Redfield: Response needed for coming Alzheimer’s crisis
In the early 1980s, Walter Reed Medical Center became a focal point for a mysterious and devastating illness that would later be identified as AIDS. Patients, predominantly young and vibrant, arrived with symptoms that baffled medical professionals, leading to a climate of fear, confusion, and stigma. It took years for the medical community to understand that HIV infection was not just a precursor to AIDS but the same disease at an earlier stage. Fast forward to today, with the advancement of medical science, we have transformed HIV from a once-fatal diagnosis into a manageable chronic condition, allowing those living with the virus to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. This transformation serves as a poignant reminder of the power of medical innovation and public health responses in the face of emerging health crises.
Today, we find ourselves on the brink of another public health emergency: Alzheimer’s disease, which currently affects over 7 million Americans, with projections suggesting this number will nearly double by 2050. The urgency of this situation is underscored by the recent approval of a groundbreaking blood test for Alzheimer’s that boasts over 90% accuracy in clinical studies. This test, akin to the pivotal HIV test, has the potential to revolutionize our approach to Alzheimer’s by enabling earlier detection, which is crucial for timely intervention. With two FDA-approved anti-amyloid therapies already shown to slow cognitive decline when administered early, there is hope that Alzheimer’s could become a manageable condition rather than a terminal diagnosis.
Dr. Robert R. Redfield, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emphasizes the need for a coordinated national response similar to that seen during the HIV/AIDS crisis. By updating policies to expand access to early detection and treatment, we can provide millions of aging Americans with the necessary tools to combat Alzheimer’s during its early stages. The lessons learned from the AIDS epidemic highlight the importance of a proactive and unified approach to public health challenges. As we stand at this critical juncture, the opportunity to reshape the narrative around Alzheimer’s is within our grasp, echoing the progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
In the early 1980s, men and women in the prime of their lives began arriving at Walter Reed Medical Center, wrecked by a disease for which we had no name, no cause and no hope.
Those early stages of the AIDS epidemic were marked by fear, confusion and stigma. It took years to understand what was happening, to learn that HIV infection was not merely a risk factor for AIDS, but the same disease at an earlier stage. Now we know that HIV can be a manageable chronic condition when treated, and people with HIV can live normal lives without becoming critically ill.
Today, the generation that survived that crisis is aging into the next public health emergency. Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 7 million Americans, and cases are expected to nearly double by 2050. We have poured billions of dollars into scientific research and medical innovation already. We know enough to lay the groundwork for a national response to Alzheimer’s and reduce suffering for millions. By learning from the AIDS epidemic, we can bring about the day when Alzheimer’s is no longer a death sentence but a manageable condition.
The Food and Drug Administration this year approved a blood test for Alzheimer’s that showed greater than 90% accuracy in clinical studies. Researchers are now using similar tests in clinical trials to identify people even before overt symptoms appear. These tests fundamentally change our understanding of the disease, just as the HIV test did for AIDS.
The question of when Alzheimer’s begins is not a theoretical one. It sets the starting line for diagnostics and treatment options. Earlier detection means more opportunity for early-stage interventions, which can extend independence and quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s. We now have two FDA-approved anti-amyloid therapies shown to slow cognitive decline when used soon after symptoms start. They are now being studied before symptoms appear. In addition, recent research has shown that a mix of better nutrition, exercise and blood pressure control can measurably improve cognitive health.
Just as the federal government took coordinated action as HIV/AIDS science evolved, we need an urgent and unified response to the coming Alzheimer’s crisis. The road map is largely a matter of updating policy to match the current science.
For example, it can expand access to early detection and treatment, so millions of aging Americans have options during the early window when intervention is most effective.
Over my career, nothing has been more powerful than witnessing the transformation of HIV/AIDS from a death sentence to a chronic, treatable condition. We have the chance to do the same with Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Robert R. Redfield, a former Centers of Disease and Control Prevention director, spent 20 years at Walter Reed Medical Center. He is associate director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine./Tribune News Service
