Free, confidential Memory Screening, May 23, 9 – noon, Bessemer Public Library 400 19th St. North Bessemer. Contact Dedra Lewis at 205-325-5567.
Understanding Dementia, Vestavia Library, June 5, 6:30 – 8. Details to follow.
- ACA’s support group with Miller & Vance, Tuesday, May 23, 11 – noon CT. Call (205) 871-7970 ormpiggott@alzca.org. Join us on zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86450491838
- 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 Nikki Poe, nikki.poe@westal.org.
- The Oaks on Parkwood, 4th 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, 3rd Tuesday of each month 11:30-12:30, contact Valarie Lawson, vlawson@uwaaa.org
- Leeds, 1st Tuesday, 6:30 pm. Contact Julie Slagle jslagle@lakesidehospice.org
- Pell City, 2nd Tuesday, 2:30 pm. Contact Julie Slagle, jslagle@lakesidehospice.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 Church 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 1:00, contact Maggie Dunaway at mdunaway@asburyonline.org.
May Webinars from Alabama Lifespan Respite: https://alabamarespite.org/events2/
Alzheimer’s News:
Decades of research and anecdotal evidence show that there are clear benefits to participating in caregiver support groups. Here are 8 top benefits: feeling less lonely, isolated or judged; reducing depression, anxiety, or distress; gaining a sense of empowerment and control; getting advice or information about practical solutions or treatment options; improving or learning healthy coping skills; getting a better understanding of what to expect in the future; improving caregiving skills and giving better quality of life to your older adult; learning about ways to keep your loved one at home longer. 8 Benefits of Caregiver Support Groups – DailyCaring
Self-reported, regular internet use, but not overuse, in older adults is linked to a lower dementia risk, new research suggests. Investigators followed over 18,000 older individuals and found that regular internet use was associated with about a 50% reduction in dementia risk compared with their counterparts who did not use the internet regularly. They also found that longer duration of regular internet use was associated with a reduced risk of dementia, although excessive daily internet usage appeared to adversely affect dementia risk. Online engagement can develop and maintain cognitive reserve — resiliency against physiological damage to the brain — and increased cognitive reserve can, in turn, compensate for brain aging and reduce the risk of dementia. Internet Use a Modifiable Dementia Risk Factor? (medscape.com)
Physical activity has been tied to a significantly decreased risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD) in women, results of a large, long-term prospective study show. Investigators found that among almost 99,000 women participating in the ongoing study, those who exercised the most frequently had up to a 25% lower risk for PD than their less-active counterparts. This is especially critical since there is no cure nor disease-modifying treatments. The medications that are available are aimed at symptom reduction. Finding ways to prevent or delay the onset of Parkinson’s is really important, and physical activity seems to be one of the possible strategies to reduce the risk. ‘Robust Evidence’ That Exercise Cuts Parkinson Risk in Women (medscape.com)
This is National Women’s Health Week! Did you know that almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women? Start taking control of your brain health regardless of age by applying the Cleveland Clinic’s Six Pillars of Brain Health:
1) Physical exercise – Move your body
2) Diet and nutrition – Eat smart, think better
3) Manage medical conditions – Control medical risks
4) Cognitive activity – Use it or lose it
5) Social engagement – Stay connected
6) Sleep and relaxation – Rest well
Learn more about brain: Brain Health Classes & Programs | MindFit OC (alzoc.org)
BrightFocus Foundation is celebrating the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Day of Hope, May 25, by offering a free healthy eating guide.
Up to 13 million American adults ages 60 and older are living with a mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Older adults with MCI have a 10%–20% likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia (ADRD) over a one-year period. The problem is not only that these figures are so high, but also that they exist in the context of healthcare hesitation. Older people and their families often hesitate to discuss memory impairment with healthcare providers. Their reticence may be related to a fear of a diagnosable medical condition, such as ADRD, or a belief that their memory loss is a natural product of older age. This healthcare hesitation extends to providers as well. A recent national survey revealed that nearly all primary care professionals (PCPs) reported a lack of initiative in addressing issues of MCI and ADRD; in other words, PCPs wait for patients or their family members to request assessment. We Need to Enhance ADRD-Friendly Practice (asaging.org)
For nearly 40 years, neurologist Francisco Lopera at the University of Antioquia in Medellín, Colombia, has been following an extended family whose members develop Alzheimer’s in their forties or earlier. Many of the approximately 6,000 family members carry a genetic variant called the paisa mutation that inevitably leads to early-onset dementia. But now, Lopera and his collaborators have identified a family member with a second genetic mutation — one that protected him from dementia until age 67. It’s an important new avenue to pursue new therapies for Alzheimer’s disease. How one man’s rare Alzheimer’s mutation delayed the onset of disease (nature.com)
Could changing your diet play a role in slowing or even preventing the development of dementia? Researchers examined data from dozens of past studies into the belly-brain connection. The results? There’s a strong link between particular kinds of gut bacteria and Alzheimer’s disease. Between 500 and 1,000 species of bacteria exist in the human gut at any one time, and the amount and diversity of these microorganisms can be influenced by genetics and diet. They found a significant correlation between 10 specific types of gut bacteria and the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Six categories of bacteria — Adlercreutzia, Eubacterium nodatum group, Eisenbergiella, Eubacterium fissicatena group, Gordonibacter, and Prevotella9 — were identified as protective, and four types of bacteria — Collinsella, Bacteroides, Lachnospira, and Veillonella — were identified as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Certain bacteria in humans’ guts can secrete acids and toxins that thin and seep through the intestinal lining, interact with the APOE (a gene identified as a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease), and trigger a neuroinflammatory response — affecting brain health and numerous immune functions, and potentially promoting development of the neurodegenerative disorder. Gut Bacteria Associated With Alzheimer’s Disease Identified | Technology Networks
Deep sleep may function as a buffer against cognitive decline in older adults with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology by protecting cognitive reserve, new research suggests. Investigators found that deep sleep, also known as non-REM slow-wave sleep, can protect memory function in cognitively normal adults with a high beta-amyloid burden. Think of deep sleep almost like a life raft that keeps memory afloat, rather than memory getting dragged down by the weight of Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Deep Sleep May Mitigate the Impact of Alzheimer’s Pathology (medscape.com)
The anti-amyloid agent lecanemab (Leqembi, Eisai) and associated ancillary services could add an estimated $2 to $5 billion annually to Medicare spending, with substantial out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries who don’t have supplemental coverage, a new cost analysis suggests. These additional costs could strain the Medicare program and its beneficiaries, who may face rising premiums to help Medicare pay for the drug. Additional premium increases are especially concerning because many older Americans rely on a fixed income. Annual Costs of Lecanemab Estimated to Be Upwards of $2B (medscape.com)