November, National Alzheimer’s Awareness month, gives us a time to think and wonder about the disease that many of us are aware of. Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common type of dementia, which affects one’s neurological condition, meaning our memory, thinking, and behavior. Many of us know or have known someone with dementia; this disease is not only painful to have, but painful to watch grow. We may feel helpless by watching this unfold.
By bringing more awareness to the specifics of this disease and learning what actions we can take to help, we can shine a light on Alzheimer’s Disease. Mrs. Doliber, the advisor of the ‘Rock Report’s staff and a guidance counselor here at Feehan, brought me the opportunity to interview her sister. Her sister, Jennifer Hoadly, is the Regional Manager for the Southeastern, MA Alzheimer’s Association. I took this opportunity to ask some of the important questions I had about Alzheimer’s Disease.
- What would people find surprising about Alzheimer’s disease?
“Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementia is often thought of as an older person’s disease. While age is the number one risk factor, it can happen in people younger. If someone is under 65 years old when they develop Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia, that is called a Young Onset or Early Onset dementia. People in their 40s can develop the disease, and while it isn’t as common as in someone over 65 years old, it does happen. Certain populations are more at risk for developing Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia. The reasons why are not yet clear, and more research is being done to learn more, but women have a higher risk, as well as the African American population and the Hispanic population.
Currently, over 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s Disease. 1 in 3 older adults dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Alzheimer’s Disease kills more people than Breast Cancer and Prostate Cancer combined.
Here is a link to our facts and figures video: https://youtu.be/Lta2-jvsWco?si=TjxDvR8fKqDXzKKY”
- Are there support options for the family and friends of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s?
“Yes!! The Alzheimer’s Association has a 24/7 Helpline (800-272-3900) that anyone can call at any time with questions or looking for guidance about how to manage the symptoms of the disease. It is an information and referral line that allows the caller to learn more about what is available in their community to help with any aspect of care needs. We also have education programs and support groups in the communities, as well as online. People can learn more about what is available to them by calling the helpline or going to our website alz.org/manh. All of our programs and services are free to the families we serve across the nation. We are able to do this because of our fundraising activities like the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, our Boston Marathon charity team/ Falmouth Road Race team, our RIDE to End Alz, our Do What You Love to End Alzheimer’s, our gala event, as well as other donations and grant funding.”
- Research indicates that those who carry the gene variant (protein ApoE4) are more likely to become victims of Alzheimer’s. Is there anything we can do now (before they are diagnosed) to slow or prevent it?
“People who carry that genetic component are at a higher risk for developing the disease, but it isn’t deterministic. There are lifestyle interventions that we can incorporate into our everyday lives to help lower our risk for dementia and many other diseases. A good thing to keep in mind is that what is good for our hearts is good for our brains. Good cardiovascular health allows the important blood flow to the brain that nourishes the vast network of neurons. Making sure to eat a heart-healthy diet, exercise, protect our heads when doing any risky sports or activities, maintain good cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and challenge our brains by continuing lifelong learning and social interaction.”
- What are the important factors of your job as a General Manager at the Southeastern Alzheimer’s Association?
“The main component of my role at the Alzheimer’s Association is to make sure everyone is familiar with what we do. The more people that we reach and the more people that we can get talking about Alzheimer’s, the better. There are far too many families that say that they wish they had known about us sooner, as it would have made their journey so much easier. That is my mission in my job. To make sure that everyone is aware that we don’t just fund research (which we do), but that until we find a cure for the disease, they can lean on us to help guide them through this journey. Everyone’s journey looks different, so it is important for people to connect with us and learn about all of the options available to them.”
- What opportunities are available to help people with Alzheimer’s?
“We have support groups for people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. I didn’t mention it before, but the terms mean different things. Dementia is an umbrella term, and its definition means a decline in cognitive functioning that will impact the person’s memory, thinking, and behavior. Alzheimer’s is just one of many forms of dementia/ the reason for the cognitive decline. There are hundreds of other forms of dementia that can cause this decline. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, but it is important to know what the cause is, as the symptoms between the various dementias can be different, as well as the treatments.”
- How has Alzheimer’s disease prevention improved in recent years?
“There have been advances in our understanding of lifestyle interventions via the US POINTER study. This helped to confirm what we already knew, but this study helped to back up the idea that living a healthy lifestyle can help lower our risk of developing Alzheimer’s. You can find information about the study in this link https://www.alz.org/us-pointer/study-results.asp
We have also made advancements in the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease in the past few years. There are now medications available to help slow the progression of the disease in people in the earlier stages of the disease. So, early diagnosis is incredibly important to the ability to access these treatments. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/treatments
There are also non-pharmacological symptom management tools and medications available for those for whom the monoclonal antibody treatments may not be appropriate.”
- What careers would you recommend for people interested in Alzheimer’s disease?
“There are a variety of careers that people can look into, like becoming a researcher, a career in biotech, a neurologist, a nurse, a nursing assistant, an activities coordinator, a social worker, and a geriatric care manager. These career fields can also reach people who are not impacted by dementia, but there are a lot of opportunities out there, and the need will continue to increase as our aging population continues to develop dementia.
I hope this info helps, and let me know if you want to chat more about it. There are lots of ways that students can get involved in the cause. One would be to start a Walk to End Alzheimer’s team for Bishop Feehan, or a Do What You Love to End Alz event. Here is a link to learn more: https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/fundraising_events. People can join our cause by becoming trained as a support group facilitator or community educator. They can contact our helpline to learn more or can email me directly.”
