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.
“Dementia 101: Just the Facts, M’am”, with local arthor and physician, Renne Harmon, February 7 at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Homewood, Alabama. Presentation from 11:30-1:00, with lunch to follow. For more information and to register: https://www.covpres.com/calendar/5052h5j3e0egemzsrrkqth7ajbsyu7
Support Group Meetings:
- ACA’s support group with Miller & Vance, Tuesday, January 23, 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:
Cognitive decline is among the top health concerns for most older adults, and a daily supplement of multivitamins has the potential as an appealing and accessible approach to slow cognitive aging. Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of three separate cognition studies which provides strong and consistent evidence that taking a daily multivitamin, containing more than 20 essential micronutrients, helps prevent memory loss and slow down cognitive aging. The COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) is a large-scale, nationwide, randomized trial rigorously testing cocoa extract and multivitamin supplements impact on cognition, directed by researchers at Mass General Brigham. Two previously published studies of cognition in COSMOS suggested a positive effect for a daily multivitamin. COSMOS researchers now report the results of a third study of cognition in COSMOS, which focused on participants who underwent in-person assessments, together with the results of a combined analysis from the three separate studies. The results from this latest report confirm consistent and statistically significant benefits of a daily multivitamin versus placebo for both memory and global cognition. https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/newsroom/press-releases/multivitamins-improve-memory-and-slow-cognitive-aging
While many people use Alzheimer’s and dementia interchangeably, these don’t mean the same thing. What exactly is the difference? Dementia is a word used to describe many diseases that lead to memory loss, problems with language, changes in behaviors, and difficulties with thinking or planning. Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease that causes dementia — and it’s the most common cause of dementia out there, accounting for as many as seven in 10 cases of dementia. Alzeimer’s dementia involves memory loss and cognitive problems, which scientists understand to be connected somehow to deposits of toxic proteins in the brain, which get in the way of neuron activity and eventually lead to the death of brain cells. Other forms of dementia have similar symptoms, but those that aren’t due to Alzheimer’s might have different symptoms that appear first — and they might require different treatments.Being Patient offers a quick look at the most common dementias, including Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. https://www.beingpatient.com/difference-between-dementia-and-alzheimers/?utm_source=Being+Patient+Newsletter&utm_campaign=31a5492158-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_11_06_03_59_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_95b92454c1-31a5492158-109213217
With an estimated 500,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed annually in the U.S.—expected to triple by 2050—millions of people will find themselves needing to understand how Medicaid and Medicare, two federal programs, cover health care for this population. Learn more from Bright Focus Foundation about these 2 federal programs: https://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/article/what-medicare-covers?utm_campaign=FY24_ADR_2401_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=290223351&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9gsIvDQywmKLbT_S9N9bW05FJLwUoHgIAdHK4E66S-WkXqlk_xIy7kwx5C5XdrzfrgseiDOKbCe-F-BI-a13yO3Ip9ew&utm_source=appeal
If you are worried that your loved one is having problems with memory, thinking, or judgment, you may want them to take the SAGE test for dementia. This at-home pen-and-paper test is free, takes just 15 minutes, and accurately identifies early symptoms of Alzheimer’s or dementia. The SAGE test has 12 questions that cover all aspects of cognition, including memory, problem solving, and language. And if the stress and exhaustion of caregiving are making you feel like your brain isn’t working anymore, this quick test can reassure you that there’s no problem with your cognitive function. SAGE stands for Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination and was developed by researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. DailyCaring explains how the test works, how to take it at home, and why it’s necessary to discuss results with a doctor. https://dailycaring.com/sage-test-for-alzheimers-at-home/?utm_source=DailyCaring&utm_campaign=d9f2dfffd5-dc_email_2024-01-17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_57c250b62e-d9f2dfffd5-123515277
The relationship between lipid levels and the development of dementia is an evolving but confusing landscape. This is an incredibly complex area, and there really isn’t a clear consensus on this subject because different lipid classes reflect different things. Some studies suggest that excessive lipid levels may increase the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Others imply that elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or even triglycerides may offer some protection against subsequent dementia whereas higher levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, hitherto thought to be protective, may have a deleterious effect. “It depends on what lipids you’re measuring, what you’re using to measure those lipids, what age the person is, and multiple other factors”, according to one researcher. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/lipids-and-dementia-complex-and-evolving-story-2024a10000th?ecd=wnl_dne2_240116_MSCPEDIT_etid6244312&uac=407526BK&impID=6244312
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.
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/