Early detection
We have entered a new era of treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia. For the first time, we now have two FDA-approved treatments that can change the trajectory of the disease if detected early.
Unfortunately, as many as half of the more than 160,000 people in Virginia living with Alzheimer’s are not diagnosed. An early and accurate diagnosis can provide people with the opportunity to access treatments when they would be most effective, implement modifiable risk reduction strategies, plan for future decisions and reduce the financial burden of the disease. Early detection equates to an improved quality of life.
Thankfully, Sen. Tim Kaine can play an important role in accelerating access to blood biomarker tests and earlier detection of Alzheimer’s and other dementia in Virginia and across the nation.
The bipartisan Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention Act (ASAP) creates a pathway for Medicare coverage of FDA-approved dementia blood biomarker screening tests. The ASAP Act would also allow coverage for future test methods approved and cleared by the FDA. This would help to ensure beneficiaries do not face unnecessary delays or barriers to detection and treatment.
Please join me and the Alzheimer’s Association in encouraging Kaine to support the ASAP Act. The association’s gratitude is extended to Sen. Mark Warner, co-sponsor, and Rep. Jen Kiggans, cosponsor in the House, for their leadership in helping advance this critical legislation.
Gino Colombara, Alzheimer’s Association volunteer, Virginia Beach
Optimistic
It is hard to read the news and be optimistic, yet I am. A big part of my optimism is based on focusing on facts instead of rhetoric. I understand climate change will kill us all, democracy is at risk and no one can afford health care, but life goes on. The stock market is at record highs. There is a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas for the holidays. Also, the recent inflation numbers show a positive trend. The “big beautiful bill” will drive private investment, reduce taxes for working people (no federal taxes on tips and no federal taxes on overtime), and tariffs are providing billions in government revenue.
There is a group of Democrats and Republicans working on health care. The Affordable Care Act is broken; it is like putting a Band-Aid on cancer. My hope is that bipartisanship can solve the problem. The Russians and the Ukrainians are at least talking peace with help from the U.S. Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger seems to be a moderate on most of the issues. The border is under control. Maybe Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will just give up and flee to Russia like Syria’s former President Bashar al-Assad did.
There are lots of things being done by President Donald Trump, Democrats and Republicans that I don’t like. But overall, I believe better days are ahead for all of us. So, I choose not to be mad this Christmas. Instead, I choose to embrace friends and family no matter their politics, to enjoy the company of others and welcome new friends.
David Murphy, Virginia Beach
Encore
It’s always a joy to see the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and Chorus perform. However, this holiday season’s VSO performance of Handel’s “Messiah” was something special.
The performance at First Baptist Church in Newport News lifted Handel’s masterpiece to a new level and one that all in attendance greatly appreciated. VSO Music Director and Maestro Eric Jacobsen led the soloists Rachel Blaustein (soprano), Lisa Marie Rogali (mezzo soprano), David Walton (tenor) and Joshua Conyers (baritone). I hope that it was recorded, so all who missed it could enjoy this truly beautiful artistry. Encore, encore!
Steve Corum, Suffolk
