AFA Webinar April 30, noon, The Link Between Pain & Agitation with Aggression in Dementia. https://alzfdn.org/event/the-link-between-pain-and-aggression-in-dementia/
AFA Webinar May 8, at noon, Sleep and Dementia. https://alzfdn.org/event/afa-care-connection-webinar-may-2025/
Support Group Meetings:
- ACA’s support group with Miller & Vance, Tuesday, April 29, 11:00 – noon CT. Call (205) 871-7970or mpiggott@alzca.org. Join us on zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85247427423
- CJFS CARES, Mondays at 3 pm, contact Pam Leonard, pam@cjfsbham.org.
- St Lukes Episcopal Church on Tuesdays at 10:15. Contact Betsy Smith (smith35213@gmail.com) or Janis Cole (janiscarole3@aol.com).
- West Alabama Area Agency on Aging, Caregiver Support Group, Tuesdays, contact Robin Montgomery, robin.montgomery@westal.org.
- M4A’s Caregiver Support Group, 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, 10 – 11:30 am, Montevallo. Contact Robyn James, rjames@m4a.org.
- The Oaks on Parkwood, 4th Tuesday’s, 10:00 am, Contact: Karen Glover, karenrglover@gmail.com.
- CJFS CARES, Tuesdays, 7:00 pm, contact Pam Leonard, pam@cjfsbham.org.
- United Way Area Agency on Aging of Jefferson County, 3rd Tuesday of each month 11:30-12:30, contact Valarie Lawson, vlawson@uwaaa.org
- Eastaboga, 2nd Tuesday, 6:00 pm. Contact Julie Slagle jslagle@lakesidehospice.org
- Trussville, 3rd Tuesday, 6:00 pm. Contact Julie Slagle jslagle@lakesidehospice.org
- Covenant Presbyterian Church, first Wednesday of the month, 10 am, church parlor, Contact Kristian Hatley at Khatley@covpress.com.
- M4A virtual support group, 3rd Wednesdays 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Contact Chalane Mims, cmims@m4a.org.
- Trinity United Methodist Church, every Thursday at 2:30 pm, contact Ernie at 205-370-0032 or emailewillis@trinitybirmimgham.com.
- Asbury United Methodist Church 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 1:00, contact Maggie Dunaway atmdunaway@asburyonline.org.
- AFTD support group, second Tuesday of the month. Amber Guy: 251-281-5344.
- Discovery United Methodist Church, Hoover, 2nd and 4th Thursdays 10:30-noon. Peggy Harrison: pharrison@discoveryumc.org.
- St. Mark’s UMC, Vestavia Hills, Fridays at 1 pm. Contact Donna Baird: (205)717-9880.
Alzheimer’s News:
This year marks Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama’s 28th Garden Art Party, May 3, at Event at Haven. This is one of our two major annual fundraisers supporting local programs and services benefiting people living with dementia and their families. Every dollar raised will stay in Alabama and provide much needed services like scholarships for respite care and home delivery of Ensure meal supplements and continence care. Your support is needed by purchasing tickets to attend, donating items to the auction, volunteering or being a sponsor. Please consider how you can help us keep, or even grow, our vital services to low-income families throughout Alabama. https://alzca.org/gap/
Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama received a donation from the Southern Energy Credit Union Foundation. The Foundation announced and delivered $19,000 donations to seven charitable organizations. The recent donations, totaling $133,000, were part of the Foundation’s 2024 distribution of funds in support of its mission to empower the organizations working to strengthen our communities by addressing the needs of individuals within them. Check presentations took place at Southern Energy Credit Union’s 71st Annual Meeting of the Membership. The recipient organizations included: Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama, Autism Support of Alabama, Children’s Harbor; Christ Health Center, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Birmingham, Owens House, The WellHouse.
Read or watch at 52 minute Being Patient interview with dementia care expert, Teepa Snow, as she fields caregivers’ questions about excessive itching, Capgras syndrome, Lewy body dementia symptoms, and the power of laughter. https://www.beingpatient.com/teepa-snow-ama-dementia-care/
Rice University in Houston, Texas is conducting a national, fully remote research study funded by the National Institute of Health, which examines how people experience and process emotions during the process of caregiving. Learn more here https://tscan.rice.edu/ The purpose of this research study is to investigate the role of emotion processing and coping in people who are serving as the primary caregivers for a loved one with Alzheimer’s (or other related dementias). Specifically, we’re seeing how thinking about emotional situations in different ways may help in managing the stress of caregiving. If you are interested in taking part in this study, you will be asked to complete a telephone screening call with a member from the research team (approximately 20 minutes) to assess eligibility. They are looking for participants who 1) are the principal person taking care of a loved one with a physician-based diagnosis of dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease, and 2) have a smartphone. In total, this study will take approximately 6 hours to complete and participants can be compensated up to $120 for this study via Amazon e-gift card. The principal investigator of this study is Dr. Bryan Denny in the TSCAN Lab at Rice University. To get more information about the study contact at caregivers.tscan@gmail.com or 713-348-3528. This research study (IRB-FY2018-336) has been reviewed and approved by Rice University’s Institutional Review Board.
Consuming at least eight alcoholic drinks per week was associated with a 133% higher risk for hyaline arteriosclerosis, a brain lesion associated with memory and thinking problems, than not drinking, new research showed. A history of heavy drinking was linked to an 89% higher risk for these lesions, as well as a higher risk for reduced brain mass and cognition. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/heavy-drinking-tied-risk-brain-lesions-2025a10009n1?ecd=WNL_trdalrt_pos1_250423_etid7380394&uac=407526BK&impID=7380394
How you manage a cluster of health conditions known as metabolic syndrome could have a big impact on whether you develop dementia at a young age, according to a new study. To be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, a person must have three of the following conditions: a large waistline, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high blood triglycerides, and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, also known as HDL or “good” cholesterol. People who had metabolic syndrome, or a combination of those components, were 24% more likely to develop dementia at a young age, the data showed. https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/23/health/metabolic-syndrome-early-dementia-wellness/index.html
Adequate treatment of high blood pressure (BP) can substantially lower the risk for dementia or cognitive impairment without dementia, new data indicated. In a large study of Chinese adults with untreated hypertension, intensive BP management through medication and lifestyle changes cut the risk for dementia by 15% and cognitive impairment without dementia by 16% over 4 years. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/treating-high-blood-pressure-may-lower-dementia-risk-2025a10009r2?ecd=wnl_dne3_250424_MSCPEDIT_etid7381030&uac=407526BK&impID=7381030
Consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs), such as carbonated drinks, processed meats, and sweet or savory packaged snacks, is associated with accelerated biological aging, as measured by 36 blood-based biomarkers, and factors other than poor nutritional content may be to blame. Higher intake of UPFs was associated with accelerated biological aging compared with the lowest intake, with a mean difference between the biological and chronological ages of −4.1 years and 1.6 years in those with the lowest and highest intakes, respectively. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/ultraprocessed-foods-linked-faster-biological-aging-2024a1000l7u?ecd=mkm_ret_250423_mscpmrk_gastro_diet_etid7376763&uac=407526BK&impID=7376763
Scientists uncovered a new biomarker that may help predict cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer’s disease. The findings suggest measures of two proteins could improve early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and help predict or monitor cognitive decline. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/new-biomarker-tracks-cognitive-decline-alzheimer-s-disease
The Trump administration has been conducting a restructuring of the US Department of Health and Human Services as well as a review of funding, resulting in the abrupt cancellation of hundreds of research grants under the National Institutes of Health and many others left in limbo, waiting for a decision on whether their funding will be renewed. In March, 14 of 35 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers had their funding halted by the NIH as the administration stopped $65 million in funding for research. NIH paused funding for 14 research grants across several universities. It is important to note that this action was not a reflection of the quality or significance of the research, including the critical work being done in Alzheimer’s disease. Instead, the pause was a necessary step in response to compliance issues related to grant proposals that included language pertaining to DEI, as well as concerns regarding antisemitism.” A spokesperson said, the NIH is “committed to advancing groundbreaking research in Alzheimer’s disease. However, we also have a responsibility to ensure that all grant proposals align with the established policies, including ensuring that language used in these proposals reflects NIH’s commitment to non-discriminatory, merit-based research practices. The responsibility for removing any non-compliant language lies with the institutions, and we encourage them to make necessary changes so these important Alzheimer’s studies will resume.” Many advocates call the funding pauses alarming. https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/24/health/alzheimers-research-nih-funding/index.html. Reach out to your Congressmen: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative. Reach out to your Senators: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm.
UAB Arts in Medicine is offering a new weekly music therapy group for memory care patients and their caregivers. The group is free and meets every Wednesday at The Dance Foundation at 10 am, 1715 27th Court South, Homewood. This group, led by a board-certified music therapist, provides a supportive and joyful environment where music can play a powerful role in enhancing well-being. No Registration Required: Simply show up! For more info contact: Lauren Edwards at laurenme@uab.edu or Hannah Oakes athannah@rootedmusictherapy.com.
May Webinars from Alabama Lifespan Respite: https://alabamarespite.org/events2/