Are you a caregiver or know someone with dementia? Join Miller Piggott, Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama’s Executive Director to gain a better understanding of the stages, risk factors and prevention, and caregiving strategies, January 22, 6 pm, Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, 1221 Montgomery Highway, 35216. Call 205-871-7970.
Support Group Meetings:
- ACA’s support group with Miller & Vance, Tuesday, January 16, 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.
- 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.
- Asbury United Methodist Church 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 1:00, contact Maggie Dunaway at mdunaway@asburyonline.org.
- The Church at Chelsea Park, Wilsonville 1st Thursday of the month. Contact Brooklyn White, brooklyn@parkinsonalabama.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.
January Webinars from Alabama Lifespan Respite: https://alabamarespite.org/events2/
Alzheimer’s News:
The UAB School of Nursing is recruiting caregivers to participate in a new study: CuRB-IT: Coaching Dementia Caregivers to Master Care-Resistant Behavior. The research study that provides one-to-one coaching sessions to caregivers of family members with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia to help them reduce or manage care refusals, like refusing to bathe or take medications. To participate in the research, you must live with and provide unpaid care for a family member with dementia. Caregivers must meet the following criteria:
- Participant must be at least 18 years old
- Family member living with dementia must be 60 years or older
- Participant provides unpaid care to a family member living with dementia
- Participant experiences Care-Resistant Behavior such as: the family member refusing to bathe, take medications, change clothes, get out of bed, eat, or use the toilet.
Email CuRBIT@uab.edu.
Proper care of teeth and gums may offer benefits beyond oral health, including improving brain health, new research suggests. In a large observational study of middle-aged adults without stroke or dementia, poor oral health was strongly associated with multiple neuroimaging markers of white matter injury. The results suggest that oral health, an easily modifiable process, may be a promising target for very early interventions focused on improving brain health. Data from the World Health Organization suggested that oral diseases, which are largely preventable, affect nearly 3.5 billion people globally, with three out of four people affected in middle-income countries. Poor Oral Health Tied to Worse Brain Health (medscape.com)
According to research led by the University of Exeter, risks associated with developing dementia in middle age could be reduced by targeting health and lifestyle factors. Although dementia prevalence is highest in older people, the impact on employment, social life, and family relationships is particularly high for those who develop the condition before the age of 65 years.
Most previous research had focused on genetic factors that were assumed to be prominent, particularly apolipoprotein E (APOE), which carries the largest genetic risk for Alzheimer’s dementia in older people. However, genetic factors so far identified account for only 5% to 10% of young dementia cases. Analysis revealed that 15 factors were significantly associated with an elevated risk of developing dementia under 65 years. The factors were:
- Lower formal education
- Lower socioeconomic status (measured by deprivation index)
- Carrying two apolipoprotein ε4 alleles versus none
- No alcohol use
- Alcohol use disorder diagnosis
- Social isolation (visiting friends or family once per month or less)
- Vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/mL)
- High C-reactive protein levels (>1 mg/dL)
- Lower handgrip strength
- Hearing impairment
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Depression
Lifestyle Changes Could Avert Young-Onset Dementia (medscape.co.uk)
Dementia can be tough for young family members to get their heads around. Being Patient offers some pointers for explaining a loved one’s diagnosis to a child. According to dementia communicator Matthew Adams, the right language can help younger family members understand what’s happening, feel reassured, and work through their emotions about it. How Do You Explain Dementia to a Child? | Being Patient
AFA’s Teen Alzheimer’s Awareness Scholarship provides educational funding to college-bound high school seniors who have been impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. Applicants are asked to write an essay (1,500 word maximum) or submit a video no more than 4 minutes long, describing the impact of Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia-related illness on themselves, their families or their communities, and what they have learned from it. The grand prize winner receives $5,000, with additional prizes awarded for runners-up! More than $428,000 in college scholarships have been awarded since the program’s inception. Entries due April 1, 2024.
https://alzfdn.org/young-leaders-of-afa/alzheimers-awareness-scholarship/
Excessive television-watching is tied to an increased risk for dementia, Parkinson’s disease (PD), and depression, whereas a limited amount of daily computer use that is not work-related is linked to a lower risk for dementia. Investigators analyzed data on 473,184 people aged 39-72 years from the UK Biobank who were enrolled from 2006 to 2010 and followed until a diagnosis of dementia, PD, depression, death, or study end. Participants reported on the number of hours they spent outside of work exercising, watching television, and using the computer. MRI was conducted to determine participants’ brain volume. During the study, 6096 people developed dementia, 3000 developed PD, 23,600 developed depression, 1200 developed dementia and depression, and 486 developed PD and depression. Compared with those who watched TV for under 1 hour per day, those who reported watching 4 or more hours per day had a 28% higher risk for dementia, a 35% higher risk for depression, and a 16% greater risk for PD. However, moderate computer use outside of work seemed somewhat protective. Participants who used the computer for 30-60 minutes per day had lower risks for dementia compared with those who reported the lowest levels of computer usage. Replacing 30 minutes per day of computer time with an equal amount of structured exercise was associated with decreased risk for dementia.
You can’t reverse the aging process — but these five things can help you live longer. Epidemiologist Hassan Vally explains the science behind these resolution-worthy, lifestyle-based longevity hacks.
- Eat a predominantly plant-based diet
- Aim for a healthy weight
- Exercise regularly
- Don’t smoke
- Prioritize social connection
5 Ways to Live Longer, According to an Epidemiologist | Being Patient