Support for clinical trial research and improved COVID-19 testing in assisted living communities are part of the 2022 update to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, announced Monday.
The update focuses on addressing disparities and risk reduction for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Released in 2012, the national plan focuses on promoting rapid research on Alzheimer’s and improving the delivery of clinical care and services for affected individuals and their families. Along with promoting healthy aging and reducing risk factors, the plan targets prevention and treatment, enhanced care quality and support, increased public awareness and improved data tracking.
Legislation introduced last month sought to pass the NAPA Reauthorization Act (S. 4203/H.R. 7775) and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act. Passage of the bill would reauthorize the National Alzheimer’s Project Act through 2035, and update the national plan to include a new focus on promoting healthy aging, addressing health disparities and reducing risk factors.
The 2022 update includes research on the effects of COVID-19 and post-COVID conditions on the risk of Alzheimer’s and related dementias, cognition and brain health. Specifically, the National Institute on Aging is co-sponsoring a variety of COVID-targeted funding opportunities, including the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Underserved Populations Initiative. The initiative seeks to enable and enhance COVID-19 testing in under-served and vulnerable populations, including residents of assisted living communities and nursing homes.
The plan also includes an expansion of the IMPACT Collaboratory, which was funded in 2019 to deliver high quality, evidence-based care to people living with dementia in assisted living communities, nursing homes, hospitals and adult day centers. The update will support multiple career development and pilot and demonstration funding opportunities to support research into embedded clinical trials in assisted living communities, healthcare systems, adult day programs, nursing homes, home care and other settings.
The update addresses disparities in Alzheimer’s care as well. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the chance of developing dementia is not equal among Americans. Black and Latino Americans are more likely to develop the condition, as are people with risk factors including high blood pressure, diabetes or depression. HHS also noted that Native American and Asian American adults living with Alzheimer’s disease are less likely to receive timely diagnoses.
The national plan is updated annually with input from a variety of federal agencies as well as recommendations from the NAPA Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care and Services.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more
