22 Feb 2012

After months of deliberation, today the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services formally released a Draft National Plan to tackle Alzheimer’s disease. The plan is a stipulation of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (see ARF related news story). The draft follows a framework that was released on 9 January 2012 (see ARF related news story). Though the wording is slightly different from the earlier framework, the five major goals outlined in the draft plan are the same:

• Prevent and Effectively Treat Alzheimer's Disease by 2025.
• Optimize Care Quality and Efficiency.
• Expand Supports for People with Alzheimer's Disease and Their Families.
• Enhance Public Awareness and Engagement.
• Track Progress and Drive Improvement.

Full details of the plan and how these goals may be achieved are available from the HHS website.

As with previous steps along the path to this plan, the HHS is seeking input from interested parties in all walks of life, especially researchers and clinicians. Comments can be sent to the HHS, which will share them with the Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care, and Services. The Council (see ARF related news story) advises the HHS in development of the National Plan. Comments must be received by the HHS by 30 March 2012.—Tom Fagan.