On July 30, 2008, the ASG met to review the high-level findings in each of the four themes agreed upon at the last meeting on March 11. These four themes, which will serve as focal points for the ASG's recommendations development work are:
4 Encouraging Information Sharing and Rapid Learning across the Alzheimer’s Disease Community.
4 Improving Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Trials.
4 Improving Alzheimer’s Disease Community-Based Care Models.
4 Creating an Effective Governance Structure to Guide Alzheimer’s Disease Efforts.
After a comprehensive literature review and individual interviews with over 80 experts, ASG staff produced a discussion document for the meeting on each theme. While recommendations will not be limited to these four themes, the ASG has concluded that each of these issues will play a pivotal role in determining the success of our nation in addressing the growing Alzheimer’s disease crisis, and has therefore requested source material to be developed to guide their deliberations and that this be prepared as a document titled, “A Source Document on Thinking about Alzheimer's Disease.” The ASG has requested that a draft version of the Source Document be shared widely, with an invitation for comments and feedback on the materials.
Building from the draft Assessment, the draft Source Document, interviews and other foundational efforts, the ASG will meet again on October 20, 2008 to consider recommendations that will be included in its final report, to be released in March, 2009.