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F A L L2013www.alz.org
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MODESTOSEPTEMBER 7Graceada [email protected]
YOUNTVILLESEPTEMBER 7Yountville [email protected]
SAN FRANCISCO SEPTEMBER 21Mission Creek [email protected]
YUBA CITY SEPTEMBER 21Feather River [email protected]
FRESNOSEPTEMBER 28Copper River Ranch [email protected]
SPARKS, NVSEPTEMBER 28Sparks [email protected]
APTOS OCTOBER 5Seascape Resort and [email protected]
MERCEDOCTOBER 5Applegate [email protected]
SACRAMENTOOCTOBER 5 State [email protected]
WALNUT CREEKOCTOBER 5 Heather [email protected]
CHICO OCTOBER 12Bidwell [email protected]
MONTEREYOCTOBER 12Custom House Plaza, Monterey State Historic [email protected]
SAN JOSEOCTOBER 12Arena [email protected]
STOCKTONOCTOBER 12Victory [email protected]
PETALUMAOCTOBER 19Shollenberger [email protected]
REDDINGOCTOBER 19Convention Center/Turtle [email protected]
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ALZ.ORG/WALK | 800.272.3900
IN THIS ISSUE
Walk dates .................. CoverThink It Over .......................2Alzheimer's Basics .............3New Research Advances from AAIC .......4-5Caregiver Corner: Complementary Therapies That May Help ....................6On a Personal Note ............7Action Items .......................7Researchers Symposium ....8
ALZ.ORG/WALK800.272.3900
Northern California and Northern Nevada BoardOfficersGeoff Heredia, PresidentHoward Kirsch, Vice PresidentLucy Romoli, Vice PresidentJoe Cooney, Treasurer
Pat Sippel, Secretary
MembersPat BaldridgeKerry de BenedettiRob FannoChuck HaasGeoffrey Kerchner, MD, PhDJoan KezicMichael KirklandRenu MahaleFrancie NewfieldDenise PringleMatthew RhodesJeffrey TengAlex TsaoLeslie WalkerWilliam H. Fisher, CEOEx officioLennart Mucke, MD
Medical Scientific Advisory CouncilLennart Mucke, MD, ChairWes Ashford, MD, PhDAdam Boxer, MD, PhDCharles DeCarli, MDDolores Gallagher-Thompson, PhDMichael Greicius, MDVictor Henderson, MDLadson Hinton, MDWilliam Jagust, MDElizabeth Landsverk, MDFrank Longo, MD, PhDMichael McCloud, MD, FACPJared Tinklenberg, MDTony Wyss-Coray, PhDKristine Yaffe, MDElizabeth Edgerly, PhD, Chief
Program Officer
Northern Nevada Chapter StaffJacob Harmon, Regional DirectorVicki Lebsack, Program DirectorDori Ward, Family Care AssociateErica Baker, Special Events ManagerNora Brennan, Founder2
It’s the “the Marching Season” – Walk to End Alzheimer’s – that time when we engage our communities to bring Alzheimer’s to the fore, to raise funds and awareness for our cause. Our communications team is hard at work trying to entice the media into paying attention, our public policy team is activating our advocates to influence policy makers, and all the while, we answer the phone and meet with families for whom concern and awareness and public policy are at best secondary issues.
We’re an Association of big dreams, but honestly, we didn’t start that way. We began just trying to make the journey a little easier for those who followed. As we worked, we learned that Alzheimer’s is not normal aging, not inevitable… we learned to hope. We learned that if we want to change the future, we need to organize, we need to engage, we need to lift our heads from the challenges of day-to-day caregiving.
Today we – you, me and millions we’ve never met – are a movement. We created the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, we moved its passage and now we have to make it matter. Our job in a very tangible way is to change the facts as we know them today… to quadruple Federal funding for Alzheimer’s research, to create better options of care, to reduce the stigma of Alzheimer’s, bringing it out of the closet and talking about it and diagnosing as the disease it is.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s is all about this. It is about moving concern and awareness, it is about linking people to help, engaging our families, neighbors and co-workers in a movement that reclaims the future for millions. It is about raising the essential dollars that stoke our work and allow us to expand our impact.
I love Walk for many reasons. I suspect part of it is being a child of the 60’s… seeing hundreds, even thousands of people out in the streets is, for me, cathartic. All those people, diverse strangers motivated by the same cause. Imagine if there were so many people turning out for Walk that we couldn’t hold the crowd, not enough parking, ran out of t-shirts. How big a crowd would it take for the media to cover the event? I don’t know, but I’d love to find out. If you care about this issue, for yourself, for your partner or spouse, for your
parents, for your children or grandchildren, you need to be there. Sign up, raise money, raise hell. Be the change we want to see. See you there.
Wm H. Fisher, [email protected]
Think It Over...
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ALZHEIMER’S BASICS: KNOW YOUR FACTS AND FIGURES!The Alzheimer’s Association annual Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report has been updated for 2013. Here are 10 Facts you’ll want to keep in your back pocket!
More than 5 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s disease; by 2050, up to 16 million people will have the disease.
Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S., killing more people each year than breast and prostate cancer combined.
One in every three seniors will either die with or from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
Alzheimer’s is the only cause of death in the top 10 that cannot be prevented, cured or slowed.
Another American develops Alzheimer’s disease every 68 seconds; in 2050, an American will develop the disease every 33 seconds.
One in nine people over age 65 and one in three people over age 85 will get Alzheimer’s.
Deaths from Alzheimer’s increased 68 percent between 2000 and 2010, while deaths from other major diseases, including the number one cause of death (heart disease), decreased.
In 2013, the direct costs of caring for those with Alzheimer’s in the U.S. will total an estimated $203 billion.
In 2012, 15.4 million family and friends provided 17.5 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias – care valued at $216.4 billion.
Unless something is done, Alzheimer’s will cost an estimated $1.2 trillion (in today’s dollars) in 2050. Costs to Medicare and Medicaid will increase over 500 percent.
Did you know we have offices throughout Northern California and Northern Nevada? You can reach us by calling any time, day or night at 800.272.3900!
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA1060 La Avenida St.
CHICO, CALIFORNIA2105 Forest Ave., Ste. 130
LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Ste. 250
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA21 Lower Ragsdale Dr., Ste. B
RENO, NEVADA1301 Cordone Ave., Ste. 180
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA1455 Response Road, Ste. 190
SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA4340 Redwood Hwy., Ste. D314
SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA1777-A Capitola Road
SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA1211 North Dutton Ave., Ste. A
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The Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) is the premier event for presentations and discussion on the latest Alzheimer's and dementia research. AAIC 2013 brought together nearly 5,000 leading experts and researchers from around the world and featured more than 1,800 scientific presentations. Here are a few of the highlights:
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE AND OTHER STUDIES PRESENTED AT AAIC 2013, VISIT WWW.ALZ.ORG/AAIC.
ALZHEIMER’S DRUG STUDIES WITH INNOVATIVE APPROACHESAllopregnanolone, also known as Allo, is a neurosteroid found in the brain and bloodstream. In previous studies, it has shown promise as a potential regenerative therapy to promote brain cell creation and improve cognitive function in older animals and animal models of Alzheimer's disease. Allo is naturally expressed in the brain and reaches relatively high levels during the third trimester of pregnancy. Researchers reported the design of a Phase 1 clinical trial of Allo in participants diagnosed with MCI due to Alzheimer's and mild Alzheimer's.
Scientists are initiating an international Phase 3 trial of low dose pioglitazone, a medication which at higher doses is approved for treatment of type 2 diabetes, as a therapy to delay onset of MCI due to Alzheimer's.
New Research Advances from the Alzheimer's Association International Conference® 2013
A panel of experts reviewed 16 freely accessible online tests for Alzheimer's disease, and found that the tests scored poorly on scales of overall scientific validity, reliability and ethical factors.
Four studies supported increasing evidence that subjective cognitive decline (SCD) — the self-reported perception of memory or cognition problems — is a potentially valid early clinical marker of brain and cognitive changes that may indicate Alzheimer's disease.
POTENTIAL ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RISK FACTORSA study of the health records of U.S. veterans indicated that most kinds of cancer are associated with a significantly decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Results suggested that chemotherapy treatment for almost all of those cancers conferred an additional decrease in Alzheimer's risk.
In a study of type 2 diabetes patients age 55 and older, patients who started on metformin, an insulin sensitizer, had a significantly reduced risk of developing dementia compared with patients who started other standard diabetes therapies.
An analysis of health and insurance records of self-employed workers in France found that retirement at older age is associated with a reduced risk of dementia.
In the U.S., older African-Americans are about twice as likely to have Alzheimer's and other dementias as older whites. But a study of black and white elders who were free of dementia at the beginning of the study found the risk difference was no longer statistically significant after researchers adjusted for socioeconomic factors including education level, literacy, income and financial adequacy.
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS
NEW POTENTIAL ALZHEIMER’S THERAPIESA 90-week clinical trial of the experimental compound CHF5074 in people with mild cognitive impairment showed statistically significant improvements in participants' cognitive abilities.
In an early-stage, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple-dose study of the experimental medication MK-8931, scientists found that the drug significantly lowered beta amyloid in cerebrospinal fluid at the highest dose.
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Caregiver Corner: Complementary Therapies May HelpThere is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but symptoms may be managed and quality of life may be improved for a time through a number of complementary therapies. It is worth noting that most of these therapies can also help the caregiver relax and gain much needed respite. Consult your loved one’s occupational therapist or doctor about what therapies might best complement their existing medical treatment plan.
Pet TherapyAnimal-Assisted Therapy has shown positive results for people suffering from mental and cognitive disorders such as post-traumatic-stress-disorder, autism and Alzheimer’s. Credentialed therapy animals (typically dogs) are routinely used in long-term care facilities, nursing homes and hospitals. They are also often brought in for general visits in nursing homes and adult day health programs, simply for the purpose of providing enjoyment and comfort to those who may otherwise be isolated or lonely. Potential benefits include:
v Connectedness – touching/cuddling versus feeling disconnected
v Quality of life improvements – distraction from pain, reduced depression, boredom and anxiety
v Increased physical activity – walking, playing with or grooming the animal
v Socialization opportunity – non-threatening, non-verbal relationship building
v Shareable moment with family children
Music TherapyMusic can engage the mind, evoke memories from one’s youth, soothe agitation and stimulate activity. There are professional music therapists, but you can also try exploring music yourself at home. During the day, find up-tempo music to stimulate activity, do some dancing or at least some toe-tapping! Towards dusk, when sundowning or the day’s exhaustion is catching up, try more soothing music. Avoid music on the radio that has distracting commercials. Watch for non-verbal cues from your loved one. Are they moving to the beat? Do they look happy or engaged? Music can be a great way for you and your loved one to re-connect and share some joy.
Art TherapyThe Alzheimer’s Association’s Memories in the Making program focuses on the use of art as a means to
tap into memories and express emotions. The program is typically held in small classes, with a leader trained in art therapy. For people in early stages of the disease, art therapy can also build self-esteem and provide a socialization outlet. You can also do art therapy yourself at home. Use safe materials, and try to keep the art simple (vibrant water-colors, clay).
Aroma TherapyAroma therapy can have a calming effect in the early and middle stages
of the disease for some people; however, sense of smell can get impaired later on. Lavender, chamomile and lemongrass have been shown to relax. Most studies have been done with essential oils massaged into the skin; but you can experiment using safe, everyday scents that may trigger memories, such as pine needles, chocolate, cinnamon and fresh-baked cookies! Scented candles are available on the market, as are a variety of scented shoulder and neck pads, some microwavable, that use heat to release the herbal aromas.
MassageMassage has been shown to relax the body and trigger a state of well-being, but it is important to ensure that your loved one enjoys it. Ask if they want to try it and be aware of new sensitivities they may have to being touched. Weighted blankets, which have weighted pellets sewn into them, can also provide a deep touch stimulation response similar to having a massage.
All of these therapies can be easily explored and some of them may help, if only for the moment. Remember to discuss with care-providers (doctors, occupational therapists) as they are not a substitute for conventional medical treatment, but meant to be complementary therapies.
Article contributed by volunteer Dian Blum
On a Personal Note…The Alzheimer’s Association National Early Stage Advisory Group is made up of volunteers from across the country with an early stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis. They meet on a monthly basis to offer counsel on programs and services, act as spokespeople and advocate on behalf of people with early stage Alzheimer’s. This year, two of the newest members of the group – Chuck Warner and Cynthia Guzman – are from the Northern California and Northern Nevada Chapter!
Chuck WarnerI was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in January of 2012. The diagnosis dramatically and unexpectedly changed my life and the lives of my wife and children. Before my diagnosis, I had an active law practice. I enjoyed doing what I was doing and it had been good to me and my family. When I was diagnosed I was told “no more driving and no more practicing law.” We closed the law practice. I could not sell it because I could not stay another year or so to enable any transition to the new owner. We had to sell our dream house because we no longer had a steady source of income. As you can imagine, all of this was quite an adjustment.
The future is not pretty. My plan is to do the best I can with the time I have. In that regard, my interest since my diagnosis has been to become involved in the Alzheimer’s Association’s newsletters, meetings and about anything else I can do. I am told I have been helpful to them but believe me, it is also most helpful to me to be doing something positive. I really do not think I could have coped with all of this without the help of the Alzheimer’ Association.
Cynthia Guzman
On my 63rd birthday, I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. As a nurse, I was willing to face this disease. However, the support and love of my family really enabled me to get the proper medical and financial help as I moved ahead in my treatment. In fact, my family has continued to help me deal with my needs. The following letter from my son shows that support:
Mom, I don’t want you to worry or be afraid. Let’s enjoy every single day and not think too much about whether you can remember as well as you could in the past. I will watch over you and won’t let anything bad happen to you. If the time comes when we need to do more for you, I will make sure you have everything you need to have a great quality of life, I wish I could change things. I wish I could take your illness for you but I can’t. All I can do is be there for you and love you.
I am most excited that with acceptance by both patient and their families, early diagnosis and documentation can lead to proper care of the patient immediately. In my case the medication has helped me live a more independent and normal life for today. Early diagnosis allows people like me to get into programs for public awareness, education and outreach. I am really proud to be accepted as an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association. I wear my pin every day so I can tell friends what it stands for and thus, create more awareness for the research going on today.
3ACTION ITEMS YOU CAN DO TODAY
1. DONATE your car to the Alzheimer's Association. Email [email protected] or fill out a vehicle donation form at alz.org/apps/donate/vehicledonationform.asp
You can MAKE A PLANNED GIFT to the Alzheimer’s Association through a bequest, living trust, charitable gift annuity and more! alz.org/plannedgiving
Does your workplace have an annual corporate giving campaign or offer a match for funds donated to a nonprofit organization? DESIGNATE your contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association!
123Walk to End Alzheimer’s isn’t the only way to give to the
Alzheimer’s Association!
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Alzheimer's Association Hosts Researchers Symposium
Every year, the Alzheimer’s Association convenes the brightest minds in Alzheimer’s research from Northern California and Northern Nevada for a day of sharing and discussion. A number
of researchers also received Young Researcher Awards for outstanding work in the field of Alzheimer’s and dementia research.
Young researchers receive "Award for Excellence in Research on Alzeimer's and Related Disorders" from the Alzheimer's Association during the Researchers Symposium
Alzheimer's AssociationNorthern California & NevadaP.O. Box 6362 Reno, NV 89513
1301 Cordone Avenue, Suite 180 Reno, NV 89502
www.alznornev.org1.800.272.3900We encourage you to “recycle” this newsletter by sharing with a friend, doctor’s office, house of worship, or club. Free subscriptions (1.800.272.3900, or at alznornev.org); online subscriptions available.
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