Alzheimer’s 101 – The Alzheimer’s Association

“Alzheimer’s is a global crisis that impacts millions of people worldwide. We must continue to invest in research and innovation to find a cure.” – Bill Gates. Bill Gates lost his father to Alzheimer’s in September 2020.

In April, I had the opportunity to meet with Nicole from the Alzheimer’s Association. Nicole has worked at the Alzheimer’s Association for 18 years and has vast knowledge on Alzheimer’s disease. In this month’s Alzheimer’s 101 section, Nicole shares some information on the Alzheimer’s Association and why raising awareness and funds is so critical.

What are some of the resources that the Alzheimer’s Association offers to individuals and caregivers battling Alzheimer’s?

There are a lot of resources and support groups that are available to those who are battling this disease. We offer in-person and virtual support groups for those living with dementia or Alzheimer’s… These groups are very active! We also have educational programs for those living with the disease: coping strategies, understanding what the disease is, etc. We also offer a free 24/7 Helpline (800-272-3900). We take a lot of pride in committing to have a human answer every call within 60 seconds or less. Through the Helpline, people are able to ask all sorts of questions, such as “does this medication make sense?”, “is it time for residential care?”, “should my parent with Alzheimer’s be driving?”, or “my mom has memory problems, we are concerned she may have Alzheimer’s but we don’t know how to approach the situation”…

As people donate to the Alzheimer’s Association, what do the donations go towards?

The Alzheimer’s Association is the largest non-profit that supports care and research for Alzheimer’s Disease. And with nearly 7 million people living with Alzheimer’s and 11 million people as Alzheimer’s caregivers, this funding is critical. Because the Alzheimer’s Association fundraising has been so successful, all services are free to families; no insurance is required for any of our services. Funding for Alzheimer’s research is also critical and we are currently the largest private funder of Alzheimer’s research worldwide.

We have a lot of Alzheimer’s drugs that are being developed, some of which are currently going through clinical trials. We have drugs looking closely at beta amyloid plaques, which is the protein believed to contribute to the progressive loss of cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients. We also have drugs looking at causes of Alzheimer’s and drugs looking at improving the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s (there is currently no wide-spread blood test for Alzheimer’s disease). There is also a lot of research around Alzheimer’s risk reduction, research on how to treat symptoms, and even research for treating caregivers.

Outside of donations, how can people spread awareness about Alzheimer’s disease?

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in Alzheimer’s awareness, and that is because people are talking about it. But there are a lot of ways to get involved: participating in the Alzheimer’s walk (as a team or as an individual), participate in the Longest Day initiative where people choose an activity to raise awareness about Alzheimers, getting involved publicly with Alzheimer’s advocacy.. There are a lot of initiatives available on the Alzheimer’s Association website if people are interested in getting involved!

Currently there is no cure for Alzheimer’s. Are there any medicines or research initiatives that provide hope that we’re on a path to find a cure for Alzheimer’s?

Yes! In the past 1 – 1.5 years, the first drugs to slow Alzheimer’s progression were approved by the FDA. These drugs are currently being rolled out to individuals in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease. There are also approximately 60 Alzheimer’s drugs that are currently in clinical trials. Funding is critical to continue to increase the pace of research… Also, finding volunteers for clinical trials is very important and can be challenging at times. For clinical trials, we are often looking for volunteers who currently have Alzheimer’s, but we also look for healthy individuals with no Alzheimer’s symptoms. 

What’s your favorite part about working for the Alzheimer’s Association?

I love making a positive impact on families who are affected.. providing advice and getting involved in the cause is very meaningful.. Every family has a different story and is very inspiring; I constantly learn so much from them.

Do you have any advice or words of encouragement for individuals and families who are currently battling this disease?

Do not go at it alone. There are so many resources to help families work through the challenges. To get started, please call the 24/7 Helpline. I’d also encourage families to get involved in events – it’s very empowering to get involved and advocate for this disease. It’s a way to fight back, a way to have hope, and you’ll meet others who are going through something similar along the way. And I’d encourage you that if you’re comfortable, talk about your experience. It makes such a difference in raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s disease.

Additional information on the Alzheimer’s Association and resources they offer can be found here on their website: The Alzheimer’s Association

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Next Up: Ask a Finn. This month, you’ll hear from my little brother, Danny!

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