$100 Million Approved for Alzheimer’s Research

BILL WILL SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PREVENT AND TREAT DEMENTIA

An appropriations package, signed earlier this month by President Biden, will increase funding by $100 million for research into Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia at the National Institutes of Health for the fiscal year 2024. The new law, approved with bipartisan support, will allocate $34 million to fund and continue to implement a law known as the “Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act of 2024” or the “BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act of 2024.” This funding will serve to “drive innovation and accelerate improvements in care, treatment and prevention for Alzheimer’s and all other dementia,” Robert Egge, the Alzheimer’s Association’s chief public policy officer, said in a statement.

Net Worth of Americans on the Rise

SENIORS 55 AND OLDER – STILL THE WEALTHIEST

The Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) recently reported that the median net worth of US Americans “jumped 37% to $192,900 and mean net worth increased 23% to $1,063,700 between 2019 and 2022.” This growth in net worth “was the largest three-year increase over the history of the modern SCF, more than double the next-largest one on record,” according to the report – published in the fall of last year. Growth was experienced across all age groups. According to experts, the rise in net worth was, to some extent, attributable to higher levels of savings during the pandemic. As noted, “average” numbers are higher than data relating to the “median,” as the average number is affected by the uber-wealthy and those numbers raise the average dramatically. At any rate, here is the latest data, from the SCF report:

• Under 35: $39,000 (median); $183,500 (average)
• 35-44: $135,600 (median); $549,600 (average)
• 34-54: $247,200 (median); $975,800 (average)
• 55-64: $364,500 (median); $1,566,900 (average)
• 65-74: $409,000 (median); $1,794,600 (average)
• 75+: $335,600 (median); $1,624,100 (average)

The largest growth came from the under-35 group. The wealthiest group were the 65 to 74-year-olds, reflecting a lifetime of savings. After age 75, with a significant percentage of the population enjoying retirement, the numbers decrease.

SCAM WATCH

BE AWARE OF IRS FRAUD

It’s tax season again. Not surprisingly, the IRS has warned that tax fraud is on the rise. You can reduce your risk by knowing some of the red flags and talking about IRS scams with family members. In the typical tax scheme, the fraudster contacts their target via phone, email, text, or social media. They impersonate the IRS in an effort to make the taxpayer believe that there is a problem with their tax return or refund. With every passing year, these scammers become more sophisticated in their tactics. They may:

• Use a false phone number to mimic a legitimate text or call from the IRS (“spoofing”)
• Utilize fear tactics, such as suggesting your return has an error or that you owe a large sum of money or a penalty
• Communicate that certain information needs to be “confirmed,” such as a social security number or date of birth (“phishing”)
• Instruct you to provide specific payment methods (e,g, credit cards, gift cards, money transfers or cryptocurrency) to pay your taxes
• Request that you share personal information to “facilitate tax” refunds.

What you should know:

• The IRS initiates contact about any tax issue with a letter on official IRS letterhead. They will not contact you by phone, text, email or social media
• Do not give or “confirm” any personal information to an individual who contacts you via phone call, text, email or social media
• You can verify the legitimacy of any communication you receive using the published IRS phone number: 1-800-829-1040.

If you suspect that you have been contacted by a fraudster in this type of scheme, do not click any links or respond. Visit the official IRS site for instructions. This site will also assist you with obtaining an Identity Protection PIN, if you have been the victim of a financial crime where your personal and/or financial information has been compromised or stolen. This PIN is a six-digit number that prevents someone else from filing a tax return using your Social Security (SSN) number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

GOVERNMENT UPDATE / LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

OLDER AMERICANS ACT

Last month, the US Administration for Community Living released a final rule to update the regulations for implementing its Older Americans Act (OAA) programs. These new regulations took effect on March 15th. Partners in aging organizations around the country are expected to implement this final rule by providing “robust technical assistance and other resources to support states, tribes and tribal organizations, area agencies on aging, and others in the aging network” in meeting requirements that will improve the lives of seniors. More information about these updated OAA regulations can be found here.

Dancing and Longevity

NEW RESEARCH FINDS CORRELATION

Individuals who have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have a higher risk for developing dementia, according to medical experts. But as one recent National Library of Science study concluded, dance therapy has promising applications in delaying cognitive decline associated with aging. This study looked at the effects of dance therapy on global cognitive function, specific cognitive subdomains, quality of life, and mental health in older adults who were diagnosed with MCI. The research concluded that dance therapy showed promise in “improving global cognitive function, memory, executive function, attention, language, and mental health (i.e., depression and neuropsychiatric symptoms).” This is a positive development as a non-pharmacological treatment for MCI.

We are fond of inspirational posts like this one, which demonstrate that dancing is beneficial at any age. So – get out and dance!