Harrah’s Foundation was the primary sponsor of World Alzheimer’s Day (Sept. 21), offering a $1 million matching grant to assist in raising awareness and funds to fight Alzheimer’s disease. The Association’s World Alzheimer’s Day efforts raised $1.8 million, with the Harrah’s Foundation’s generous donation bringing the total to $2.8 million. (ref)

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Christmas Present for Alzheimer’s Association.

Latinos apparently have a higher incidence of diabetes (64% higher than non-Hispanic white Americans), cardiovascular disease, elevated cholesterol, and hypertension – all factors that increase the risk for Alzheimer’s Disease.

To help provide information for the Latino community, the Alzheimer’s Association has the following tools in Spanish…

¿Qué es la enfermedad de Alzheimer? (What is Alzheimer’s) – a comprehensive guide that discusses diagnosis, stages, what to expect, and how to get help.

Dentro del Cerebro: Una Guía Interactiva (The Brain Tour) – visual guide to how the brain works and how it is affected by Alzheimer’s Disease.

The full list of brochures and interactive webpages in Spanish can be found here.

Reference:

Alzheimer’s Disease In Latinos Expected To Surge

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Numbers of Latinos with Alzheimer’s Disease expected to surge.

Everything you want to know about the history of Alzheimer’s Disease can be found at Michigan State University’s Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies History of Alzheimer’s Disease website. They have put together an innovative course that provides historic context to the modern practice of medicine. The aim is to help students understand how Alzheimer’s disease was perceived, experienced, and treated throughout history.

The site features an Alzheimer’s Disease timeline that leds on to indepth information. Here you can learn more about Dr Alois Alzheimer or examine the medical records of Auguste D who is known as historically as the first patient to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.

The site also provides a long list of resources worth checking out.

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History of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Another headline, this time from the Alzheimer’s Association, reports that ‘Every 72 seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer’s.’. A 30 page pdf file, this comprehensive report is a statistical abstract of U.S. data on Alzheimer’s disease published by the Alzheimer’s Association.

It makes for uncomfortable reading. According to the Alzheimer’s Association report (pg 6)

By age group, the proportion and number of the 4.9 million Americans age 65 and over with Alzheimer’s disease breaks down as follows:

* Age 65-74: 2 percent … 300,000 people
* Age 75-84: 19 percent … 2,400,000 people
* Age 85 +: 42 percent … 2,200,200 people

And they estimate that ‘By 2050, the number of individuals age 65 and over with Alzheimer’s could range from 11 million to 16 million unless science finds a way to prevent or effectively treat the disease. By that date, more than 60 percent of people with Alzheimer’s disease will be age 85+.’

Scary reading…

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Staggering Statistics About Alzheimer’s Disease.

For example, buying someone a SanDisk Flash Memory Card or Cruzer Mirco 2 GB USB Flash Drive will guarantee a $1 donation to the Alzheimer’s Association. It might not seem like much but every dollar counts…

Check out the article for other great gift suggestions that will also allow you to donate to the cause.

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Buy Holiday Gifts and Donate to Alzheimer’s Association at same time.

Keen to get your workplace and colleagues involved?

Want to keep fit at the same time ?

Then check out the Alzheimer’s Associations Memory Walks. Here’s a Corporate Recruitment video to show your boss and co-workers…

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Alzheimer’s Fundraising: The Memory Walks.

Last year’s Coffee Break, launched on World Alzheimer’s Day (September 21, 2006) raised $1,132,400 which has been used to provide critical programs and services for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

This year’s Coffee Break will be held tomorrow all around Canada.

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Fundraising for Alzheimer’s: The Coffee Break.

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Alzheimer’s Association videos…

But for those with Alzheimer’s Disease, the adventure is often not fun. Being in unfamiliar surroundings with unfamiliar people can cause increased stress on those who rely on familiar environmental cues to maintain their reality and equilibrium.

Travel is not out of the question for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s just that extra planning is needed to help anticipate problems and situations that might cause distress.

Here are some things to consider when traveling with someone with Alzheimer’s Disease.

In the car

Never leave someone with Alzheimer’s Disease alone in the car, especially in a new environment.

Make sure seatbelts are done up before moving.

If possible, have more than one driver available, especially for long trips.

Plan regular rest stops and bathroom stops. If continence might be an issue, consider having the person wear protective pants.

If they become agitated while traveling in the car stop at the first available place. Don’t try to calm them while you are driving.

In General

Never leave them alone in unfamiliar surroundings.

Avoid very crowded places, especially if the person gets agitated easily.

Inform airlines and hotel staff that someone in your group has memory impairment. Let them know in advance of any special needs.

Make sure they are wearing identification at all times. Consider enrolling in the Alzheimer’s Association’s Safe Return program and inform them of all travel plans.

Keep plans simple. Try to avoid numerous or connecting flights. The fewer changes the better.

Take some familiar items with you, such as a deck of cards or other items that the person enjoys at home.

Carry emergency contacts and a mobile phone with you.

Further Reading:

The Alzheimer’s Association has put out two fact sheets – Travel Safety and Vacationing - that offer tips on traveling with people with Alzheimer’s.

Caregiver.com has a couple of detailed article ‘Travel Guidelines For People With Memory Disorders: Part One’ and Part Two.

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Traveling with someone with Alzheimer’s Disease.

As you would expect, there are a number of articles available aimed at parents:

Alzheimer’s: Helping Children Understand the Disease. (Mayo Clinic)

Helping Teens Cope with Alzheimer’s Disease (Alzheimer’s Association)

Alzheimer’s in the Family: How Parents Can Help Children Cope.

Parent’s Guide: Helping Children and Teens Understand Alzheimer’s Disease. (Alzheimer’s Association)

But there are also resources available for children and teens that will help them learn and understand Alzheimer’s Disease and how it effects their grandparent.

Alzheimer’s Disease (Neuroscience for Kids)

Alzheimer’s Disease

Just for Children: Helping you Understand Alzheimer’s Disease (Alzheimer’s Association)

Just for Teens: Helping You Understand Alzheimer’s Disease (Alzheimer’s Association)

Inside the Brain: An interactive tour (Alzheimer’s Association)

Helping Children Understand Alzheimer’s Disease. (Alzheimer’s Society)

What’s Happening to Grandpa? (Alzheimer’s Association)

The Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan has Just4Kids website that has features such as visual audio books (My Grandpa George and Grandpa Doesn’t Know It’s Me), interactive quizzes, puzzles, and word searches all designed to help children understand Alzheimer’s Disease.

101 Ways to spend time with a person with Alzheimer’s disease (Alzheimer’s Association)

Hope these resources help anyone having to explain Alzheimer’s Disease to their children…

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Helping Children Understand Alzheimer’s Disease.