ACA Board President, Doug DeMedicis, is hosting Shoot for a Cure, Friday, August 26, at noon, at the Red Door Gym in Trussville. Doug will attempt to make 25 free throw shots. Family and supporters can make a donation or pledge per shot made in memory of Doug’s sister, Dale Evans. This will be the 9th annual Shoot for a Cure and the event has raised over $60,000. Doug recently made 95 out of 100 shots – 70 of them consecutive! https://alzca.org/.
The Walk Kick Off will be Thursday, September 1, 4:30 – 6, in the ACA parking lot, 300 Office Park Drive. We’re going retro and bringing back, Peace, Love, Walk as our theme for Walking to Remember, set for November 5. If you’d like to learn more about the Walk or if you plan to participate as a team leader join us for Carlisle’s BBQ and a fun time! Walk Team Leaders t-shirts will be available. Contact Vance Holder, vholder@alzca.org or https://alzca.org/.
August Webinars from Alabama Lifespan Respite: https://alabamarespite.org/events2/
Can Psychological Trauma Increase the Risk of Dementia? Webinar, Central Alabama Aging PANDA Project, August 16, 10 – noon CT, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America | (alzfdn.org)
19th Annual Alzheimer’s Professional & Family Caregiver Conference, August 26, Eastern Hills Baptist Church, Montgomery, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/19th-annual-alzheimers-professional-family-caregiver-conference-tickets-381131543707
Webinar August 31, 11 – noon CT. The Global-US BrainTrust dialogue will convene Alzheimer’s experts and advocates to examine some of the key issues in Alzheimer’s disease. Experts will share insights on the importance of early diagnosis, and the power of music as it pertains to brain health. Global-US Brain Trust Quarterly Dialogue: Trending Issues in Alzheimer’s Prevention (google.com)
In-person and zoom Support Groups:
- ACA’s group with Miller & Vance, Tuesday, August 16, 11 – noon CT. Call (205) 871-7970 or mpiggott@alzca.org. Join us on zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86450491838
- Pell City group, first Thursdays of the month at 6:30; and the third Tuesdays of the month at 6:30. Contact Bit Thomaston, ethomason50@gmail.com
- CJFS CARES, Mondays at 3 pm, contact Pam Leonard, pam@cjfsbham.org.
- Founders Place at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Tuesday’s at 10 am, contact Betsy Smith, Smith35213@gmail.com
- West Alabama Area Agency on Aging, Caregiver Support Group, Tuesdays, contact Nikki Poe, nikki.poe@westal.org.
- The Oaks on Parkwood, 4th Tuesday’s, 10:00 am, Contact: Karen Glover, karenrglover@bellsouth.net.
- 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
- M4A, 2nd Thursday’s, noon – 1 pm. Contact Crystal Whitehead, cwhitehead@m4a.org
- M4A, 3rd Wednesday’s 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Contact Crystal Whitehead, cwhitehead@m4a.org
- Asbury United Methodist Church1st and 3rd Thursdays at 1:00, contact Maggie Dunaway at mdunaway@asburyonline.org.
Alzheimer’s News:
Check out the Dementia Action Alliance’s new DISCOVERY CENTER, which is an online resource center specially designed for ease in finding and navigating resources that support living well with dementia. Cite includes apps, books, publications, websites, virtual programs and more categorized into general 12 topic areas: Arts, Care Partnering, Diversity, Engagement & Socialization, Health & Well-Being, Legal & Financial, Living Well with Dementia, Music, Spirituality and Technology.
Scientists in the UK found that ADHD drugs might be the answer to treating apathy in people with Alzheimer’s disease. At least one in four people with Alzheimer’s experience apathy. Despite its prevalence, existing drugs for Alzheimer’s cognitive symptoms don’t address this symptom. But new research shows a treatment might already be out there. Scientists in the UK have found that two existing, FDA-approved drugs for ADHD stimulate just the right region of the brain to potentially treat apathy in people living with Alzheimer’s. ADHD Drugs for Alzheimer’s Apathy? – Being Patient
A Nutrition for Dementia Prevention Working Group made up of 27 leading researchers in the Alzheimer’s laid out recommendations to help solidify the science around the relationship between nutritional diets and lower dementia risk. The group’s guidelines were published in The Lancet Health Longevity, where the authors also highlight the limitations of existing research. Can a Healthy Diet Really Prevent Dementia? – Being Patient
Men with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD) and need close monitoring for timely treatment, new research suggests. The risk is highest in men diagnosed with PTSD at age 72 or later, suggesting that PTSD in older men may be a prodromal symptom of Parkinson’s. PTSD a Parkinson’s Disease Risk Factor in Men? (medscape.com)
A minimally invasive skin test can accurately diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) with high sensitivity and specificity, even in the presence of comorbid pathologies, new research suggests. The test, which measures factors related to synaptic connections in the brain, could be added to other testing to “tremendously enhance the certainty of making [an AD] diagnosis.” Several tests to detect AD signs have been developed. These include MRI and PET scan tests for amyloid plaque, cerebrospinal fluid, and plasma measures of soluble amyloid and tau, and blood levels of tau. However, none of these tests have been extensively validated at autopsy. Previous studies have shown over 50% of patients do not have AD alone. Instead, they also have other pathologies, such as Parkinson’s disease, frontal lobe dementia, or multi-infarct dementia .Skin Test Accurately Identifies Alzheimer’s Disease (medscape.com)
The researchers found that people with Alzheimer’s disease are six times more likely to have a serious fall than those of a similar age who do not have dementia, and are far more likely to die as a result. People with Alzheimer’s who fall and break a hip also typically require many additional months of recuperation following hip surgery to repair the fracture before they can walk again. Certain medications can dramatically increase the risk of falls in the elderly. Chief among these are so-called psychotropic medications, which include antidepressants, antipsychotic drugs and benzodiazepines. Many experts say these drugs are too often liberally prescribed to people with Alzheimer’s disease to ease behavioral issues like agitation, depression and wandering. What Every Alzheimer’s Caregiver Should Know About This Leading Cause of Disability | Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation (alzinfo.org)
Researchers looked at the effects of exercise and mentally stimulating activities like reading, attending classes, and playing cards or word games on “thinking speed,” a key component of cognitive reserve. They found that greater physical activity was associated with greater thinking speed reserve in women, but not in men. Taking part in more mental activities was associated with greater thinking speed reserve for both men and women. Women May Require More of This In Order To Prevent Dementia | Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation (alzinfo.org)
Read the blog How to Handle Sexually Inappropriate Behaviors in the Care Setting from Positive Approach to Care. How to Handle Sexually Inappropriate Behaviors in the Care Setting – Positive Approach to Care (teepasnow.com)
Acadia Pharmaceuticals announced that it has been told by the FDA it must conduct even more clinical trials before the agency will consider approving the use of a drug to treat some of the most frightening, most bothersome symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease: hallucinations and delusions. The drug, pimavanserin, was approved in 2016 to treat those symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. There are currently no drugs approved to treat hallucinations and delusions in Alzheimer’s. https://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/press/fda-deals-major-blow-patients-alzheimers-related-psychosis
Support ACA by using AmazonSmile! Designate Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases. smile.amazon.com