Browse Publications
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BrochureAortic Stenosis in Seniors: A Physician's Guide
Aortic stenosis (AS) is a deadly condition that becomes more common with age. This expert-reviewed resource provides important information for physicians including:
- Screening, diagnosis, and treatment information
- Prognosis comparison of treated and untreated patients
- Tips on talking with your patients about AS
- A quick guide to the 2006 ACC/AHA practice guidelines on AS
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DocumentBone Health of Americans is in Jeopardy
In an Alliance for Aging Research, National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) joint briefing, Dr. Joan Lappe presented on the human burden of osteoporosis and the need for continued research into prevention and treatment options. Her slides are available here. -
DocumentThe Value of Innovation in Osteoporosis
In an Alliance for Aging Research, National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) joint briefing, Rachael Fleurence, PhD, presented on the current economic burden of osteoporosis and the value of innovation in reducing that burden. Her slides are available here. -
Brochure, ReportThe Silver Book: Chronic Disease and Medical Innovation--Osteoporosis
The first volume of The Silver Book was launched in 2006 and has quickly become a trusted resource for health policy practitioners. The Silver Book®: Osteoporosis is the latest volume in this important collection. Each section in the volume includes charts, statistics, and key findings that together paint a comprehensive picture of the burden of osteoporosis and the tremendous potential of innovation. Much of the data focuses on the older population—those most at risk for osteoporosis-related fractures. -
DocumentStanding Strong: Preventing Osteoporosis Podcast
What foods are good for your bones and which ones may be hurting them? What exercise is best for warding off weak bones? When should you start getting your bones scanned?
Find out the answers and get other interesting tips on prevention and treatment in this podcast with Dr. Michelle Bellantoni from Johns Hopkins University. An expert in osteoporosis, Dr. Bellantoni discusses the details of prevention and talks about some of the latest news and research on osteoporosis. To listen to this podcast, click here. -
Brochure, Fact SheetOsteoporosis Prevention and Treatment: Algorithm and Resources for Health Care Professionals
This laminated clipboard tool is an easy-to-use, go-to resource for physicians and other health care professionals. The tool includes treatment guidelines, a chart of FDA-approved osteoporosis medications, and tips on discussing prevention and risk factor reduction with patients. The treatment algorithm provides step-by-step diagnostic and treatment instructions based on a person's age, gender, and health status. -
DocumentKey Phone Numbers Worksheet
A support network can help you accomplish your tasks as a caregiver by offering physical and emotional assistance. Look for support through family, friends, and the community. Use this worksheet to record these key contacts as well as those from your loved one's health care team. -
DocumentClinical Trial Worksheet
While there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, there are drugs that may improve or stabilize symptoms. New drugs are also under development that offer hope for Alzheimer's patients, and clinical trials test whether these treatments are safe and effective. If you haven't already, you may want to consider enrolling your loved one in a clinical trial. This worksheet is a log that can help you keep track of clinical trials that you find. -
DocumentFinancial & Legal Checklist
By starting the financial and legal planning process now, you can make sure that your loved one is cared for as their disease progresses. It's important for you to start this process early, because Alzheimer's disease will gradually make it harder for your loved one to participate in planning. Use this checklist to get you started. -
DocumentHome Safety Checklist
Alzheimer's disease progresses differently in everyone, but eventually it will affect your loved one's independence. The typical home environment may become unfamiliar and dangerous, but there are steps you can take to make the home less stressful. Use this checklist to make sure that your loved one's residence is safe. -
DocumentMy Personal Schedule Worksheet
As Alzheimer's disease progresses, your loved one will need more and more care. While you may feel that you don't have time to think about yourself, it is important to remember your own health and well-being. By exercising, thinking about your health, and giving yourself time to relax, you will stay healthier and be able to spend more time with your loved one. Use this log to keep track of health care appointments, your exercise schedule, social engagements, etc. -
DocumentMedication List Worksheet
Your loved one may take many medications for Alzheimer's disease and other health conditions. Keeping track of them helps the health care team make sure the medications are working well together, and find possible drug interactions. You can use this medication list worksheet to keep all of the information about your loved one's medications in one place. -
DocumentHealth Care Appointment Worksheet
Taking your loved one to health care appointments may become difficult at times. If you prepare for appointments by writing down questions and scheduling the appointments at a good time for your loved one, you can make sure that the appointment goes as smoothly as possible. Use this worksheet to record information about the appointment so that it's all in one place. -
DocumentHealth Journal Worksheet
It's useful to keep a health journal so you can ensure that your loved one's health care team is able to provide the best care possible. By keeping track of day-to-day health information that only you may observe, you can provide valuable information to your loved one's health care team. A journal also makes it easy to record information about Alzheimer's disease and other conditions your loved one may have, so you can make the most of your time at appointments and be sure not to forget anything. -
BrochureAlzheimer's Disease: Helping Yourself Help a Loved One - Caregiver Workbook
This caregiver workbook provides the information, resources, and tools that caregivers need to develop personalized action plans and to take better care of their loved ones and themselves. The workbook includes worksheets, checklists, and other tools on important issues such as making your home safe, dealing with financial planning, and keeping a health journal. -
BrochureAlzheimer's Disease: Helping Yourself Help a Loved One - Caregiver Resources
As a family caregiver of someone with Alzheimer's, you have a lot on your plate. There's so much to learn about, so much to plan, and so much to worry about. This guide provides some of the many resources that can help you take care of your loved one, as well as yourself. -
BrochureAlzheimer's Disease: Helping Yourself Help a Loved One - Leader's Guide
This leader's guide helps facilitate a workshop to educate family caregivers on how to best care for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease while also taking care of themselves. This is an updated version of the Leader's Guide and includes the latest information on treatments and research. -
BrochureAlzheimer's Disease: Helping Yourself Help a Loved One - Workshop Kit
This kit includes all of the resources necessary to conduct a workshop for caregivers of those recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. It is an updated version of the Alliance's award-winning kit from 2006 and includes additional information on treatment and research, as well as a brand new caregiver workbook.
To order a FREE copy, call 202-293-2856 or e-mail info@agingresearch.org
Additional copies are available for $14.00 each. -
BrochureTaking a Closer Look at Age-Related Macular Degeneration
This updated version of our popular brochure guides you through the latest information on age-related macular degeneration symptoms and risk factors, while offering ways to help you reduce your risk. The brochure also offers information on the latest research and treatment options. The widely used Amsler Grid can still be found on the back cover. -
Fact SheetA Quick Look At Alzheimer's- Outreach Partners
The following organizations are helping promote A QUICK LOOK AT ALZHEIMER'S: Four 'Pocket' Films to Increase Understanding of a 21st Century Epidemic: -
BrochureStanding Strong:
Preventing and Treating Osteoporosis - Workshop Materials
In order to educate women recently diagnosed or at risk for osteoporosis about the disease, the Alliance for Aging Research created this workshop kit. The kits assist community and health groups in hosting workshops that teach women how to best manage their prevention and/or treatment, and empower them to communicate with their doctor. -
BrochureStanding Strong:
Preventing and Treating Osteoporosis - Leader's Guide
This leader's guide helps facilitate a workshop conducted by health care leaders, community outreach coordinators, etc.; and is aimed at women recently diagnosed with or at risk for osteoporosis. The workshop is designed to give participants a greater understanding of osteoporosis, its risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment. The information helps women to best manage the prevention and/or treatment of this disease, and empowers them to communicate with their doctor. This leader's guide may also be purchased as part of the larger Standing Strong: Preventing & Treating Osteoporosis - Workshop Kit. -
BrochureStanding Strong:
Preventing and Treating Osteoporosis
This brochure provides information on standing strong against an osteoporosis diagnosis including:
- Knowing your risk factors,
- Staying strong through prevention,
- Taking charge through diagnosis,
- Fighting back through treatment, and
- Being your own health advocate by learning more.
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Report2007 Annual Report
"20 Years of Progress - Imagine What's Next" is the theme of the Alliance for Aging Research's 2007 Annual Report. -
DocumentThe Burden and Future Implications of
Adult Visual Disorders in the United States
In an Alliance for Aging Research, National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR) joint briefing, David Rein, PhD, presented on the current economic burden of vision loss and the potential future impact. His slides are available here. -
DocumentAge-Related Maculopathy:
What it is, what we know, what we need to learn
In an Alliance for Aging Research, National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR briefing, Dr. Michael Gorin presented on age-related maculopathy, an eye disease that affects millions of Americans. His presentation slides are available here. -
DocumentFuture Perspectives on Diabetes: What can we do for seniors?
In the last of four briefings looking at the growing burden of chronic disease and the promise of medical innovation, Dr. William Rowley of The Institute for Alternative Futures, presented on Future Perspectives of Diabetes. His presentation slides are available here. -
DocumentThe Burden of Diabetes and the Promise of Biomedical Research
In the last of four briefings looking at the growing burden of chronic disease and the promise of medical innovation, Dr. John Anderson of the American Diabetes Association's National Advocacy Committee, presented on The Burden of Diabetes and the Promise of Biomedical Research. His presentation slides are available here. -
DocumentResearch Advances in Neurodegenerative Diseases
In the third of four briefings looking at the growing burden of chronic diseases and the promise of medical innovation, Dr. Growdon presented on Research Advances in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Alzheimer & Parkinson. His presentation slides are available here. -
DocumentThe Societal Burden of Alzheimer's Disease
In the third of four briefings looking at the growing burden of chronic disease and the promise of medical innovation, Jennifer Zeitzer of the Alzheimer's Association presented on The Societal Burden of Alzheimer's Disease. Her presentation slides are available here. -
ReportThe Silver Book: Chronic Disease and Medical Innovation--Vision Loss
The Silver Book is a unique almanac of references that the Alliance has compiled to spotlight the impact of chronic disease on our aging population and health care system, and the significant impact medical breakthroughs will have on future health care use and expenditures. The Vision Loss Volume looks at vision loss generally, and highlights data on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma--which along with cataract are the eye diseases that disproportionately affect older Americans. -
Alliance ViewsWhere We Stand on Therapeutic Cloning - And Why
Spring 2002The Alliance for Aging Research believes all attempts to clone a human being are dangerous, unethical and wrong at this time. We believe just as strongly that, with appropriate guidelines, U.S. scientists should have the freedom to clone stem cells in laboratory dishes in an attempt to cure serious and life-threatening diseases. -
Fact Sheet20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors From the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Winter 2002Medical errors are one of the Nation's leading causes of death and injury. A recent report by the Institute of Medicine estimates that as many as 44,000 to 98,000 people die in U.S. hospitals each year as the result of medical errors. This means that more people die from medical errors than from motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer, or AIDS. -
Alliance ViewsThe Importance of Aging Research
Fall 2004Consider this: In the year 1902, if it had been somehow possible to gather together everyone in America who had reached the age of 85 or older, that population would have scarcely made up a single Zip Code in today's Sun Belt. Today, the numbers of people age 85 and above, about 5 million Americans, will increase four-fold with the aging of the Baby Boom. People aged 100 or more - currently some 70,000 - will increase 10 times before we are halfway through this century. This demographic tsunami will affect every institution and every community, and will touch all of us personally. -
Living LegendDr. Edward Keller: The Write Stuff
Fall 2004Syrup sandwiches, homemade cottage cheese, sod houses, good times and bad - those are the things of which stories are made -
Living LegendBernice Gorell, The Polish Lady on Pulaski
Winter 2005Bernice Gorell recently missed a couple of days of work. The 93-year-old had cataract surgery on a Thursday and didn’t go back into her office until ... Monday. -
Feature ArticleCaught in the Act of Leading
Winter 2005Scientists searching for a way to delay the aging process may have found it in an intervention that many Americans battle with again and again—cutting calories. When used as a lifestyle choice, calorie restriction yields a significantly healthier and prolonged life. -
Alliance ViewsMedical Innovation: A Long-Term Vision
Spring 2006As the first members of the Baby Boom generation turn 60, a national dialogue is gaining momentum concerning the impact that our exploding senior demographics will have on our already over-burdened health care system. Our society is aging, living longer, and facing a new challenge of unprecedented levels of chronic disease. The public and policymakers are understandably worried about soaring health care costs and what the future will bring. -
Alliance ViewsImagine What's Next — In Pursuit of the Longevity Dividend
Fall 2006This month the Alliance for Aging Research celebrates the 20th anniversary of our founding as a not-for-profit organization working to increase support for research to extend the healthy years of life. Twenty years ago, the science of aging was at the bottom of medical research priorities and lacked prestige as an academic discipline. Of the 11 federal health research institutes at the time, the National Institute of Aging ranked 10th in terms of budget and only a handful of scientists around the world were engaged in aging research. Over the past two decades, aging research has gained respect and prominence, yet much remains to be done.
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Science in the SpotlightPersonalized Medicine Takes a Bow
Fall 2006In 1953, an American biochemist and a British physicist working together in Cambridge, England, identified the structure of DNA — the molecule of life — which passes genetic information from one generation to another. This discovery has unleashed an explosion of knowledge over the last half-century leading directly to the Human Genome Project and to the promise of personalized medicine.
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Get Mad ColumnDon't Outsource Stem-Cell Research
Fall 2006In July 2006, President George W. Bush used the first veto of his presidency to block a Congressional bill that would have lifted his 2001 ban on federal funding for most stem-cell research. In vetoing this legislation, Bush defied a bipartisan effort in Congress and the wishes of a majority of the American public. Nearly three-quarters of Americans support embryonic stem cell research, according to a May 2006 poll conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation.
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Feature ArticleHeart Disease: About Women, About You
Fall 2006More and more women are becoming aware of the dangers of heart disease. Unfortunately, too many still believe that only men need to be concerned about their hearts. In fact, heart disease is the number one killer of American women, making it about women, and about you.
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Living LegendProfessor Robert W. Fogel: A New Kind Of Historian
Fall 2006A startling change in the human species has taken place over the past 100 years, according to Nobel Laureate Robert W. Fogel, director of the Center for Population Economics and a professor in the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago. Fogel and his colleagues have found that people in industrialized countries are taller, heavier, and living dramatically longer than they did a century ago. In 1900, only 13 percent of 65-year-olds would live to 85. Today, nearly half will live that long. Moreover, chronic ailments like heart disease, lung disease and arthritis occur 10 to 25 years later in individuals today.
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Feature ArticleThe 15-Year Forecast for Aging!
Winter 2001Countless discoveries made in the 20th Century have benefited us in ways too numerous to count - our longevity being but one of the many, with about 30 years added to our life spans since 1900.
The recent tools of regenerative medicine and stem cell biology have many believing we are on the threshold of finding cures for devastating diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
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Get Mad ColumnCMS Should Maintain Focus on Prevention
Winter 2006The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid, and related programs, to ensure that beneficiaries are aware of health care services and that these services are accessible. CMS' mission includes a commitment to policies and actions that promote efficiency and quality in health care delivery.
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Alliance ViewsIncreased Funding Critical to FDA's Success
Winter 2006As the nation's foremost consumer protection agency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, (FDA) serves a critical role, safeguarding not only prescription and non-prescription drugs, but also medical devices, dietary supplements, animal drugs and feeds, and the nation's food supply.
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Feature ArticleInnovation Helps Cancer Patients Live Longer
Winter 2006New drugs and other treatments for cancer are helping more Americans survive the disease, even as it affects an increasing number of people, a trio of experts said at a briefing in Washington, D.C., in October.
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Living LegendRuth Colley - Re-living a Dream: Going for the Gold
Winter 2006Seven years ago, Ruth Colley had the opportunity to re-live her dream when Olympic gold medalist Frank Havens invited her to compete in the 1998 Nike World Masters Games. Colley was the first American woman to qualify for the United States Olympic Kayak team for the 1952 Helsinki games. Unfortunately, because she was the only woman to qualify for the 10-person team, she never got the opportunity to compete.
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Science in the SpotlightSteps to Brain Fitness
Winter 2006There is a lot we can do to keep our brains healthy and potentially prevent or lessen the cognitive decline that often comes with aging. The Alliance for Aging Research and the Brain Resource Company have teamed up to bring information and resources on brain health to the public and to provide the WebNeuro test, a cognitive assessment that can be taken on personal computers, free to the first one million users.*
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Living LegendClifford Ashley: World Traveler Continues His Adventures in the Classroom
Spring 2007At age 85, Clifford Ashley continues to lead an active lifestyle, which he attributes in large part to his work with kids. Working as a substitute teacher for the past eight years in Lake Placid, N.Y., Ashley teaches children from kindergarten through 12th grade. Whether substituting as a first grade teacher in computer class, or calculus for seniors, to any other subject imaginable, Ashley has no problem keeping up.
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Science in the SpotlightFolic Acid: Boost for your Brain?
Spring 2007Want to boost your memory and brain power? Eat more strawberries and asparagus. Both are good sources of folic acid, a vitamin that improved memory and cognition in healthy adults 50-70 years old, according to a study reported in the medical journal Lancet (Jan. 20, 2006).
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Alliance ViewsHigh Quality Health Care from Home
Spring 2007Living with chronic illness is time-consuming and costly. Frequent (or unnecessary) trips to the doctor's office or emergency room take a toll, not just physically, but emotionally and socially as well. With an aging population and chronic diseases on the rise, the ability of the health care system to effectively cope is threatened. But a promising new technology can ease the burden on both health care facilities and patients and improve the quality of life for elderly Americans living with conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmia.
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Feature ArticleA Different Kind of 'Food Pyramid' for Better Health
Spring 2007A food that grants youth and immortality is an ancient dream celebrated in myth. The Greek gods ate ambrosia, which conferred grace or immortality. To stay young forever, the Norse gods ate the golden apples of Idun.
Now in the 21st century, science tells us that a healthy diet is important to insuring a long and healthy life. But just what makes for a healthy diet? We are inundated by conflicting nutritional advice.
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Get Mad ColumnMake Health IT a National Priority
Spring 2007Clinical trials - the current gold standard for testing the effectiveness and safety of various drugs and medical treatments - are often performed on young, low-risk subjects, making their relevance questionable for a growing population of older patients living with multiple chronic conditions.
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ReportGray is the New Gold: Longevity Science and the Flourishing Aging Society
Vigorous Seniors Good for Economy, Social Security, Says New KLRI Report
What are the latest developments in longevity research and why are they important to society and national policy? Alliance Executive Director Daniel Perry is among the experts cited in this new report, which explains the need for and benefits of aging research. Read the Kronos Longevity Research Institute's new report, Gray Is the New Gold: Longevity Science and the Flourishing Aging Society, available on the KLRI website. -
Press KitAlliance Press Kit
2007This press kit provides background information on the Alliance. -
Report2007 Task Force Report on Aging Research Funding
April 2007 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Aging Research Alzheimer's Disease Arthritis Cancer Cardiovascular Disease Caregiving Chronic Pain Diabetes Federal Funding Geriatric Training Health Incontinence Medical Innovation Men's Health Mental Health Osteoporosis Other Diseases of Aging Parkinson's Disease Prevention Stroke Vision Loss Women's HealthThe 2007 Task Force on Aging Research Funding--more than 85 non-partisan disease groups, patient advocates, and foundations--urges Congress and the President to chart a better course for medical research on behalf of America's aging population. This year's report of the Task Force calls for a 6.7% increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health in FY 2008. It also presents data on the burden of 27 diseases and conditions that predominately affect older Americans, highlights some of the exciting work the NIH is doing to decrease these burdens, and serves as a resource for policymakers working to establish the funding levels necessary to advance healthy aging. -
TestimonyFiscal Year 2008 Appropriations for the National Institute on Aging:
U.S. Senate, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies
Daniel Perry of the Alliance for Aging Research, and Carol Schutz of the Gerontological Society of America, submitted this testimony on behalf of the Friends of the National Institute on Aging. The testimony called for a 6.7% overall increase for the National Institutes of Health for FY 2008 and additional resources for NIA in order to avoid continued cuts in existing grants and to sustain training and research opportunities for new investigators. -
DocumentPerry Biography
March 2007Daniel P. Perry is Executive Director of the Alliance for Aging Research. -
Report2006 Annual Report
2006 Annual ReportThe 2006 Annual Report highlights the programs and activities of the Alliance for Aging Research. -
BrochureMalnutrition & Seniors: A Hidden Threat to Your Patients' Health
This brochure gives health care providers a tool for assessing the nutritional status of elderly patients, recommendations on developing an action plan for those patients identified as malnourished or at risk, and additional resources for patients. -
BrochureNutrition & Aging Quiz:
Discover the Secrets of Eating for Your Age
It's no surprise to hear that good nutrition makes for good health--warding off disease, giving you the energy to stay active, and keeping you mentally and physically fit. But you may not realize that as you age, your body's nutrient requirements changes. Take this quiz and learn the secrets of eating for your age and make sure you get the nutrients that can add vitality and years to your life. -
DocumentHeart Disease and Innovation:
The Potential and Promise
February 2007 | Raymond J. Gibbons, MDIn the second of four briefings looking at the growing burden of chronic disease and the promise of medical innovation, Dr. Gibbons presented on Heart Disease and Innovation: The Potential and Promise. His presentation slides are available here. -
DocumentThe Value of Antihypertensive Drugs:
A Perspective on Medical Innovation
February 2007 | Genia LongIn the second of four briefings focused on chronic disease and the value of innvation, Genia Long, Vice President of Analysis Group Inc. presented on The Value of High Blood Pressure Drugs. Her presentation slides are available here. -
Science in the SpotlightSteps to Brain Fitness
There is a lot we can do to keep our brains healthy and potentially prevent or lessen the cognitive decline that often comes with aging. -
Alliance ViewsIncreased Funding Critical to FDA'a Success
As the nation's foremost consumer protection agency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, (FDA) serves a critical role, safeguarding not only prescription and non-prescription drugs, but also medical devices, dietary supplements, animal drugs and feeds, and the nation's food supply. -
Get Mad ColumnCMS Should Maintain Focus on Prevention
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid, and related programs, to ensure that beneficiaries are aware of health care services and that these services are accessible. -
Feature ArticleInnovation Helps Cancer Patients Live Longer
New drugs and other treatments for cancer are helping more Americans survive the disease, even as it affects an increasing number of people, a trio of experts said at a briefing in Washington, D.C., in October. -
Living LegendRuth Colley- Re-living a Dream: Going for the Gold
Seven years ago, Ruth Colley had the opportunity to re-live her dream when Olympic gold medalist Frank Havens invited her to compete in the 1998 Nike World Masters Games. -
BrochureAlzheimer's Disease: Workshop Kit
In order to educate family caregivers on how to care for themselves while caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, the Alliance for Aging Research created this workshop kit. The workshop kits assist community groups in hosting workshops for family caregivers. -
BrochureLa Enfermedad de Alzheimer: Ayudandote a Ayudar a un Ser Querido - Guia para Quienes Cuidan a Personas con la Enfermedad de Alzheimer
Como familiar y persona encargada de cuidar a alguien con la enfermedad de Alzheimer, tienes demasiadas tareas y mucho que hadar. Hay tanto por aprender, tantas cosas que planear, tantas preocupaciones. Por eso necesitas leer esta guia, no solamente por la persona a quien cuidas, si no ademas por ti mismo. You may also purchase this as part of the larger Alzheimer's Disease Workshop Kit. -
BrochureAlzheimer's Disease: Helping Yourself Help a Loved One - Leader's Guide
October 2006 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Health Women's HealthThis leader's guide helps facilitate a workshop to educe family caregivers on how to best care for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease while effectively taking care of their own needs. This guide will provide guidance to leaders (healthcare leaders, community outreach coordinators, etc.) for conducting the workshop. -
BrochureAlzheimer's Disease: Helping Yourself Help a Loved One - Resources for Caregivers
October 2006 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Health Women's HealthAs a family caregiver of someone with Alzheimer's disease, you have a lot on your plate. There's so much to learn about, so much to plan, so much to worry about. But you need to read this guide--not only for the person you're caring for, but for yourself. You may also purchase this as part of the larger Alzheimer's Disease Workshop Kit. -
BrochureAlzheimer's Disease: Helping Yourself Help a Loved One - Financial Checklist
October 2006 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Women's HealthAlzheimer's disease interferes with many daily life functions, including financial tasks. This can be frustrating for the person with Alzheimer's, and can have both short-term and long-term ramifications. This checklist will help you ensure that your loved one's financial matters are in check. You may also purchase this as part of the larger Alzheimer's Disease Workshop Kit. -
DocumentOncology and Innovation: The Potential and Promise
October 2006 | Len Lichtenfeld, MD, FACPIn the first of four briefings looking at the growing burden of chronic disease and the promise of innovation, Dr. Len Lichtenfeld presented Oncology and Innovation: The Potential and Promise. The presentation slides are available here. -
DocumentPharmaceutical Innovation and Cancer Survival
October 2006 | Frank R. LichtenbergAt the first of four briefings looking at the growing burden of chronic disease and the promise of innovation, Frank R. Lichtenberg presented The Economic Argument for Medical Innovation. The slides from his presentation are available here. -
BrochureWomen’s Health Quiz: Heart Disease:
About Women, About You
September 2006 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Cardiovascular Disease Health Women's HealthThis brochure quizzes women on how much they know about heart disease and provides helpful tips on talking to health care providers about this important issue. -
DocumentGoing for the Longevity Dividend:
An International Perspective
View James Goodwin's presentation slides from the Alliance's event - Going for the Longevity Dividend: Scientific Goals for the World's Aging Populations -
DocumentCalorie Restriction Extends Life Span Universally
View Leonard Guarante's presentation slides from the Alliance's event - Going for the Longevity Dividend: Scientific Goals for the World's Aging Populations -
DocumentThe Longevity Dividend:
International Perspectives
View Alex Kalache's presentations slides from the Alliance's event - Going for the Longevity Dividend: Scientific Goals for the World's Aging Populations -
DocumentBeyond Technology:
Biotechnology and the Pursuit of Happiness
View Jay Olshansky's presentation slides from the Alliance's event - Going for the Longevity Dividend: Scientific Goals for the World's Aging Populations -
BrochureWomen & Heart Disease:
What They Need You to Tell Them - A Physician's Guide
September 2006 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Cardiovascular Disease Health Women's HealthThis guide helps physicians learn more about starting a heart healthy conversation with their patients and attempts to bridge the awareness gaps about women and heart disease. -
Science in the SpotlightUnderstanding the Effects of Grapefruit Juice on Medications
For more than a decade, doctors have known that some compound in grapefruit juice interacts with a small number of drugs to triple the amount of that drug absorbed into the bloodstream. -
Living LegendDr. Henry A. Essex: A Life of Service and Adventure
Veterans who meet Dr. Henry A. Essex at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Center in Providence, Rhode Island are fortunate to encounter a man who deeply understands them and their experiences. -
Get Mad ColumnMake Alzheimer's a National Priority
It’s a disease that is universally fatal; there is no cure at present; and one out of 10 people over 65 will be diagnosed with it. -
Alliance ViewsPreparing for the Silver Tsunami
Whenever you open a newspaper or magazine these days, you’re likely to find an article exhorting baby boomers to plan for retirement—telling them to save more, to learn about portfolio planning, and to project their financial needs for decades to come. -
Feature ArticleWhat Men Don't Know About Their Health And Aging Can Hurt Them
If you are a middle-aged or older man, do you assume that a decline in energy, low libido, moodiness, and weight gain are just part of “normal aging”? -
TestimonyFiscal Year 2007 Appropriations for the National Institute on Aging:
U.S. Senate, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies
Daniel Perry of the Alliance for Aging Research, and Carol Schutz of the Gerontological Society of America, submitted this testimony on behalf of the Friends of the National Institute on Aging. The testimony called for a 5% overall increase for the National Institutes of Health for FY 2007 and additional resources for NIA in order to avoid an 18% cut in existing grants and to sustain training and research opportunities for new investigators. -
Feature ArticleThe Power of Tea
You’ve heard the news – drinking tea is good for your health. But did you know that tea may reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases, and that it may improve the health of your bones and teeth? -
Fact SheetLow Testosterone - Men's Health Condition in the Shadows:
Survey Highlights
In order to raise awareness about low testosterone, the Alliance commissioned a survey of over 522 American men over the age of 39. Harris Interactive conducted this on-line survey in January 2006. This fact sheet includes background information on low testosterone, as well as highlights from the survey. -
Fact SheetLow Testosterone & Testosterone Replacement Therapy for the Aging Male
Read this fact sheet and learn about:
- Testosterone & its function as men age
- Symptoms of low testosterone
- Diagnosing low testosterone
- Testosterone replacement therapy
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Fact SheetWhat Men Should Know About their Health
April 2006 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Cardiovascular Disease Diabetes Men's Health OsteoporosisMen continue to struggle to manage many health concerns and heart disease, stroke, and diabetes are among the leading causes of death in men over 40. Read this fact sheet and learn more about some of the leading health conditions facing men today. -
Fact SheetPatient Checklist:
Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Low Testosterone
Use this checklist of questions to help start a discussion with your doctor about low testosterone. -
Science in the SpotlightTen Medical Innovations to Watch
Thanks to new medical innovations, every five years for the past 30 years, life expectancies have been extended by a year. -
Living LegendBob Haldeman Believes in Wellness
At 65, Haldeman is an avid cyclist and competitor in the Senior Olympics and has been athletic and active his entire life. -
Get Mad ColumnInvesting in NIH
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) predict that in the near future, doctors will have the ability to identify life-threatening diseases years before they strike and that new treatments for cancer, heart disease, and diabetes are just years away from discovery. -
Science in the SpotlightMedical Innovation: A Long-Term Vision
As the first members of the Baby Boom generation turn 60, a national dialogue is gaining momentum concerning the impact that our exploding senior demographics will have on our already over-burdened health care system. -
ReportThe Silver Book:
Chronic Disease and Medical Innovation in an Aging Nation
March 2006 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Alzheimer's Disease Cancer Cardiovascular Disease Diabetes Federal Funding Health Medical Innovation Parkinson's Disease Research StrokeThe Silver Book is a unique almanac of references that the Alliance has compiled to spotlight the impact of chronic disease on our aging population and health care system, and the significant impact medical breakthroughs will have on future health care use and expenditures. Much of the information on this topic is buried in dense and detailed reports and peer-reviewed papers and is spread out amongst many important publications. The Silver Book brings together statistics and data culled from over 130 of these reports and articles, from more than 85 agencies, organizations, and experts. The information is presented in an easy-to-use format that we hope brings it to the fingertips of those shaping policy.
The Silver Book is also available on-line in a searchable database that is regularly updated. Visit The Silver Book On-line to find the latest data, download presentation slides, submit data, and find-out about Silver Book events. -
DocumentIn Pursuit of the Longevity Dividend
March 2006 | S. Jay Olshansky, Daniel Perry, Richard A. Miller, Robert N. Butler
Related topics: Longevity"Imagine an intervention, such as a pill, that could significantly reduce your risk of cancer. Imagine an intervention that could reduce your risk of stroke, or dementia, or arthritis. Now imagine an intervention that does all of these things, and at the same time reduces your risk of everything else undesirable about growing older: including heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer and Parkinson disease, hip fractures, osteoporosis, sensory impairments, and sexual dysfunction. Such a pill may sound like fantasy, but aging interventions already do this in animal models. And many scientists believe that such an intervention is a realistically achievable goal for people. People already place a high value on both quality and length of life, which is why children are immunized against infectious diseases. In the same spirit, we suggest that a concerted effort to slow aging begin immediately - because it will save and extend lives, improve health, and create wealth." -
Science in the SpotlightThe Eyes Have It
Stem cells could hold the key to stopping and even reversing the blinding effects of aging, according to recent research. -
Alliance ViewsCaught in the Act of Leading
Led by California, several state governments are taking the lead in advancing stem-cell research, relegating the federal government to a back seat in one of the most promising areas of medical research. -
Feature ArticleForever Young: Calorie Restriction Slows Aging
Scientists searching for a way to delay the aging process may have found it in an intervention that many Americans battle with again and again—cutting calories. -
Get Mad ColumnMedical Errors: How Many is Too Many?
Potentially deadly mistakes continue to plague U.S. hospitals, according to a new report. -
Living LegendThe Polish Lady on Pulaski
Bernice Gorell recently missed a couple of days of work. The 93-year-old had cataract surgery on a Thursday and didn’t go back into her office until ... Monday. -
ReportThe Science of Aging Gracefully:
Scientists and the Public Talk About Aging Research
In cooperation with Public Agenda and The American Federation for Aging Research, the Alliance sponsored a survey of 49 leading scientists and 1,000 randomly sampled adults, in order to determine their understanding of, and expectations for, aging research. The scientists showed significant optimism for the research but at the same time, expressed concerns about limitations that could hamper the research including an austere funding climate, limited federal support for stem cell research, and a variety of bureacratic and structural impediments. Learn more about the survey results in this report. -
DocumentColon Cancer - Caring for the Aging:
Key Survey Findings
The Alliance commissioned a survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, that interviewed oncologists on the importance of caregivers for elderly colon cancer patients. 77% of physicians interviewed agreed that colon cancer patients 65 and older experience better disease outcomes when a caregiver is involved because of better communication. 81% also said that they depend on caregivers at least somewhat, and some a great deal, to act as an intermediary between them and the elderly patients. 100% fell the caregiver is part of a team involved in the patient's disease management.
The physicians felt that the primary roles of the caregivers are to provide emotional support, participate in doctor's visits and in disease management decisions, and to provide transportation to and from doctor's appointments. Unfortunately, only around three out of five colon cancer patients age 65 and older have the support of a caregiver. -
Fact SheetColon Cancer:
Tips for Patients and Caregivers
Caregivers play an important role in ensuring that colon cancer patients age 65 and older receive the best possible care. One of the many important roles that a caregiver plays in treatment is facilitating communication with doctors and making sure the right questions get asked. Both caregivers and patients should read this Tip Sheet and take a proactive role in disease management. -
DocumentThe Best Minds in the Business:
SAGE Crossroads Trading Cards
November 2005 | Alliance for Aging Research
Related topics: Aging Research Longevity Medical Innovation ResearchUse the SAGE Expert Cards as a quick reference to some of the nation's leaders in the science of aging, research, and policy. The SAGE Expert Cards will introduce you to people who are shaping and influencing this exciting field and connect you with the important work that they are doing.
This first edition pack includes 50 cards. Each card includes a photograph, quick summary of the researcher's work, and essential information such as specialty and favorite gene. -
Science in the SpotlightLiving to 100 and Beyond
First-born daughters are three times more likely to survive to age 100 than their latter-born sisters; and first-born sons are twice as likely to become centenarians as those sons born fourth, fifth, or sixth in the family, according to a new study prepared for the Society of Actuaries (SOA). -
Feature ArticleCaregiver Involvement Leads to Better Cancer Outcomes
Those who have been diagnosed with colon cancer will tell you that the support of friends and relatives is invaluable. -
Alliance ViewsLongevity in the Short-Term
At the Alliance for Aging Research, we are committed to a vision of healthy longevity for millions of Americans, made possible through advances in science and technology. -
Living LegendMyrvin H. Ellestad, M.D.: Lifelong Learner
Around the world, the name Myrvin Ellestad is synonymous with groundbreaking work in cardiology. -
Get Mad ColumnNational Institutes of Health Funding
It’s that time again, the annual struggle over funding for the National Institutes of Health. -
BrochureWhat's On Your Plate May Help Save Your Sight:
Age-related Macular Degeneration
Learn how your diet and lifestyle can help you preserve your vision and protect against eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This exciting brochure teaches you how certain foods and behaviors can provide a good defense against vision-zapping eye disorders. -
Science in the SpotlightLearning More About Breast Cancer
Gatherings of breast cancer researchers have been surprisingly upbeat events lately, as scientists are beginning to feel that maybe - just maybe - they’re making some real progress toward understanding the disease. -
Get Mad ColumnDiseases in the Shadows
Walking. Driving. Working. Most of us take these activities for granted, but millions of elderly Americans do not because they cannot fully care for themselves. -
Living LegendDon Robertson: The Voice of Happy Retirement
As the “Voice of CBS Sports” for 25 years, Don Robertson used his exceptional vocal cords to make a living. -
Alliance ViewsStem Cell Debate
President Bush will disagree, but the House of Representatives has handed him a gift for his second term: a chance to update his Administration’s stem cell policy in a way that would earn him bi-partisan praise for returning American scientists to the forefront of this fast-moving medical frontier. -
Feature ArticleThe Family Healthcare CEO
Having a healthy family is so important to women, they give their family’s health more priority than their own. -
Fact SheetTest Your Bone Knowledge
Answer true/false questions and rate your knowledge of osteoporosis. -
BrochureTaking Charge of Osteoporosis:
A Guide for Patients Understanding Osteoporosis
This helpful tool provides patients with the information they need to understand, prevent, and treat osteoporosis. It also provides helpful tips on how to talk to your patient about the disease, as well as important resources for finding more information. -
BrochureTalking With Your Patient About An Osteoporosis Diagnosis:
A Physician’s Guide
This guide presents information and suggestions on helping physicians work with their patients to develop a workable plan for facing the challenges of living with osteoporosis. The materials include tips for talking with patients about the disease, sample conversations, and helpful resources to direct patients to for additional information. -
Science in the SpotlightTiny Tales
We are on the verge of a new age of discovery that would pique the curiosity of Galileo, Newton, and Einstein. -
Get Mad ColumnA Time to Commit
Despite scientific evidence that a cure for Parkinson’s disease could be near – perhaps no more than five years away – the National Institutes of Health was recently unable to initiate clinical trials to test four new Parkinson’s drugs. -
Alliance ViewsBarriers to Healthy Aging
Older Americans know how to maintain their health, but they see obstacles in the path to a healthy lifestyle. -
Living LegendVirgie Harris-Bovelle: A Life Full of Heart
Virgie Harris-Bovelle, 70, lives with an implanted defibrillator - a device that automatically shocks her heart out of an irregular rhythm. -
Feature ArticleWoman's Breaking Point
A new national survey reveals too many physicians misread or do not even ask about the fears of their osteoporosis patients and inferentially suggests this may be one more reason why many patients do not stick with their medications. -
Science in the SpotlightThe Secret Genes of Centenarians
If you have lived beyond the age of 100, countless people may ask you for your secret to long life. -
Living LegendBill Wellington: The Return of the Ice Age
Bill Wellington has some pretty high praise for the doctor who performed his double hip replacement surgery, Dr. Patrick Caulfield of Bethesda, Maryland. -
Get Mad ColumnChampagne Wishes and Geriatric Dreams
Those inclined to celebrate the just-passed huge and historic expansion of Medicare should pause in their champagne toasts to consider this: most doctors, nurses and other health professionals in the U.S. receive almost no formal training in geriatrics, which seriously undermines the quality of care - especially safe prescription drug therapy - for America's seniors. -
Alliance ViewsFirst, Do No Harm to Basic Research
President Bush and the Republican Congress are on the verge of wreaking havoc upon on America's preeminent medical research system, at the same depriving themselves of a glowing political legacy. -
Feature ArticleAnti-Aging: Hype v. Reality
Very real remedies that will stop or reverse the aging process may ultimately be discovered, but for now, save your money to spend on a health club membership. -
Science in the SpotlightWhat You Should Know About BPH
As they get older, many men find themselves making more nightly trips to the bathroom. They may fear that this sort of problem is an unavoidable consequence of aging, or - worse - a sign that they have prostate cancer. -
Get Mad ColumnEvery Vote Counts for Aging Issues
Americans' choice for president in 2004 will have a direct impact on the lives of seniors. -
BrochureTen Facts About Depression
This fact sheet provides important information about elderly depression. -
BrochureHow to Talk to Your Elderly Parent About Depression:
A Guide for Caregivers
Depression in older adults is often dismissed as inevitable or a "normal" part of aging, when in fact depression is a treatable medical illness. This brochure outlines the signs of depression in older adults, offers advice on how to approach an older person if you notice these signs, and provides places to get more information. -
BrochureRaising the Index of Suspicion:
Quick Questions to Ask Every Patient Over 65
The purpose of this assessment card for physicians is to help raise awareness of depression in older patients. -
DocumentDealing with a Parent's Depression
This article shares the story of an older woman and her struggle with depression. -
DocumentDealing with Depression in Later Life
This article shares the story of one women dealing with her older mother's depression. -
DocumentDiagnosis Depression
This article explains depression including symptoms, potential causes, and treatments. It also gives advice on getting help. -
Science in the SpotlightHere's to a Long, Long Life with Health, and Happiness, Too
If you could swallow a little yellow pill and live to be 120 years old, would you? -
Alliance ViewsStem Cell Update
Patient advocates for a variety of debilitating and deadly diseases are banding together to step up research into stem cell science, which may hold very real hope for treatments or cures. -
Feature ArticleAtrial Fibrillation
Most of us are happy to make adjustments in our lives now if we know they may reduce our chances of developing health problems later. -
Living LegendJohn Young: Physically Active and Young at Heart
Retiring and taking it easy isn't a part of John Young's life plan. -
Get Mad ColumnLeadership, Commitment, Hope: The 21st Century Challenge
The 20th century witnessed amazing advances in human health and longevity thanks to public health measures and medical research breakthroughs. -
BrochureDon’t Get Blind-sided by Age-related Macular Degeneration
Learn about the causes of of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and ways you can protect your eyes. -
BrochureBeyond Diagnosis:
Next Steps for People with AMD - Resource Guide for Physicians and Staff
This resource guide is designed to inform health professionals about the various services available to help patients with AMD. The resources include information on rehabilitation, financial assistance, support groups, research, and employment options. -
BrochureHow to Better Help Your Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration:
Facts for Effective and Efficient Care
This physician's guide provides helpful hints for treating patients with age-related macular degeneration. Topics include early detection, diagnosis, treatment, patient education, and more. -
Science in the SpotlightAll Roads Lead to...Sardinia!?
A drug now in clinical trials for treatment of type 2 diabetes could eventually be used to promote longevity by treating or preventing major age-related diseases. -
Get Mad ColumnDetecting Depression Before It's Too Late
Spring may be a time of renewal, but it is also the peak suicide season, when the incidence of death rises with the warmer temperatures. -
Feature ArticleDo You Know Your Life Expectancy?
For those of you familiar with the Alliance for Aging Research website, you may have already experienced our most popular interactive feature…the "Living to 100" quiz, a tool that calculates your longevity potential. -
Living LegendNorman G. Anderson: The Scientific Explorer
At an age when most people are winding down, Norman G. Anderson can't stop working. He keeps inventing things. -
Science in the SpotlightDon't Be Such a Pain!
Pain is an unpleasant subject. -
Living LegendFrank Mankiewicz: 'Revolutionary' On the Inside
If you're a lobbyist for a well-known Washington, D.C., public relations firm, it pays to know people. -
Get Mad ColumnRespect Your Elders
We see them sometimes on the evening news-stories about another scam targeting the elderly or the discovery of an employee physically abusing residents of a long-term care facility. -
Alliance ViewsThis Election's Unhealthy Debate Over Health Care
Political consultants this year advised candidates to turn the industry that researches and develops our medicines into a political punching bag. -
Feature ArticleThe Costs of Being a Woman!
It's no secret that chronic illnesses are costly to treat. -
Alliance ViewsAdvancing Quantity and Quality of Life
In the August 12th issue of the New York Times, writer Nicholas Kristof editorialized on what he sees as the ambiguous, and often rogue nature of aging research. -
Get Mad ColumnAgeism Part II: Prevention and Treatment for the Elderly
The perception of older Americans as frail, dependent, and isolated may be a self-fulfilling prophecy. -
Living LegendBob Hope: A Legend That Will Live On
Leslie Townes Hope worked as a shoe salesman, a stock boy, and even a boxer before he found his true calling. -
Science in the SpotlightIs Red Wine Flowing from the Fountain of Youth?
In the search for ways to lengthen the human lifespan and extend good health further into old age, scientists had until now found only one program that demonstrated real promise: severe calorie restriction. -
Feature ArticleLess Might Be More
If you have osteoarthritis, your least expensive option for treatment might also be the most effective. -
Science in the SpotlightAge-Related Macular Degeneration
The eyes are the first to go, the old adage says. -
Living LegendDr. Marie- Louise Johnson: The Sensitive Skin Doctor
Dr. Kenneth Johnson has considered encouraging his wife to retire and step "out of the trenches," but he has abandoned the thought. -
Alliance ViewsGuiding Principles
To ensure that its work is consistent and productive, the Alliance has established the following set of five principles, or overarching goals, that guide all Alliance policy and advocacy initiatives: -
Get Mad ColumnIt's a Matter of Ageism- Part 1
The perception of older Americans as frail, dependent, and isolated may be a self-fulfilling prophecy. -
Feature ArticleSun and Skin...An Unhealthy Partnership
After a long winter spent inside, many of us welcome the appearance of the sun and the return of warm weather. -
TestimonyAgeism in Healthcare Testimony:
Senate Special Committee on Aging
Daniel Perry, executive director of the Alliance for Aging Research, submitted testimony before the Senate Special Committee on Aging, highlighting a report How American Health Care Fails Older Americans. -
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