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 4, 2025

Join Right at Home for a zoom conversation on the Guide Model of Dementia Care, with Chaeli Lawson, Chief Clinical Officer, LifeCare Solutions, April 10, noon CT.  Learn more about this wonderful new Medicare benefit!  The GUIDE Model focuses on comprehensive, coordinated dementia care and aims to improve quality of life for people with dementia, reduce strain on their unpaid caregivers, and enable people with dementia to remain in their homes and communities. It will achieve these goals through Medicare payments for a comprehensive package of care coordination and care management, caregiver education and support, and respite services.  https://rahceu.zoom.us/meeting/register/clKjwLZ6Ry2FvDQA03N7JQ

Hear the latest on diagnosis and care for people with Alzheimer’s disease with Dr. David Geldmacher, April 13, 3pm, in the chapel at Hunter Street Baptist Church.  A UAB Professor of Neurology, widely respected in the field of memory disorders and Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. Geldmacher is the Warren Family Endowed Chair in Neurology and Director of the Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology in the Department of Neurology at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. He leads UAB’s Brain Aging and Memory Clinic program, which focuses on the interdisciplinary care of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. 2600 John Hawkins Parkway, Hoover, 35244.

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.

Support Group Meetings:

Alzheimer’s News:

In response to the recent reductions in staff and funding for programs across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), UsAgainstAlzheimer’s has joined 30 leading neurological advocacy organizations in urging an immediate halt to funding and staffing cuts that threaten progress in the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer’s and dementia. These cuts risk reversing critical advancements in research and care for diseases that affect millions of Americans.  Read the full text of the joint statement here:  https://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/press/usagainstalzheimers-joins-more-20-leading-neurological-advocacy-organizations-urge-immediate.  UsAgainstAlzheimer’s raises deep concerns about the potential impact of recent Reduction in Force (RIF) measures on health agencies that remain critical to the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These agencies are key players in advancing research, approving new treatments, and implementing public health efforts that help millions of Americans affected by Alzheimer’s.  UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Chair and Co-Founder, George Vradenburg, released the following statement regarding the proposed budget cuts: “We have made huge progress in the fight to end Alzheimer’s and now is not the time to cut the very agencies driving that progress. The NIH, FDA, and CDC are essential to Alzheimer’s research, prevention, and ultimately, to getting a cure. Reducing their capacity will only delay the help that so many American families need and rely on. We commend the Senate for calling a hearing on these issues, and we urge them to continue the bipartisan tradition of supporting these agencies so they can find a cure to end this devastating disease. The Alzheimer’s community—patients, families, caregivers, and researchers—needs the support of our government now more than ever. UsAgainstAlzheimer’s is committed to working with the Administration and Congress to make sure that Alzheimer’s remains a top priority and that our public health agencies are fully equipped to meet the challenges ahead. We look forward to next week’s Congressional hearing and the opportunity to discuss specific steps to protect the nation’s commitment to preventing and ending Alzheimer’s disease.”  https://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/press/usagainstalzheimers-warns-against-cuts-threaten-alzheimers-research-and-treatment

A low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level below 70 mg/dL was associated with a 26% reduced risk of all-cause dementia and a 28% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia (ADRD), with statin use further decreasing that risk, a new study suggests. While earlier research had suggested lower LDL levels may offer a protective advantage against dementia, these findings provide a specific target number, which investigators said could prove helpful in clinical practice. These findings emphasize the importance of targeted LDL-C management as part of dementia prevention strategies, with potential integration into clinical guidelines. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/lower-ldl-critical-importance-reducing-dementia-risk-2025a10007yb

For those living with dementia, a common concern is ‘sundowning syndrome’. Sundowning refers to how the confusion associated with dementia can get worse after the sun goes down. Approximately 20% of people living with dementia experience sundowning.  This time of year, the changing of the clocks can be confusing to everyone’s internal clock and often cause tiredness and irritability; these effects may be even more prominent for someone living with dementia.  The circadian rhythm dictates our ‘body clock’ and sleep cycle; when the clocks change it can affect your loved ones natural circadian rhythm which in turn can affect the chemicals which are released by the brain. These changes can affect things from mood and behaviors to feelings of wellbeing.  Learn more about sundowning and see the products created by Relish, whose mission is to help improve the overall wellbeing of people with dementia by providing fun, meaningful activities that help build their relationships with their family, friends and caregivers.  https://relish-life.com/en-us/blogs/articles/can-the-clocks-changing-affect-someone-with-dementia

Two drug trials halted:

  • This week, pharmaceutical company, Alzheon, announced its amyloid-targeting pill failed to slow cognitive decline in early Alzheimer’s but may have made a small difference for people with MCI. The company has not yet decided whether it will seek FDA approval or conduct further studies.  Anti-amyloid drugs like Leqembi and Kisunla are on the market for treating early Alzheimer’s disease, but they are expensive, difficult to access, and only slow disease progression by a small amount. They also carry risks, including brain swelling and small brain bleeds (ARIA). People who have carry copies of the ApoE4 gene — known as homozygotes — known as homozygotes — face the highest risk of these side effects. As a result, some countries have approved the drug with restrictions for ApoE4 homozygotes. https://www.beingpatient.com/alzheon-pill-fails-phase-three-trial/
  • Cassava has faced scientific scrutiny — and federal charges — over allegations of fraud around simufilam. Now, the company is throwing in the towel on Alzheimer’s treatments altogether.  In November of last year, Cassava Sciences announced their experimental Alzheimer’s drug simufilam failed to slow cognitive or functional decline in its 52-week Phase 3 trial. The trial that failed is over, and the company has also shut down a second ongoing Phase 3 trial because of this negative data. Last week, the company shared data from its halted Phase 3 trial, showing again that the drug had no effect on Alzheimer’s disease. The company will phase out its work on Alzheimer’s disease and will pivot to test the drug to treat epilepsy caused by a rare genetic disease called tuberous sclerosis complex. https://www.beingpatient.com/cassava-gives-up-on-simufilam-alzheimers-drug/

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended refusal of a marketing authorization for donanemab (Leqembi), which targets the treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use said that the benefits of the medicine were not sufficient to outweigh the risk of potentially fatal events.  Donanemab is a monoclonal antibody against amyloid beta, intended to slow the progression of AD in adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia by reducing amyloid plaques in the brain. It is given as a monthly infusion in early symptomatic disease, but frequently causes amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), which represent swelling and potential bleedings in the brain.  https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/alzheimer-drug-donanemab-gets-no-go-european-regulator-2025a10007j6

New research suggests that the shingles vaccine Zostavax may protect against dementia, supporting the theory that viruses that affect the nervous system may contribute to neurodegeneration.  The study, which leveraged a unique vaccine rollout policy in Wales and analyzed the health records of more than 280,000 older adults, showed that receipt of the live-attenuated shingles vaccine reduced the probability of developing dementia by around one fifth over 7 years. Shingles vaccination is recommended for older adults. If the shingles [vaccine] has a benefit for dementia delay or prevention in addition to its preventive benefit for shingles, then this is all the more reason to get vaccinated.  https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/new-level-evidence-links-shingles-vaccine-lower-dementia-2025a10007y2

Researchers have developed and validated a simple “peel-and-sniff” test that can be completed unsupervised at home to screen for cognitive impairment. It’s well known that impaired olfactory function is often associated with cognitive decline and may serve as an early indicator of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, prompting interest in developing smell-based screening tests.  The AROMHA Brain Health test (ABHT) — in which participants sniff odor labels that have been placed on a card — assesses an individual’s ability to discriminate, identify, and remember odors.  In testing, adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) scored lower on the test than adults with normal cognitive function.https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/home-smell-test-cognitive-impairment-promising-2025a10007ge

Where you live and spend time may play a powerful role in cognitive health, according to a new report. The findings add to growing evidence that environmental factors like exposure to air pollution or access to parks can affect the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.  For the analysis, researchers reviewed dozens of studies that looked at the effects of our environment on cognitive health and the risk of dementia. By pooling data from multiple studies, they quantified how much various environmental factors could increase or decrease the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.  Various forms of pollution increased dementia risk by up to 10 percent. Exposure to high levels of fine particulate matter in the air, a form of air pollution that is generated by vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions or wildfire smoke, was associated with a 9 percent increase in the risk of dementia. Exposure to high levels of nitrous oxide, another common air pollutant generated by agriculture, fossil fuel combustion, wastewater management or industrial processes, increased risk by 10 percent. Living in areas with high noise levels—so-called noise pollution—increased risk by about 9 percent, while living near major roadways, a source of both air and noise pollution, was associated with a roughly 10 percent higher risk of dementia.  Alternatively, some built environments helped reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Exposure to green areas like parks, or blue spaces like bodies of water, reduced dementia risk by about 6 percent. Living in communities that were easily walkable, providing access to food markets, community centers, or doctors’ offices, also reduced risk by several percent. https://www.alzinfo.org/articles/prevention/how-your-surroundings-may-affect-your-alzheimers-risk/

Age at menopause may interact with factors related to the health of synapses, or nerve cell connections, to influence the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in women, a study found.  Associations between biomarkers of poor synapse health and higher levels of Alzheimer’s-related proteins in the brain, as well as steeper cognitive declines, were stronger when menopause was experienced at a younger age, the researchers said. These interactions were not as strong when women had received hormone replacement therapy.  These findings highlight the importance of both hormonal factors and synaptic health in influencing AD [Alzheimer’s disease] risk in women.  https://alzheimersnewstoday.com/news/menopause-synapse-health-interact-raise-alzheimers-risk/

Long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs:  aspirin, ibuprofen) was associated with a 12% reduced risk for dementia in a new study, whereas short- and intermediate-term use showed no protective benefits.  Researchers included more than 11,700 dementia-free participants (mean age, 66 years; 60% women) from the prospective population-based Rotterdam Study.  Participants were screened for dementia during an average follow-up of 14.5 years; 18% of participants received a dementia diagnosis during follow-up. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/long-term-nsaid-use-linked-lower-dementia-risk-2025a10006xc

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. In 2024, ACA provided services for 399 families living in 20 Alabama counties.  Read this heartfelt response from one caregiver whose loved one attends a respite center on an ACA scholarship:  Thank you, thank you, thank you for making our world make more sense again! We laugh more, love more and breathe, rest and sleep more normally than I have in a long time. Before this opportunity, I often felt that I was underwater, fighting for every breath and yet feeling that I was still not doing enough. Contact Miller Piggott: mpiggott@alzca.org.

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

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