For many older adults and their families, AD stands in the way of the "Golden Years." And the impact of the disease doesn't stop there, for it presents a major problem for our health care system and society as a whole as well:
Efforts to educate and inform people with AD, their families, the public, providers, and others interested in the disease are an important complement to NIA's research initiatives in AD.
The NIA Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center (www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers) provides a variety of materials on AD, including information about caregiving, diagnosis and treatment, and results of research findings. For example, the online publication Alzheimer's Disease: Unraveling the Mystery, uses illustrations and text to explain AD, highlight ongoing research, and describe efforts to support caregivers of people with AD. Genes, Lifestyles, and Crossword Puzzles: Can Alzheimer's Disease be Prevented? summarizes the latest research findings on AD risk factors and potential prevention strategies. These booklets for the general public are available free of charge from the ADEAR Center.
ADEAR also maintains a database of AD clinical trials, develops recommended reading lists, and provides referrals to AD resources. In addition, all of the NIA-supported Alzheimer's Disease Centers (ADCs) have education and information programs that work locally to disseminate information about AD (see "Part 3: How We're Getting to the Goal" for more about the ADCs).
<< Back | Next >>