Looking Beyond the Label with U.S. Pharmacopeia

Respiratory virus season is here, which means preventable illnesses like the common cold, flu, COVID-19, and RSV are everywhere this time of year. Though they can sometimes feel the same, they’re not, and knowing the difference can help you protect yourself and the people you love. Luckily, the Alliance for Aging Research has you covered with a new educational series explaining how to spot the signs of each virus, who’s most at risk for serious illness, when to test, when to treat, and how vaccines can help prevent complications. Joining us today to explore these materials and break down the importance of vaccination this holiday season is Katrin Werner Perez, Director of Health Programs here at the Alliance. 

October 15 marks the start Open Enrollment period for 2027, when beneficiaries can review and change their coverage through December 7. As prescription drug benefits and health plan options evolve, understanding your choices is essential to avoiding unexpected costs and potentially saving money. Joining us to chat about what you should consider this Open Enrollment Period is Alliance Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Government Relations, Scott Frey. 

Believe it or not, Innovation is happening all around us, and advocates and policymakers are working hard to ensure groundbreaking developments in medicine reach those who need it most. At the forefront of our efforts increase equitable access is the Patient Eligibility Restoration Act, or PERA Act, a bill that could dramatically change the landscape of patent protections, especially for transformative innovation in medical diagnostics. Joining me today to discuss the significance of the PERA Act, it’s growing support on the Hill and what’s at stake is Alliance President and CEO, Sue Peschin. 

Until recently, receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis often required an expensive brain scan or invasive procedure. The introduction of the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act aims to change that by expanding access to innovative diagnostic tools that could make screening more affordable and accessible.As the ASAP Act continues to gain bipartisan support, the Alliance remains committed to advancing innovations in Alzheimer’s care and amplifying the voices of advocates working to improve access to early detection.Joining us to discuss the ASAP Act and its potential to remove barriers to care is patient advocate and Alliance for Aging Research Board Member Jay Reinstein.

For more than 60 years, the Older Americans Act has provided vital support to vulnerable older adults through programs that home-deliver meals, offer transportation services, caregiver support, and beyond. Administered through the Administration for Community Living, these services help millions of older Americans age with dignity and independence.Despite its long-standing success, the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget revives efforts to dismantle the Administration for Community Living and threatens the future of these critical programs.Joining me to discuss what’s at stake, the potential impact on older Americans, and how advocates are fighting back are Alliance VP of Public Policy Scott Frey and Alliance Board Member and former HHS Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging Edwin Walker. 

As we continue celebrating our milestone 40th anniversary, the Alliance for Aging Research is setting its sights on another big event, Heroes in Health. If you’re new to the show or unfamiliar with our awards dinner, it’s an annual gathering in Washington, DC where advocates, experts, patients, policymakers, clinicians, and more come together to honor leaders advancing healthy aging. And this year feels especially meaningful.Joining us to share what we have in store is Alliance Development Coordinator, Lauren Belsky. Since joining the Alliance last year, Lauren has hit the ground running, playing a key role in corporate partnerships, fundraising

Alzheimer’s and related diseases don’t just affect memory. They also bring behavioral and psychological challenges known as neuropsychiatric symptoms, or NPS. These can include anxiety, depression, agitation, and sleep disturbances, making life difficult for both patients and caregivers. As symptoms progress, so do the risks of injury, isolation, and the need for institutional care, often worsened by stigma and limited support.To address this, the Alliance for Aging Research and the National Alliance for Caregiving co-hosted the “Caring Together” summit in December 2025, bringing together experts, caregivers, and people with lived experience to share practical tools and strategies—now captured in a new white paper. Joining us today to discuss these resources is Jason Resendez, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving, where he leads efforts to better support more than 63 million family caregivers nationwide.

This year marks a major milestone as the Alliance for Aging Research celebrates its 40th anniversary. That’s four decades of changing the narrative around aging and fighting for equitable access to care. And if you thought turning 40 was a sign to slow down, we’re here to tell you we’re just getting started.On this very special episode of The Check-Up, I’m joined by Alliance President and CEO Sue Peschin and Founder and Board Member Dan Perry to reflect on 40 years of service to the aging community, and to discuss our continued commitment to healthy aging.

Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day (HVDAD) takes place each February 22 during American Heart Month and was launched to raise awareness of valve disease risks and symptoms, improving detection and treatment. Before the campaign began, symptoms were often dismissed as “normal aging,” when we now know they’re not. Today, HVDAD unites more than 135 partners including nonprofits, advocacy groups, hospitals, and heart centers to amplify awareness nationwide. We’re joined by Lindsay Clarke, COO and Senior Vice President of Health Education at the Alliance, who founded HVDAD and helped grow it into the movement it is today.

From multivitamins to protein powders, thousands of supplements crowd drugstore shelves offering over-the-counter answers to our nutritional needs. Yet with so many options out there, how do we know which ones to trust?Joining us is US Pharmacopeia (USP), an organization focused on building trust in the supply of safe, trusted quality medicine. USP, is an independent, scientific nonprofit organization focused on building trust in the supply of safe medicines. Through rigorous science and the public quality standards they set, USP helps protect patient safety and improve the health of people around the world.