Recently, AIM's sister organization, the Alzheimer's Association, convened the world's largest conference of Alzheimer's and dementia researchers at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) 2017, bringing together a record number of 5,682 attendees. These scientist were from more than 70 countries and together presented a record 3,300 abstracts (scientific summaries), providing new clues on early detection, risk and the underlying causes of Alzheimer's disease. AAIC 2017 also included the important update of new studies that highlight the impact of race and socioeconomic status on dementia risk, plus advances in diagnostic tools and early detection.

Among the research presented:

More than one-third of global dementia cases may be preventable through lifestyle: New research presented by the Lancet proposed a novel life-course model of dementia risk showing potentially modifiable risk factors at multiple phases across the lifespan. The study then estimated the potential impact of elimination of the most potent risk factors, finding that roughly 35 percent of dementia cases may be attributable to nine modifiable risk factors:

• Early life - Education to age 15
• Mid-life - Hypertension; Obesity; Hearing loss
• Later life - Depression; Diabetes; Physical inactivity; Smoking; Low social contact

Impact of Amyloid PET imaging on patient management: Interim results were presented from the Imaging Dementia - Evidence for Amyloid Scanning (IDEAS) Study, which is evaluating the value of brain amyloid PET imaging in a clinical setting. These PET scans are currently not reimbursed by Medicare or private insurance. Researchers reported that these scans prompted physicians to change how they cared for nearly 4,000 IDEAS Study participants, who are Medicare beneficiaries age 65+ with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or atypical dementia where there are challenges getting a specific clinical diagnosis. The results suggests that amyloid PET imaging holds the promise of substantially improving patient management.

Racial and socioeconomic disparities in dementia risk and incidence: Several studies confirmed racial inequities in numbers of people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in the U.S.

• Researchers from Wisconsin found that a single major stressful event in early life may equal four years of cognitive aging, and African Americans are most at risk - on average, they experience over 60 percent more of such events than Whites over their lifetimes.
• States with highest infant mortality had 40 percent higher risk for dementia compared to African Americans not from those states, and 80 percent higher risk compared to Whites not from those states.
• Racial disparities in the risk for new cases of dementia, previously observed in the younger elderly, continue into the oldest-old - age 90+, which is the fastest-growing segment of the population - according to a new study reported at AAIC 2017. Oldest-old African Americans and Latinos had the highest incidence rates compared to Asian Americans and Whites.

Regional shortages of neurologists - Neurology "Deserts" - revealed across the U.S.: Twenty states in the U.S. have been revealed as neurology "deserts," due to a projected chronic shortage of neurologists and a rapid rise in Alzheimer's disease and other dementia cases. Wyoming, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota and Oklahoma were revealed as the five states with the most significant projected gap between available neurology workforce and the health needs of people with dementia. With the continued aging of the population, additional resources, training and education are needed for primary care physicians and caregivers, especially in the identified states.

Alzheimer's Association launches U.S. trial to explore benefits of lifestyle interventions on cognitive decline: The U.S. study to PrOtect through a lifestyle INTErvention to Reduce risk (US POINTER) will include physical exercise, nutritional counseling and modification, cognitive and social stimulation, and improved self-management of medical conditions. AIM's sister organization, the Alzheimer's Association leading and funding the study. Recruiting for study participants will begin in 2018.

Research is the only path to discovery and advancement of the much needed treatments, prevention and ultimately a cure. That is why AIM and the Alzheimer's Association continue to lead efforts to increase federal research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In just the past five years, Alzheimer's research funding has nearly tripled and an additional $400 million increase was recently approved by the House Appropriations Committee, with the Senate expect to take action in the coming weeks.

As is clear from the research and theories presented at AAIC: There is no shortage of ideas, only dollars, for addressing Alzheimer's and its devastating impact. Indeed, much of the research presented at AAIC this year was made possible through NIH research grants.

Dr. Snyder is Senior Director of Medical and Scientific Operations at the Alzheimer's Association. She manages the Association's International Research Grant Program, the mechanism through which the Association funds research applications.