r. Steven T. DeKosky, an Alzheimer’s researcher and medical school dean at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, agreed – at least in part.
"There is no money in this to do things," he said in an interview. "But research is only one part of what we need. We now know that it’s going to take a lot longer than we thought to find a cure for this and, in the meantime, we have to prepare to take care of a lot of people who are going to develop it."
Building national awareness is probably the first step toward increasing financial support for the disease in any area, said Dr. Richard J. Caselli, professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Ariz.
"The main thing this does is elevate Alzheimer’s to a visible national debate, and one that also puts it on our social agenda that may catalyze more progressive change," he said in an interview. "And if that means more funding for research, clinical, and community programs, then even better."