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 November 3, 2023

Tomorrow, the parking lot at 300 Office Park Drive, 35223, will be transformed into a CIRCUS! 

Join Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama for Walking to Remember, registration is at 9 am and the Walk begins at 10.

There will be food, fun and entertainment for the whole family.  And the best part, for every dollar raised, 91cents goes directly to programs that help Alabama families struggling to provide care for a person with dementia!

ACA is a local organization.  For over 30 years our work has focused on the most vulnerable in our community — low income families caring for a loved one with dementia at home.  Most of the families we serve live on less than $1500 per month.  For many, caring for a loved one at home would be impossible without the services ACA provides.

Because of ACA, ­­­72 people living with dementia are wearing a Project Lifesaver Bracelet that can assist law enforcement in locating them should they wandered or become lost.  ACA gave scholarships for adult daycare to 73 people, which can give respite to their caregivers while providing meaningful activities and diversion for the person with dementia. Weekly activity packets are mailed to those who cannot attend a center but still need the mental stimulation.  ACA provides 154 families with the continence supplies they need every month.  And with volunteer support, ACA delivers care baskets 3 times a year (including Christmas) filled with food and staples to many of those on our programs.

While meeting these pressing everyday needs, ACA also funds the Lindy Harrell Pre-Doctoral Scholars Program in Alzheimer’s Disease at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  To date, 6 pre-doctoral students have received a total of $300,000.  While these students work towards a cure, we pledge to assist those who face the daily challenges posed by Alzheimer’s disease.

Please consider helping us provide support to the hundreds of Alabama families who depend on ACA for assistance with daily living needs.  Help us show these families that they are remembered.

Join us under the big top for Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama’s Walking to Remember, Saturday, November 4.  Walkers, present, raising a minimum of $50 receive a t-shirt.  Walkers, present, raising a minimum of $75 receive a long-sleeved t-shirt.  Walkers, present, raising a minimum of $100 receive a t-shirt and cap.  Join us for food, fun and fellowship!  https://alzca.org/

Dementia Calendar:

November holds special significance for our cause as we commemorate Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, a month where we come together to raise awareness, provide support, foster hope, and shine a light on Alzheimer’s.

November is also National Family Caregiver Month.  Family Caregivers are the unsung heroes who provide unwavering love, support and care to family members affected by Alzheimer’s.

November 12 is the Alzheimer’s Day of Prayer and Remembrance.  Include the Alzheimer’s prayer as part of your weekend’s worship.

Join ACA for our Annual Meeting and Candle Lighting Service, November 17,  9 – 10 am, Canterbury United Metodist Church, Wesley Hall.

Dementia 104: Care for the Caregiver, with local physician and author Renee Harmon,  Canterbury United Methodist Church, November 7, 10:00 am. Contact:  valerie.boyd@canterburyumc.org.

Walking Alongside Persons Living with Dementia, with local physician and author, Renee Harmon, at First United Methodist Church – Birmingham, on Wednesday evenings, November 8, 15, and 29, from 6:00-7:00 pm. To register: https://www.firstchurchbhm.com/comin_up/wednesday-nights/

Side-By-Side singers from Founder’s Place at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church are hosting a free Veteran’s Day concert, November 9, at 1:15 pm, Graham Hall. 

Support Group Meetings:

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

Alzheimer’s News:

When time changes happen suddenly, as during daylight savings time, chemical reactions in the body produce hormonal shifts to help your system adapt. The shift in the amount of daylight and nighttime hours that comes with seasonal changes can affect each of us in different ways. When a person is living with Alzheimer dementia, Frontotemporal dementia, Lewy Body dementia, or one of the other 100+ known types of dementia, adapting to these changes becomes even more difficult. Dementia disrupts a person’s circadian rhythm (the 24-hour internal clock in our brain that regulates cycles of alertness and sleepiness by responding to light changes in our environment), making time shifts even harder to adjust to.  Positive Approach to Care offers these tips:

The Circle of Care Mental Health Toolkit, sponsored by the National Alliance for Caregiving, covers topics including taking care of yourself, getting an accurate diagnosis, communicating with health professionals, finding community services, finding providers and more: https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Publications-Reports/Guides/Circle-of-Care-Guidebook/CircleOfCareReport

Surveys have shown that what matters most to patients, care partners, and clinicians is slowing disease progression to maintain independence and the ability to participate in activities longer.  Studies show that donanemab treatment translates into meaningful benefits by mitigating the risk of progression and dependency.  The pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly, has filed for approval of the drug from the US Food and Drug Administration. A decision is expected by the end of the year.  If approved, donanemab will be the third anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody to be approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s in the United States, following aducanumab (Aduhelm) and lecanemab (Leqembi).  https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/997839?src=FYE#vp_2

Ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) make up nearly three quarters of the entire US food supply and about 60% of Americans’ daily caloric intake.  UPFs include things like soda, ice cream, breakfast cereal, chips and prepackaged meals.  A significant body of research has tied consumption of these foods — awash in added sugar, salt, fat, artificial colors, or preservatives — to cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.  Individuals with the highest rates of UPF consumption reported higher levels of confusion, slowed thinking, unwanted or obsessive thoughts, irritability, and feelings of sadness.  A recent report showed that 53% of those who consumed UPFs several times a day were distressed or were struggling with their mental well-being compared to 18% of those who rarely or never consumed UPFs.  Cognition may also be affected. One analysis showed that those who consumed a high levels of UPFs were 50% more likely to develop dementia than those who consumed fewer processed foods. For every 10% increase in UPF consumption, the odds of developing any kind of dementia increased by 25%.  https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/997670?src=FYE

Adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, are nearly three times more likely than their peers without attention problems to develop dementia in old age.  But adults with ADHD who are taking psychostimulant medications to treat their attention deficits are not at increased risk of dementia, the study found. https://www.alzinfo.org/articles/diagnosis/attention-deficit-disorder-may-increase-dementia-risk/

Higher triglyceride levels — a main energy source for the brain — are associated with lower risk for dementia that is not mediated by age, sex, or APOE-ε4 allele status, a large study of community-dwelling older adults suggests.  https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/997898

AFA’s Teen Alzheimer’s Awareness Scholarship provides educational funding to college-bound high school seniors who have been impacted by Alzheimer’s disease.  Applicants are asked to write an essay (1,500-word maximum) or submit a video (no more than 4 minutes long) describing the impact of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia-related illnesses on themselves or their family, what they have learned, and how they intend to advocate and bring awareness to Alzheimer’s and dementia in the future.  The grand prize winners receive $5,000, with additional prizes awarded for runner-up. More than $428,000 in college scholarships have been awarded since the program’s inception.  Due April 1, 2024, https://alzfdn.org/young-leaders-of-afa/alzheimers-awareness-scholarship/

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