Slice Pizza is hosting a % of sales event to benefit ACA’s Lindy Harrell Pre-Doctoral Scholars in Alzheimer’s Research at UAB, August 26. Vestavia location only. 3104 Timberlake Drive, 35243.
ACA’s Walk Kick Off is September 4th, 4:30 – 6:00 pm. Join us in Celebrating Happy Days! This year’s Walking to Remember event is Saturday, November 8th and will feature a vintage car show. Join us September 4 to learn more about being a part of this event which supports ACA’s services for Alabama families living with dementia. Make a Pledge. Organize a team. Get a free Team Captain t-shirt. ACA Office: 300 Office Park Drive, Suite 225, Birmingham, 35223. Contact Miller or Vance at (205)871-7970
The National Council of Dementia Minds is hosting a webinars: Dining with dementia. August 26, 1:30–2:30 pm CT. Register Here:Webinar
Caring Days Adult Day Care is hosting their 21st annual Walk to Remember, August 23, 9:30 – 11:30 am, University Mall, Tuscaloosa. For additional information, please visithttps://www.caringdays.org/ or call 205-752-6840. This year’s theme is “Walk This Way” in memory of Vicki Kerr.
Breaking Barriers: Enhancing Quality of Life in Dementia Care with Nicole Ruggiano, PhD, MSW, FGSA, conference, September 30, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, Jasper Civic Center. Free, in-person training designed for caregivers, professionals, and community champions who support individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. Topics include: Managing Resistant Behaviors; Enhancing Quality of Life; Compassionate Caregiving Strategies; Brain Health Insights; Practical Tools to Improve Care. Hosted by M4A Area Agency on Aging, 4All Foundation, the Alabama Securities Commissioner, the PANDA Project, and Alabama’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman. For more information, contact Monica Houston at 205-659-4002.
Support Group Meetings:
- ACA’s support group with Miller & Vance, Tuesday, August 26, 11:00 – noon CT. There Call (205) 871-7970 ormpiggott@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 Slaglejslagle@lakesidehospice.org
- Trussville, 3rd Tuesday, 6:00 pm. Contact Julie Slaglejslagle@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.
- Asbury United Methodist Church 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 1:00, contact Maggie Dunaway at mdunaway@asburyonline.org.
- AFTD support group, second Tuesday of the month. Amber Guy: 251-281-5344.
- Holy Apostles Church, Hoover, 2nd and 4th Thursdays 10:30-noon, contact Michele Elrod: Michelerelrod@att.net.
- St. Mark’s UMC, Vestavia Hills, Fridays at 1 pm. Contact Donna Baird: (205)717-9880.
Alzheimer’s News:
It takes an average of three-and-a-half years after symptoms are first noticed for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia to get a diagnosis, according to a new analysis. Prompt diagnosis is important, because available treatments may be most effective early in the course of the disease, before damage to the brain becomes extensive. A timely diagnosis can also help patients and their families plan better for future needs and care. In younger patients, under 65, it took more than four years, on average, to get a diagnosis. Many cases of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia were never formally diagnosed. Studies estimate that only 50 to 65 percent of cases are ever diagnosed in high-income countries, with many countries having even lower diagnostic rates. As new blood tests and other methods become available to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, it will become easier to get a diagnosis. Alzheimer’s Disease Typically Takes Over 3 Years to Diagnose
Check out this infographic: Reality Check on Brain-Boosting Supplements Reality Check on Brain-Boosting Supplements
Former NFL players now entering retirement age are more likely to be living with chronic pain or a disability, are more depressed and anxious, and are far more likely to report having some type of cognitive decline than the average American man, a new survey has found. The findings are the result of a survey conducted by ESPN and independent health-policy organization KFF. The survey attempted to contact all 1,532 players who played in an NFL game during the 1988 season; 546 men participated, with an average age of 62, representing about one-third of the players in the league that year. Almost half said they had “serious difficulty” concentrating, remembering or making decisions at times. By several measures, former players were significantly more likely than men their age to report experiencing pain and mental health issues. Fifteen percent of players said a doctor had diagnosed them with dementia compared with the general population where just under 4% of men ages 65 and older have been diagnosed with dementia. About half of players said they felt depressed in the past 12 months, compared with a quarter of men aged 55 to 75. Six in 10 players reported living with some type of disability — including difficulty walking or climbing stairs, dressing or bathing — three times the rate of men their age. About one-third said the risks of tackle football before high school outweigh the benefits, and 1 in 4 said they would support a ban on tackle football for children below the high school level. Still, 9 out of 10 ex-players said they would make the same decision to play professional football. Even among players who said the NFL had a negative effect on both their physical health and mental well-being, 78% said they would decide to play again. Last season the league reported 182 concussions, a 17% drop from the previous season and the fewest since it began tracking the data in 2015. ESPN/KFF survey: NFL players from 1988 battle pain but still embrace football – ESPN
Frequent concussions can lead to persistent mild cognitive impairments, significantly increasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Other potential long-term effects include chronic traumatic encephalopathy, initially identified in boxers, which can lead to aphasia, speech disorders, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and mood disorders. In the past two decades, concussions have become major public health concerns. They account for 5%-9% of all sports-related injuries, particularly in contact sports, activities involving thrown objects such as balls, or those requiring special equipment such as hockey sticks or high-speed movement. Hidden Dangers of Sports Concussions: What You Need to Know
The experimental drug obicetrapib significantly slowed Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarker progression over 12 months in patients with cardiovascular disease, new research showed. Results revealed the drug led to a 20% improvement in levels of phosphorylated tau 217 — an important indicator of AD pathology — in patients carrying the apolipoprotein E (APOE4) allele. About 65% of people with AD are APOE4 carriers. The treatment was already shown to reduce LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH). Experimental Med May Slow Alzheimer’s Biomarker Progression
Starting a caregiving role can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to tackle everything at once. Here are a few tips from the NIH to help you get started: Getting Started With Caregiving | National Institute on Aging
Growing evidence suggests that lifestyle interventions such as walking may help slow cognitive decline in individuals with the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele, who have a genetically higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) — and may even provide greater benefits than in noncarriers. Preliminary findings from a new study show that while men and women APOE ε4 carriers experienced steeper declines in cognition over a 10-year period, regular walking appeared to mitigate these effects by preserving global cognition and executive function. The results underscore the value of accessible physical activity programs for individuals genetically at risk for AD. APOE ε4 accounts for almost 50% of the genetic risk for late-onset AD, but evidence suggests the risk is more pronounced in women than men. One copy of this allele is associated with a twofold increased risk in men and an eightfold greater risk in women, while two copies are associated with a fourfold increased risk in men and a 12-fold increased risk in women. Walking showed the strongest protective effect on both cognitive measures in APOE ε4 carriers of both sexes. A 10% increase in walking was associated with a 4.7% improvement in complex thinking performance over time in women and a 2.6% improvement in men. For global cognitive performance, the same increase in walking was linked to an 8.5% improvement in women and a 12.0% improvement in men. Regular walking may help preserve cognition through several potential mechanisms, the authors noted. These include enhancing cerebral blood flow — improving the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the brain — increasing levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which supports neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, promoting angiogenesis, and reducing neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Walking and Diet Boost Cognition in At-Risk Adults
With the approval of anti-amyloid beta (Aβ) therapies to treat early symptomatic disease, more rapid and accurate diagnosis of AD is becoming increasingly important. A number of different blood-based biomarker (BBM) tests are available to clinicians, but the lack of clinical practice guidelines has hindered more widespread use of the diagnostic tools. An expert panel has released the first clinical guidelines to help clinicians choose the most appropriate blood-based biomarker (BBM) test to aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The guideline recommends that tests with 90% sensitivity and specificity can serve as a substitute for amyloid PET or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker testing. First Guideline on AD Blood-Based Biomarker Tests Released
Green Valley Pharmaceuticals’ seaweed-based drug hit the market in China more than five years ago. But its run is coming to an end. The drug, sodium oligomannate, was a first-of-its-kind microbiome-targeting treatment — and it appeared to slow cognitive decline in a Chinese Phase 3 trial. It received conditional approval in China in 2019, pending continuous clinical trials to test its safety. In April 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration greenlit a much larger Phase 3 study to test the drug in upwards of 2,000 study participants across China, the United States, and Europe. But by spring of 2022, drugmaker Green Valley had canceled the global trials, citing “unexpected financial challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic in China,” as former Green Valley scientific advisor Eric Reiman told media at the time. In June, news broke that the company would stop producing the medication for good. It turns out that’s not the real reason the company stopped making the drug: Chinese regulators changed their mind and refused to renew the drug and grant it full approval, according to records from the country’s drug regulator. https://beingpatient.com/china-alzheimers-seaweed-drug-taken-off-market/
Support for young onset/early-stage brain change. “Forward Together” is a 10-week support series offered by Founders Place Community Respite. Forward Together is designed to foster meaningful personal connections among individuals living with a dementia diagnosis. Structured around a manualized 10-week format, the program provides a supportive environment that encourages open group discussion, shared learning, and moments of levity. The goal is to cultivate a sense of community that extends beyond the series and evolves into ongoing support and access to valuable resources. It is designed for participation by adults who are highly independent in most areas of life (may be working or volunteering, driving, and managing day-to-day life with minimal assistance). Eligibility will be confirmed in a phone call with one of the facilitators. Core Eligibility Criteria includes:
- If known, minimum score of 20 on Mini Mental Exam
- Diagnosis of early stage dementia with mild symptoms
- Awareness of diagnosis
- Desire to discuss symptoms and dementia-related experiences in a group setting
- Willing and able to listen to the experiences of others
The series will meet weekly on Wednesdays (September 3-November 5) 10:00-11:30a.m. at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham. To learn more, please contact Ellie Johnson at Founders Place Respite: foundersplace@saint-lukes.com or 205.802.6217
UAB Arts in Medicine is hosting a FREE Music for Memory group at The Dance Foundation in Homewood, every Wednesday at 10 a.m. The group is designed for individuals living with memory loss and their caregivers, and it’s led by a board-certified music therapist. Each session focuses on sparking meaningful memories through familiar songs; encouraging connection and communication between caregivers and loved ones; educing stress and anxiety in a supportive, creative environment. There’s no formal registration process—participants are welcome to simply come by and join the fun. 1715 27th Court South, 35209.
Check out the newly revised Alabama Dementia Resource Guide created by the Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS) and Dementia Friendly Alabama, with support from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). Access the Dementia Resource Guide on the Dementia Friendly Alabama website under the Resources tab at: www.dementiafriendlyal.org.
The Alabama Department of Public Health is conducting a critical statewide needs assessment that will directly influence how they train healthcare professionals, long-term care staff, and social service providers across our state. This is your opportunity to ensure the real challenges you see every day are addressed in our workforce development efforts. Your experience and insights will help identify gaps in training and shape solutions that could improve care for thousands of Alabama families. The findings will guide policy decisions and funding priorities that affect dementia care statewide. Consider joining a 45-60 minute focus group via Zoom to share your expertise on what training our workforce truly needs. Together, we can help ensure Alabama’s healthcare and social service providers are better equipped to serve individuals with dementia and their families with the dignity and expertise they deserve. Email Nicole Ruggiano (nruggiano@ua.edu) to express your interest. Or go to: Focus group