by Matthew R. Bailey President of the Foundation for Biomedical Research

In November, researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center announced that their experimental vaccine had prevented the development of substances associated with Alzheimer’s in mice. The scientists hope to start clinical trials in humans soon. If the vaccine lives up to its promise, it could prevent half of dementia cases. 

These findings stand out as just the latest example of the power of animal research. Cures for dementia are on the horizon — and animal models will be the means by which they arrive. 

Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s exert an immense toll on those who suffer from them, their families, and the broader economy. The number of Americans who died of Alzheimer’s more than doubled between 2000 and 2015.  It’s now the country’s sixth-leading cause of death.  Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are projected to cost the nation $277 billion in 2018.  

Parkinson’s afflicts nearly 1 million Americans  and costs the country roughly $14 billion per year.  And every day, 15 Americans are diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease.  Only 10 percent of them will live more than 10 years after diagnosis. 

Animal research is crucial to reducing the burden of diseases like these. 

Consider how such research has already improved our understanding of Alzheimer’s. By studying monkeys and mice with similar brain abnormalities, scientists have discovered molecules and genetic mutations associated with the disease. Researchers have also been able to prove that obesity and head injuries increase susceptibility to Alzheimer’s. 

Recently, University of Florida researchers found that a special protein could reduce the plaque that builds up in the brains of mice with Alzheimer’s. That could lead to the development of a drug that stops the progression of the disease.   

Animal research is also yielding breakthroughs in the fight against Parkinson’s. A few decades ago, with the help of monkeys, scientists developed a surgical treatment called “deep brain stimulation” that blocks irregular nerve signals. The therapy has helped tens of thousands of people with Parkinson’s.  

New research points to a way to stop Parkinson’s entirely. At the University of Queensland in Australia, scientists have been working with a small molecule that has halted the loss of brain cells in several animal models. They’re aiming to start human trials in 2020.  

There’s hope on the horizon for people with ALS, too. With the help of mice and rats, scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine recently identified a therapy that could reverse neuromuscular damage in people with an inherited form of ALS.  

Animal research helps not just humans but animals themselves, too. Dogs, for example, experience a disease similar to Alzheimer’s that affects their memory and responsiveness.  So treatments that help reduce Alzheimer’s in people could yield therapies for our canine companions as well. 

Some animal activists are opposed to this research. They argue that computer models or cell cultures should be used instead. But these supposed alternatives are not yet nearly sophisticated enough to illustrate how a treatment — especially for a disease as complicated as Alzheimer’s — will work within a complex living organism. 

Neurodegenerative diseases are becoming the scourges of our time. But thanks to animal research, there’s hope in sight.

by Jayson Cohen American Legacy Solutions

Retirement should be a time of rest, relaxation, and play. It should be about focusing on those pursuits that you wanted to do when you were younger, but you have yet to cross them off of your bucket list.

Failing to plan for a comfortable retirement, however, can be a major stressor in the life of someone facing their golden years. Recreational hopes and dreams can quickly be squashed in the wake of news that you haven’t set up things to be nearly as prosperous as you’d hoped. Learning what to do, and what NOT to do, as you plan for this time in your life will be key to being able to enjoy these years. Here are some things to avoid as you plan for this exciting time in your life:

Don’t Rely Solely On Social Security

You may have been somewhat misled with regard to social security—it was never meant to replace your original paycheck. Social security will cover approximately 40 percent of your pre-retirement income, and unless you are intending to pare down your expenses in retirement, its best to put other things in place to make sure you can live comfortably.

Social security funds are also subject to availability, so if market fluctuations affect the overall health of this national account pool, you could also be affected.

Don’t Assume Cost Of Living Will Be Cheaper

If you think of your day to day living expenses like food, clothing, and utilities, it is likely that these expenses will not go away in retirement. You might even find that certain expenses, like health care and leisure entertainment, actually go up during this time. To plan for a comfortable retirement, you’ll need to take into account all of these potential expenses when you budget what your cost of living will be.

Don’t Neglect Catch-Up Contributions

Many people simply don’t prioritize adding to their retirement savings in their early years of contribution to the workforce–most of their income is spent on student loan payments, housing, and supporting their families.

After 50, people can take advantage of a catch-up contribution option, where you are able to put additional money into an IRA or another retirement account. While a startlingly low percentage of people over 50 do take advantage of the catch-up option, it is strongly recommended that you look into this as an efficient way to expand and grow your retirement portfolio. You can do it easily with companies like Lear Capital, who can help when making this kind of investment. You can read reviews for them online.

Don’t Forget Those Taxes

It may seem at first with social security and other avenues of income streaming in that you have a pretty healthy influx of cash at your disposal. Stop and consider whether you have paid Uncle Sam his dues. Most retirement income is still taxable by law; up to 85 percent of social security income is still taxable! Interest and investment income are not immune to tax regulations either, even in retirement. Staying informed and making wise decisions with the counsel of trusted financial advisors will be key to maximizing your profit while minimizing your tax liability.

An Ounce Of Prevention

You’ve heard the phrase, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. It is especially true when planning for retirement. Making smart decisions now and preparing for this time will ensure that your golden years are just that. We are here to help you create a plan that will help you achieve a successful retirement.

Some people can plunge into a new project without planning ahead. Others find that writing a plan is helpful and keeps them on track. When it comes to motivation, the first few months are crucial. If you can stick with physical activities you enjoy, it’s a good sign that you will be able to make exercise and physical activity a regular part of your everyday life. An exercise and physical activity plan might be a good way to help you:

Stay motivated to include physical activity as part of your daily life.

Be organized so you can fit exercise and physical activity into your current lifestyle.

Know what you need to move forward. Do you need to get new exercise shoes or clothes? Do you need equipment, like weights or a tennis racket? Will you have expenses (like health club fees) that you need to fit into your budget?

What to Include in Your Physical Activity Plan

Your reasons for being physically active.

Your short- and long-term goals.

The activities you plan to do. Include all 4 types of exercise—endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility.

When, where, and with whom you will be active.

Things you need to do to get started and keep going.

How Much Exercise Should I Plan to Do?

Aim for moderate-intensity endurance activities on most or all days of the week. Try to do strength exercises for all of your major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week, but don’t exercise the same muscle group 2 days in a row. For example, do upper-body strength exercises on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and lower-body strength exercises on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Or, you can do strength exercises of all of your muscle groups every other day. Don’t forget to include balance and flexibility exercises.

Make It a Plan That Works for You

When you are deciding on your activity plans, you’ll want to:

• Make your plan realistic based on your current activity levels and the amount of time you can dedicate to exercise each week.
• Make your plan specific. Include all of the details of who, what, where, when, and how you’ll be active each week.
• Make physical activity a priority. Put it on your “to do” list every day.
• Make being active easy and fun. Do things you enjoy but pick up the pace a bit.
• Make it social. Ask a friend or family member to be your “exercise buddy.”
• Move Your Way link: Want to get more physical activity? Build a weekly plan

Adjust your plan as you progress or if your schedule changes. You may find that things like vacation or illness can interrupt your physical activity routine. Don’t get discouraged! You can start exercising again and be successful.

• Go easy on yourself. You are not alone.
• The sooner you resume some sort of activity, the easier it will be to get back into your routine.
• Think about the reasons you started exercising.
• Believe in yourself!

If you are finding that your current activities are getting easier to do, find ways to challenge yourself. You can push yourself a little further by:

• Adding new physical activities to your exercise routine.
• Spending more time being active.
• Adding distance to your normal routine.
• Increasing the intensity of your activity.

Remember to check your progress monthly to see if you need to step your exercise plans up a notch!

Find an exercise buddy or buddies to help keep you motivated and maintain your exercise routine. Having a standing date with a friend or family member can help you stick to your plan.

Beginning in 2019, there will be a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) from January 1 through March 31 each year. During this time, MA-eligible beneficiaries will be able to change their MA Plan or elect Original Medicare and
coverage under Part D. Changes are effective the first of the following month.

The MA OEP replaces the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP), which
previously gave beneficiaries the option to disenroll from MA and enroll in Original
Medicare from January 1 through February 14. Now, in addition to switching to Original
Medicare, individuals can use the MA OEP to switch to another MA Plan.
When counseling clients about the MA OEP, it is a good idea to recommend that they
still use Fall Open Enrollment (October 15 – December 7) to make coverage decisions.
Waiting to use the MA OEP means a later start date for important coverage changes.
Additionally, remind Original Medicare beneficiaries that they are not eligible to use the
MA OEP.

Unlike the Fall Open Enrollment Period, which allows beneficiaries to make any number
of changes to their coverage (with the final change taking effect January 1 of the
following year), beneficiaries are only able to make one change during the MA OEP.
MA OEP and other enrollment periods

The MA OEP takes precedence over all other Medicare Advantage and Part D
enrollment periods, except the Initial Coverage Election Period (ICEP).

• The ICEP is the period during which an individual newly eligible for MA can
request to enroll in a plan.
The ICEP occurs simultaneously with a beneficiary’s Initial Enrollment
Period (IEP), but when it ends depends on when the beneficiary enrolls in
Part B.
• If an individual chooses to enroll in an MA Plan when their ICEP and MA OEP
are occurring simultaneously, the ICEP takes precedence. Generally, their MA
enrollment should take effect the first of the month following enrollment (as long
as the effective date is not before they have both Parts A and B).

• If a beneficiary uses their ICEP election opportunity to enroll in an MA Plan and
they are still in the MA OEP, they are eligible to use their MA OEP election Beneficiaries eligible for other enrollment periods during the MA OEP must use the MA OEP. After using their one-time election during the MA OEP, they may use any othe enrollment periods to which they are entitled.
Case example #2: Mr. B is an Extra Help beneficiary. He used the MA OEP to
switch to a new MA Plan, effective February 1. Unfortunately, a few of his drugs
are not on his new plan’s formulary, and his pharmacy is out of network. Mr. B
can use his quarterly Extra Help Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to change
plans in February, with an effective date of March 1.

by Marci Phillips NCOA Public Policy and Advocacy

As the partial government shutdown extends and becomes the longest one on record, we continue to monitor the effects on benefits and services that older adults rely on.

Only 5 of the 12 FY19 appropriations bills have been enacted into law. Those 5 bills provide 75% of federal government funding, and many aging services programs are included. FY19 funding is secure for Older Americans Act (OAA) and Elder Justice Act (EJA) programs, Senior Corps, the Medicare State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

However, several other programs have not been funded. These include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), low-income housing assistance, senior transportation programs, and elder justice and consumer protection initiatives administered by the Justice and Treasury Departments. To date, there have not been any reductions in these services for older adults. But if the shutdown continues, harmful effects will begin to emerge in February and March.

Also caught up in the FY19 funding debate are continuing efforts to extend expired Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) programs that allow older adults to remain in their own homes longer. These include the Money Follows the Person (MFP) and Spousal Impoverishment protection programs. On Jan. 8, with leadership from new Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), the House passed the Medicaid Extenders Act of 2019 (H.R. 259), which provides 3-month extensions for these programs. We are hopeful the Senate will pass the bill by unanimous consent soon.

What’s ahead for FY20

Traditionally, the annual appropriations debate kicks off with the release of the President’s budget request in early February. Due to the shutdown, we believe this will be delayed and the Congressional debate will be postponed until all FY19 funding is enacted.

An important element for FY20 will be the need for another 2-year deal to raise the caps on discretionary spending. Congress has done this in increments over the past few years, and this year they are facing a 9% cut (from $597 to $543 billion) in non-defense discretionary spending and an 11% cut (from $647 to $576 billion) for defense spending if the caps are not raised.

For FY20, NCOA will continue to focus on funding for a range of aging services, calling particular attention to protecting and increasing investments in falls prevention, Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME), SHIPs, and the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).

Due later this year are renewals of key statutes impacting older adults.

The first is renewal of authority under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) to provide targeted funding for SHIPs, Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs), and the National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment (NCBOE) to find and enroll eligible low-income older adults into benefits programs. The current authority expires Oct. 1. NCOA is advocating to make this initiative permanent to eliminate the need for regular renewal.

Also up for renewal is the Older Americans Act. Reauthorization provides an opportunity to update and modernize the OAA to better serve the rapidly growing older population and strengthen the ability of the aging services network to address their needs. We are focused on strengthening research, demonstration, and evaluation activities through the creation of a new Innovation Center; protecting investments in falls prevention, CDSME, and SCSEP; enhancing efforts to coordinate and promote federal resources for home modifications; building upon senior center modernization secured in the last reauthorization; and enhancing the measurement of economic security of older adults.

As these debates ramp up, the NCOA Public Policy and Advocacy team will provide additional details about these proposals and how you can help ensure benefits and services for older adults are protected and strengthened in this Congressional session.