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Creative Care : World Alzheimer Congress 2000
by Mary Beth Wolford

Last month I attended a landmark meeting in Washington, DC, which presented the latest scientific findings to treat and one day prevent Alzheimer's disease. Maggie Kraft, director of our Adult Day Health Services programs, and I represented the Humboldt Senior Resource Center at Creative Care, the World Alzheimer Congress 2000. Created by the Alzheimer's Association (USA), Alzheimer's Disease International and the Alzheimer Society of Canada, the congress brought together the largest group of international leaders in Alzheimer research and care ever convened. We were particularly interested in the portion which brought together hands-on professional care providers such as ourselves, public policymakers, family members and staff and volunteers from Alzheimer organizations worldwide. Presentations included recognizing the global impact of dementia, translating research into practice, addressing early needs of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their families, understanding systems of care, supporting the work force, and reaching diverse and unreached populations-all pertinent topics to explore as we reach a new millennium.

Possible vaccine?
One of the most exciting announcements at this congress was the development of a vaccine (known as AN-1792) to fight the disease or relieve its symptoms. This vaccine has already been safely tolerated by animal species, including rabbits, guinea pigs and monkeys. Approval has now been received to test this vaccine on 100 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Whether this vaccine will be helpful to people won't be known until many more studies are completed, and experts caution that promising trends in research do not always hold up in humans. Another new experimental drug was discussed at this meeting, a drug called memantine, which acts on a key brain receptor and may help to slow the progression of more advanced cases of Alzheimer's disease.

More funds for research
Although President Clinton was not able to attend this World Alzheimer Congress, he announced an additional $50 million to be expended on research for Alzheimer's, and this announcement was received most favorably by the 1,500 worldwide attendees. Mary Beth Wolford, Ed.D., is executive director of the Humboldt Senior Resource Center, www.northcoast.com/~hsrc.

One-time article Copyright 2000 by Humboldt Senior Resource Center .