Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia take a terrible toll on the lives of seniors. But medical professionals at hospitals across the country are hard at work developing solutions to help people reclaim their older years.
Since the discovery of Alzheimer’s disease in 1906 scientists, hospitals, and healthcare workers have been helping rekindle older patients’ joy, caring for them during challenging times, and slowly but surely zeroing in on a cure.
Below are some highlights of the last 100+ years of dedicated passionate research and discoveries made related to understanding and treating Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
1910 – Emil Kraepelin, a German psychiatrist who worked with Dr. Alzheimer, first names “Alzheimer’s Disease” in the eighth edition of his book Psychiatrie.
1993 – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves tacrine (Cognex) as the first drug specifically targeting Alzheimer’s memory and thinking symptoms. Four additional drugs are approved over the next 10 years.
1999 – Reports published showing that injecting “Alzheimer” mice with beta-amyloid prevents the animals from developing Alzheimer-like brain changes.
2011 – The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services implement a cognitive impairment assessment as a part of the mandatory Annual Wellness Visit for Medicare Beneficiaries as part of the ACA.
2018 – Alzheimer’s Association released Dementia Care Practice Recommendations aimed at helping professional care providers deliver optimal quality, person-centered care for those living with Alzheimer’s.
2021 – Aducanumab becomes the first FDA-approved therapy to address the underlying biology of Alzheimer’s disease.