MARCH 20, 2026 TREATMENT Could there be a cure for Alzheimer's? Cuba's Ministry of Public Health does research, on top of operating a highly-regarded, state-run, universal and free healthcare system that achieves top-tier health indicators — such as high life expectancy and low infant mortality — comparable to developed nations. It focuses heavily on preventative care, community-based clinics, and a high doctor-to-patient Michigan are living with Alzheimer's. The disease affects approximately 1 in 9 people 65 and older, 11% in this age group, with an increase to 33.3% for those aged 85 and older. Nearly two-thirds of Americans with ratio. However, the Cuban government faces challenges from a U.S.-led economic blockade that has led to shortage of medicine, and low pay for doctors. Cuban scientist Dr. Teresita Rodríguez Obaya at the Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM) is developing a promising nasal spray drug that has shown potential to slow Alzheimer's progression and improve cognitive ability in trials. It is not currently classified as a "cure," but acts as a neuroprotective treatment. Dr. Obaya, the founder of CIM, has led this research, partly inspired by her own mother’s battle with the disease. Data from Cuban Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials indicated the intranasal drug (NeuralCIM or NeuroEPO) is safe and appears to significantly slow cognitive decline in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Some trial data even suggest symptom reversal in a percentage of patients, which is an extraordinary claim not typically seen with other available medications. It is a laboratory-engineered version of a naturally occurring protein which is believed to stop neural cells from dying, promote their growth, reduce inflammation and enhance communication mechanisms in the brain. The intranasal delivery is designed to bypass the blood-brain barrier effectively. Though the full methodology and raw data from the trials have not yet been widely shared or subject to rigorous peer review, leading to calls for larger international trials, the drug POWWOW from page 4 our clan blood thins through mixed marriage. How many ways to erase us, count the ways. My favorite fancy shawl was the AIM warrior shawl I created in 2003 as a tribute to the American Indian Movement. It was that year I attended the AIM Powwow at Pipestone National Park in Minnesota and gave a flesh offering for spirit. AIM has helped tribes across the nation achieve both awareness and outreach to inner city tribal members. AIM has been radical but AIM originally was, in fact, to help Native American Indians like me who MIKE JONES Groundcover vendor No. 113 Alzheimer's are women. Nearly 12 million family members and unpaid caregivers provided 19.2 billion hours of care in 2024. The United States population is has been approved for use within Cuba’s national health system. The results from the Cuban trials indicated that it is more impactful than current FDA-approved drugs. One U.S. physician who has accompanied patients to Cuba for the treatment reported “life-changing” impacts and described the trial results as “incredible.” While the published clinical data from Cuba is very encouraging and has led some experts and patients to seek access, the broader international medical community awaits independent, large-scale studies to fully validate the findings and potential of NeuroEPO. All recorded data reports, as of late 2025, indicate the drug could change how the world treats Alzheimer's. Alzheimer’s facts Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, irreversible brain disorder that destroys memory, thinking skills and eventually the ability to perform simple tasks. It should not be confused with other age-related cognitive decline disorders; it causes more severe symptoms. It is the seventh-leading cause of death in the U.S. An estimated 7.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia in 2025, making it a major public health concern. Approximately 200,000 to 203,000 people in had no connection to being Native because of relocation. I joined AIM in Detroit from 2005 to 2009. For my last outfit, I chose to dance out with my favorite bird, the peacock. My last compeition dance was in 2014, when I was 45. But my dance is not over. I am now transitioning to traditional dance. I hope in two years I will become a jingle dancer. Native dance is always a work in progress and should always be done for the pure joy of dance; competition is just an added benefit. I never set out to be a competition dancer. Come to the 2026 powwow and watch me dance! adoption or aging rapidly, with over 10,000 adults turning 65 years of age daily according to AARP International. By 2030, 21% of Americans are predicted to be 65 years or older. The population will also become more diverse with projected increases among Black (13.3%–15%), Hispanics/Latinx (17.8%–27.5%) and Asian (5.7–9.1%) people by 2060 (Vespa et al., 2018). Conversely, there will also be a decrease in non-Hispanic white people (76.9%–68.0%). Based on 2024–2025 research, dementia — including Alzheimer’s disease — is significantly more prevalent among the homeless population in the United States compared to the general population, with a 6.81% prevalence rate found in a meta-analysis of studies. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2023 and 2024, respectively, Leqembi (lecanemab) and Kisunla (donanemab), are now being administered to thousands of people across the United States, and both have been shown to slow cognitive decline in people with early-stage Alzheimer’s. These leading U.S. Alzheimer's drugs are monoclonal antibodies that remove amyloid plaques, slowing cognitive decline by roughly 22-35% but with the risk of causing brain swelling/ bleeding risks. They do not show signs of reversal. Conversely, Cuba’s NeuralCIM (or NeuroEPO) targets brain cell protection and, in preliminary data, suggests stabilization or potential symptom reversal. U.S. drugs are approved, high-cost options that modify disease progression by clearing plaques. The Cuban drug is an experimental, potentially disease-reversing approach focused on neuroprotection. Resources for learning more about Alzheimer’s disease The Michigan Action For Cuba Committee invites Groundcover News readers to the movie screening “Teresita’s Dream” at St Luke’s Episcopal Church in Ypsilanti on March 28 at 5 p.m. The movie is about Dr. Obaya and her personal ambition, and the development of the promising nasal spray drug that has shown potential to slow Alzheimer's progression and improve cognitive ability discussed in this article. The Michigan Action For Cuba Committee is a part of The National Network On Cuba which is a U.S.based umbrella organization composed of more than 60 organizations advocating for an end to Washington’s hostility towards Cuba, especially the inhumane U.S. economic blockade against Cuba. The University of Michigan has extensive, ongoing research on Alzheimer’s disease through the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center, which offers over 20 active studies. Key initiatives include U-M Memory and Aging Project (a primary, long-term observational study on memory and aging); clinical trials (studies on new medications, neuroimaging, biomarkers and lifestyle interventions); and specialized care (research and treatment from the U-M Health Cognitive Disorders Program). Patients and volunteers can join studies, including the MiNDSet registry. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 7 forced
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