MediciGlobal's Alzheimer's Community Reaches 200,000 likes and more than half a million weekly visitors

PHILADELPHIA and LONDON, Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- One week after World Alzheimer's Day, MediciGlobal Ltd. announces its major milestone: Alzheimer's Team reaches over 200,000 supporters. The online community which caters to patients, families and caregivers, was developed to draw attention to clinical trials, emerging diagnostic tests and evolving treatments for Alzheimer's disease. It also provides inspirational support and fosters online engagement with its daily postings.

Alzheimer's ranks as the leading healthcare concern for people over the age of 50, surpassing both cancer and heart disease. Despite the fear over Alzheimer's, social stigma and misunderstanding about this neuro-degenerative condition persist, resulting in delayed diagnosis or equally problematic, a diagnosis where the full extent of Alzheimer's is not revealed to the patient or family. Research has found that initial Alzheimer's symptoms can occur up to 12 years before diagnosis, making the opportunity to recognize early-stage symptoms of the disease – such as significant memory loss and poor judgment and decision-making – crucial, so that therapeutic treatment may be administered before irreparable damage occurs. "Early detection is ideal," says Liz Moench, President and CEO of MediciGlobal and founder of Alzheimer's Team. "The need to seek diagnosis and treatment much earlier, before significant damage to the brain has occurred is a message we are reinforcing. But in the cases where Alzheimer's has advanced from mild to moderate, our goal is to encourage families to run, not walk in seeking treatment for their loved one, empowering them with the information they need to do so, and encouraging clinical trial participation as a way to access new treatments."

In recent years understanding of the very early phases of Alzheimer's disease has improved significantly. By showcasing that more advanced diagnostic tools are becoming available, including mainstream diagnostic tests that will be entering clinical trials later this year or in early 2015, Alzheimer's Team will continue to leverage its global Facebook community to support clinical trials awareness and participation.

"Industry funded clinical trials for Alzheimer's are highly competitive on a global basis and are specialist-dominated. This poses a challenge for other stakeholders including primary care, advocacy, social services, community memory services, and residential living organizations. Whilst all benefit from having patients involved in clinical trials and under the specialty care of integrated medical centers, few are aware of clinical research opportunities and or steps to take to guide their constituents through the process of screening to enrollment. It is for this reason Alzheimer's Team plays an important role of raising awareness for and sustaining the dialogue about clinical trials," observes Dr Emer MacSweeney, Medical Director and co-founder of Re:Cognition Health, London UK and a leading Physician Investigator for numerous neuro-degenerative clinical trials. "Alzheimer's Team has generated significant awareness about educational events and opportunities for enrollment in clinical trials at our centers. It is a synergistic relationship that benefits all stakeholders." Dr. MacSweeney adds.

"In recent years understanding of the very early phases of Alzheimer's disease has improved significantly," says Moench, "and for this reason Alzheimer's Team plays a very important role of sustaining the dialogue about clinical trials for diagnostic tests and treatment of this disease at a much earlier stage, before significant damage to the brain has occurred." Through Alzheimer's Team, MediciGlobal aims to remove the stigma of Alzheimer's by showing that people can live productive lives with Alzheimer's and without dementia, enabling Alzheimer's disease to become managed like any other chronic medical condition.

Most importantly Moench says "we are touching people's lives every day. Caregivers tell us that the posts they read on Alzheimer's Team help them get through the day ,and the hints, ideas and information sharing helps them cope with the daily challenge of being an Alzheimer's caregiver."

Alzheimer's Team has also supported patient advocacy organizations around the globe in promoting their fundraising and educational events. As it continues to grow, Alzheimer's Team aims to positively impact the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease in the future. "We have many exciting plans for this community yet to be unveiled," says Moench.

About MediciGlobal:
MediciGlobal is in the business of making a meaningful difference to patient health—by identifying and engaging patients for clinical trials, and by building deep and lasting connections with its many stakeholders: patients, researchers and pharmaceutical sponsors. MediciGlobal's clinical trial recruitment practices are guided by global standards and by a concern for the lives of the patients who put their trust in the Medici team. MediciGlobal makes certain that those who participate in clinical trials fully understand what clinical trial participation means, and that their participation is guarded by strict privacy policies. MediciGlobal is an industry leader in the use of social media and internet-based technologies to connect patients with physicians to clinical trials and advance new medicines; its more than 30 Facebook communities exceed 1 million fans and more than 12 million visitors weekly. MediciGlobal meets BBB OnLine® and WBENC accreditation standards and is certified as a Safe Harbor company. Visit www.mediciglobal.com to learn more. 

About Re:Cognition Health:
In bringing about change in Alzheimer's treatment and management, Re:Cognition Health headquartered in London, UK is an industry leader. Specializing in the patient management of neuro-degenerative conditions, Re:Cognition Health offers an integrated, comprehensive approach to early-accurate diagnosis, treatments, including clinical trials, and complements this with individualized support led by specialist nurses and neuro-psychologists. As a specialty medical center, its patient care model has garnered global attention and numerous business enterprise awards.

As clinical leaders, Re:Cognition Health is contributing to the various debates about diagnostic and treatment standards, educating primary care physicians about cognitive impairment, and shaping guidelines for advanced imaging.

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SOURCE MediciGlobal