Redfield: Response needed for coming Alzheimer’s crisis
In the early 1980s, Walter Reed Medical Center became a somber backdrop for a burgeoning health crisis: the AIDS epidemic. Patients arrived, ravaged by an illness that was still nameless and shrouded in stigma. At that time, the medical community struggled to comprehend the nature of the disease, which was later identified as caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). As understanding evolved, it became clear that HIV was not just a precursor to AIDS but the very cause of the condition. Today, thanks to advancements in medical science, HIV is recognized as a manageable chronic illness, allowing those infected to lead normal lives without succumbing to severe health complications. This transformative journey from despair to hope serves as a crucial lesson for addressing another looming public health crisis: Alzheimer’s disease.
Currently, Alzheimer’s affects over 7 million Americans, with projections indicating that this number could nearly double by 2050. The urgency to develop effective responses is palpable, especially as the aging population faces a condition that has long been associated with irreversible decline. Drawing parallels from the AIDS crisis, Dr. Robert R. Redfield, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emphasizes the importance of a coordinated national strategy. The recent FDA approval of a blood test for Alzheimer’s, boasting over 90% accuracy in clinical trials, marks a significant milestone in early detection. This innovation mirrors the HIV testing revolution and opens doors to early interventions that could drastically improve the quality of life for those at risk. With two FDA-approved anti-amyloid therapies now available, research is underway to explore their effectiveness even before symptoms manifest, further underscoring the potential for Alzheimer’s to be managed rather than feared.
The call to action is clear: as we learned from the evolution of HIV/AIDS treatment, a unified and proactive approach is essential to combat the impending Alzheimer’s crisis. This includes expanding access to early detection and treatment options, allowing millions of aging Americans to benefit from timely interventions. By aligning policy with current scientific advancements, we can transform Alzheimer’s from a feared death sentence into a manageable condition, just as we have with HIV/AIDS. The journey from despair to hope in the realm of HIV/AIDS offers a powerful template for addressing Alzheimer’s, and with concerted effort, we can pave the way for a future where cognitive decline is no longer an inevitable fate.
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
