| News Release – For Immediate Release February 1, 2007 More Information: 703.758.9733 or 804.698.1036  |
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| Delegate Kenneth R. Plum was honored by the Virginia Center on Aging and Virginia Commonwealth University leaders on January 24 as the Center celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases Research Award Fund (ARDRAF). Delegate Plum introduced legislation during the 1982 General Assembly session that established seed money for the grant program. | 
Dr. Shelton Retchin presenting the award to Delegate Plum at a Public ceremony on January 24, 2007, in Richmond. |
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For the past 25 years, ARDRAF has made a significant difference in supporting medical and behavioral research into the causes and cures of dementia. Sheldon Retchin, M.D., CEO, VCU Health System and VCU vice president for Health Sciences, presented Plum with a plaque recognizing his critical role and celebrating the program.
The Virginia Center on Aging credits ARDRAF as being the most productive, state-based initiative of its type in the country. |
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ARDRAF’s many practical results include clinical tools to help physicians diagnose dementia, Web-based help for family caregivers, therapeutic interventions for persons with Alzheimer’s, improved drug regimens and a search-and-rescue protocol used around the world to find lost and confused wanderers with dementia. To date, ARDRAF has awarded 105 small grants totaling $1.6 million, which in turn brought in over $16 million from non-Virginia sources.
