Latest news with #JimBrewer
Axios
3 days ago
- Health
- Axios
Alzheimer's research at risk as diagnoses rise
More than 7 million American seniors now live with Alzheimer's disease — the highest number ever recorded, according to 2025 data shared in a new Alzheimer's Association report. Why it matters: As Alzheimer's diagnoses rise, the federal funding for medical research that's critical to preventing and treating it is at risk of being cut. State of play: Over 17,300 Californians die from Alzheimer's every year, but addressing cognitive decline early can help stave off the disease. That's especially important with San Diego County's growing senior population — about 16% of residents. Zoom in: The odds of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's is higher in San Diego than many other parts of the country, at least in part because of the local hospital system. That doesn't necessarily mean more people have the disease, but more thorough diagnosing can lead to more cases, better care, new tests and treatments. Between the lines: UC San Diego has the top NIH-funded neuroscience department in the country, and the university's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center is developing potential treatments, monitoring drug safety and running clinical trials aimed at prevention. That federal funding is at risk of being pulled, which center director Jim Brewer has said would "absolutely cut the knees out" and could delay progress in addressing the disease, particularly through clinical trials. The latest: The FDA on Friday cleared the first blood test to help diagnose the disease, which could help with early detection. By the numbers: About 12% of Californians over 65 are living with Alzheimer's, per 2020 data in the report. That's almost 720,000 people. At 15%, Imperial County had the ninth-highest prevalence in the country. Zoom out: The highest rates of seniors with Alzheimer's are in D.C. (16.8%), Maryland (12.9%) and New York (12.7%), according to the association. Nearly two-thirds of all Americans diagnosed with the disease are women, per data cited in the report. UCSD researchers are currently trying to figure out why. Warning signs to watch for in high-risk age groups: Trouble finding the right word. Difficulty judging distances. Misplacing things and struggling to retrace steps. Be smart: Keeping your brain on its toes, so to speak, can help prevent dementia.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Yahoo
Not dead yet: Chesapeake resident considered dead finds out how system made her that way
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Like Jim Brewer and Jaime Duzz, Marlaena Horn of Chesapeake has been declared dead, but is very much alive. This is the third case in a month of a person who was declared dead, but is actually alive. Back in January, 10 On Your Side reported that Duzz, a Virginia Beach resident, had been reported dead, with her debit card shut down, and facing troubles getting a job. Not dead yet: VB woman thought dead has to prove living status Brewer, meanwhile, was considered dead to the Virginia Retirement System, American Express and Medicare. Not dead yet: Another person thought to be dead is indeed alive Following that report, 10 On Your Side got an email from Horn, claiming she has been reported dead. What makes this case unique is that it deals with the IRS. Horn's husband died, but she said she was also seen as dead, even after meeting with the IRS. 'I got another letter saying I am dead,' Horn told 10 On Your Side in her home during an interview to gather facts for this story. For Horn, it all began after the death of her husband in December 2022. 'This is the last lingering thing, except not living with my husband, that I have had to deal with,' Horn said. On June 3, 2024, she got an IRS form that read, 'We are unable to process your tax return.' She was troubled and claims she couldn't file taxes with the IRS because they think she's dead. She went to the federal building in Norfolk Oct. 4 and met with the IRS. They see she's alive, takes her tax return and dated it received. They also gave her this dated note, 'I am requesting that social security number be unlocked. Social Security Administration accidentally reported me as deceased. However, I am not.' Then Jan. 6 she got this in the mail: 'Your 2023 return could not be processed.' 'I'm dead,' she told 10 On Your Side. 'This is February of 2025, and this is still not resolved. This is absurd.' With Horn, 10 On Your Side called the IRS number on the notice she received, and went through to a case worker. Was she surprised to get on the phone so quickly with the IRS? 'I was surprised,' she said. 'It went through so fast.' The case worker told Horn that it had happened, but not all the time. 'There is coding in the system that says you are deceased,' the IRS worker told her. 'It is kind of weird. … Without us having any date of death in there for you, there is nothing to indicate that you died. … In our system, that is still the part that is still causing an issue on our side.' He kept working trying to figure it out, and the IRS caseworker represented the IRS with professionalism and was quick in figuring out how it happened and solving the issue. 'It appears they reversed the indicator that you were deceased,' he told her. 'Why did you get that other notice? For some reason, there were two on there. They have now reversed it for you. … There were two entries in the system, and because there was one still showing that you were deceased, it generated this (these notices).' He deleted it and fixed it. 'How would I assess this success we have had today,' she said. 'If it went through and it is corrected, it has been 100% effective.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Yahoo
Not dead yet: Another person thought to be dead is indeed alive
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — There are thousands of people like the Virginia Beach woman who had been struggling to get benefits and a job because she had been declared dead. Not dead yet: VB woman thought dead has to prove living status 10 On Your Side has since heard from others, including a retired police officer with 46 years of law enforcement experience. But Jim Brewer is very much alive, and very much struggling with the system to try and convince it that he's, indeed, alive. According to the Social Security Administration, around 10,000 death records must be corrected each year. It is a small amount, but for those listed as dead when they are not, it is a big deal. Just one question — are you dead? 'Well, it depends on who you ask,' Brewer told 10 On Your Side. A lot of people have asked. Brewer is considered dead with the Virginia Retirement System. He held the letter that read, 'we are saddened to hear James Brewer's passing. The Virginia Retirement System extends our condolences to you at this difficult time.' Said Brewer: 'I was dead. The state of Virginia thought I was dead — knew I was dead too because I got a retirement from them also.' Brewer is also dead to American Express. 'I got two American Express cards,' Brewer said. 'They told me yesterday, they said, 'Mr. Brewer, we have records showing that you're dead,' and I had to straighten that out because they were going to shut down my cards.' And again, Brewer is listed dead to Medicare. 'That is Anthem Medicare, and they wrote us, 'The death of James Brewer, please accept our condolences'' Brewer said, reading from the letter. '…Yesterday, I called Medicare. They still have not been notified by Social Security that I am alive.' After our report two weeks ago, Jim wrote this email to 10 On Your Side, which included: 'Well, Andy, it looks like the story you did last week, social security has listed me as dead, and I was in their office today for four hours … to try and fix it,' Brewer wrote. 10 On Your Side reached out to the Social Security Administration, which had helped with the wrongful listing death of Virginia Beach resident Jaime Duzz. We called SSA Regional Communications Director Shawn Fordham and left a message. 'Mr. Fordham, I got another person who's dead,' 10 On Your Side told him, 'but I'm sitting right here talking to him. His name is Jim Brewer. I'm going to text you with his information. He needs help from the SSA to let everyone know that he's alive, … and I am holding the letter saying that he's dead.' Fordham did not return 10 On Your Side's call, but he promptly called back Brewer and has promised to help, Brewer said. Brewer wants to get to the bottom of the mistake that has been troubling him. 'First of all, this is what I want: I want to know who made the mistake,' Brewer said. 'I want to know who notified them, or who made the mistake. I don't want anybody disciplined. I don't want anybody to be fired. I want answers on how this happened. … 'It is frustrating. It's a lot of work. I've had to spend many, many, many hours on the phone because of this.' Brewer said he appreciated the call from Fordham, and he feels like he has the SSA's attention. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
