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O2–01–01: Neurofibrillary tangles remain functionally integrated in cortical networks
Author(s) -
Kuchibhotla Kishore,
Wegmann Susanne,
SpiresJones Tara,
Bacskai Brian,
Hyman Bradley
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2013.04.135
Subject(s) - neuroscience , calcium imaging , intracellular , neurofibrillary tangle , chemistry , calcium in biology , tau protein , tangle , alzheimer's disease , biology , senile plaques , microbiology and biotechnology , calcium , pathology , medicine , disease , mathematics , organic chemistry , pure mathematics
Background: Developments in public health, medicine and economics have combined to create the marvellous achievement of worldwide population aging. But associated with this achievement are a number of challenges, some of them exacerbated by macro-economic difficulties in many countries. In this presentation I will briefly summarise those challenges, most of them familiar to AAIC delegates. I will then turn to what we know about possible solutions. I will particularly want to draw on new evidence from economics research in the field to offer insights and suggest courses of action. Methods: The approach will be first to highlight recent and expected future trends as they relate to dementia; and the personal, familial, social and economic challenges whichmight result. The second step will be to consider what the response is in terms of both policy and practice might be to those challenges, drawing on recent evidence from robust research. Results: The pressures on personal, private and public resources are focusing theminds of decision-makers on how best to meet needs and respond to preferences in ways that are affordable and, in some sense, ‘efficient’. One important topic to be covered in the presentation, therefore, is to be clear as to who those ’decision-makers’ are, ranging from people using the services and their families, to service providers, funding agencies and national government bodies. It is also important to understand what criteria they use in their decision-making and how these can influence outcomes. The presentation will include (but could go beyond) discussion of such ’solutions’ as better targeting of home care, better recognition and response to comorbidities, personalisation (including devolved budgets), telehealth and telecare, better support for family and other care-givers, and the roles of ’community capital’. Conclusions: New research evidence in the dementia field offers promising opportunities. Public and private decision-makers can use this emerging evidence platform some of it built on economics studies to improve the lives of people with dementia and their family carers in ways that make better use of available better and public and private resources.