World Alzheimer’s Month: Coming Together for Awareness and Support

September is World Alzheimer’s Month, a time to come together to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It’s about shining a light on the challenges, but also on the importance of early detection, brain health, and the support families need along the way.

Spearheaded by Alzheimer’s Disease International, this worldwide campaign encourages communities, organizations, and families to stand together by breaking down stigma, sharing the latest research and resources, and showing caregivers they’re not alone.

First, a quick brush up on some Alzheimer’s facts, courtesy of the Alzheimer’s Research Association:

1. An estimated 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease.
2. The U.S. has 77.5 million Baby Boomers, many of whom are just reaching age 65.
3. Research predicts that 10 million Baby Boomers will eventually develop Alzheimer’s.
4. That means one in eight Baby Boomers is expected to be affected.
5. By 2050, the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s could climb to 16 million.
6. Each year, doctors diagnose approximately one million new cases.
7. Currently, every 69 seconds someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer’s. By 2050, it will be every 33 seconds.
8. Alzheimer’s is now the fifth leading cause of death in the United States.
9. Each year, Alzheimer’s claims the lives of about 80,000 Americans.
10. Among the nation’s top ten leading causes of death, Alzheimer’s is the only one with no cure, no prevention, and no effective treatment.

How is Alzheimer’s research conducted?

Most Alzheimer’s research starts in the lab, where scientists study cells and animals to better understand how the disease develops and to test possible treatments. Promising ideas then move into clinical trials with people, where researchers test new medications, brain scans, blood tests, and non-drug approaches like diet, exercise, and brain training.

In addition to treatments, researchers are also focused on prevention, improving support for caregivers and families, and using tools like artificial intelligence to spot early warning signs, such as changes in speech and memory.

What can family members do to support the caregivers in their lives? Here are just a few small things that can have a big impact:

• Help out with household tasks.
• Offer to run errands for them.
• Pitch in with gardening or yard work.
• Cook a meal and drop it off.
• Do a load of laundry.
• Pick up groceries or prescriptions.
• Step in so they can take a break.
• Provide an empathetic ear.

Finally, and most importantly, here are some resources to learn more about Alzheimer’s and find tools to help you in your caregiver’s journey.

General information:

• Learn the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's disease, hear from people who have the disease, and find out how to recognize the signs in yourself and others: https://training.alz.org/products/4062/10-warning-signs-of-alzheimers
• Learn the difference between Alzheimer’s and other dementias, along with the stages and risk factors: https://training.alz.org/products/4053/understanding-alzheimers-and-dementia

National organizations

• Alzheimers.gov: https://www.alzheimers.gov/
• Alzheimer's Association: https://www.alz.org/
• Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA): https://alzfdn.org/
• National Institute on Aging (NIA): https://www.nia.nih.gov/ 

Caregiver resources

• Family Caregiver Alliance: https://www.caregiver.org/
• AARP Caregiving: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/
• Eldercare Locator: https://eldercare.acl.gov/
• Caregiver Action Network (CAN): https://www.caregiveraction.org/ 

Specific resources for related dementias

• Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA): https://www.lbda.org/
• The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD): https://www.theaftd.org/ 

We invite you to download our special guide, “Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s” to help you better understand the stages of Alzheimer’s, so that you and your family can move forward with greater confidence and peace of mind.

You can also visit our Anthem Memory Care Resources page for more links and informative videos.

World Alzheimer’s Month may get attention, but it’s up to all of us to keep the focus year round.

At our Anthem Memory Care communities, we encourage families to learn more about Alzheimer’s, support research, and join with others to speak up for early diagnosis and understanding. By learning the signs and risk factors, joining community events, helping raise funds, and sharing your own experiences, you and your family can play a big role in reducing stigma and building a more caring and informed community.

Please feel free to reach out to any of our Anthem Memory Care communities for more information and resources. We want you to know that you are not on this journey alone. We are here to help!