“Will I Be Next?” Producer Therese Barry-Tanner attended the American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting in San Antonio by invitation on May 19. There, she met with members of the Clinical Research in Dementia Special Interest Group. The group is committed to networking among AGS members who are dedicated to clinical research in older adults suffering from dementia. It’s a collaborative forum for members to share findings and methodologies. The chair, Dr. Noll L. Campbell’s interest is in medication management of older adults with cognitive impairment.
The purpose of Barry-Tanner’s presence at the meeting was to introduce the group to “Will I Be Next?” and to discuss two community engagement goals adopted from the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease:
1. Accelerate the discovery for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Activate a culture of brain health.
The project goals resonated with the Clinical Research in Dementia Special Interest Group, as their primary goal is accelerating the discovery of a cure.
Some of the barriers to finding a cure to Alzheimer’s disease have included a lack of public awareness, not enough volunteers willing to participate in research, and shortage of funding.
One geriatrician from Toronto has been in the field for over 25 years and said that it’s the same story when a patient is diagnosed today as it was back then — there still isn’t a cure or a way to prevent the disease. Dr. Campbell and the group are interested in partnering with the film and furthering mutual goals.