When Alzheimer's strikes: The state of research, caregiving

The President's BRAIN Initiative has spurred scientists to continue with brain-mapping research, but Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar has long advocated for research efforts to increase for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other diseases of the brain.

Last year it was estimated that 100,000 Minnesotans are living with Alzheimer's, with an estimated 250,000 people involved in their care. That number is growing.

Tiffany Stanley recently wrote about the current state of Alzheimer's research for The National Journal:

The rhetoric around Alzheimer's advocacy in recent years has been focused on finding a cure. But the U.S. government spends less than $600 million annually on Alzheimer's research--compared with $3 billion for HIV/AIDS and more than $5 billion for cancer. And of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States, Alzheimer's is the only one without a means to prevent or treat it. Although decades of research have yielded important discoveries, Alzheimer's largely remains a mystery. "Anybody who says we're getting close to a cure is lying," says Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute and an elder-care expert.

Stanley joins Dr. Ron Petersen, director of Mayo's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, on The Daily Circuit.

If you have questions about Alzheimer's, contact the Alzheimer's Association helpline: 1.800.272.3900.