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 May 12, 2023

ACA will be a part of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Health & Emergency Awareness Fair, May 13, noon – 2, 1217 Meadow Lane, 35228.

Trivia Night at Cahaba Brewery, May 18, 7 – 9 pm, to benefit ACA’s Lindy Harrell Pre-Doctoral Scholars in Alzheimer’s research.  Join us for the fun!

The Best of Broadway! Encore’s Community Choir is performing in a concert, at Canterbury United Methodist Church, Tuesday, May 16th, 2-3 pm!  The concert is free, but you can make a donation to benefit the McCoy Adult Day Care.  The Encore Shoppe will also be open so you can purchase a variety of original art!

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s is launching 6 NEW Brain Health Academy courses starting with Obesity and Dementia- May 17, noon – 1 CT.  https://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/brain-health-academy

The Virtual Dementia Tour (VDT®), May 19, 9 – 2 pm.  VDT is the original and ground-breaking, evidence-based and scientifically proven method of building a greater understanding of dementia through the use of patented sensory tools.  Medicare Advisors of Alabama 2116 Columbiana Rd. Birmingham, Alabama 35209. Open to the Public. Contact Dedra Lewis to register for a time slot: 205-325-5567; lewisd@jccal.org.

Free, confidential Memory Screening, May 23, 9 – noon,  Bessemer Public Library 400 19th St. North Bessemer.  Contact Dedra Lewis at 205-325-5567.

Dementia 101, Vestavia Library, June 5, 6:30 – 8.  Details to follow.

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

Alzheimer’s News:

Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day When Your Mom Has Dementia:  Deborah Shouse tells us to “Give Yourself a Hurrah! On Mother’s Day, I celebrated my flexibility, sense of humor, and my steadfast feelings of responsibility. Though my relationship with Mom had changed, I still celebrated the on-going gifts and teachings I received as a daughter and I cherished the wonder of having a mother”.  https://thewomensalzheimersmovement.org/mothers_day/

Mother’s Day is May 14th!  50+ Mother’s Day Gifts She’ll Love – DailyCaring

Older Americans Month 2023:  Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month (OAM). The 2023 theme is Aging Unbound, which offers an opportunity to explore diverse aging experiences and discuss how communities can combat stereotypes and promote flexible thinking about aging.  We all benefit when older adults remain engaged, independent, and included. Older Americans Month 2023 | ACL Administration for Community Living

Take a walk to fight depression this Mental Health Awareness Month!  By the numbers, the American Psychological Association (APA) breaks down the profound effect exercise has on  mental health. In fact, experts say even moderate amounts of exercise can help prevent depression. Want to boost your mental health? Take a walk (apa.org)

Positive Approach to Care (PAC) offers a lot of free information, from YouTube videos, to blogs, to live virtual events. Or if you truly want to learn practical, hands-on techniques, a PAC Champion Course will equip you with immediately useful skills. At $49 USD for a live, virtual, and interactive 2-hour course led by trained PAC Mentors, you’ll gain a bunch for little cost.

This week’s PAC blog offers actionable tips for all caregivers and care partners, especially men: Male Dementia Caregivers: 10 Tips to Reduce Tension and Stress – Positive Approach to Care (teepasnow.com)

Untreated hearing loss increases dementia risk in middle-aged and older adults, new research confirms.  The study showed a 42% increased risk for dementia in people with hearing loss compared with their peers with no hearing trouble. However, there was no increased risk in those with hearing loss who used hearing aids.  The evidence is compelling that treating hearing loss is a promising way of reducing dementia risk. Now is the time to increase awareness of and detection of hearing loss, as well as the acceptability and usability of hearing aids. Hearing Aids a ‘Powerful’ Tool for Reducing Dementia Risk (medscape.com)

Researchers, using a nationally representative sample of older adults who were able to rate their life satisfaction, found that dementia status was only modestly associated with lower life satisfaction through the mediation of limitations in activities of daily living.  Most factors associated with life satisfaction were similar between older adults with and without dementia. Life Satisfaction Among Persons Living With or Without Dementia (medscape.com)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Rexulti (brexpiprazole) to treat agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. With this approval, Rexulti has now become the first and only therapy ever approved for this specific indication in the U.S. Rexulti is an antipsychotic medication that’s thought to work by modulating the activity of certain signaling molecules in the brain. The once-daily therapy previously had been approved to treat schizophrenia in patients ages 13 and older, as well as to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults when given along antidepressant medications.  Importantly, Rexulti’s new approval covers its use as a once-daily treatment to help ease emotional symptoms over time. The therapy should not be used as an on-demand treatment on an “as needed” basis to control agitation associated with Alzheimer’s dementia. FDA approves Rexulti for agitation tied to Alzheimer’s dementia | Daily therapy is first to be approved for this use in US | Alzheimer’s News Today (alzheimersnewstoday.com)

Millions of Americans are expected to test for Alzheimer’s in the coming years with at-home test kits, others at labs, as new drugs for people with early Alzheimer’s from partners Eisai Co Ltd and Biogen Inc and Eli Lilly and Co usher in sweeping change in approaches to treatment of the disease.  Testing for the APOE4 gene variant among Americans being treated for Alzheimer’s has more than doubled from a year ago, an exclusive analysis of medical records for Reuters by health data firm Truveta found. The increase was driven by the new treatments that promise to slow the progression of the disease, but also carry risks.  The National Institutes of Health estimates up to 25% of people in the United States have one copy of APOE4 and up to 5% have two copies.  Yet there is a shortage of genetic counselors to help families deal with the implications of having two copies of APOE4. The Pitfalls of Alzheimer’s Genetic Testing (medscape.com)

Eating foods rich in magnesium, a mineral found in nuts and seeds, leafy greens, whole grains, beans and other foods, may be good for the brain. Scientists in Australia report that adults who tend to get the most magnesium in their diets tend to have less shrinkage in their brains as they age. Greater brain volume is tied to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. A magnesium-rich diet was also tied to fewer lesions in the brain’s white matter, which can lower the risk of stroke.  Eat Foods With This Nutrient for Better Brain Health | Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation (alzinfo.org)

Caregiving can be rewarding, but it is also challenging. That’s why taking care of yourself — physically and mentally — is one of the most important things you can do as a caregiver. View this infographic from the NIA to learn more ways you can care for yourself while caring for others.

While caring for an older adult, many caregivers have strong and conflicting feelings. DailyCaring explores these feelings and offers 4 strategies to mange those feelings.  4 Ways to Reduce Stress from Caregiver Emotions – DailyCaring

Diabetes drugs that also promote weight loss such as Ozempic are being studied to tackle some of the most difficult-to-treat brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease.  Diabetes regimens, from Ozempic to old mainstays like insulin and metformin, appear to address several different aspects of the metabolic system implicated in Alzheimer’s disease, including a protein called amyloid and inflammation.  The hope is that improving glucose utilization and tamping down inflammation in the entire body – including the brain – could slow progression of debilitating diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.  Results are years away and success uncertain.  Alzheimer’s May Be Next Frontier for Drugs Like Ozempic (medscape.com)

Watch NIA videos on Alzheimer’s and related dementias on YouTube. You can also subscribe to NIA’s channel to receive updates about new videos.

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