliance President Makes Remarks at a Hearing on Prescription Drug User Fee Act Reauthorization
On April 12th, Alliance President & CEO Daniel Perry presented remarks at a public meeting on the reauthorization process for the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA). PDUFA IV, currently set to expire in September of 2012, authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to collect user fees from companies wishing to submit their products for agency review. The intention is that the fees would be used to provide an additional revenue stream for FDA to hire more staff, improve systems, and establish a better managed drug review process to speed up the delivery of needed therapies to the public. -
Document, ReportThe Silver Book: Chronic Disease and Medical Innovation--Diabetes
The first volume of The Silver Book was launched in 2006 and has quickly become a trusted resource for health policy practitioners. The Silver Book®: Diabetes is the latest volume in this important collection. Each section in the volume includes charts, statistics, and key findings that together paint a comprehensive picture of the burden of diabetes and the tremendous potential of innovation. Much of the data focuses on the older population. -
DocumentPractical Facts for Health Care Providers: Assessing and Treating Persistent Pain in Older Patients
Persistent pain is a common problem in older adults, yet many are reluctant to discuss it with their health care provider. They may see pain as an inevitable part of aging, or believe it’s not possible to relieve their symptoms.
Many times it is left up to the health care provider to ask questions of their elderly patients and figure out if pain is a problem. This fact sheet is a summary of the 2009 American Geriatrics Society (AGS) guidelines on the management of persistent pain in older persons. It highlights the AGS panel's main recommendations on assessing and treating persistent pain.
The Alliance also has an updated brochure that provides pain management information for patients. -
BrochureAging with Ease: A Positive Approach to Pain Management
This booklet gives you a brief overview of how to recognize, understand, and safely treat your pain. It provides the latest information, including advice from the American Geriatrics Society’s 2009 guidelines for controlling persistent pain in older people.
The Alliance also has an updated guide for health care providers. -
Report2008 Annual Report
The 2008 Annual Report highlights the programs and activities of the Alliance for Aging Research. -
DocumentAortic Stenosis Podcast with Garry Clarke
Garry Clarke is an aortic stenosis patient and provides details about his own journey with the disease in this podcast. Topics he discusses include his symptoms and when he decided to see a doctor about them, how he was diagnosed, how his knowledge about the disease progressed, how he felt after surgery, and resources he recommends.
To listen to this podcast, click here. -
DocumentAortic Stenosis Podcast with Adam Pick
Adam Pick is an aortic stenosis patient and valve disease education advocate. In this podcast, he discusses many of his experiences including diagnosis, finding a surgeon, resources he used to learn about treatment options, and his blog.
To listen to this podcast, click here.
To learn more about Adam, visit his blog--Adam's Heart Valve Replacement and Repair Blog. -
DocumentAortic Stenosis Podcast with Dr. Harlan Krumholz
Dr. Harlan Krumholz is a cardiologist and professor of medicine, epidemiology, and public health at Yale University. In this podcast, he provides the physician's perspective and discusses many aspects of aortic stenosis such as words commonly used by physician's to describe the disease, risk factors, diagnosis, when a patient should see a cardiologist, treatment options, and what patients should expect after surgery.
To listen to this podcast, click here. -
BrochureAortic Stenosis: Facts about a Heart Valve Disease
Aortic stenosis is a type of heart disease where the main outlet for blood to be pumped to the body--the aortic valve--becomes narrowed over time. It is more common with age and if left untreated, can lead to significantly decreased quality of life, heart failure, and even death.
This brochure provides information about aortic stenosis including risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. -
Brochure, ReportThe Silver Book: Chronic Disease and Medical Innovation--Neurological Disease
November 2009
Related topics: Aging Research Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Health Parkinson's Disease ResearchThe first volume of The Silver Book was launched in 2006 and has quickly become a trusted resource for health policy practitioners. The Silver Book®: Neurological Disease is the latest volume in this important collection. Each section in the volume includes charts, statistics, and key findings that together paint a comprehensive picture of the burden of neurological disease, focusing on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and the tremendous potential of innovation. Much of the data focuses on the older population. -
ReportPain Management Survey
The Alliance for Aging Research commissioned a nationwide survey of 800 U.S. adults age 65 and older to better understand their attitudes, perceptions and concerns regarding age-related pain management and changes under consideration by the FDA to over-the-counter acetaminophen products. Clarus Research Group conducted the survey on behalf of the Alliance for Aging Research between September 14 and September 18, 2009. Support for the survey was provided by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Division of McNeil-PPC, Inc. -
Alliance ViewsBattling Health Disparities: Closing the Gaps
Summer 2009
Related topics: Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Health Osteoporosis Quality of Care Women's HealthThanks to enormous advances in public health and exciting breakthroughs in medical innovation, over the past century Americans have seen dramatic gains in health and longevity. The United States currently spends more on health care than any other nation and for most people, this means access to one of the best health care systems in the world. Unfortunately, it doesn’t benefit all people equally and the reality is that most minorities have less access to care, fewer options for prevention and treatment, and higher rates of disease and illness. -
Living LegendAlice Thomas: Walking a Non-Traditional Path
At 79 years old, Alice Thomas is definitely not your traditional law student, but all her life she’s walked a fairly non-traditional path. Leaving home at just 16 years old, Thomas worked a variety of jobs to support herself including a drug-store waitress, a typist, and even an elevator operator. She eventually found herself in the construction industry despite the fact that it was and continues to be a “man’s world.” -
Get Mad ColumnRestoring a Commitment to Medical Research
Summer 2009
Related topics: Access to Breakthroughs Aging Research Alzheimer's Disease Cardiovascular Disease Diabetes Federal Funding Policy Vision LossInvestigators supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are on the cusp of research breakthroughs that may enhance their ability to predict and intervene earlier in the processes of many age-related chronic diseases. -
Science in the SpotlightWhat is Aging Research? Defining the Field
How exactly does one define aging research? It turns out that finding agreement on a single definition is not as easy as it seems. -
Feature ArticleNavigating Health Care Transitions: Tools for Information Sharing
At some point in our lives, most of us will face an illness where we have to deal with many different health care professionals—often spread out in different locations and settings across the health care system. Our primary physician may refer us to a specialist, or we may have an emergency that sends us to the ER and later requires that we be admitted to the hospital or see our primary physician for follow-up. We may even have to move from the hospital to a rehabilitation or long-term care facility. -
ReportGray is the New Gold: State of the Science 2009
Optimism in Aging Research is the theme of this year's Gray is the New Gold report, produced by the Kronos Longevity Research Institute. The State of the Science Report was produced just after the new President took office, ushering in an era of optimism and hope within the scientific community. As you read through the report and recognize the potential of the research being conducted within the longevity field, we hope you, too, will feel the same.
Research highlighted in this report includes The Longevity Dividend, Oxidation, inflammation, and insulin resistance, Telomeres and insulin resistance, Physical fitness and exercise training, Calorie restriction, Hormones and aging, and Vitamin D.
To read the report, visit the Kronos Longevity Research Institute website. -
Report2009 Task Force on Aging Research Funding
May 2009
Related topics: Aging Research Alzheimer's Disease Arthritis Brain Health Cancer Cardiovascular Disease Caregiving Diabetes Federal Funding Geriatric Training Health Incontinence Medical Innovation Men's Health Mental Health Osteoporosis Other Diseases of Aging Parkinson's Disease Persistent Pain Policy Research Stroke Vision Loss Women's HealthThe 2009 Task Force on Aging Research Funding--more than 65 non-partisan disease groups, patient advocates, and foundations--urges Congress and the President to restore a national commitment to medical research on behalf of America's aging population. This year's report of the Task Force calls for a at least a 7% increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health in FY 2010. It also presents data on the burden of diseases and conditions that predominately affect older Americans, highlights the emerging research the NIH is doing to decrease these burdens, and serves as a resource for policymakers working to establish the funding levels necessary to advance healthy aging. -
BrochureLiving with Alzheimer's Booklet
This booklet is part of the larger Living with Alzheimer’s: Personal Health Organizer. It provides detailed information to guide you through using the worksheets, tips on finding help in your community, and a list of resources for more information. -
BrochureLiving with Alzheimer's Worksheets
These worksheets are part of the larger Living with Alzheimer’s: Personal Health Organizer. They are designed to help you record important information throughout your diagnosis. -
BrochureLiving with Alzheimer's: Personal Health Organizer
This 3-ring, hardcover binder includes the necessary tools you need to sort through all the Alzheimer's information you come across and keep track of only that which is relevant to you. Since no one experiences Alzheimer’s in the exact same way, your binder can be organized in a way that best fits your needs. This binder is designed to help the person who has just been diagnosed, but many of the worksheets can be used together with family members or by caregivers of those who are in later stages of the disease. -
Alliance ViewsFashion Savvy Seniors Help Redefine Old Age
Today’s seniors are blowing old-age stereotypes out of the water and redefining what exactly it means to be “old.” This is a generation that can expect to live longer than past generations, tends to be better educated and more financially secure, and has a long history of independence. We’re already seeing changes in the lifestyles and typical images of seniors, and with the baby boom generation approaching their senior years, we’re sure to see even more. -
Get Mad ColumnThe Savings and Safety of Drug Importation
The president and Congress are embarking on a fervent campaign to reform our damaged health care system. Few would disagree that there is waste in our current system, and even fewer would disagree with the fact that we need to bring healthcare to the 46 million Americans who are currently uninsured. But, many in Washington and across the country disagree on how to go about financing the massive health care overhaul that lawmakers are now proposing. -
Living LegendCordelia Taylor: Making Change Happen
Working as a registered nurse and nursing home administrator for close to two decades, Cordelia Taylor got a hard look at a system where patient needs were too often put second to the desire for profits. After her ideas for change were rejected by her boss, Mrs. Taylor left her job to start her own facility where residents would be treated with love and respect. -
Science in the SpotlightLong Living in the Blue Zones
You’ve probably heard that Americans are living longer than ever—in fact the average baby born today can expect to live to be 78 years old. But did you know there are close to 50 other countries with even longer life expectancies? -
Feature ArticleRaising Awareness: The First Step in Preventing Senior Suicide
Every age group is at risk for suicide, but the most vulnerable group may surprise you. Older adults—particularly white men—experience the highest rate of suicide in the U.S. In 2005, the elderly comprised 12 percent of the population yet accounted for 17 percent of all suicides—more than 7,000 older Americans committed suicide that year. -
ReportAdvancing Alzheimer's Disease Drug Review as a National Priority
The aging of the baby boom generation continues to put more Americans at increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The need for meaningful treatment options to fight the destruction caused by AD has never been greater. This article highlights the pivotal role that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will play in making the review of emerging AD therapies a national priority and ways that various stakeholders are engaging with regulators to meet the challenges posed by the growing AD epidemic.
To read more, visit: Alzheimer's & Dementia -
Get Mad ColumnEmpowering Patients with Information and Improving Care
No one can deny that our country’s health care spending is reaching an unmanageable level. In 2006 we spent over $2 trillion on health care and some experts predict that we’ll be spending twice that much by 2017. While you might assume that population growth is causing these increases—more people usually means more health care—we’re also seeing a rise in the amount of money that we spend on each person. -
Living LegendHelen Raffel and Marianne Prichard: Lifetimes of Learning
Helen Raffel, 80, and Marianne Prichard, 62, are a part of a growing number of Americans who are dedicating their retirement years to the Peace Corps—an organization that sends volunteers around the world to assist with issues ranging from AIDS education to environmental protection. With only 6% of its volunteers age 50 and older, the Peace Corps recently launched a campaign to recruit older Americans. -
Alliance ViewsThe Changing Face of Facebook
You’ve probably heard about Facebook—the website that all the teenagers are talking about, right? Well not anymore! Facebook is an on-line social networking site that is rapidly changing and reaching out to audiences of all ages and types. -
Science in the SpotlightFinding the Science Behind Alternative Medicine
More and more Americans are turning to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to treat a variety of their ailments and help them fight diseases. In fact, a national survey found that more than one-third of adults use some form of CAM. Despite this widespread use, many of these therapies are not supported by science and little is known about how or if they work. -
Feature ArticleStudy Shows Benefits of Flowers for Older Adults
“Flowers make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food, and medicine to the soul.” American botanist Luther Burbank may have been onto something when he proclaimed this in the early 20th century. Many decades later, studies have found that flowers may actually have health benefits—especially for older adults. A 2001 Rutgers University study found that flowers eased depression, improved social interaction, and enhanced memory in adults age 55 and older. The study was partially funded by the Society of American Florists. -
BrochureAortic Stenosis in Seniors: A Physician's Guide
Aortic stenosis (AS) is a deadly condition that becomes more common with age. This expert-reviewed resource provides important information for physicians including screening, diagnosis, treatment information, and tips on talking with patients about AS. It also includes a prognosis comparison of treated versus untreated patients, plus a quick guide to the 2006 ACC/AHA practice guidelines on AS. -
Get Mad ColumnElection 2008: Candidates Paying Too Little Attention to the Approaching Silver Tsunami
The 2008 presidential election is upon us and health care reform is at the top of both candidates’ agendas. Democratic Nominee Senator Barack Obama and Republican Nominee Senator John McCain have both offered detailed plans to fix our ailing health care system. -
Alliance ViewsInvesting in the Longevity Dividend
Life expectancy has reached an all-time high, and with that comes an increased risk of chronic diseases and other health conditions. Chronic diseases account for nearly three-fourths of the more than $2 trillion the U.S. annually spends on health care. If those numbers sound daunting, consider that costs will skyrocket in January 2011 when 78 million Americans begin to enroll in Medicare. The new president may choose to revamp health care when he takes office, but without breakthroughs in research, costs will continue to rise as our nation ages. -
Living LegendJack Schnepp: Forever Young at Heart
Jack Schnepp doesn’t know what he’d do if he didn’t sing. “It’s just a natural thing now,” he says. The 78-year-old inherited a love for music from his parents—his mother was once involved in vaudeville and his ukulele-playing father performed in amateur productions. Jack began singing lessons when he was a young teenager, following his sister’s lead. He performed in musicals in high school and at the University of Pennsylvania, but his singing career truly began in 1999 when he joined the Young @ Heart chorus. -
Science in the SpotlightSirtuins, Famine, and the Fountain of Youth
There’s been a lot of buzz lately about a “red wine” drug that could be a fountain of youth—combating the effects of aging and age-related disease. The drug, along with other promising breakthroughs, is being developed by Sirtris Pharmaceuticals—a company recently purchased by drug giant GlaxoSmithKline. The drug is based on resveratrol, a chemical found in red wine that activates important sirtuin genes and has extended healthy life in animal studies. -
Feature ArticlePharmaceutical Companies Offer Free Medications to Those in Need
For the 47 million Americans without health insurance, each day is a struggle to find a way to pay for prescription drugs. Older adults, who are often prescribed several medications at a time, can find it even more difficult to pay medical bills. Despite the start of Medicare Part D in 2006, the elderly still spend thousands of dollars a year on prescription drug costs. What many people don’t know is that they may be eligible to receive their medications for free. -
DocumentBone Health of Americans is in Jeopardy
In an Alliance for Aging Research, National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) joint briefing, Dr. Joan Lappe presented on the human burden of osteoporosis and the need for continued research into prevention and treatment options. Her slides are available here. -
DocumentThe Value of Innovation in Osteoporosis
In an Alliance for Aging Research, National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) joint briefing, Rachael Fleurence, PhD, presented on the current economic burden of osteoporosis and the value of innovation in reducing that burden. Her slides are available here. -
Brochure, ReportThe Silver Book: Chronic Disease and Medical Innovation--Osteoporosis
The first volume of The Silver Book was launched in 2006 and has quickly become a trusted resource for health policy practitioners. The Silver Book®: Osteoporosis includes charts, statistics, and key findings that together paint a comprehensive picture of the burden of osteoporosis and the tremendous potential of innovation. Much of the data focuses on the older population—those most at risk for osteoporosis-related fractures. -
DocumentStanding Strong: Preventing Osteoporosis Podcast
What foods are good for your bones and which ones may be hurting them? What exercise is best for warding off weak bones? When should you start getting your bones scanned?
Find out the answers and get other interesting tips on prevention and treatment in this podcast with Dr. Michelle Bellantoni from Johns Hopkins University. An expert in osteoporosis, Dr. Bellantoni discusses the details of prevention and talks about some of the latest news and research on osteoporosis. To listen to this podcast, click here. -
Alliance ViewsCaring for an Aging America: Moving from Study to action
In April the prestigious Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its latest report and recommendations about what needs to be done to build the health care workforce to care for an aging population. The report, Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce, provides a snapshot of the health care challenges posed by elderly patients living with multiple chronic conditions, and highlights the increasingly complex health needs of this rapidly aging population and the inability of the nation’s current health care workforce to meet these needs. -
Get Mad ColumnInvesting for Falls Prevention
Falls are a menace to older adults and our overstrained health care system. The direct medical costs of falls among older adults now total more than $19 billion, most of which must be absorbed by Medicare and Medicaid. A new bill recently passed by Congress seeks to address the problem of falls, but will have little impact without adequate funding. -
Living LegendMichael Debakey: Renaissance Man of Medicine
In April 2008, the renowned surgeon Michael E. DeBakey, M.D., joined a very exclusive society. Under the imposing dome of the Capitol Rotunda, President Bush presented DeBakey with the nation’s highest civilian honor—the Congressional Gold Medal—whose past recipients include George Washington, Thomas Edison, Winston Churchill, and Jonas Salk. DeBakey, who will be 100 years old on September 7, 2008, was characteristically articulate and forward-thinking in his acceptance remarks, urging his audience to pursue health care reform. -
Feature ArticleHelping Alzheimer's Caregivers Take Care of Their Own Health
The role of caregiver for a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease can be a stressful one. Caring for someone with a memory-related disease is more stressful than helping someone with a physical injury. Due to the demands of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, caregivers tend to neglect their own health care and well-being. One study shows that up to 47 percent of family caregivers experience depression, but with the right resources, caregivers can successfully balance their time and provide the care their loved ones need. -
Science in the SpotlightInhibiting Key Enzyme Blocks Heart Muscle Cell Death
Exciting findings reported in the May 2 issue of Cell ratchet up interest in an enzyme known as CaM kinase as a potential target for therapy in the treatment of heart disease. -
Brochure, Fact SheetOsteoporosis Prevention and Treatment: Algorithm and Resources for Health Care Professionals
This laminated clipboard tool is an easy-to-use, go-to resource for physicians and other health care professionals. The tool includes treatment guidelines, a chart of FDA-approved osteoporosis medications, and tips on discussing prevention and risk factor reduction with patients. The treatment algorithm provides step-by-step diagnostic and treatment instructions based on a person's age, gender, and health status. -
DocumentKey Phone Numbers Worksheet
A support network can help you accomplish your tasks as a caregiver by offering physical and emotional assistance. Look for support through family, friends, and the community. Use this worksheet to record these key contacts as well as those from your loved one's health care team. -
DocumentClinical Trial Worksheet
While there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, there are drugs that may improve or stabilize symptoms. New drugs are also under development that offer hope for Alzheimer's patients, and clinical trials test whether these treatments are safe and effective. If you haven't already, you may want to consider enrolling your loved one in a clinical trial. This worksheet is a log that can help you keep track of clinical trials that you find. -
DocumentFinancial & Legal Checklist
By starting the financial and legal planning process now, you can make sure that your loved one is cared for as their disease progresses. It's important for you to start this process early, because Alzheimer's disease will gradually make it harder for your loved one to participate in planning. Use this checklist to get you started. -
DocumentHome Safety Checklist
Alzheimer's disease progresses differently in everyone, but eventually it will affect your loved one's independence. The typical home environment may become unfamiliar and dangerous, but there are steps you can take to make the home less stressful. Use this checklist to make sure that your loved one's residence is safe. -
DocumentMy Personal Schedule Worksheet
As Alzheimer's disease progresses, your loved one will need more and more care. While you may feel that you don't have time to think about yourself, it is important to remember your own health and well-being. By exercising, thinking about your health, and giving yourself time to relax, you will stay healthier and be able to spend more time with your loved one. Use this log to keep track of health care appointments, your exercise schedule, social engagements, etc. -
DocumentMedication List Worksheet
Your loved one may take many medications for Alzheimer's disease and other health conditions. Keeping track of them helps the health care team make sure the medications are working well together, and find possible drug interactions. You can use this medication list worksheet to keep all of the information about your loved one's medications in one place. -
DocumentHealth Care Appointment Worksheet
Taking your loved one to health care appointments may become difficult at times. If you prepare for appointments by writing down questions and scheduling the appointments at a good time for your loved one, you can make sure that the appointment goes as smoothly as possible. Use this worksheet to record information about the appointment so that it's all in one place. -
DocumentHealth Journal Worksheet
It's useful to keep a health journal so you can ensure that your loved one's health care team is able to provide the best care possible. By keeping track of day-to-day health information that only you may observe, you can provide valuable information to your loved one's health care team. A journal also makes it easy to record information about Alzheimer's disease and other conditions your loved one may have, so you can make the most of your time at appointments and be sure not to forget anything. -
BrochureAlzheimer's Disease: Helping Yourself Help a Loved One - Caregiver Workbook
This caregiver workbook provides the information, resources, and tools that caregivers need to develop personalized action plans and to take better care of their loved ones and themselves. The workbook includes worksheets, checklists, and other tools on important issues such as making your home safe, dealing with financial planning, and keeping a health journal. -
BrochureAlzheimer's Disease: Helping Yourself Help a Loved One - Caregiver Resources
As a family caregiver of someone with Alzheimer's, you have a lot on your plate. There's so much to learn about, so much to plan, and so much to worry about. This guide provides some of the many resources that can help you take care of your loved one, as well as yourself. -
BrochureAlzheimer's Disease: Helping Yourself Help a Loved One - Leader's Guide
This leader's guide helps facilitate a workshop to educate family caregivers on how to best care for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease while also taking care of themselves. This is an updated version of the Leader's Guide and includes the latest information on treatments and research. -
BrochureAlzheimer's Disease: Helping Yourself Help a Loved One - Workshop Kit
This kit includes all of the resources necessary to conduct a workshop for caregivers of those recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. It is an updated version of the Alliance's award-winning kit from 2006 and includes additional information on treatment and research, as well as a brand new caregiver workbook. -
Fact SheetA Quick Look At Alzheimer's- Outreach Partners
The following organizations are helping promote A QUICK LOOK AT ALZHEIMER'S: Four 'Pocket' Films to Increase Understanding of a 21st Century Epidemic. -
Alliance ViewsStopping Alzheimer's: What Can You Do
With the aging of the population, experts warn that Alzheimer’s disease will reach epidemic proportions by mid-century, creating massive and unsustainable burdens in terms of health care costs, overwhelmed families, and millions of lives tragically lost to a devastating disease. -
Get Mad ColumnSenior's Oral Health Care: Nothing to Smile About
Oral health is important to the overall well-being of older Americans. Preventive dental care can head off more expensive dental work and help prevent severe diseases. Unfortunately, dental costs are primarily out-of-pocket for those over 65, and when financially strapped, they may forego regular visits to the dentist. This decision to “do without” can have serious consequences, because the elderly suffer a disproportionate and debilitating amount of oral disease. The facts: -
Living LegendThe Prophet of Fitness: Jack LaLanne at 93
Say “Jack LaLanne” and most Americans over 30 will remember a dark-haired fellow, in a blue jumpsuit and impressively-muscled arms, on TV. He was performing leg lifts, or one-arm push-ups on his fingertips, and urging you to do the same. Broadcast from 1951 to 1985, The Jack LaLanne Show was the first exercise program on television. -
Science in the SpotlightNeurogenesis Plays Key Role in Learning and Memory--Salk Scientists Find
Not long ago, the suggestion that old brains could grow new nerve cells – or neurons – was unthinkable among neurologists. Today, however, we know that neural stem cells are indeed capable of growing new neurons throughout life. This process is called neurogenesis, which literally means “the birth of new neurons.” Precisely how nerve stem cells function and how they are regulated, however, have remained something of a mystery until recently. -
Feature ArticleTools to Help Women Take Charge of Their Bone Health
Osteoporosis, also known as porous bone disease, is a silent disease; often the first symptom is a broken bone. It poses a serious risk to older, post-menopausal women, although men can develop the disease also. Ten million Americans have osteoporosis, and 34 million suffer from osteopenia or low bone mass, which increases the risk of developing osteoporosis. The aging of the baby boomer generation will boost these numbers to 52 million by 2010. -
Alliance ViewsChronic Disease: An Election Issue
With the first 2008 presidential primaries now mere weeks away, issues important to all Americans are gaining momentum in the national dialogue. As voters evaluate the candidates vying for their support, they must decide who best addresses their priorities and concerns. -
Get Mad ColumnTaking Delirium Seriously
For more than one in five patients over 65, hospital stays are complicated by frightening bouts of confusion known as delirium.
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Living LegendJoe Ichiuji: Preserving the Legacy of Japanese-American Veterans
Eighty-eight year old Joe Ichiuji knows firsthand how easily freedom is lost. In 1941 shortly after Joe was drafted and had completed basic training, the U.S. government moved 120,000 Japanese Americans into internment camps. Even though many were American citizens, they were suspected of being disloyal. “I was told, ‘You’ve been discharged.’ Because of my Japanese ancestry they thought I was unfit for service.” -
Science in the SpotlightTreatment Advances Help Diabetics Better Manage the Disease Yet More Research is Needed
If you don’t know someone with diabetes, chances are that you will sometime soon. Even as the prevalence of other chronic diseases slows, this serious condition is exploding as the population grows older, heavier and more sedentary. -
Feature ArticleBetter Treatments Sought for Neurological Diseases
William Shakespeare famously described life’s seven stages, none of them in especially happy terms. The final stage of old age is “second childishness and mere oblivion/Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.” -
BrochureStanding Strong:
Preventing and Treating Osteoporosis - Workshop Materials
In order to educate women recently diagnosed or at risk for osteoporosis about the disease, the Alliance for Aging Research created this workshop kit. The kits assist community and health groups in hosting workshops that teach women how to best manage their prevention and/or treatment, and empower them to communicate with their doctor. -
BrochureStanding Strong:
Preventing and Treating Osteoporosis - Leader's Guide
This leader's guide helps facilitate a workshop conducted by health care leaders, community outreach coordinators, etc.; and is aimed at women recently diagnosed with or at risk for osteoporosis. The workshop is designed to give participants a greater understanding of osteoporosis, its risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment. The information helps women to best manage the prevention and/or treatment of this disease, and empowers them to communicate with their doctor. This leader's guide may also be purchased as part of the larger Standing Strong: Preventing & Treating Osteoporosis - Workshop Kit. -
BrochureStanding Strong:
Preventing and Treating Osteoporosis
This brochure provides information on standing strong against an osteoporosis diagnosis including:
- Knowing your risk factors,
- Staying strong through prevention,
- Taking charge through diagnosis,
- Fighting back through treatment, and
- Being your own health advocate by learning more.
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Report2007 Annual Report
"20 Years of Progress - Imagine What's Next" is the theme of the Alliance for Aging Research's 2007 Annual Report. -
DocumentThe Burden and Future Implications of
Adult Visual Disorders in the United States
In an Alliance for Aging Research, National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR) joint briefing, David Rein, PhD, presented on the current economic burden of vision loss and the potential future impact. His slides are available here. -
DocumentAge-Related Maculopathy:
What it is, what we know, what we need to learn
In an Alliance for Aging Research, National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR briefing, Dr. Michael Gorin presented on age-related maculopathy, an eye disease that affects millions of Americans. His presentation slides are available here. -
DocumentFuture Perspectives on Diabetes: What can we do for seniors?
In the last of four briefings looking at the growing burden of chronic disease and the promise of medical innovation, Dr. William Rowley of The Institute for Alternative Futures, presented on Future Perspectives of Diabetes. His presentation slides are available here. -
DocumentThe Burden of Diabetes and the Promise of Biomedical Research
In the last of four briefings looking at the growing burden of chronic disease and the promise of medical innovation, Dr. John Anderson of the American Diabetes Association's National Advocacy Committee, presented on The Burden of Diabetes and the Promise of Biomedical Research. His presentation slides are available here. -
DocumentResearch Advances in Neurodegenerative Diseases
In the third of four briefings looking at the growing burden of chronic diseases and the promise of medical innovation, Dr. Growdon presented on Research Advances in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Alzheimer & Parkinson. His presentation slides are available here. -
DocumentThe Societal Burden of Alzheimer's Disease
In the third of four briefings looking at the growing burden of chronic disease and the promise of medical innovation, Jennifer Zeitzer of the Alzheimer's Association presented on The Societal Burden of Alzheimer's Disease. Her presentation slides are available here. -
ReportThe Silver Book: Chronic Disease and Medical Innovation--Vision Loss
The Silver Book is a unique almanac of references that the Alliance has compiled to spotlight the impact of chronic disease on our aging population and health care system, and the significant impact medical breakthroughs will have on future health care use and expenditures. The Vision Loss Volume looks at vision loss generally, and highlights data on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma--which along with cataract are the eye diseases that disproportionately affect older Americans. -
Living LegendSally Gordon: Work Ethic Drives Her to Take on New Roles
Fall 2007For 24 years Sally Gordon has served as Nebraska’s first woman Sergeant at Arms. At age 98, she has no plans on stopping.
“As long as I’m in good health, and I can continue to do this, I will,” she said.
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Science in the SpotlightProgress in Fighting Eye Disease
The human eye is a complex marvel of biology. Specialized cells take in light, parse it into electrical signals, and transmit them to the part of the brain that reassembles the information into images, motion, color, and depth. -
Alliance ViewsBuilding "Elder Friendly" Communities
It is no secret that America’s population is aging at a rapid rate. As the Baby Boomers grow older, the United States will be faced with a daunting demographic shift: by 2030, it is estimated that persons over the age of 65 will represent 20% of the population of the United States, some 71.5 million Americans. -
Feature ArticleThe Eyes Have It
Every day, our eyes enable us to respond to the smiles on our children’s faces, perform our daily tasks at work, watch our paths for obstacles, and even drive wherever we need to go.
Unfortunately, for many of us aging can make these everyday moments more difficult. Diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts can gradually rob us of a precious way that we interact with the world. As seeing becomes more of a strain, we can become less productive and independent, less safe, and increasingly out-of-touch with the world around us.
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Get Mad ColumnThe High Cost of Eye Disease
As our population ages, the impact of eye disease on our economy will continue to grow, yet new research and treatments hold great promise to blunt the cost and improve patients’ lives. -
Alliance ViewsWhere We Stand on Therapeutic Cloning - And Why
Spring 2002The Alliance for Aging Research believes all attempts to clone a human being are dangerous, unethical and wrong at this time. We believe just as strongly that, with appropriate guidelines, U.S. scientists should have the freedom to clone stem cells in laboratory dishes in an attempt to cure serious and life-threatening diseases. -
Get Mad Column20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors From the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Winter 2002Medical errors are one of the Nation's leading causes of death and injury. A recent report by the Institute of Medicine estimates that as many as 44,000 to 98,000 people die in U.S. hospitals each year as the result of medical errors. This means that more people die from medical errors than from motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer, or AIDS. -
Alliance ViewsThe Importance of Aging Research
Fall 2004Consider this: In the year 1902, if it had been somehow possible to gather together everyone in America who had reached the age of 85 or older, that population would have scarcely made up a single Zip Code in today's Sun Belt. Today, the numbers of people age 85 and above, about 5 million Americans, will increase four-fold with the aging of the Baby Boom. People aged 100 or more - currently some 70,000 - will increase 10 times before we are halfway through this century. This demographic tsunami will affect every institution and every community, and will touch all of us personally. -
Living LegendDr. Edward Keller: The Write Stuff
Fall 2004Syrup sandwiches, homemade cottage cheese, sod houses, good times and bad - those are the things of which stories are made -
Living LegendBernice Gorell, The Polish Lady on Pulaski
Winter 2005Bernice Gorell recently missed a couple of days of work. The 93-year-old had cataract surgery on a Thursday and didn’t go back into her office until ... Monday. -
Feature ArticleCaught in the Act of Leading
Winter 2005Scientists searching for a way to delay the aging process may have found it in an intervention that many Americans battle with again and again—cutting calories. When used as a lifestyle choice, calorie restriction yields a significantly healthier and prolonged life. -
Alliance ViewsMedical Innovation: A Long-Term Vision
Spring 2006As the first members of the Baby Boom generation turn 60, a national dialogue is gaining momentum concerning the impact that our exploding senior demographics will have on our already over-burdened health care system. Our society is aging, living longer, and facing a new challenge of unprecedented levels of chronic disease. The public and policymakers are understandably worried about soaring health care costs and what the future will bring. -
Alliance ViewsImagine What's Next — In Pursuit of the Longevity Dividend
Fall 2006This month the Alliance for Aging Research celebrates the 20th anniversary of our founding as a not-for-profit organization working to increase support for research to extend the healthy years of life. Twenty years ago, the science of aging was at the bottom of medical research priorities and lacked prestige as an academic discipline. Of the 11 federal health research institutes at the time, the National Institute of Aging ranked 10th in terms of budget and only a handful of scientists around the world were engaged in aging research. Over the past two decades, aging research has gained respect and prominence, yet much remains to be done.
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Science in the SpotlightPersonalized Medicine Takes a Bow
Fall 2006In 1953, an American biochemist and a British physicist working together in Cambridge, England, identified the structure of DNA — the molecule of life — which passes genetic information from one generation to another. This discovery has unleashed an explosion of knowledge over the last half-century leading directly to the Human Genome Project and to the promise of personalized medicine.
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Get Mad ColumnDon't Outsource Stem-Cell Research
Fall 2006In July 2006, President George W. Bush used the first veto of his presidency to block a Congressional bill that would have lifted his 2001 ban on federal funding for most stem-cell research. In vetoing this legislation, Bush defied a bipartisan effort in Congress and the wishes of a majority of the American public. Nearly three-quarters of Americans support embryonic stem cell research, according to a May 2006 poll conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation.
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Feature ArticleHeart Disease: About Women, About You
Fall 2006More and more women are becoming aware of the dangers of heart disease. Unfortunately, too many still believe that only men need to be concerned about their hearts. In fact, heart disease is the number one killer of American women, making it about women, and about you.
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Living LegendProfessor Robert W. Fogel: A New Kind Of Historian
Fall 2006A startling change in the human species has taken place over the past 100 years, according to Nobel Laureate Robert W. Fogel, director of the Center for Population Economics and a professor in the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago. Fogel and his colleagues have found that people in industrialized countries are taller, heavier, and living dramatically longer than they did a century ago. In 1900, only 13 percent of 65-year-olds would live to 85. Today, nearly half will live that long. Moreover, chronic ailments like heart disease, lung disease and arthritis occur 10 to 25 years later in individuals today.
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Feature ArticleThe 15-Year Forecast for Aging!
Winter 2001Countless discoveries made in the 20th Century have benefited us in ways too numerous to count - our longevity being but one of the many, with about 30 years added to our life spans since 1900.
The recent tools of regenerative medicine and stem cell biology have many believing we are on the threshold of finding cures for devastating diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
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Get Mad ColumnCMS Should Maintain Focus on Prevention
Winter 2006The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid, and related programs, to ensure that beneficiaries are aware of health care services and that these services are accessible. CMS' mission includes a commitment to policies and actions that promote efficiency and quality in health care delivery.
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Alliance ViewsIncreased Funding Critical to FDA's Success
Winter 2006As the nation's foremost consumer protection agency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, (FDA) serves a critical role, safeguarding not only prescription and non-prescription drugs, but also medical devices, dietary supplements, animal drugs and feeds, and the nation's food supply.
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Feature ArticleInnovation Helps Cancer Patients Live Longer
Winter 2006New drugs and other treatments for cancer are helping more Americans survive the disease, even as it affects an increasing number of people, a trio of experts said at a briefing in Washington, D.C., in October.
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Living LegendRuth Colley - Re-living a Dream: Going for the Gold
Winter 2006Seven years ago, Ruth Colley had the opportunity to re-live her dream when Olympic gold medalist Frank Havens invited her to compete in the 1998 Nike World Masters Games. Colley was the first American woman to qualify for the United States Olympic Kayak team for the 1952 Helsinki games. Unfortunately, because she was the only woman to qualify for the 10-person team, she never got the opportunity to compete.
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Science in the SpotlightSteps to Brain Fitness
Winter 2006There is a lot we can do to keep our brains healthy and potentially prevent or lessen the cognitive decline that often comes with aging. The Alliance for Aging Research and the Brain Resource Company have teamed up to bring information and resources on brain health to the public and to provide the WebNeuro test, a cognitive assessment that can be taken on personal computers, free to the first one million users.*
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Living LegendClifford Ashley: World Traveler Continues His Adventures in the Classroom
Spring 2007At age 85, Clifford Ashley continues to lead an active lifestyle, which he attributes in large part to his work with kids. Working as a substitute teacher for the past eight years in Lake Placid, N.Y., Ashley teaches children from kindergarten through 12th grade. Whether substituting as a first grade teacher in computer class, or calculus for seniors, to any other subject imaginable, Ashley has no problem keeping up.
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Science in the SpotlightFolic Acid: Boost for your Brain?
Spring 2007Want to boost your memory and brain power? Eat more strawberries and asparagus. Both are good sources of folic acid, a vitamin that improved memory and cognition in healthy adults 50-70 years old, according to a study reported in the medical journal Lancet (Jan. 20, 2006).
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Alliance ViewsHigh Quality Health Care from Home
Spring 2007Living with chronic illness is time-consuming and costly. Frequent (or unnecessary) trips to the doctor's office or emergency room take a toll, not just physically, but emotionally and socially as well. With an aging population and chronic diseases on the rise, the ability of the health care system to effectively cope is threatened. But a promising new technology can ease the burden on both health care facilities and patients and improve the quality of life for elderly Americans living with conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmia.
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Feature ArticleA Different Kind of 'Food Pyramid' for Better Health
Spring 2007A food that grants youth and immortality is an ancient dream celebrated in myth. The Greek gods ate ambrosia, which conferred grace or immortality. To stay young forever, the Norse gods ate the golden apples of Idun.
Now in the 21st century, science tells us that a healthy diet is important to insuring a long and healthy life. But just what makes for a healthy diet? We are inundated by conflicting nutritional advice.
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Get Mad ColumnMake Health IT a National Priority
Spring 2007Clinical trials - the current gold standard for testing the effectiveness and safety of various drugs and medical treatments - are often performed on young, low-risk subjects, making their relevance questionable for a growing population of older patients living with multiple chronic conditions.
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Living LegendA Labor of Love - Ruth Lubic
Summer 2007Innovative, determined and passionate are words that best describe Ruth Lubic, who at age 80, continues to be an outspoken advocate for women and families, particularly the poor. A nurse-midwife for 45 years, she is recognized as a national leader in promoting an intimate, "low tech, high touch" approach to childbirth. -
Get Mad ColumnCaring for Caregivers
Chronic illness takes its toll in many ways, including decreased quality of life and increased mortality. But while the suffering of patients is well known, the effect such illness has on caregivers can be just as crippling, and even deadly. -
Alliance ViewsManage Your Over-the-Counter Medications
Over-the-counter medications can be an effective and relatively inexpensive way to reduce pain, get a good night’s sleep, and be more productive. But because they’re available easily without a prescription, many people may mistakenly believe that taking them contains no risk. -
Science in the SpotlightThe Secrets of Eating for Your Age
Mom’s advice to eat your vegetables and get a well-rounded diet doesn’t get any less relevant as you get older. As you age, eating right continues to play a vital role in whether or not you will enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle. However, eating right for your age may mean making some adjustments in your eating habits. -
Feature ArticleKeeping Up the Fight Against Heart Disease
Cardiovascular disease is a classic “good news, bad news” story. Although improved treatments have led to lower death rates, an aging and overweight population poses challenges for the U.S. health care system, experts said at a recent briefing in Washington, D.C. -
ReportGray is the New Gold: Longevity Science and the Flourishing Aging Society
Vigorous Seniors Good for Economy, Social Security, Says New KLRI Report
What are the latest developments in longevity research and why are they important to society and national policy? Alliance Executive Director Daniel Perry is among the experts cited in this new report, which explains the need for and benefits of aging research. Read the Kronos Longevity Research Institute's new report, Gray Is the New Gold: Longevity Science and the Flourishing Aging Society, available on the KLRI website. -
Press KitAlliance Press Kit
2007This press kit provides background information on the Alliance. -
Report2007 Task Force Report on Aging Research Funding
April 2007 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Aging Research Alzheimer's Disease Arthritis Cancer Cardiovascular Disease Caregiving Diabetes Federal Funding Geriatric Training Health Incontinence Medical Innovation Men's Health Mental Health Osteoporosis Other Diseases of Aging Parkinson's Disease Persistent Pain Prevention Stroke Vision Loss Women's HealthThe 2007 Task Force on Aging Research Funding--more than 85 non-partisan disease groups, patient advocates, and foundations--urges Congress and the President to chart a better course for medical research on behalf of America's aging population. This year's report of the Task Force calls for a 6.7% increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health in FY 2008. It also presents data on the burden of 27 diseases and conditions that predominately affect older Americans, highlights some of the exciting work the NIH is doing to decrease these burdens, and serves as a resource for policymakers working to establish the funding levels necessary to advance healthy aging. -
TestimonyFiscal Year 2008 Appropriations for the National Institute on Aging:
U.S. Senate, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies
Daniel Perry of the Alliance for Aging Research, and Carol Schutz of the Gerontological Society of America, submitted this testimony on behalf of the Friends of the National Institute on Aging. The testimony called for a 6.7% overall increase for the National Institutes of Health for FY 2008 and additional resources for NIA in order to avoid continued cuts in existing grants and to sustain training and research opportunities for new investigators. -
DocumentPerry Biography
March 2007Daniel P. Perry is Executive Director of the Alliance for Aging Research. -
Report2006 Annual Report
2006 Annual ReportThe 2006 Annual Report highlights the programs and activities of the Alliance for Aging Research. -
BrochureMalnutrition & Seniors: A Hidden Threat to Your Patients' Health
This brochure gives health care providers a tool for assessing the nutritional status of elderly patients, recommendations on developing an action plan for those patients identified as malnourished or at risk, and additional resources for patients. -
BrochureNutrition & Aging Quiz:
Discover the Secrets of Eating for Your Age
It's no surprise to hear that good nutrition makes for good health--warding off disease, giving you the energy to stay active, and keeping you mentally and physically fit. But you may not realize that as you age, your body's nutrient requirements changes. Take this quiz and learn the secrets of eating for your age and make sure you get the nutrients that can add vitality and years to your life. -
DocumentHeart Disease and Innovation:
The Potential and Promise
February 2007 | Raymond J. Gibbons, MDIn the second of four briefings looking at the growing burden of chronic disease and the promise of medical innovation, Dr. Gibbons presented on Heart Disease and Innovation: The Potential and Promise. His presentation slides are available here. -
DocumentThe Value of Antihypertensive Drugs:
A Perspective on Medical Innovation
February 2007 | Genia LongIn the second of four briefings focused on chronic disease and the value of innvation, Genia Long, Vice President of Analysis Group Inc. presented on The Value of High Blood Pressure Drugs. Her presentation slides are available here. -
BrochureAlzheimer's Disease: Workshop Kit
In order to educate family caregivers on how to care for themselves while caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, the Alliance for Aging Research created this workshop kit. The workshop kits assist community groups in hosting workshops for family caregivers. -
BrochureLa Enfermedad de Alzheimer: Ayudandote a Ayudar a un Ser Querido - Guia para Quienes Cuidan a Personas con la Enfermedad de Alzheimer
Como familiar y persona encargada de cuidar a alguien con la enfermedad de Alzheimer, tienes demasiadas tareas y mucho que hadar. Hay tanto por aprender, tantas cosas que planear, tantas preocupaciones. Por eso necesitas leer esta guia, no solamente por la persona a quien cuidas, si no ademas por ti mismo. You may also purchase this as part of the larger Alzheimer's Disease Workshop Kit. -
BrochureAlzheimer's Disease: Helping Yourself Help a Loved One - Leader's Guide
October 2006 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Health Women's HealthThis leader's guide helps facilitate a workshop to educe family caregivers on how to best care for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease while effectively taking care of their own needs. This guide will provide guidance to leaders (healthcare leaders, community outreach coordinators, etc.) for conducting the workshop. -
BrochureAlzheimer's Disease: Helping Yourself Help a Loved One - Resources for Caregivers
October 2006 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Health Women's HealthAs a family caregiver of someone with Alzheimer's disease, you have a lot on your plate. There's so much to learn about, so much to plan, so much to worry about. But you need to read this guide--not only for the person you're caring for, but for yourself. You may also purchase this as part of the larger Alzheimer's Disease Workshop Kit. -
BrochureAlzheimer's Disease: Helping Yourself Help a Loved One - Financial Checklist
October 2006 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Women's HealthAlzheimer's disease interferes with many daily life functions, including financial tasks. This can be frustrating for the person with Alzheimer's, and can have both short-term and long-term ramifications. This checklist will help you ensure that your loved one's financial matters are in check. You may also purchase this as part of the larger Alzheimer's Disease Workshop Kit. -
DocumentOncology and Innovation: The Potential and Promise
October 2006 | Len Lichtenfeld, MD, FACPIn the first of four briefings looking at the growing burden of chronic disease and the promise of innovation, Dr. Len Lichtenfeld presented Oncology and Innovation: The Potential and Promise. The presentation slides are available here. -
DocumentPharmaceutical Innovation and Cancer Survival
October 2006 | Frank R. LichtenbergAt the first of four briefings looking at the growing burden of chronic disease and the promise of innovation, Frank R. Lichtenberg presented The Economic Argument for Medical Innovation. The slides from his presentation are available here. -
BrochureWomen’s Health Quiz: Heart Disease:
About Women, About You
September 2006 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Cardiovascular Disease Health Women's HealthThis brochure quizzes women on how much they know about heart disease and provides helpful tips on talking to health care providers about this important issue. -
DocumentGoing for the Longevity Dividend:
An International Perspective
View James Goodwin's presentation slides from the Alliance's event - Going for the Longevity Dividend: Scientific Goals for the World's Aging Populations -
DocumentCalorie Restriction Extends Life Span Universally
View Leonard Guarante's presentation slides from the Alliance's event - Going for the Longevity Dividend: Scientific Goals for the World's Aging Populations -
DocumentThe Longevity Dividend:
International Perspectives
View Alex Kalache's presentations slides from the Alliance's event - Going for the Longevity Dividend: Scientific Goals for the World's Aging Populations -
DocumentBeyond Technology:
Biotechnology and the Pursuit of Happiness
View Jay Olshansky's presentation slides from the Alliance's event - Going for the Longevity Dividend: Scientific Goals for the World's Aging Populations -
BrochureWomen & Heart Disease:
What They Need You to Tell Them - A Physician's Guide
September 2006 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Cardiovascular Disease Health Women's HealthThis guide helps physicians learn more about starting a heart healthy conversation with their patients and attempts to bridge the awareness gaps about women and heart disease. -
Science in the SpotlightUnderstanding the Effects of Grapefruit Juice on Medications
For more than a decade, doctors have known that some compound in grapefruit juice interacts with a small number of drugs to triple the amount of that drug absorbed into the bloodstream. -
Living LegendDr. Henry A. Essex: A Life of Service and Adventure
Veterans who meet Dr. Henry A. Essex at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Center in Providence, Rhode Island are fortunate to encounter a man who deeply understands them and their experiences. -
Get Mad ColumnMake Alzheimer's a National Priority
It’s a disease that is universally fatal; there is no cure at present; and one out of 10 people over 65 will be diagnosed with it. -
Alliance ViewsPreparing for the Silver Tsunami
Whenever you open a newspaper or magazine these days, you’re likely to find an article exhorting baby boomers to plan for retirement—telling them to save more, to learn about portfolio planning, and to project their financial needs for decades to come. -
Feature ArticleWhat Men Don't Know About Their Health And Aging Can Hurt Them
If you are a middle-aged or older man, do you assume that a decline in energy, low libido, moodiness, and weight gain are just part of “normal aging”? -
TestimonyFiscal Year 2007 Appropriations for the National Institute on Aging:
U.S. Senate, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies
Daniel Perry of the Alliance for Aging Research, and Carol Schutz of the Gerontological Society of America, submitted this testimony on behalf of the Friends of the National Institute on Aging. The testimony called for a 5% overall increase for the National Institutes of Health for FY 2007 and additional resources for NIA in order to avoid an 18% cut in existing grants and to sustain training and research opportunities for new investigators. -
Feature ArticleThe Power of Tea
You’ve heard the news – drinking tea is good for your health. But did you know that tea may reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases, and that it may improve the health of your bones and teeth? -
Fact SheetLow Testosterone - Men's Health Condition in the Shadows:
Survey Highlights
In order to raise awareness about low testosterone, the Alliance commissioned a survey of over 522 American men over the age of 39. Harris Interactive conducted this on-line survey in January 2006. This fact sheet includes background information on low testosterone, as well as highlights from the survey. -
Fact SheetLow Testosterone & Testosterone Replacement Therapy for the Aging Male
Read this fact sheet and learn about:
- Testosterone & its function as men age
- Symptoms of low testosterone
- Diagnosing low testosterone
- Testosterone replacement therapy
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Fact SheetWhat Men Should Know About their Health
April 2006 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Cardiovascular Disease Diabetes Men's Health OsteoporosisMen continue to struggle to manage many health concerns and heart disease, stroke, and diabetes are among the leading causes of death in men over 40. Read this fact sheet and learn more about some of the leading health conditions facing men today. -
Fact SheetPatient Checklist:
Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Low Testosterone
Use this checklist of questions to help start a discussion with your doctor about low testosterone. -
Science in the SpotlightTen Medical Innovations to Watch
Thanks to new medical innovations, every five years for the past 30 years, life expectancies have been extended by a year. -
Living LegendBob Haldeman Believes in Wellness
At 65, Haldeman is an avid cyclist and competitor in the Senior Olympics and has been athletic and active his entire life. -
Get Mad ColumnInvesting in NIH
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) predict that in the near future, doctors will have the ability to identify life-threatening diseases years before they strike and that new treatments for cancer, heart disease, and diabetes are just years away from discovery. -
ReportThe Silver Book:
Chronic Disease and Medical Innovation in an Aging Nation
March 2006 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Alzheimer's Disease Cancer Cardiovascular Disease Diabetes Federal Funding Health Medical Innovation Parkinson's Disease Research StrokeThe Silver Book is a unique almanac of references that the Alliance has compiled to spotlight the impact of chronic disease on our aging population and health care system, and the significant impact medical breakthroughs will have on future health care use and expenditures. Much of the information on this topic is buried in dense and detailed reports and peer-reviewed papers and is spread out amongst many important publications. The Silver Book brings together statistics and data culled from over 130 of these reports and articles, from more than 85 agencies, organizations, and experts. The information is presented in an easy-to-use format that we hope brings it to the fingertips of those shaping policy.
The Silver Book is also available on-line in a searchable database that is regularly updated. Visit The Silver Book On-line to find the latest data, download presentation slides, submit data, and find-out about Silver Book events. -
DocumentIn Pursuit of the Longevity Dividend
March 2006 | S. Jay Olshansky, Daniel Perry, Richard A. Miller, Robert N. Butler
Related topics: Longevity"Imagine an intervention, such as a pill, that could significantly reduce your risk of cancer. Imagine an intervention that could reduce your risk of stroke, or dementia, or arthritis. Now imagine an intervention that does all of these things, and at the same time reduces your risk of everything else undesirable about growing older: including heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer and Parkinson disease, hip fractures, osteoporosis, sensory impairments, and sexual dysfunction. Such a pill may sound like fantasy, but aging interventions already do this in animal models. And many scientists believe that such an intervention is a realistically achievable goal for people. People already place a high value on both quality and length of life, which is why children are immunized against infectious diseases. In the same spirit, we suggest that a concerted effort to slow aging begin immediately - because it will save and extend lives, improve health, and create wealth." -
Science in the SpotlightThe Eyes Have It
Stem cells could hold the key to stopping and even reversing the blinding effects of aging, according to recent research. -
Get Mad ColumnMedical Errors: How Many is Too Many?
Potentially deadly mistakes continue to plague U.S. hospitals, according to a new report. -
ReportThe Science of Aging Gracefully:
Scientists and the Public Talk About Aging Research
In cooperation with Public Agenda and The American Federation for Aging Research, the Alliance sponsored a survey of 49 leading scientists and 1,000 randomly sampled adults, in order to determine their understanding of, and expectations for, aging research. The scientists showed significant optimism for the research but at the same time, expressed concerns about limitations that could hamper the research including an austere funding climate, limited federal support for stem cell research, and a variety of bureacratic and structural impediments. Learn more about the survey results in this report. -
DocumentColon Cancer - Caring for the Aging:
Key Survey Findings
The Alliance commissioned a survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, that interviewed oncologists on the importance of caregivers for elderly colon cancer patients. 77% of physicians interviewed agreed that colon cancer patients 65 and older experience better disease outcomes when a caregiver is involved because of better communication. 81% also said that they depend on caregivers at least somewhat, and some a great deal, to act as an intermediary between them and the elderly patients. 100% fell the caregiver is part of a team involved in the patient's disease management.
The physicians felt that the primary roles of the caregivers are to provide emotional support, participate in doctor's visits and in disease management decisions, and to provide transportation to and from doctor's appointments. Unfortunately, only around three out of five colon cancer patients age 65 and older have the support of a caregiver. -
Fact SheetColon Cancer:
Tips for Patients and Caregivers
Caregivers play an important role in ensuring that colon cancer patients age 65 and older receive the best possible care. One of the many important roles that a caregiver plays in treatment is facilitating communication with doctors and making sure the right questions get asked. Both caregivers and patients should read this Tip Sheet and take a proactive role in disease management. -
DocumentThe Best Minds in the Business:
SAGE Crossroads Trading Cards
November 2005 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Aging Research Longevity Medical Innovation ResearchUse the SAGE Expert Cards as a quick reference to some of the nation's leaders in the science of aging, research, and policy. The SAGE Expert Cards will introduce you to people who are shaping and influencing this exciting field and connect you with the important work that they are doing.
This first edition pack includes 50 cards. Each card includes a photograph, quick summary of the researcher's work, and essential information such as specialty and favorite gene. -
Science in the SpotlightLiving to 100 and Beyond
First-born daughters are three times more likely to survive to age 100 than their latter-born sisters; and first-born sons are twice as likely to become centenarians as those sons born fourth, fifth, or sixth in the family, according to a new study prepared for the Society of Actuaries (SOA). -
Feature ArticleCaregiver Involvement Leads to Better Cancer Outcomes
Those who have been diagnosed with colon cancer will tell you that the support of friends and relatives is invaluable. -
Alliance ViewsLongevity in the Short-Term
At the Alliance for Aging Research, we are committed to a vision of healthy longevity for millions of Americans, made possible through advances in science and technology. -
Living LegendMyrvin H. Ellestad, M.D.: Lifelong Learner
Around the world, the name Myrvin Ellestad is synonymous with groundbreaking work in cardiology. -
Get Mad ColumnNational Institutes of Health Funding
It’s that time again, the annual struggle over funding for the National Institutes of Health. -
BrochureWhat's On Your Plate May Help Save Your Sight:
Age-related Macular Degeneration
Learn how your diet and lifestyle can help you preserve your vision and protect against eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This exciting brochure teaches you how certain foods and behaviors can provide a good defense against vision-zapping eye disorders. -
Science in the SpotlightLearning More About Breast Cancer
Gatherings of breast cancer researchers have been surprisingly upbeat events lately, as scientists are beginning to feel that maybe - just maybe - they’re making some real progress toward understanding the disease. -
Get Mad ColumnDiseases in the Shadows
Walking. Driving. Working. Most of us take these activities for granted, but millions of elderly Americans do not because they cannot fully care for themselves. -
Living LegendDon Robertson: The Voice of Happy Retirement
As the “Voice of CBS Sports” for 25 years, Don Robertson used his exceptional vocal cords to make a living. -
Alliance ViewsStem Cell Debate
President Bush will disagree, but the House of Representatives has handed him a gift for his second term: a chance to update his Administration’s stem cell policy in a way that would earn him bi-partisan praise for returning American scientists to the forefront of this fast-moving medical frontier. -
Feature ArticleThe Family Healthcare CEO
Having a healthy family is so important to women, they give their family’s health more priority than their own. -
Fact SheetTest Your Bone Knowledge
Answer true/false questions and rate your knowledge of osteoporosis. -
BrochureTaking Charge of Osteoporosis:
A Guide for Patients Understanding Osteoporosis
This helpful tool provides patients with the information they need to understand, prevent, and treat osteoporosis. It also provides helpful tips on how to talk to your patient about the disease, as well as important resources for finding more information. -
BrochureTalking With Your Patient About An Osteoporosis Diagnosis:
A Physician’s Guide
This guide presents information and suggestions on helping physicians work with their patients to develop a workable plan for facing the challenges of living with osteoporosis. The materials include tips for talking with patients about the disease, sample conversations, and helpful resources to direct patients to for additional information. -
Science in the SpotlightTiny Tales
We are on the verge of a new age of discovery that would pique the curiosity of Galileo, Newton, and Einstein. -
Get Mad ColumnA Time to Commit
Despite scientific evidence that a cure for Parkinson’s disease could be near – perhaps no more than five years away – the National Institutes of Health was recently unable to initiate clinical trials to test four new Parkinson’s drugs. -
Alliance ViewsBarriers to Healthy Aging
Older Americans know how to maintain their health, but they see obstacles in the path to a healthy lifestyle. -
Living LegendVirgie Harris-Bovelle: A Life Full of Heart
Virgie Harris-Bovelle, 70, lives with an implanted defibrillator - a device that automatically shocks her heart out of an irregular rhythm. -
Feature ArticleWoman's Breaking Point
A new national survey reveals too many physicians misread or do not even ask about the fears of their osteoporosis patients and inferentially suggests this may be one more reason why many patients do not stick with their medications. -
Science in the SpotlightThe Secret Genes of Centenarians
If you have lived beyond the age of 100, countless people may ask you for your secret to long life. -
Living LegendBill Wellington: The Return of the Ice Age
Bill Wellington has some pretty high praise for the doctor who performed his double hip replacement surgery, Dr. Patrick Caulfield of Bethesda, Maryland. -
Get Mad ColumnChampagne Wishes and Geriatric Dreams
Those inclined to celebrate the just-passed huge and historic expansion of Medicare should pause in their champagne toasts to consider this: most doctors, nurses and other health professionals in the U.S. receive almost no formal training in geriatrics, which seriously undermines the quality of care - especially safe prescription drug therapy - for America's seniors. -
Alliance ViewsFirst, Do No Harm to Basic Research
President Bush and the Republican Congress are on the verge of wreaking havoc upon on America's preeminent medical research system, at the same depriving themselves of a glowing political legacy. -
Feature ArticleAnti-Aging: Hype v. Reality
Very real remedies that will stop or reverse the aging process may ultimately be discovered, but for now, save your money to spend on a health club membership. -
Science in the SpotlightWhat You Should Know About BPH
As they get older, many men find themselves making more nightly trips to the bathroom. They may fear that this sort of problem is an unavoidable consequence of aging, or - worse - a sign that they have prostate cancer. -
Get Mad ColumnEvery Vote Counts for Aging Issues
Americans' choice for president in 2004 will have a direct impact on the lives of seniors. -
BrochureTen Facts About Depression
This fact sheet provides important information about elderly depression. -
BrochureHow to Talk to Your Elderly Parent About Depression:
A Guide for Caregivers
Depression in older adults is often dismissed as inevitable or a "normal" part of aging, when in fact depression is a treatable medical illness. This brochure outlines the signs of depression in older adults, offers advice on how to approach an older person if you notice these signs, and provides places to get more information. -
BrochureRaising the Index of Suspicion:
Quick Questions to Ask Every Patient Over 65
The purpose of this assessment card for physicians is to help raise awareness of depression in older patients. -
DocumentDealing with a Parent's Depression
This article shares the story of an older woman and her struggle with depression. -
DocumentDealing with Depression in Later Life
This article shares the story of one women dealing with her older mother's depression. -
DocumentDiagnosis Depression
This article explains depression including symptoms, potential causes, and treatments. It also gives advice on getting help. -
Science in the SpotlightHere's to a Long, Long Life with Health, and Happiness, Too
If you could swallow a little yellow pill and live to be 120 years old, would you? -
Alliance ViewsStem Cell Update
Patient advocates for a variety of debilitating and deadly diseases are banding together to step up research into stem cell science, which may hold very real hope for treatments or cures. -
Feature ArticleAtrial Fibrillation
Most of us are happy to make adjustments in our lives now if we know they may reduce our chances of developing health problems later. -
Living LegendJohn Young: Physically Active and Young at Heart
Retiring and taking it easy isn't a part of John Young's life plan. -
Get Mad ColumnLeadership, Commitment, Hope: The 21st Century Challenge
The 20th century witnessed amazing advances in human health and longevity thanks to public health measures and medical research breakthroughs. -
BrochureDon’t Get Blind-sided by Age-related Macular Degeneration
Learn about the causes of of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and ways you can protect your eyes. -
BrochureBeyond Diagnosis:
Next Steps for People with AMD - Resource Guide for Physicians and Staff
This resource guide is designed to inform health professionals about the various services available to help patients with AMD. The resources include information on rehabilitation, financial assistance, support groups, research, and employment options. -
BrochureHow to Better Help Your Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration:
Facts for Effective and Efficient Care
This physician's guide provides helpful hints for treating patients with age-related macular degeneration. Topics include early detection, diagnosis, treatment, patient education, and more. -
Science in the SpotlightAll Roads Lead to...Sardinia!?
A drug now in clinical trials for treatment of type 2 diabetes could eventually be used to promote longevity by treating or preventing major age-related diseases. -
Get Mad ColumnDetecting Depression Before It's Too Late
Spring may be a time of renewal, but it is also the peak suicide season, when the incidence of death rises with the warmer temperatures. -
Feature ArticleDo You Know Your Life Expectancy?
For those of you familiar with the Alliance for Aging Research website, you may have already experienced our most popular interactive feature…the "Living to 100" quiz, a tool that calculates your longevity potential. -
Living LegendNorman G. Anderson: The Scientific Explorer
At an age when most people are winding down, Norman G. Anderson can't stop working. He keeps inventing things. -
Science in the SpotlightDon't Be Such a Pain!
Pain is an unpleasant subject. -
Living LegendFrank Mankiewicz: 'Revolutionary' On the Inside
If you're a lobbyist for a well-known Washington, D.C., public relations firm, it pays to know people. -
Get Mad ColumnRespect Your Elders
We see them sometimes on the evening news-stories about another scam targeting the elderly or the discovery of an employee physically abusing residents of a long-term care facility. -
Alliance ViewsThis Election's Unhealthy Debate Over Health Care
Political consultants this year advised candidates to turn the industry that researches and develops our medicines into a political punching bag. -
Feature ArticleThe Costs of Being a Woman!
It's no secret that chronic illnesses are costly to treat. -
Alliance ViewsAdvancing Quantity and Quality of Life
In the August 12th issue of the New York Times, writer Nicholas Kristof editorialized on what he sees as the ambiguous, and often rogue nature of aging research. -
Get Mad ColumnAgeism Part II: Prevention and Treatment for the Elderly
The perception of older Americans as frail, dependent, and isolated may be a self-fulfilling prophecy. -
Living LegendBob Hope: A Legend That Will Live On
Leslie Townes Hope worked as a shoe salesman, a stock boy, and even a boxer before he found his true calling. -
Science in the SpotlightIs Red Wine Flowing from the Fountain of Youth?
In the search for ways to lengthen the human lifespan and extend good health further into old age, scientists had until now found only one program that demonstrated real promise: severe calorie restriction. -
Feature ArticleLess Might Be More
If you have osteoarthritis, your least expensive option for treatment might also be the most effective. -
Science in the SpotlightAge-Related Macular Degeneration
The eyes are the first to go, the old adage says. -
Living LegendDr. Marie- Louise Johnson: The Sensitive Skin Doctor
Dr. Kenneth Johnson has considered encouraging his wife to retire and step "out of the trenches," but he has abandoned the thought. -
Alliance ViewsGuiding Principles
To ensure that its work is consistent and productive, the Alliance has established the following set of five principles, or overarching goals, that guide all Alliance policy and advocacy initiatives: -
Get Mad ColumnIt's a Matter of Ageism- Part 1
The perception of older Americans as frail, dependent, and isolated may be a self-fulfilling prophecy. -
Feature ArticleSun and Skin...An Unhealthy Partnership
After a long winter spent inside, many of us welcome the appearance of the sun and the return of warm weather. -
TestimonyAgeism in Healthcare Testimony:
Senate Special Committee on Aging
Daniel Perry, executive director of the Alliance for Aging Research, submitted testimony before the Senate Special Committee on Aging, highlighting a report How American Health Care Fails Older Americans. -
Get Mad ColumnFrequently Asked Questions About Therapeutic Cloning
Many of you have probably heard much of the dialogue in the cloning controversy. -
Alliance ViewsOperation NIH Funding
When you have brought the enemy to its knees, you do not turn tail and give up the fight. -
Living LegendRuth Garner: The First Lady of Potsdam
Mayor Ruth Garner is rarely challenged in an election and when she is, she wins convincingly. -
Science in the SpotlightThe Long and Short of It...The Age Link to Telomeres
The tiny "caps" that keep our chromosomes from fusing together are also providing clues that could eventually lead to the achievement of one our nation's most important public health goals: extending good health well into old age. -
Feature ArticleThe Tough Decisions Behind Hormone Therapy
Women have relied on hormone therapy for decades to relieve symptoms of menopause. -
ReportRedesigning Healthcare for an Aging Nation:
A Congressional Forum Sponsored by the Alliance for Aging Research
This report, based on the transcripts of a Congressional forum on March 17, 2003, highlights the experts' opinions on how technological innovation is being used to meet the changing needs of the United States' healthcare system.
Learn more about discoveries in biomedical research and current policies and regulations that may help ensure that future public policy encourages a strong and robust medical research environment. With the impending age boom in 2010, our nation must have a healthcare system in place that is prepared for the millions of Americans who will be living with chronic diseases, and that is able to foster the development of future treatments to meet their needs. -
ReportAgeism:
How Healthcare Fails the Elderly
Drawing upon scores of scientific studies, this important report shows how systemic bias against the elderly hurts older patients in the U.S.--highlighting ways in which the healthcare system fails older Americans. The report cites serious short-comings in medical training and prevention screening, and outlines treatment patterns that disadvantage older patients. -
Fact SheetBackgrounder: A Cost-Effective Approach to Treating Osteoarthritis (OA)
Learn about the cost of treating osteoarthritis, as well as the guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology and the American Pain Society for cost-effective treatments. -
BrochureMaking $ense of Arthritis Treatments:
A How-to Guide for Talking to Your Doctor About Osteoarthritis
This guide provides information and questions on how to have a healthy dialogue with your doctor and receive the best and most cost-effective treatments for osteoarthritis. -
DocumentMaking Sense of Arthritis Treatments:
Osteoarthritis Pain Management Decision Tree for Doctors
This Decision Tree guides physicians on the appropriate treatment and management options when caring for older patients with osteoarthritis. -
BrochureMaking Sense of Arthritis Treatments:
Talking With Your Patients about Osteoarthritis
This guide provides advice to physicians on how to explain osteoarthritis, first-line treatments, and pharmacological therapies with their patients. -
Alliance ViewsA Look Back to the Future
When the Alliance For Aging Research was formed fifteen years ago, the country was not focused on the impact of the aging and how the health of the Baby Boomers will affect our economy and our overall society. -
Science in the SpotlightAdvances for the New Millennium
There is a fine line in medical research between hope and realism. -
Living LegendDr. Ray Crist: Probing Nature's Secrets
Dr. Ray Crist's life has come full circle. His boyhood fascination with nature on a Pennsylvania farm eventually led to his pivotal role in the birth of the atomic age. -
Feature ArticleSeniors and Supplements- Risks vs. Rewards
Echinacea, St. John's wort, valerian-these exotic dietary supplements are becoming household names in a society eager to maintain its youthful vigor. -
Feature ArticleA New Class of Medical Tests
Cholesterol checks, mammograms, prostate exams-all these screenings have become routine as science discovers ways to detect disease at its earliest and most treatable stages. -
Get Mad ColumnGet Mad...And Vote!
Campaign commercials, local politician appearances, and issue rallies can only mean one thing…The election season is quickly approaching! -
Living LegendJane Scott: Rock of Ages
Years past the age many would consider time to retire from any job, especially a job that is traditionally filled by the young and hip, Jane Scott was grooving with audience members young enough to be her grandkids as rock critic for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. -
Science in the SpotlightRestricting your Diet, Testing your Willpower
Want to live longer? Just eat less -- a lot less. Some say that cutting calories may well be the key to longer life that researchers have been seeking for generations. -
Alliance ViewsScience Got Us Into This Mess...And Science Will Get Us Out!
One hundred years ago, when life expectancy for a newborn in the United States was less than 50 years, there wasn't a lot of worry over how to care for massive numbers of older Americans. -
Get Mad ColumnMedicare Gaps- What's Not Covered
Medicare, simply stated, is the government's contract that it will provide healthcare insurance coverage for older Americans. -
Science in the SpotlightMental Illness: Closer to Home Than You Think
A Beautiful Mind," last year's Academy Award winner for Best Picture, took us on an extraordinary journey into the mind of a brilliant man suffering from mental illness. -
Alliance ViewsRoad Rage Lookout...Here Comes Diet Rage!
In May of this year, the Alliance For Aging Research conducted our annual survey on Baby Boomers. -
Feature ArticleAdding Luster to Your Golden Years
Exercise may well hold the key to the fountain of youth. -
Living LegendDr. Philip Abelson: A Legend's Scientific Journey
Nearly 80 years ago, a grade school teacher told her class: "Each of you has special potential and talents. -
Get Mad ColumnDemand Better Training for Your Healthcare Provider!
Americans over the age of 65 represent over one-half of physician visits annually, yet only a small percent of healthcare professionals actually have specific training to appropriately care for this population. -
Science in the SpotlightNew Frontiers in Battle Against Alzheimer's
New Alzheimer's research is making dramatic strides in treating one of the most common - and feared - forms of dementia. -
Feature ArticleCentenarians- the Ultimate Survivors!
Living to 100 may well represent the ultimate game of "Survivor." -
Living LegendFlorence Mahoney: A Noble Conspirator Indeed!
Florence Stephenson Mahoney has spent most of her adult years as an advocate for good health for all. -
TestimonyGeriatric Training Shortage Testimony:
Senate Special Committee on Aging
Daniel Perry, Executive Director of the Alliance for Aging Research testified before the Senate Special Committee on Aging, highlighting a new report Medical Never-Never Land: 10 Reasons Why America is Not Ready for the Coming Age Boom. The report highlights a critical gap in the education of U.S. health professionals. -
ReportMedical Never-Never Land:
Ten Reasons Why America is Not Ready for the Coming Age Boom
Less than 3% of health care providers have training to treat older patients. This lack of geriatric training is a crisis that will only grow as the Baby Boomer generation ages. Medical Never-Never Land is a report highlighting this crisis and based on a forum held under the auspices of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. -
Alliance ViewsA 15-year Retrospective and Look Forward
Fifteen years ago, the study of human aging was largely an academic backwater: the field lacked sufficient funding, public support, and scientific prestige. -
Science in the SpotlightBody, Heal Thyself: Science Fiction or Reality?
We don't think it's miraculous when a cut finger heals on its own, or a sprained ankle becomes good as new over a matter of weeks. -
Get Mad ColumnDon't Let Medicare Squelch the Promise of New Medical Technology
When throat cancer forced a Pennsylvania physics professor to have his larynx removed, he thought his lecturing days were over. -
Living LegendThe Legendary Lifetime of Senator Alan MacGregor Cranston
Any facet of the late Alan Cranston's life would be enough to fill a profile. -
ReportMedical Innovation & the Aging of America:
Council of State Governments Health Policy Forum
This report is based on a transcript of a Council of State Governments' Health Policy Forum that was held to analyze the impact of new medical technologies on individuals' longevity and quality of life, and to assess the short- and long-term benefits/costs of providing access to new technologies as America ages. This report was produced to expand the reach of information from the forum to hopefully add to the development of sound public policy. -
Science in the SpotlightAlzheimer's Disease: The Cruelest Thief
Alzheimer's is the cruelest of the diseases that strike the elderly. -
Alliance ViewsCellular Therapies Hold Great Promise Despite Controversy
You have all followed the news and debate about stem cells. -
Feature ArticleExercise and Strength Training: It's Never Too Late to Start
The best medicine to combat the vagaries of old age is exercise. -
Living LegendHelen Thomas: Washington Press Doyenne
Presidents may come and go, but Helen Thomas is still at her post, after all these years. -
Get Mad ColumnMedicare Non-Coverage of New Oral Cancer Treatments: A Hard Pill To Swallow
Promising new drugs are revolutionizing the treatment of cancer. -
TestimonyStatement by Alliance for Aging Research Senior Director Debbie Zeldow before the Food and Drug Administration Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committe Meeting, concerning Eli Lilly and Company's bone formation drug, Forteo
My name is Deborah Zeldow, and I am the Senior Director of the Alliance for Aging Research. Thank you for the opportunity to come before this committee today to address the promising findings of Forteo™ (teriparatide, Lilly), Eli Lilly and Company's bone formation drug. -
TestimonyTherapeutic Cloning Testimony:
U.S. House of Representatives, Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health
Daniel Perry, Executive Director of the Alliance for Aging Research, addresses the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health on the promise of cloning technologies. -
Feature ArticleSpecial Report! Results from the web version of our Attitudes on Aging Research Survey!
A national opinion survey (you can read the results online) of 1,000 adults conducted on behalf of the Alliance for Aging Research in April provided a snapshot of attitudes toward aging and aging research in America. -
Alliance ViewsBoosting the NIH Budget Will Better Our Lives
It doesn't happen often, but when it comes to boosting funding for medical research, Republicans and Democrats have found a subject on which they all can agree. -
Living LegendDr. Robert Butler: Leading the Longevity Revolution
At 74, Dr. Robert Butler doesn't think about retiring. -
Get Mad ColumnEmbryonic Stem Cell Research To Save The Lives of Millions
In biological terms, embryonic stem cells have a virtually unlimited future. -
Science in the SpotlightHow We Age: Is It in Our Genes? An interview with Caleb Finch, PhD
The role of genetics in determining the quality and length of human life is a million-dollar question right now. -
Feature Article, NewslettersThe 15-Year Forecast for Aging!
We introduced ten impressive thought leaders who gave us their hopes for the next 15 years of aging research in the Winter issue of LLLI! -
Feature ArticlePutting People First: It's Time to Own Your Health Destiny--No one Else Will
Dr. S. Robert Levine is a crusader. He likes to say, "Just as 'all politics is local,' all healthcare is personal. -
Alliance ViewsChampioning Human Genome Research: We need to keep urging for increased public support for research
With all the publicity surrounding the recent mapping of the human genome, it's hard to believe the project was ever less than wildly popular. -
Science in the SpotlightDecoding the Human Genome: Mapping the future of health and aging
Picture your annual medical check-up, sometime in the future. -
Living LegendDr. Jack McConnell: Transforming Health Care, His Community, and Himself
When he retired to the beach after an illustrious biomedical research career, Jack McConnell, M.D. — integral to such advances as the tuberculosis test, Tylenol, and magnetic resonance imaging — tried to be "what they call a typical retiree: play golf, eat at restaurants and travel." -
Get Mad ColumnLost Opportunities on the Campaign Trail: Candidates ignore impending senior boom and its dramatic impact on society
Something momentous is about to happen in this country. -
Feature ArticleTestosterone: An Antidote to Aging?
Testosterone, the most important of the male sex hormones, has been both touted and blamed for the critical role it plays in making men. -
ReportResearch At Risk:
Will Medicare Changes Impede Breakthroughs?
On April 13, 2000, a public policy form was held on Capitol Hill to consider a single question: Will a greater federal role in paying for prescription drugs for older Americans dampen private sector investments in pharmaceutical research, possibly delaying or denying future medical breakthroughs? This report outlines the discussion. -
Living LegendRay Doty: Cartooning into a New Century
One hundred and seventy-six books bear his name, as illustrator, writer, or both. -
Science in the SpotlightRegenerative Medicine: Paving the Way for a Healthier Old Age
Over the next few decades, the new field of "regenerative medicine" promises to fundamentally alter the way diseases, especially those affected by the aging process, are approached and treated. -
Get Mad ColumnTaking Sides in the Great Longevity Debate
Critics of aging research are missing the point.
Here is a sampling of what they are saying: -
Feature ArticleThink Young! Get Creative! Ten Ways to Keep Your Brain Young
Landmark results from neuroscience research are debunking yet another myth about aging - that the brain continually loses cells and naturally dims with age. -
Alliance ViewsWill a Medicare Drug Benefit Help or Hurt?
Congress is trying to repair a 35-year-old shortcoming in the nation's most important health care program for seniors. -
ReportResearch At Risk
April 2000
Related topics: Access to Breakthroughs Drug Development Medical Innovation Quality of CareThis document is intended to increase understanding of the interplay between Medicare reform, prescription drug coverage, and continued progress of biomedical research in America. -
ReportThe Dawn of Gero-Technology:
Pioneers in Aging and Regenerative Medicine
This report examines the new era of endeavor that lies at the intersection of business and science, and makes use of the new tools and insights from biogerontology to affect interventions in human aging and age-related diseases. -
Living LegendNatalie Davis Springharn: Of Grace & Grit
The amazing thing about me is that I'm alive!" Natalie Davis Spingarn comments wryly. -
Science in the SpotlightPeople Who Need People: Clinical Trials
Choosing to participate in a medical research study is an important and very personal decision. -
Get Mad ColumnPrescription for Disaster
Recently, I overheard a desperate young mother beg her pharmacist to call her doctor for a prescription for Diflucan for her ill daughter. -
Alliance ViewsRewinding The Aging Clock At Last: Here Come The Gero-techs!
It may be humankind's oldest dream - somehow to cheat the processes of aging and death. -
Feature ArticleWhat To Take For Hype: The Truth About The Anti-Aging Benefits of Vitamins and Minerals
When it comes to taking care of our aging bodies, some things are obvious: exercise regularly, reduce fat intake, watch your cholesterol, get plenty of rest, and eat a well-balanced diet. -
Alliance ViewsFrom 'Come On, Baby, Light My Fire,' To 'Come On, Baby, Go To Sleep'
It doesn't seem possible that a guy who knows most of the lyrics of Jim Morrison and The Doors can wake up one day to find he is someone's grandfather. -
Get Mad ColumnTalking Aging (Or Not) On the Campaign Trail
The positions of Presidential candidates on improving health care runs from the disappointing to the downright scary. -
Feature ArticleOne Serving of Youth, Please! Or, How to Eat Your Way to Healthy Aging
Did you know you can eat your way to healthy aging? -
Living LegendRuth Ittner: Blazing Trials for 80 Years
Ruth Ittner was six weeks old when she went on her first hike. -
Science in the SpotlightTake a Gene Tweak And Call Me In The Morning
You want cutting edge? Try this: in the health care world of tomorrow, simple blood tests accurately forecast a person's life long predisposition to disease. -
Feature ArticleA Healthy Way to Sweat Aging
If you think your softening body is an irreversible by product of aging, think again. -
Science in the SpotlightA Shot of Hope on the Alzheimer's Front
This is not the case of the mouse that roared, but instead the one where the mouse stayed plaque-free. -
Alliance ViewsFight For Your Independence
Personal independence, the capacity to live where you wish, to do the things you want, with the people you want to be with; this is the essence of freedom that we all cherish. -
Living LegendIke Hager: Teenager at Heart
Someone forgot to tell Ike Hager that adolescence ends at age 20. -
Get Mad ColumnLost Independence: A Costly Problem You Can Avoid
Imagine what it must be like to move to a nursing home. -
BrochureTest Your EyeQ
This health quiz scores your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration by questioning your knowledge of prevention and causes and providing information on the correct answers. -
Science in the SpotlightCan We Live Longer by Eating Fewer Calories?
The jury is still out on whether caloric restriction can prolong human life or prevent age-related diseases, but the results of recent studies with rodents and rhesus monkeys are moving us closer to a verdict. Richard Weindruch, Ph.D., professor of medicine at University of Wisconsin-Madison and one of the nation's top caloric restriction researchers, shares some thoughts about this promising area of research. -
Alliance ViewsShortage of Geriatricians: A Quiet But Critical Health Care Crisis
Ever wonder whether the doctor treating your parent, older relative or friend, or you, if you happen to be over 65, has any special training in treating older people? -
Get Mad ColumnWhere Are All the Geriatricians? We Need Them, Now!
Despite more than 20 years of clear warnings from some of the most prestigious health policy and medical groups in the country, America is facing a severe shortage of health care professionals trained to manage the special health care needs of older people. -
Feature ArticleShattering the Myths of Old Age
What is more important in determining how well we age -- genetics or lifestyle choices? -
Living LegendThomas L. "Lou" Letizia: The Rookie
Thomas L. "Lou" Letizia is 70 years old and a police officer in Palm Beach County, Florida -
ReportIndependence For Older Americans:
An Investment for Our Nation's Future
This report outlines the staggering cost to the U.S. of lost independence of older Americans due to chronic illnesses that are often unrecognized and under-treated.
Surprisingly, it's not the big killer diseases like cancer and heart disease that predominately rob people of their ability to live independently and pose the biggest threat to our nation's health and economic well-being, but rather the unrecognized and under-treated chronic conditions of aging--such as visual and mental impairment, incontinence, and physical immobility. -
Alliance ViewsBe Part of a New Force for Healthy Aging
Find out your chances of living to 100 on the latest addition to the Alliance home page, The Living to 100 Life Expectancy Calculator© . -
Living LegendEvelyn Nef: This Traveler Knows No Bounds
Evelyn Nef decided to give herself a flat stomach for her 80th birthday. -
Feature ArticleSeven 'Secrets' to Healthy Aging
A social portolio is like a financial portfolio. -
Science in the SpotlightStem Cells: Small in Size, Big in Hope
Imagine a world without debilitating costly diseases such as Parkinson's, heart disease and diabetes. -
Get Mad ColumnUnderfunding of Medical Research Threatens Your Future Health
Although medical research is a major avenue to healthy aging, it is seriously under-funded. -
TestimonyStem Cell Testimony:
National Bioethics Advisory Commission
Daniel Perry, Executive Director of the Alliance for Aging Research, discusses recent discoveries involving human embryonic stem cells. -
BrochureTaking a Closer Look at Age-Related Macular Degeneration
This popular brochure takes a "closer look" at age-related macular degeneration--outlining symptoms and risk factors and offering ways to help reduce your risk. -
ReportWhen Medicine Hurts Instead of Helps:
Preventing Medication Problems in Older Persons
Misuse of everyday medications by older Americans costs the United States billions of dollars, and thousands of lives, every year, Older people are more vulnerable to adverse drug reactions due to the numbers of medications they take and the biological changes that accompany aging and disease.
When Medicine Hurts Instead of Helps focuses on this susceptibility of older Americans. An estimated 106,000 fatal adverse drug reactions occur ever year and the cost of medication-related problems in all age groups approaches $85 billion annually. Recommendations to alleviate this tragic and preventable problem are outlined. -
ReportOne Final Gift:
Humanizing the End of Life for Women in America
While boys outnumber girls at birth, women outnumber men by almost 4 to 1 after the age of 95. American women outlive men by an average of 6 years, making the face of aging predominately female.
One Final Gift shows that women are more likely than men to be sicker, poorer, alone, and with greater care needs at the end of their lives. This report identifies the disparities in research and public policies and raises the health, social, emotional, and spiritial concerns that confront many women as they near the end of their lives. It also outlines recommendations on how to best bridge these unacceptable gaps. -
ReportSeven Deadly Myths:
Uncovering the Facts About the High Cost of the Last Year of Life
This report tests some of the most common myths surrounding the financial and medical impact of end-of-life care, separating fact from fiction to show what really happens for most people during their last years of life. -
ReportWill You Still Treat Me When I'm 65?
The National Shortage of Geriatricians
The level of geriatric training in the United States falls dangerously below what our nation's aging population will require to meet its healthcare needs. This report examines a looming healthcare crisis and provides recommendations on what should be done to correct today's unbalanced geriatric healthcare system. -
ReportPutting Aging On Hold:
Delaying The Diseases Of Old Age
This in-depth report, presented to the White House Conference on Aging, examines current statistics on the senior population and their health care needs, along with forecasts for the impending Senior Boom.