In-person and zoom Support Groups:
- ACA’s Coffee Talk with Miller & Vance, Tuesday, January 25, 11 – noon CT. Call (205) 871-7970 or mpiggott@alzca.org. Join us on zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86450491838
- CJFS CARES, Mondays at 3 pm, contact Pam Leonard, pam@cjfsbham.org.
- Founders Place at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Tuesday’s at 10 am, contact Susan Logan, susanlogan65@gmail.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@bellsouth.net.
- 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
- Asbury United Methodist Church 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 1:00, contact Maggie Dunaway at mdunaway@asburyonline.org.
January Webinars from Alabama Lifespan Respite (https://alabamarespite.org/events2/):
- The Working Caregiver, January 22, 10 CT
- BREAK, January 27 10 CT
- Understanding Alzheimer’s, January 30, 6 CY
Alzheimer’s News:
UsAgainstAlzheimer’s and 9 renowned clinicians and experts just published six recommendations and associated strategies for the prevention of Alzheimer’s, Primary Prevention Recommendations to Reduce the Risk of Cognitive Decline. The recommendations a focus on: Neurovascular Risk Management; Physical Activity; Nutrition, Sleep; Social Activity; and Cognitive Stimulation. UsAgainstAlzheimer’s has developed resources to share these recommendations and other guides and toolkits to optimize brain health care and support early detection and intervention.
Why Is Everyone So Mad About Aduhelm? The controversy over the approval of Adulhelm has gotten so convoluted,BeingPatient reporter Simon Spichak, MSc, a neuroscientist and science communicator based in Toronto, decided to lay out all the conflicts. (Click to zoom in or download a PDF.)
With so much misinformation surrounding the draft National Coverage Determination (NCD) from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) not to cover the first class of Alzheimer’s drugs, except in very limited circumstances, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s is setting the record straight. https://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/press/myth-vs-fact-cms-draft-decision-alzheimers-drugs
Listen to the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Huling Hummel describe what it is like to live with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. She is a tireless advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association and for Dementia Action Alliance. She says, “I’m the same person after being diagnosed as before; I just had to find new ways to stay connected to make a difference.” Rev. Dr. Cynthia Huling Hummel – Pinecast (pnc.st)
Are your affairs in order? Use this checklist to make legal and financial plans now for your health care in the future: checklist for more tips about getting your affairs in order.
Talking with an older adult about sensitive subjects like aging and necessary lifestyle changes can be tricky. To make those conversations more successful, DailyCaring shares 4 tips for talking with seniors and 3 tips for talking with someone who has Alzheimer’s or dementia. How to Communicate With an Aging Parent Who Won’t Listen – DailyCar
Dementia Action Alliance (DAA) is where people come together to connect, form friendships, exchange ideas, learn, and create a better community in which to live with dementia. Their website is packed with information and resources for people living with dementia. Home – Dementia Action Alliance (daanow.org)
Occupational therapist and dementia care educator Teepa Snow has recently taken her caregiving tips to TikTok, where they quickly went viral. Her tutorials and advice on boosting a variety of caregiving skills, including helping someone with dementia get dressed and have better conversations, have reached as many as 40,000 views. Caregivers greatly need support to continue to care for their loved ones, and few people talk about these topics on social media. Learn more
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) analyzed 15 years of data on Black and White participants across NIA’s network of Alzheimer’s Disease and Research Centers. Black participants in Alzheimer’s disease research studies were 35% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and related dementias than white participants, despite national statistics that indicate that Black Americans are overall about twice as likely to develop dementias than whites. They also found, Black participants with Alzheimer’s and related dementias had more risk factors for the disease, as well as greater cognitive impairment and symptom severity than white participants.Data shows racial disparities in Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis between Black and white research study participants | National Institute on Aging (nih.gov)
Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) and chronic vascular lesions caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI) is tied to an almost fourfold increased risk of AD. The study highlights the seriousness of TBIs, which some people still consider “just a hit on the head.” These patients end up with cognitive decline, difficulties organizing, planning, getting back into the workforce, and getting back to regular life. They require a lot of help from their loved ones and from their community and medical systems,” Concussion Sequelae Boost Alzheimer’s Risk (medscape.com)
Older adults with tooth loss have a higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, and this risk increases with each missing tooth, recent NIA-supported research shows. Researchers found that participants with more missing teeth had, on average, a 48% higher risk of cognitive impairment and a 28% higher risk of dementia. Interestingly, participants who had missing teeth but used dentures did not have a significantly higher risk of dementia than participants without missing teeth. Tooth loss in older adults linked to higher risk of dementia (mailchi.mp)
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