Join Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama’s Board of Directors for our Walk Kick Off Celebration. Pledge your Team’s goal for Walking to Remember, November 2. Grab your Team Leader packet and T-shirt. Enjoy refreshments. Thursday, August 29, 4 – 5:30 pm, at the ACA office, 300 Office Park Drive, Suite 225. https://alzca.org/walking/
Ales of Alzheimer’s September 13, at Brock’s Gap Brewery, 6 – 9 pm. Get in on the fun and help raise money to fund ACA’s Lindy Harrell Pre-Doctoral Scholars in Alzheimer’s Research at UAB. Sip local brews and enjoy music from The Negotiators. Suggested minimum donation of $5. Event includes a cool auction and raffle for $1,000 Amazon gift card. https://alzca.org/ales/
Walk to Remember, a benefit for Caring Days Day Care for adults with memory disorders, August 24, 9:30 – 11:30, inside University Mall, Tuscaloosa. The Walk honors the memory of Vicki Kerr, Caring Days Founder and Executive Director. Call 205-752-6840.
Contenu is hosting a retreat that focuses on health and wellness activities for the person with a serious illness and their caregiver, August 24, New Water Farms, Dadeville, 8 am – 4:30 pm. This retreat will focus on health and wellness activities for the person with a serious illness, and their caregivers, with the aim of giving attendees a space to refresh, recharge, and relax. Com. e and enjoy a day of health and wellness. Activities will include sessions like movement and mindfulness, fruit farming, and taking a boat ride. The cost is $50. Contenu Retreat
The Virtual Dementia Tour will be offered by Cahaba Ridge by the Community Services Department of Senior Services, August 29, 1:30 – 3:30, 3090 Healthy Way. Call 205-397-3603.
M4A’s Annual Long Term Care Conference, September 10, 9 – 2 pm, Pell City: https://www.humanresourceoptions.com/upcomingseminars
The DAWN Method: Equipping Family Caregivers of Loved Ones with Brain Change, presented on Zoom, Wednesdays, 2:30-4:30pm, September 11 – October 30. In this evidence-based INTERACTIVE course, family caregivers will learn strategies to provide care more confidently, calmly and effectively and with fewer conflicts. Course fee is $400 (for 16 hours of instruction). NOTE: Financial Assistance is available. Presented by Founder’s Place at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. For more details or to reserve your spot, contact Susanna Whitsett (205)-802-6217 or foundersplace@saint-lukes.com
Support Group Meetings:
- ACA’s support group with Miller & Vance, Tuesday, August 27, 11 – noon CT. Call (205) 871-7970 or 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 Nikki Poe, nikki.poe@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
- Leeds, 1st Tuesday, 6:30 pm. Contact Julie Slagle jslagle@lakesidehospice.org
- Pell City, 2nd Tuesday, 2:30 pm. Contact Julie Slagle, jslagle@lakesidehospice.org
- M4A virtual support group, 3rd Wednesday’s 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 email ewillis@trinitybirmimgham.com.
- 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.
- Discovery United Methodist Church, Hoover, the first and third Thursday of each month. Peggy Harrison: pharrison@discoveryumc.org.
- St. Mark’s UMC, Vestavia Hills, Fridays at 1 pm. Contact Donna Baird: (205)717-9880.
August Webinars from Alabama Lifespan Respite: https://alabamarespite.org/events2/
Alzheimer’s News:
Survey participants sought: Marissa Todd is a current graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying Alzheimer’s, dementia and its relationship to dysphagia, or swallowing impairment. She has created a survey for caregivers of persons with dementia to identify disparities which may affect caregivers’ dysphagia, or swallowing impairment awareness and education. There are no incentives associated with this survey; however, responses will help direct future research to support caregivers’ awareness, access, and quality of education regarding swallowing needs and concerns. Contact Marissa Todd if you have any follow-up questions or concerns (mctodd3@wisc.edu). Survey Link (English): https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dj0BiyysKggmMjs
Are you interested in volunteering for research on Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias, and cognitive health? Learn about new and featured studies (some on-line opportunities) from the National Institute of Aging: https://www.alzheimers.gov/clinical-trials/find-clinical-trials?utm_source=nia-eblast&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=clinicaltrials-20240820
Watch a five minute video with Dr JoAnn Manson, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, about the preventability of dementia that is both exciting and paradigm-shifting. The Lancet by the Lancet Commission on Dementia, estimates that close to 50% of cases of dementia worldwide can be prevented or delayed by improving 14 modifiable risk factors: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/dementia-deemed-highly-preventable-heres-how-2024a1000et7?ecd=WNL_trdalrt_pos1_240815_etid6751127&uac=407526BK&impID=6751127
A growing body of research has increasingly connected hearing loss with a higher risk for dementia. Evidence from the past 10-15 years strongly links hearing loss to cognitive decline. The Lancet Commission on Dementia identifies hearing impairment as one of the most significant risk factors for dementia. Several hypotheses may explain this connection, and it is most likely that a combination of three key mechanisms are at play. The first theory focuses on cognitive load. As people experience age-related hearing changes, the inner ear is no longer sending signals clearly to the brain. This forces the brain to work harder, increasing its cognitive load as it reallocates resources to assist with hearing. This suggests that hearing loss accelerates the “unmasking” of cognitive issues. Brain resources that might otherwise buffer against dementia’s pathologic triggers are consumed earlier due to the demands of managing hearing loss. The second potential mechanism suggests that hearing loss may have detrimental effects on brain structure and function over time — a theory supported by several recent studies. These studies show that individuals with more severe hearing loss experience faster rates of brain atrophy. The reduced stimulation from poor auditory signals accelerates brain atrophy. The third hypothesis focuses on social isolation. Individuals with hearing loss may engage less in social activities, reducing cognitive stimulation and overall social interaction. It’s well-known that social engagement and cognitive stimulation are crucial for maintaining cognitive health over time. Addressing hearing loss with hearing aids, combined with managing other modifiable risk factors — such as heart and metabolic health, physical activity, and a balanced diet — appears to offer the greatest potential for synergy and preserving cognition. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/hearing-loss-hearing-aids-and-dementia-risk-what-tell-your-2024a1000fdw?ecd=wnl_dne8_240823_MSCPEDIT_etid6769799&uac=407526BK&impID=6769799
Worldwide, the prevalence of avoidable vision loss and blindness in adults aged 50 years or older is estimated to hover around 13%. Studies have found, when broken down into different eye conditions, an increased dementia risk was associated with cataracts and diabetic retinopathy but not with glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration. Loss of vision impacts so many aspects of people’s lives beyond just how they see the world and losing vision in later life is not a normal part of aging. Thus, when older adults experience vision loss, this should be a cause for concern and prompt an immediate referral to an eye care professional. One researcher found that the combination of hearing loss and vision loss is linked to an eightfold increased risk for cognitive impairment. The idea is that vision and/or hearing loss makes it harder for you to be physically active, to be socially engaged, to be mentally stimulated. They are equally important in terms of social isolation, which could lead to loneliness, and we know that loneliness is not good for dementia. With dual sensory impairment, you don’t have as much information coming in — your brain is not engaged as much — and having an engaged brain, doing hobbies, having intellectually stimulating conversation, all of those are factors are associated with lowering risk of dementia. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/vision-loss-new-dementia-risk-factor-what-do-data-say-2024a1000f1u?ecd=a2a
Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a brain disorder that causes changes in thinking, mood, and behavior. It’s a progressive disease, meaning symptoms start slowly and worsen over time. Watch this National Institute on Aging video to learn about the main forms of LBD, how the disease changes the brain, common symptoms, and more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhSpS4IaqOg&t=2s
Vestavia Hills Methodist Church’s opens Restore, a new respite ministry. The program will be open on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 10 – 2 for $40. Participants must be able to eat, toilet and ambulate independently. There are also opportunities for volunteers to support this ministry. Contact Nancy Mosely at 205-769-0153 or nmosley@vhnc.org. Check here for a complete list of respite programs and adult day care centers: https://alzca.org/adult-day-care-centers/