In January, I mentioned the National Alzheimer's Plan draft and invited you to send comments to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Several of you did that, and they've now posted those comments and several others to their website at http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/napa/Comments/PubCom.shtml.
They also have posted the minutes from the meetings that were held in January where the Alzheimer's plan draft was discussed in detail. Of note, they debated the proposed goal of effectively treating and preventing Alzheimer's by 2025. Discussions were held around the idea of changing that timeline to 2020, and rewording that goal to read: "Prevent, effectively treat, and substantially delay the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease by 2020."
"The subcommittee's justification for a 2020 target date was guided by the group's belief that the National Plan goals should be bold and aggressive, yet maintain the support of the research community who will be carrying out the work proposed. The subcommittee maintains that the difference of 5 years is meaningful to the millions of people who will be affected by Alzheimer's disease and that, given sufficient resources, the research community is prepared to meet this deadline."
-January 2012 Advisory Council Meeting Minutes
They also note that moving up the target date from 2025 to 2020 creates the "sense of urgency" and "adds credibility" to the plan. They are not guaranteeing a cure by 2020 but do add that development of a medication that effectively controls the symptoms of Alzheimer's could meet that goal.
The minutes don't state that this change in date and wording (which was recommended by a subcommittee) was approved as of yet, but rather noted and discussed.
Any thoughts on this?
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