June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month: Alzheimer’s Disease International
The Reverse Alzheimer’s Summit, June 14 – 21, is a comprehensive deep dive into ALL the latest research. It brings together more than 50 Alzheimer’s experts over 7 days. Registration is free and all presentations are available for 24 hours. Pre-Event Registration Page – Reverse Alzheimers Summit 2.0 (drsummits.com)
Glow for a Cure, July 29, Highland Golf Course. Mark your calendar for ACA’s Jr. Board nighttime golf. https://alzca.org/glow/
June Webinars from Alabama Lifespan Respite: https://alabamarespite.org/events2/
In-person and zoom Support Groups:
- ACA’s group with Miller & Vance, Tuesday, June 21, 11 – noon CT. Call (205) 871-7970 or mpiggott@alzca.org. Join us on zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86450491838
- Pell City group, first Thursdays of the month at 6:30; and the third Tuesdays of the month at 6:30. Contact Bit Thomaston, ethomason50@gmail.com
- 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 Betsy Smith, Smith35213@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
- M4A, 2nd Thursday’s, noon – 1 pm. Contact Crystal Whitehead, cwhitehead@m4a.org
- M4A, 3rd Wednesday’s 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Contact Crystal Whitehead, cwhitehead@m4a.org
- Asbury United Methodist Church1st and 3rd Thursdays at 1:00, contact Maggie Dunaway at mdunaway@asburyonline.org.
Alzheimer’s News:
Reasons to Be Grateful During Alzheimer’s Awareness Month (alzheimersnewstoday.com)
Gratefulness is a healthy choice; cultivating thankfulness improves outlook and creates positivity. But in the face of dementia, what is there to be thankful for?
During Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, let’s be grateful for the following:
- Medical and scientific advancements moving us closer to a cure.
- Increased quality of life for patients who receive an early diagnosis.
- Clinical trials that provide access to new solutions.
- Improved dementia medications.
- Physical and mental strength to provide care for a loved one.
- Local and national organizations that support caregivers and families.
- Increased awareness.
- A cure is closer than we think.
Please consider taking this statewide survey about the information needs of caregivers.
https://universityofalabama.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bKjVbbeVEXFv7ue. You will receive a $15 gift card.
Erratic sleep patterns over years or even decades, along with a patient’s age and history of depression, may be harbingers of cognitive impairment later in life. Sleep duration, whether short, long or average, was not significant, but the sleep variability — the change in sleep across those time measurements — was significantly impacting the incidence of cognitive impairment. The researchers analyzed sleep and cognition data collected over decades on 1,104 adults who participated in the Seattle Longitudinal Study. Long-term Erratic Sleep May Predict Later-Life Cognitive Problems (medscape.com)
Here’s an opportunity to contribute your insights directly to help health professionals better understand and care for their own patients. As the saying goes, “We are what we eat.” Let UsAgainstAlzheimer’s A-LIST® know your thoughts on how we feed our brains. AgainstAlzheimer’s uses anonymous survey results to make life better for our community by ensuring policymakers, researchers, health care providers, insurers, drug developers and others who serve our community understand and consider your insights and preferences. What Matters Most: Nutrition and Brain Health Survey (surveymonkey.com)
A new study identified three antioxidants that may be particularly effective for brain health, helping to ward off Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in old age. The three antioxidants were lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin. People with the highest blood levels of these substances were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease decades later than people who had low levels of these antioxidants. Lutein and zeaxanthin commonly occur together in foods and are found in dark leafy greens like kale, spinach and chard, peas, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus and lettuce. These potent antioxidants belong to the family of compounds known as carotenoids, which are known to give foods such as cantaloupe, corn, carrots, and bell peppers their yellow or orange color. Salmon and eggs are also high in these antioxidants. Beta-cryptoxanthin is found in fruits such as oranges, papaya, tangerines, peaches and persimmons. 3 Antioxidants in Fruits and Vegetables That May Help Fight Alzheimer’s Disease | Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation (alzinfo.org)
Herpes zoster (HZ) is an acute, cutaneous viral infection caused by the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Previous population-based studies have reported both decreased and increased risks of dementia after having HZ. It’s thought that HZ may contribute to the development of dementia through neuroinflammation, cerebral vasculopathy, or direct neural damage, but epidemiologic evidence is limited. A new study found herpes zoster does not appear to increase dementia risk ― on the contrary, the viral infection may offer some protection. Surprising Link Between Herpes Zoster and Dementia (medscape.com)
Two rare mutations in the APOE gene ― APOE ε4 (R251G) and APOE ε3 (V236E) ― dramatically reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, results of a large genetic association study show. APOE ε4 (R251G) is a newly identified, risk-modifying variant in APOE’s lipid binding region that is inherited with APOE ε4 and reduces the risk of AD by more than 60%. The APOE ε4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset AD, and identifying genetic variants counterbalancing its associated risk may shed new light on its role in driving AD. Rare APOE Variants Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk by More Than 60% (medscape.com)
While the search for a definitive link between Alzheimer’s and infectious microbes — like Borrelia burgdorferi (the bacteria that causes Lyme) — has been inconclusive so far, experts are calling for more attention and resources devoted to exploring whether bacteria and viruses could lead to Alzheimer’s in some patients. One thing the scientific community does know for sure: Bacteria and viruses are capable of changing our brain, sometimes permanently. His Diagnosis: Early-Onset Alzheimer’s. The Suspected Cause? Lyme Disease – Being Patient
On This Dementia Life, Chuch McClatchey interviews Steve Heins, who dedicated a long career to working as a mechanical engineer for the Walt Disney Company. In his mid-50s, Steve was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. Living AND Learning New Skills with Dementia | This Dementia Life Ep#39 with Steve Heins – YouTube
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