Alzheimer's of Central Alabama

Serving people with Alzheimer’s, caregivers and professionals in central Alabama through education, caregiver services and research grants.

ACA’s Weekly Email April 19, 2024

ACA will host the Garden Art Party, May 4 at Haven.  This incredible auction has raised money for ACA’s essential services for low-income families living with Alzheimer’s since 1997.  Donations for the auction are welcomed.  Purchase tickets here:  https://alzca.org/gap/

Restorative Chair Yoga for Caregivers led by Frannie James at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church.  6-week series (Tuesdays 11:30am-12:15pm) April 23-May 28.  Restorative chair yoga is an opportunity to help alleviate the isolation that caregivers often feel – to help reduce stress, depression, and anxiety by practicing some self-kindness and compassion. Each session will consist of gentle movements to help build strength, flexibility, and – perhaps most importantly – inner calm. There is no cost, but donations are accepted. For more information or questions, please send an email to foundersplace@saint-lukes.com or call 205.802.6218.  Registration link: https://bit.ly/3xGCQbi.  To learn about Frannie James, please visit: https://franniejamesyoga.com/

Webinar:  Navigating Social and Legal Challenges in Familial FTD, April 26, 2-3 pm CT.

https://events.zoom.us/ev/ApIN_tLbFaUXg5RTLyLbYP1MVMgTzVAm8IJMheTAADBbYQY9tZSu~Ao64cPdAOXQ4FUv3ggWa_2RyLA1kRrqNTTPbMGuSyvdXPkY7rwi7E1xiwgTrcAw4uMYqx4VVzD2ruG8hB2q0g1PW9A

April is National Poetry Month! Join AlzAuthors for an inspiring virtual discussion on the role of poetry in caregiving with Margaret Stawowy, Sherri Levine, Daniel Potts, MD, FAAN, and Sue Fagalde Lick.Each will read their own poetry and answer readers’ questions about writing and reading poetry while caregiving. Hosted with our partners at Aging and Amazing on Tuesday, April 30 at 7 pm.  Link for registration : https://alzauthors.forms-db.com/view.php?id=27327

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s announced the return of its Brain Health Academy, scheduled to begin on May 9.First launched in 2022, the Academy offers a free, comprehensive virtual program designed to equip healthcare providers and wellness professionals with the necessary tools and resources to reduce the risks associated with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.  Interested:  https://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/press/usagainstalzheimers-launches-2024-brain-health-academy

Support Group Meetings:

April Webinars from Alabama Lifespan Respite: https://alabamarespite.org/events2/

Alzheimer’s News:

APOE is a gene that provides the body with instructions for making a protein called apolipoprotein E (typically involved in the metabolism of fats in the body).   There are several versions of the APOE gene and APOE4 is the one that’s linked to increasing a person’s risk for developing late-onset (aka after age 65) Alzheimer’s disease—the most common form of dementia that affects over 6.7 million Americans. You can inherit an APOE4 gene from each parent. About 25% of people carry one copy of APOE4, and only about 2-3% of people carry two copies.  Lifestyle plays an outsized role in the development of Alzheimer’s—so much so that it may balance out the likelihood of Alzheimer’s disease regardless of genetic risk. This article from mindbodygreen, dives into the nitty-gritty behind what this genetic risk even means, and dissect the correlation between lifestyle habits and Alzheimer’s risk.  https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/should-you-find-out-your-genetic-risk-for-alzheimers-disease?inf_contact_key=78cb99ecfcfc181ec345e5c4065648862ee8e4b705a211e22edd8f4baaa26cc6

Brain fog is a type of cognitive dysfunction characterized by confusion, memory issues, and lack of focus. It’s not its own diagnosis but a symptom of an underlying medical condition.  Common causes include: stress; lack of sleep; hormonal changes; diet; medications; medical conditions.  https://www.healthline.com/health/brain-fog?inf_contact_key=e511a53f5a5e7606baf6d063b0a066356d9ebf63638ff85889fe352cff7601e8#causes 

Stressful events in midlife could raise the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in old age. A research team found that in men, having major stressful events in midlife was associated with increased levels of beta-amyloid in the brain. Buildup of the toxic protein, which clumps together in the brain to form plaques, is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. In women, stressful life events in midlife were tied to lower levels of gray matter in the brain. Decreased brain volume is another risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.  Higher levels of stressful experiences in childhood were also associated with higher risk of developing body-wide inflammation, including increased inflammatory markers in the brain, later in life. Scientists believe that inflammation is tied to a range of age-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s and heart disease.The researchers found that people with psychiatric illnesses, such as depression or chronic anxiety, also had higher levels of beta-amyloid, brain shrinkage, and inflammation, as well as higher levels of tau tangles in the brain, which is another sign of Alzheimer’s disease. The study provides further evidence that major and ongoing stress is bad for your cognitive health. The findings further underscore the potential importance of stress relief in helping to mitigate the onset of Alzheimer’s. https://www.alzinfo.org/articles/prevention/stress-in-midlife-may-be-especially-bad-for-your-brain/

DailyCaring offers 14 ways to calm dementia screaming and crying:  https://dailycaring.com/14-ways-to-handle-screaming-and-crying-in-dementia/?utm_source=DailyCaring&utm_campaign=f1d80aafeb-dc_email_2024-04-15&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_57c250b62e-f1d80aafeb-123515277

Working your brain hard at your job could pay off in more ways than boosting your career — it may also protect your cognition and help prevent dementia as you age, a new study found.  Having a routine job with little mental stimulation during your 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s was linked to a 66% higher risk of mild cognitive impairment and a 37% greater risk of dementia after the age of 70, according to the study, when compared with having a job with high cognitive and interpersonal demands.  https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/17/health/brain-job-dementia-wellness/index.html

 
 

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