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 July 28, 2023

Until 3 pm today you can support Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama’s 2 Lindy Harrell Predoctoral Scholars at UAB.   Program.  Buy chances to win a $1,000 Amazon gift card raffle.  Chances are $25 or 5 for $100.  Drawing will be tonight at ACA’s Jr. Board Glow for a Cure nighttime golf tournament. You do not need to be present to win.  https://alzca.org/glow-for-a-cure-amazon-gift-card-raffle/

Free, confidential memory screening, July 31. 9 – noon, Bessemer Recreation Center. Contact Linda Vinson 205-425-0655.

Dementia 101, August 1, 2023, at 10:00 AM, at Canterbury United Methodist Church. Local author and physician, Renee Harmon will cover common symptoms, why it’s important to get a diagnosis early, and how a diagnosis is made. She’ll look at the new drugs that are coming out and what their role will be in treating Alzheimer’s disease.  For more information and to register, contact Valerie Boyd: Valerie.boyd@canterburyumc.org

M4A is hosting a series of Memory Cafes which offer a safe space for those living with dementia and their caregivers.  There will herb box building, music, games and fellowship.  Sessions are 10 – noon.

To register contact Chalane Mims at cmims@m4a.org or 205-670-5770:

  • August 1, Bible Believers Baptist Church, Thorsby
  • August 8, Jasper Civic Center
  • August 22, Oneonta Senior Center

Home Health vs Hospice Services webinar, August 1, at 1 CT.  Hosted by the Elder Justice Center of Alabama.  Register: https://elderjusticeal.org/ 

Understanding and Responding to Wandering webinar, August 1, at noon. Register here: Understanding & Responding to Sundowning (Zoom) – Alzheimer’s Orange County (alzoc.org)

Genetic FTD:  To Test or Not To Test webinar, August 15, 2-3 CT.  Webinar Registration | AFTD (theaftd.org)

Support Group Meetings:

August Webinars from Alabama Lifespan Respite: https://alabamarespite.org/events2/

Alzheimer’s News:

Alzheimer’s drug is not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning.  Watch the CNN interview:  https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/26/opinions/leqembi-alzheimers-drug-fda-approved-honig/index.html

Being Patient Founder and Editor in Chief Deborah Kan writes about what she learned at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference,  where all eyes are on the new generation of disease-modifying Alzheimer’s treatments — monoclonal antibodies like Leqembi, Aduhelm, and work-in-progress donanemab.  Some of what she learned:

  • These “-mab” drugs for Alzheimer’s are only for the very early stage of Alzheimer’s disease, or for mild cognitive impairment caused by the pathology that leads to Alzheimer’s.
  • The ‘Alzheimer’s gene,’ ApoE4, has been identified as a risk factor that could make a person more vulnerable to the side effects of -MAB drugs.
  • If I choose to take a MAB drug, what should my expectation be?
  • How long should patients stay on these new Alzheimer’s drugs.

At AAIC, We Tracked Down Answers to Readers’ Alzheimer’s Drug Questions | Being Patient

A new study sheds light on the biological underpinnings that may explain the association between air pollution and the development of dementia.  Investigators found that high levels of homocysteine and low levels of methionine are associated with increased risk of dementia in the presence of air pollution. Homocysteine is an amino acid associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and dementia; methionine is an amino acid that’s a precursor of homocysteine. Underpinnings of Air Pollution and Dementia Risk Explained? (medscape.com)

Fluctuating cholesterol and triglyceride levels in older adults are associated with a greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Alzheimer’s-related dementia (ADRD), a new study suggests. Participants with the greatest variability in total cholesterol levels had a 19% increased risk for AD or ADRD within 12 years of baseline than those with stable levels. In addition, those with the highest variability in triglycerides had a 23% increased risk. Fluctuations in these levels over time could help us identify who is at greater risk of dementia, help us understand mechanisms for the development of dementia, and ultimately determine whether levelling out these fluctuations could play a role in reducing dementia risk.  Fluctuating Lipid Levels Tied to Increased Dementia Risk (medscape.com)

Meditation and foreign language training does not boost cognitive function in cognitively healthy older adults, a new study suggests. The findings are similar to results from another study published last year but are contrary to previous findings showing cognitive benefits for practicing meditation and learning a new language later in life. Based on existing literature, which has provided support for the efficacy of meditation and foreign language training in promoting cognition among older adults, perhaps the most surprising outcome of the new study was the lack of evidence indicating cognitive benefits after 18 months of either intervention. No Cognitive Benefit From Meditation, Learning a Language? (medscape.com)

Volunteering may protect the aging brain from cognitive decline and dementia, new research suggests, but one expert cautions that more research is necessary to explore the connection. The study examined a diverse group of seniors and found that those who did volunteer work had better cognitive function, specifically executive function and episodic memory, than did peers who did not volunteer.  Volunteering entails many aspects which we know are linked to better brain health, such as increased physical activity, more social interaction, and higher mental engagement. There is also the satisfaction of knowing you are helping someone.  Volunteering Later in Life Good for the Aging Brain (medscape.com)

Social isolation in older individuals has been linked to reduced brain volume in regions associated with memory, a new study shows.  To explore the potential link between social isolation and brain atrophy, as well as the role of depression as a potential mediator, the investigators studied nearly 9000 Japanese citizens aged 65 and older. Total brain volume was lower in those with the lowest frequency of social contact vs those with the highest frequency.  Less social contact was also linked to smaller temporal lobe, occipital lobe, cingulum, hippocampus, and amygdala volumes. Depressive symptoms were lower in the daily-contact group compared with the seldom-contact group.  The results also showed that socially isolated participants were more likely to have diabetes, hypertension, were more likely to smoke, and to be physically inactive. Social Isolation Linked to Lower Brain Volume (medscape.com)

Gum disease and tooth loss are linked to hippocampal atrophy and may have a more negative impact on the brain than aging, new research suggests.  Investigators found that in a late middle-aged and older cohort, among patients with mild periodontitis, having fewer teeth was linked to a faster rate of left hippocampal atrophy. For those with severe gum disease, each additional lost tooth was associated with a faster rate of brain shrinkage, equivalent to 1.3 years of brain aging.  The study found that dental health may play a role in the health of the brain area that controls thinking and memory, giving people another reason to take better care of their teeth.  Tooth Loss, Gum Disease Tied to Hippocampal Atrophy (medscape.com)

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