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March is International Women’s month. For those of us focused on advancing innovative technologies that bring hope and help to families battling dementia, we remember that Alzheimer’s disease impacts women more than men. Women are more likely to develop the disease and women are more likely to provide unpaid care for individuals experiencing dementia.
One of the major challenges facing the cure for Alzheimer’s disease is that science takes time. A promising new report from Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM) shows that doubling the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) funding for women-focused Alzheimer’s research would yield huge returns. Their thesis shows that investing $300 million for women’s Alzhiemer’s disease research adds back $930 million to our economy.
Although women are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease as men, women have been underrepresented in health research. Just 12% of the NIH’s budget for Alzheimer’s disease is focused on women. Until recently, the overwhelming majority of research with innovative solutions for Alzheimer’s disease—including clinical trials, device development, and diagnostics—were conducted on men. That means our knowledge about women’s health relating to dementia has been limited.
Another major obstacle is the caregiving economy. Alzheimer’s disease is not just a global health crisis, it is also an economic disaster in the works. There are nearly 17M people in the US providing care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. The majority of the people providing unpaid care are women. 19% of those women have had to quit their jobs due to caregiving responsibilities. Annually, that means about 2 million women are forced out of the workplace.
The WHAM research shows that shifting research dollars to focus on women means that every dollar invested generates $3.24 in economic value and saves $1.24 in direct healthcare costs. Perhaps more importantly, their modeling shows that funding for women’s health research also yields a positive impact on health improvements, life status, and health costs.
As families prepare to emerge from the pandemic, people are demanding new, innovative solutions to care for one another. Advances in research and emerging new technologies are here now and it’s encouraging to know that there’s more to come.
A doctor-recommended light therapy that rejuvenates brain function leading to remarkable health benefits. Choose a light system that fits effortlessly into your daily routine.
A 4-light system to fits into common areas like lounges, game rooms, or libraries where groups of people experience the lights and move freely about the spaces. The lights are synchronized to fill large rooms with safe, rejuvenating light to complement daily routines and planned activities.
Our synchronized 2-light system is best for larger rooms and shared spaces like family rooms and offices. Set them up on either side of the TV and turn them on while you’re watching your favorite programs. Or set them on conference tables or end tables for daily meetings. Think of them like a candle that casts glimmering light to improve concentration and executive function.
We designed Beacon40 Personal to fit into any home or office. Turn it on for at least one hour a day and experience the passive therapy of rejuvenating 40Hz light. Use them in any room at home while you answer emails, during meals or while you go about your daily routines. Use voice controls to set your personal preferences including tone, brightness and schedule.