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 December 10, 2021

Support Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama Annual Care basket drive!  ACA volunteers will be delivering baskets filled with household staples and ham, bacon, and sausage.  This year we are offering an opportunity to not only warm the hearts of the families on our programs but to warm yourself or a friend with a hand-crafted scarf.  Members of the Alabaster Senior Center have knit an amazing collection of scarves. Your donation of $100 or more includes a handmade scarf mailed to you or someone on your Holiday gift list, while supplies last.  https://alzca.org/christmasbasket/

Alabama Lifespan Respite webinars:  https://alabamarespite.org/

  • Creating & Expanding Your Caregiving Circle, December 14, 10 CT
  • Men as Caregivers, December 18, 10 CT
  • Managing Depression During the Holidays, December 20, 6 CT
  • Break:  Breathe in.  Relax.  Enjoy life.  Appreciate All.  Know rest is vital, December 21, 10 CT
  • The Working Caregiver, December 27th, 6 CT

Asbury United Methodist Church and their respite ministry, Anchor, are offering a dementia-friendly worship service, Thursday, December 16, at 1:30 CT, 6690 Cahaba Valley Road.  Learn more here:   Discover a new way to worship in Birmingham this holiday season (bhamnow.com)

Michael J. Fox Foundation webinar on the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) study, December 16, noon – 1 CT.  PPMI: The Study that Could Change Everything | Parkinson’s Disease (michaeljfox.org)

The Role of Occupational Therapy in FTD webinar, December 16, 3 CT.  Registration (gotowebinar.com)

In-person and zoom Support Groups:

Alzheimer’s News:

The erectile medication, Viagra, could potentially be used as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study.  Men who used the drug sildenafil, the generic name for Viagra, were 69% less likely to develop the disease than nonusers.  Researchers used a large gene-mapping network to analyze whether more than 1,600 FDA-approved drugs could work against Alzheimer’s. They gave higher scores to drugs that target both amyloid and tau proteins in the brain, which are two hallmarks of the disease. Sildenafil appeared at the top of the list.  Could Viagra Help Prevent Alzheimer’s? (medscape.com)

A new study investigates whether certain personality traits correlate with a risk for plaque/tangle accumulation and — perhaps — the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found that two personality traits were associated with amyloid deposition and tau pathology: neuroticism and conscientiousness. Not in the same way, though.  Higher neuroticism (very generally, being sensitive to negative emotions and stress) correlated with more amyloid and tau.  The opposite was true for conscientiousness (very generally, being organized and a dutiful, dependable planner): lower scores on conscientiousness correlated with more amyloid and tau accumulation.  Personality Traits and the Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease | by Gunnar De Winter | Predict | Oct, 2021 | Medium

There is little doubt that exercise improves your overall health and well-being.  It improves heart and lung health. It lifts your mood and increases your stamina.  Now, researchers say they are discovering that physical activity may reduce the risk of two high-profile diseases — cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.  Exercise Helps Lower Risk of Alzheimer’s and Cancer (healthline.com)

Older men and women who ate a diet high in foods that fight inflammation were at lower risk of developing dementia.  Some foods help fight inflammation, a form of low-grade, smoldering irritation that can damage organs throughout the body, including the brain. In general, the less processed the food, the better.  Inflammation-fighting foods include leafy greens like lettuce, spinach and kale and other vegetables; fish rich in omega-3 fats, like salmon, tuna and sardines; fruits like strawberries, blueberries, apples, oranges and cherries; nuts like almonds and walnuts; beans, lentils and other legumes; and heart-healthy fats like olive oil. Coffee and tea, which contain polyphenols are also helpful.  Foods that promote inflammation, over time, may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and other chronic ailments of aging. Foods that promote inflammation include refined carbohydrates like white bread, cake, white rice and pastries; sugary beverages; deep-fried foods; red meat; processed meats like salami and deli meats. Foods That Fight Inflammation May Lower Dementia Risk | Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation (alzinfo.org)

Read more about health changes that may impact your ability to drive and how to stay safe on the road. This information is also available in Spanish.

Higher resting heart rate (RHR) is associated with increased risk for dementia and accelerated cognitive decline in older adults, independent of the presence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, new research shows.  Higher Resting Heart Rate Tied to Increased Dementia Risk (medscape.com)

Researchers in University College London are looking to the cab drivers to learn more about how their memory skills and training may help to bolster the brain against the ravages Alzheimer’s.  Earlier research has shown that the London taxi driver’s ability to reliably navigate various street routes and plan trips on the fly through traffic and varying road conditions changes their brains. The hippocampus is the part of their brain involved in spatial navigation.  The taxi drivers were found to have larger hippocampuses than that of their peers who don’t engage in complex travel tasks. The longer they are on the job, the larger their hippocampus becomes. The hippocampus, one of the first areas of the brain to be affected by Alzheimer’s, shrinks as the diseases progresses. That’s one reason why people with Alzheimer’s so easily become disoriented and get lost, a problem that becomes increasingly severe as the disease progresses.  What London Cab Drivers Can Teach Us About the Alzheimer’s Brain | Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation (alzinfo.org)

Interested in volunteering for research on Alzheimer’s, related dementias, and cognitive health? Learn about new and featured studies below or search for clinical trials and studies near you with the Alzheimers.gov Clinical Trials Finder.

Great Holiday gift giving guides for seniors from DailyCaring:

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 

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