Rose Garden Adult Day Care is hosting a fundraiser for ACA, October 18, 10 am – 4 pm. Ms. Hazel Ward Day will honor the center’s founder’s life and legacy. Enjoy food, fun and fellowship. Music, food truck, balloon release and more. 4900 1st Avenue North.
All in for Alzheimer’s Community Event, October 18, 8 – 11 am, Bill Harris Arena, 2340 Complex Blvd. Hear from UAB experts.https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf_tRQZp2SFLm5c9RZ1QTCO1lO4WrigDQPxjnCBv-nLX7ostg/viewform
Moving Forward Parkinson’s Conference, October 21, 9:30 am, Randall Welcome Center, 200 Bryce Lawn Drive, Tuscaloosa. Complimentary lunch included. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/moving-forward-tuscaloosa-parkinsons-conference-2025-tickets-1628427684039?aff=oddtdtcreator&mc_eid=ad621f5e21&mc_cid=2d1c75b3cd
Alzheimer’s Update with David Geldmacher, MD, November 3, Vestavia Library in the Woods, 1221 Montgomery Highway, 6 – 7:30 pm. A UAB Professor of Neurology, widely respected in the field of memory disorders and Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. Geldmacher is the Warren Family Endowed Chair in Neurology and Director of the Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology in the Department of Neurology at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. He leads UAB’s Brain Aging and Memory Clinic program, which focuses on the interdisciplinary care of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. Free and open to the public.
Celebrating Happy Days, November 8! Join us for ACA’s annual Walking to Remember event, 300 Office Park Drive. Registration begins at 9 am and the Walk gets underway at 10 am. Bring families and friends to help raise money for ACA’s service programs. Walkers donating a minimum of $50 receive a short sleeved t-shirt. Walkers raising a minimum of $75 receive a long sleeved shirt. Walkers donating a minimum of $100 receive a shirt of their choice and a special gift (while supplies last). Music, food, fun and a vintage car show. https://alzca.org/walking/
Alzheimer’s Day of Prayer and Remembrance, November 9. Visit www.alzca.org for a copy of the prayer.
The Challenges and Gifts of Caregiving for a Loved One Living with Dementia, November 20, 1 – 3 pm. Presented by Renée Brown Harmon, MD, author of Surfing the Waves of Alzheimer’s, and Beverly E. Thorn, PhD, author of Before I Lose My Own Mind. Together, they’ll share insights and practical guidance drawn from their personal and professional caregiving journeys.
Support Group Meetings:
- ACA’s support group with Miller & Vance, Tuesday, October 21, 11:00 – noon CT. There 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, 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
- 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 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 1:00, contact Maggie Dunaway at mdunaway@asburyonline.org.
- AFTD support group, second Tuesday of the month. Amber Guy: 251-281-5344.
- Holy Apostles Church, Hoover, 2nd 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:
Through Our Eyes – Facing Alzheimer’s Together: The Reverends Malcolm Marler and Mary Bea Sullivan recently shared their experience of Malcolm’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, the challenges, gifts, resources, and support that have been beneficial to them. Watch the 55 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxDcwr_Bc8c
The US Food and Drug Administration has given clearance to another blood test to help assess Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of cognitive decline, providing a broader understanding of when the disease can be ruled out. Roche Diagnostics claims that its Elecsys pTau181 test, developed in collaboration with Eli Lilly, could be used by primary care physicians to help identify patients who are unlikely to have Alzheimer’s disease, while those with a positive result would be recommended for further testing. The test is intended for adults 55 and older in the United States who are showing signs or symptoms of cognitive decline. https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/13/health/fda-alzheimer-blood-test-roche-ptau-181-wellness
Eating a diet rich in riboflavin, a B vitamin, may substantially lower your dementia risk, according to a new report that looked at the effects of B vitamins on brain health. The study found that older adults who ate diets containing the highest amounts of riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, had a 49 percent lower risk of developing disabling dementia than their peers who ate the least. Diets rich in two other B vitamins, folate and B6, had a less significant impact on lowering dementia risk. B vitamins are known to be essential for the health of the brain and nervous system, though studies are mixed on whether taking B vitamin supplements can help to protect the aging brain against Alzheimer’s disease. Foods that are rich in riboflavin include eggs, liver and meats; fortified cereals and breads; dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese; and clams, salmon and other fish. Other foods high in riboflavin include almonds and sunflower seeds, beans, spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes. https://www.alzinfo.org/articles/prevention/this-b-vitamin-may-be-critical-for-dementia-prevention/
Being Patient releases 4 new guides:
- Being Patient’s Guide to Is It Normal Aging or Something More Serious? | Being Patient
- Being Patient’s Guide to Genetics, Family History, and Alzheimer’s | Being Patient
- Being Patient’s Guide to Is It Normal Aging or Something More Serious? | Being Patient
- Being Patient’s Guide to Diagnosing Cognitive Impairment | Being Patient
Elderly men and women who suffer traumatic brain injuries—most often the result of a fall—are at increased risk of developing dementia, a new study found. A new traumatic brain injury was associated with a 69 percent increased risk of subsequent dementia in the first five years after the injury, and a 56 percent increased risk beyond five years. Advancing age increased the risk, with about one in three people age 85 and older predicted to develop dementia after a traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries can occur when the head hits the floor, ground or a piece of furniture, or the head is hit directly by a ball or another object. They can also be the result of an indirect force, such as whiplash after a car accident. Concussions are one example of a traumatic brain injury. Signs of a traumatic brain injury include loss of consciousness, disorientation or neurological signs like slurred speech, muscle weakness or vision changes. https://www.alzinfo.org/articles/caregiving/a-common-injury-that-raises-dementia-risk/
There is growing concern that diabetes and obesity in young people could affect their cognitive development. Besides the general concern of people with diabetes facing MCI, and perhaps dementia, in midlife, there is the fear of young brains — not fully developed until their mid-20s — being affected by insulin resistance. The younger a person receives a diabetes diagnosis, the greater the risk dementia will develop at a younger age. Data to consider:
- A Harvard/George Washington University trajectory study predicted that 57.3% of the children living in this country today will have obesity when they are 35.
- The CDC projects that by 2060, the US will have about 250,000 people younger than 20 years diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. As of last year, that total stood at 28,000.
- According to StatPearls, overweight and obesity increase the lifetime risk for type 2 diabetes in men from 7% to 70% and in women from 12% to 74%, as BMI increases.
- A 2024 global prevalence study showed that dementia among people aged 70 years or younger increased to 13.14 million in 2021 from 5.91 million in 1990, especially among those aged 65 years or younger living in North America. Smoking, high fasting blood sugar, and high BMI were blamed for the increase.
Among diabetes drugs, GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors were associated with greater reduction in the risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) than DPP-4 inhibitors, new research showed.https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/some-diabetes-drug-classes-show-promise-reducing-ad-risk-2025a1000pog?ecd=mkm_ret_251012_mscpmrk_endo_diabetes_etid7786345&uac=407526BK&impID=7786345
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be a problem as people age, so it’s important for caregivers to know that symptoms can manifest differently in someone with dementia. People without memory loss usually experience traditional urinary complaints of fever, chills, dysuria (pain or discomfort while urinating), urgency, frequency and may notice changes in their urine. In dementia, you may not experience the fever or chills, or even the urinary complaints. With dementia there can be abdominal or pelvic discomfort, loss of appetite, fatigue, malaise, confusion and restlessness. Sometimes people with dementia have a hard time explaining what they’re feeling or sensing. Caregivers should be aware of the following UTI symptoms:
- A person’s temperature and heart rate can become elevated while their blood pressure may decrease due to whole-body inflammation.
- You may observe changes in behavior, fluid intake and food consumption. Eating and drinking less, confusion, restlessness and agitation are also common.
- An increase in urination frequency may occur. When a person urinates more often than their baseline, that could be a sign.
- A person may appear uncomfortable when urinating. Sometimes people with dementia deny painful urination but grimace when it happens. Try to talk about it using simple terms.
- Urine may be dark, cloudy and have a foul odor.
Here are some ways that UTIs can be prevented:
- Try to ensure that your person urinates completely.
- Keep them well hydrated.
- Help them to maintain proper hygiene by wiping from front to back and avoiding irritating cleaning or feminine products. UTIs are most often caused when bacteria from the anus infect the bladder.
- If they are wearing incontinence pads, make sure they are changed frequently.
- When a UTI is diagnosed, use an antibiotic, prescribed by a doctor, to treat the bacteria.
https://alzfdn.org/detecting-preventing-utis/
Journalist Charles Piller’s book “Doctored” claims misconduct and arrogance have derailed progress toward an Alzheimer’s cure. Is it true? In his book “Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer’s” (Atria, 2025), investigative journalist Charles Piller argues that research fraud and misconduct have significantly impeded progress toward better Alzheimer’s treatments. The book’s controversial claims were in the spotlight during Senate confirmation hearings for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who referenced Piller’s critique to assert that the NIH had failed to pursue meaningful Alzheimer’s research and later used it to defend firing scientists. Piller sets his sights on the amyloid hypothesis, which proposes that the build-up of toxic forms of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain is the main driver of Alzheimer’s. Piller highlights the now infamous 2006 paper by researcher Sylvain Lesné, claiming that a form of beta-amyloid, Aꞵ*56, was responsible for Alzheimer’s-related cognitive decline in mice. The problem: Lesné’s data was fudged. Being Patient offers more insight into the impact of Lesné’s claims on research progress. https://beingpatient.com/doctored-charles-piller-review-alzheimers-fraud/