ACA’s Weekly Email, June 27, 2025

Support ACA’s 4^th of July Care Basket Campaign!  Three times a year ACA volunteers deliver baskets filled with meat, fruit, and other staples to some of the families on our service programs.  These families live on fixed incomes and cannot afford food for a celebration.  Your donation will help make their 4^th of July great fun filled day! Donate here

ACA’s 12th annual Glow for a Cure night golf tournament, July 25th, Highland Park Golf Course.  There are a limited number of teams still available, and this event has sold out every year.  The tournament is presented by ACA’s Junior Board and supports the Lindy Harrell Pre-doctoral Scholars Program in Alzheimer’s Research at UAB.  ACA has funded 8 student researchers since 2019.  https://alzca.org/glow/

Support Group Meetings:

• ACA’s support group with Miller & Vance, Tuesday, July 1, 11:00 – 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 Robin Montgomery,robin.montgomery@westal.org.
• M4A’s Caregiver Support Group, 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, 10 – 11:30 am, Montevallo.  Contact Robyn James,rjames@m4a.org.
• The Oaks on Parkwood, 4^th 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, 3^rd Tuesday of each month 11:30-12:30, contact Valarie Lawson, vlawson@uwaaa.org
• Eastaboga, 2nd Tuesday, 6:00 pm. Contact Julie Slagle jslagle@lakesidehospice.org
• Trussville, 3rd Tuesday, 6:00 pm. Contact Julie Slagle jslagle@lakesidehospice.org
• Covenant Presbyterian Church, first Wednesday of the month, 10 am, church parlor,  Contact Kristian Hatley at Khatley@covpress.com.
• M4A virtual support group, 3rd Wednesdays 2:00 – 3:00 pm.  Contact Chalane Mims, cmims@m4a.org.
• Asbury United Methodist Church 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays at 1:00, contact Maggie Dunaway at mdunaway@asburyonline.org.
• AFTD support group,  second Tuesday of the month.  Amber Guy: 251-281-5344.
• Discovery United Methodist Church, Hoover, has moved to Holy Apostles Church: 424 Emery Dr. Hoover, AL 35244.  2^nd and 4th Thursdays 10:30-noon, contact Michele Elrod:  Michelerelrod@att.net.
• St. Mark’s UMC, Vestavia Hills, Fridays at 1 pm.  Contact Donna Baird:  (205)717-9880.

 Alzheimer’s News:

Engaging in 4th of July festivities with your loved one living with dementia might seem difficult, but it doesn’t have to be.  Fireworks, large family gatherings, parades mark a special holiday in the U.S. — Independence Day or July 4th. But if you are caring for someone living with dementia, it can be a uniquely challenging event to navigate. Here are 3 things to consider:

1. Be rule-bound by your routine.  Plan to do your largest celebratory activity during a time of the day when your loved one is typically at their best. If you’ve noticed they experience behavioral changes in the evenings, plan a lunchtime picnic or small celebration.
2. Avoid fireworks.  Besides the large crowds they attract, fireworks should also be avoided due to their loud sounds. People living with dementia may become startled or irritated by loud, sudden sounds. Fireworks can also evoke stress in people who are war veterans and may associate the sound with hearing gunshots.  Instead of going to a live fireworks display, do an indoor activity with your loved one like coloring, looking at old photo albums, listening to music or playing a game.
3. Keep it small.  Large groups can be disorienting to someone with dementia and could lead to overstimulation. Due to forgetfulness, your loved one may be surrounded by close family at your celebration but unable to recall who they are. For caregivers, the prospect of explaining your loved one’s situation to extended family and friends may feel draining and daunting.  It can be helpful to send an email ahead of time to say, ‘Hey, so glad you’re coming. You may notice that mom is different than the last time you saw her, and this is what you can expect.’ That kind of preparation can be very valuable. https://www.beingpatient.com/dementia-friendly-july-4/

AFA offers Activities for children and adults living with dementia:  https://alzfdn.org/play-time-activities-for-children-adults-living-with-dementia/

As research continues to reveal connections between prolonged stress, cardiovascular health, and cognitive decline, stress management is emerging as a potentially powerful tool in Alzheimer’s prevention. Research shows that chronic stress keeps cortisol levels elevated. When cortisol — the body’s main stress hormone — stays elevated for long periods, it can negatively impact brain health. High cortisol levels have been linked to shrinkage in the hippocampus, a region critical for learning and memory. Over time, this can impair cognitive function, increase susceptibility to anxiety and depression, and potentially accelerate age-related brain changes. Chronic stress doesn’t just affect mood — it plays a real biological role in the development of diseases that increase the risk of Alzheimer’s, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and inflammation. Recent research supports the idea that effective stress management can improve vascular and metabolic health, which are closely tied to brain health. While we can’t eliminate all stress, learning how to manage it may be one of the most accessible and impactful tools we have for protecting our brains as we age.  Effective stress management includes a combination of mindfulness-based stress reduction, regular physical exercise, and high-quality sleep. Practices like yoga, meditation, and even nature walks can lower cortisol levels and calm the nervous system. Sleep is especially important, as poor sleep can both increase stress and interfere with the brain’s ability to clear waste — including amyloid proteins associated with Alzheimer’s. The brain thrives in a state of balance, and chronic stress disrupts that equilibrium, wearing down our cognitive resilience.  Engaging in mentally enriching, emotionally calming activities — such as learning something new, practicing mindfulness, or connecting with others — supports brain adaptability. In this way, stress management doesn’t just prevent harm; it strengthens the brain’s ability to bounce back. https://thewomensalzheimersmovement.org/managing-stress-to-protect-your-brain-a-conversation-about-alzheimers-disease-prevention/?mc_cid=6350b401b9&mc_eid=9411ff17b8

People who develop depression or bipolar disorder later in life may be at increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. A new brain scan study found that people with late-life mood disorders had high brain levels of tau and beta-amyloid, two proteins that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.  Depression can occur in people with Alzheimer’s disease, exacerbating such symptoms as sadness, apathy, sleep disturbances, and irritability. And depression that recurs throughout adult life is a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Findings indicate that depression and other mood symptoms can emerge many years before the typical symptoms of dementia are recognized. They suggest that doctors should consider mood disorders, especially those occurring later in life, as possible early warning signs of Alzheimer’s.  Symptoms of depression include feelings of extreme sadness, apathy, social withdrawal, increased sleepiness or inability to sleep, feelings of worthlessness and thoughts of suicide. Bipolar disorder includes periods of depression that may alternate with manic episodes characterized by irritability, restlessness, heightened energy, racing thoughts, and sleeplessness.  https://www.alzinfo.org/articles/diagnosis/late-life-mood-disorders-may-be-early-alzheimers-sign/

Being Patient explores the landscape of stem cell therapies for Alzheimer’s.  Stem cells can transform into different cell types, including neurons, theoretically allowing them to replace brain cells lost to Alzheimer’s. But, be aware: We are still in early stages. While stem cell therapies are being tested for Parkinson’s and ALS, Alzheimer’s research is more complex and slower due to the disease’s complicated pathology. Anything currently out there comes with risks — and no scientific consensus that it will be effective.  Celebrities and athletes including Chris Hemsworth, John Cleese, and Tom Brady have all endorsed expensive, unregulated stem cell treatments for a number of conditions. But, experts say the evidence behind these costly treatments is lacking, and they may pose a risk to your health. https://www.beingpatient.com/stem-cell-therapy-neurodegenerative-disease/

Higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) or artificially sweetened beverages (ASB) in later life was not associated with the risk for all-cause dementia, pooled data from six large prospective cohort studies showed. However, more research to examine the impact of such beverages in younger people is warranted.  Previous observational studies have suggested possible links between high consumption of sweetened beverages and increased dementia risk, although findings have been inconsistent.https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/do-sugary-drinks-raise-dementia-risk-older-adults-2025a1000gdu?ecd=WNL_trdalrt_pos1_250620_etid7513366&uac=407526BK&impID=7513366

Caregiving comes with many responsibilities, and keeping track of tasks can be stressful. NIA’s caregiver worksheets can help you coordinate care and stay on top of important details like medications and medical documents for family members or friends who need help with daily living. Here are a few worksheets to help support your caregiving needs:

• Coordinating caregiving responsibilities. Use this worksheet for identifying and sharing caregiving tasks with others.  https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/worksheet-coordinating-caregiving-responsibilities_1.pdf
• Home safety checklist.  This room-by-room checklist helps you identify and remove hazards around an older person’s home to help keep them safe.  https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/worksheet-home-safety-checklist_1.pdf
• Questions to ask before hiring a care provider.  Use this worksheet to help you collect information about each service you’re considering.  https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/worksheet-questions-hiring-care-provider.pdf
• Questions to consider before moving an older adult into your home. Use this list of questions when thinking about whether this kind of move is the right arrangement for you.  https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/worksheet-questions-moving-older-adult-into-your-home.pdf
• Managing medications and supplements.  Use this worksheet to keep track of every prescription drug, over-the-counter medicine, and supplement the older adult is taking. Keep this list handy and share it with all caregivers and health care providers. https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2023-05/managing-medications-and-supplements-worksheet.pdf
• Important documents and paperwork.  This worksheet provides a checklist of important records, documents, and other information to help you determine what needs to be gathered and stored.  https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/worksheet-questions-hiring-care-provider.pdf

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