Couple impacted by Alzheimer’s disease communicates through music
Alzheimer’s disease can take a profound toll on relationships, but for some couples it may also offer new ways to connect. For Jerry McClain, who has Alzheimer’s, and his wife Elaine, music is a key part of their bond. In addition to performing regularly in public, Jerry sings to Elaine every day at home, using music as a way to communicate even as details fade.
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Reason to Hope Table hosts needed
Reason to Hope is a powerful one-hour fundraising luncheon and program on Alzheimer’s disease. Guests will learn more about our efforts to provide care and support to the many families in need in Illinois, as well as help advance the important field of Alzheimer’s research. You will hear an impactful first-hand account from someone living with the disease or caregiver that will reflect the positive impact our programs have on families and the Illinois healthcare community.
There has never been a more critical time to support the Alzheimer’s Association. Today, 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including an estimated 200,000 under the age of 65. This number is projected to jump to 16 million by 2050 unless we can find a cure or effective way to slow down the progression. You are invited to help alter the trajectory of this disease by attending an upcoming Reason to Hope event.
Reason to Hope is a powerful one-hour fundraising luncheon and program on Alzheimer’s disease. Guests will learn more about our efforts to provide care and support to the many families in need in Illinois, as well as help advance the important field of Alzheimer’s research. You will hear an impactful first-hand account from someone living with the disease or caregiver that will reflect the positive impact our programs have on families and the Illinois healthcare community.
While the event is free, at the program’s conclusion, guests are given the opportunity to reinforce their commitment to the Alzheimer’s Association by making a contribution. The funds raised from Reason to Hope help us provide care and support to more than 210,000 people living with Alzheimer’s in Illinois and the estimated 589,000 caregivers.
2016 Reason to Hope Events
Chicago Luncheon
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Mid-America Club – Aon Center
200 East Randolph Drive, 80th Floor
Chicago, IL 60601
Emcee
Robert H. Jordan Jr. (Chicago) Weekend Anchor on WGN TV’s News at Nine
North Shore Luncheon
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Highland Park Country Club
1201 Park Ave West,
Highland Park, IL 60035
Emcee
Irika Sargent Co-anchor of the CBS 2 Chicago (WBBM-TV)
Weekday Evening News at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
Oak Brook Luncheon
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Hyatt Lodge at McDonald’s Campus
2815 Jorie Boulevard
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Emcee
Dean Richards Entertainment Critic and Reporter for WGN TV and WGN Radio
Sponsorship Opportunities
We are pleased to announce that sponsorship opportunities are now available. Your company can join in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease while elevating brand awareness among an affluent audience. For more information, please contact Katie Lane, Manager of Relationship Events and Intermediate Giving at kmlane@alz.org or call 847.324.0359.
http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php
Why are women disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease?
Nearly two-thirds of the more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s are women, and two-thirds of the more than 15 million Americans providing care and support for someone with Alzheimer’s disease are women. So why does Alzheimer’s seem to affect more women than men? Emerging evidence suggests there may be unique biological reasons for these differences beyond longevity alone.
Women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Nearly two-thirds of the more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s are women and two-thirds of the more than 15 million Americans providing care and support for someone with Alzheimer’s disease are women. This devastating disease places an unbalanced burden on women at work and at home, forcing them to make difficult choices about their careers, their relationships and their futures.
As real a concern as breast cancer is to women’s health, women in their 60s are about twice as likely to develop AD over the rest of their lives as they are to develop breast cancer.
So why does this disease seem to affect more women than men? At first glance, the answer may be that women generally live longer than men, making them more likely to reach the ages of greater risk. However, there is emerging evidence that suggests there may be unique biological reasons for these differences beyond longevity alone. These biological underpinnings may contribute to the underlying brain changes, progression and symptom manifestation in Alzheimer’s disease.
There is evidence that biological sex differences may affect mortality in men differently than women, but how that affects Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia incidence is not clear. Do hormones play a role? What about our genes? Do lifestyle components such as sleep patterns, stress and depression influence sex differences in Alzheimer’s disease?
To tackle many of these questions head on, the Alzheimer’s Association convened top experts in the field of biological sex and Alzheimer’s disease to explore these issues in depth. The “Gender Vulnerability Related to Alzheimer’s Disease” think tank identified gaps in our knowledge and next steps in research needed to advance our understanding. During the think tank, three main topics were discussed: underlying biological mechanisms, the role of hormonal factors and the impact of lifestyle factors.
As a direct result of this think tank, the Alzheimer’s Association announced the new Sex and Gender in Alzheimer’s (SAGA) grant funding program, aimed at supporting scientific investigation that addresses the gaps in our understanding of the role biological sex and related genetic, biological, lifestyle and societal factors may play in increasing vulnerability for Alzheimer’s. Additionally, projects funded through SAGA will help meet a need to incorporate learnings from the developing biology fields to merge the expanding field of sex biology research with Alzheimer’s pathophysiological studies.
As with all of our grants, applications for SAGA funding will undergo the Alzheimer’s Association’s rigorous peer-review process. I look forward to sharing more about these grants when they are awarded later this year.
About the Author: Maria Carrillo, Ph.D., is Chief Science Officer, Medical and Scientific Relations, at the Alzheimer’s Association.
SAGA was made possible from the generous support of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Research Initiative (WARI), a campaign that supports research grants specific to sex-biology and gender issues in Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To date, the Alzheimer’s Association has raised $1.6 million for the initiative, including a generous $1 million in support from the Sigma Kappa Foundation.
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Volunteer spotlight – Alzheimer’s Association
In 2015, the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter engaged 1,996 volunteers who contributed 16,555 hours of community service, with a monetary value totaling $381,923.00. This is the equivalent of almost 10 full time employees. In this article, we feature one of our Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter volunteers, Maury Elmore.
In 2015, the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter engaged 1,996 volunteers who contributed 16,555 hours of community service, with a monetary value totaling $381,923.00. This is the equivalent of almost 10 full time employees. In this article, we feature one of our Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter volunteers, Maury Elmore.
The Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter is deeply saddened by the news of Maury Elmore’s passing. The chapter would like to thank him for all his time, hard work and dedication to our organization.
What led to your involvement with the Alzheimer’s Association?
“I took care of my wife who had Alzheimer’s for about 6 or 7 years, and it was a different experience every day. You would get frustrated, then happy, and then you’d get frustrated again. It was difficult at times because you’d think things are going along okay, but then they take a turn. To always be around somebody like that…that you really love and care for… it can be really hard to deal with sometimes. A little before my wife passed away I went down to an Alzheimer’s event at The Crowne Plaza in Springfield. I didn’t know much (about the disease) at the time, so I went down there to maybe learn more about it. I got in contact with some Alzheimer’s Association people and they helped me sign up to be a volunteer, and I’ve been volunteering for about three years now “
What kinds of volunteer work have you done with the association?
“I support the Association as much as I can. I usually go to events and fairs as an AACR (Alzheimer’s Association Community Representative). I’m also a retired contractor, so I built a special memory board for the Springfield Walk last year. People could come up and write who they were walking for on the board, or just write a little message for others to read. It was a huge success… I was happy to do it. I’ve met a lot of nice people who work with the Association, which is real rewarding for me because I’m by myself now. It wasn’t great how I met those people with my wife being sick, but I’m happy that I did.”
Why should others volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association?
“They (the Alzheimer’s Association) always need help. Alzheimer’s is something that a lot of people don’t know much about. The more people that get involved and know about it, the more they can advise others on what to do or where to go for help. Alzheimer’s can be really hard to cope with, so we need all the help we can get.”
“Maury may have started out as a volunteer in the Springfield office, but his unique personality and “way with the ladies” soon made him a friend to all he met.” – The Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter Springfield Office Staff: Tina Arnold, Sara McGady, & Kelly Lane
“Maury’s caring and jovial nature always brightened my day. He had a way about him that made everyone feel comfortable. He has left a lasting imprint on my life and will surely be missed by all of his friends at the Association.” – Elizabeth Wells: Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter Bloomington Office – See more at: http://www.alzheimers-illinois.org/enewsletter/weekly/2016/february/feb17/volunteeer.asp#sthash.GD8wAWwO.dpuf
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Study finds that education may help reduce the risk of dementia
The risk of developing dementia may be decreasing for heart-healthy people with at least a high school education, according to a new study in The New England Journal of Medicine. The research findings suggest that among residents of one town in Massachusetts, a reduction of new cases of dementia seen over three decades may be associated with higher levels of education and improvements in reducing heart health risk factors. However, this study only shows correlation, not cause and effect. The researchers also saw a trend of fewer cases of Alzheimer’s disease, but this finding wasn’t statistically significant.
http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php