Genetics and dementia

The connection between our genes and dementia has to do with certain types of dementia being caused or influenced by specific genes. One of the most common forms of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, is thought to be influenced by multiple genes and other factors like environment and lifestyle.

The strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's is a variant of the APOE gene, specifically the ε4 allele. However, not everyone who has this allele will develop Alzheimer's, and not everyone with Alzheimer's has this allele. Early-onset Alzheimer's disease, which happens before age 65, is much less common and is often associated with mutations in one of three genes,

Other forms of dementia, like frontotemporal dementia and Huntington's disease, also have genetic factors. Knowing the genetic connection can help in a few ways:

1. Diagnosis: Genetic testing can help doctors confirm a diagnosis, especially for early-onset Alzheimer's or other dementias with known genetic mutations.

2. Counseling: Understanding genetic status can help individuals and families make informed decisions about healthcare, finances, and lifestyle choices.

3. Research: Identifying and understanding genetic factors can lead to new treatments and prevention strategies.

It's important to consult a healthcare professional or genetic counsellor to discuss genetic testing and its results.

Driving Test

 I have a friend who is suffering from Vascular Dementia and he has been doing pretty good. When he first was given the diagnoses he started going to research projects at our local university. He underwent tests, after test and was given exercises and tasks to do to help him improve. He told me once that these outings were the highlight of his week. He went to the first research going three days a week to the hospital and he said he loved it. He drove himself. 

When the first study ended he seemed lost for a while, because the research regime had been part of his weekly routine. Within a month he had started to gain another routine but another research opportunity came up and he applied for it and was accepted. He, again, found a purpose and a routine that he liked and he believed that by taking part he was helping others. A fine goal. 

He was in the routine and doing well, and the research appeared to be helping him remember and keep focused. Then COVID hit and the study stopped and then when we went to phase three it started again with different protocols. About three months ago after some cognitive testing by the researchers my friend was told he could no longer drive and his family doctor was taking away his drivers licence and he could no longer drive.

In my jurisdiction, family doctors used to have this ability, but a few years back the law changed and the family doctor could only recommend to the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles that a person lose his licence. Once the Superintendent received that notice from the family doctor, he/she was obliged to investigate and if follow-up tests determined the doctors advice was sound, the person was told the had lost the right to drive. However, a person can still appeal that decision.

So I told my friend this and he appealed and was given back his licence while the appeal process was taking place. As part of the process my friend went through a battery of cognitive and physical tests. He received the results a few days before I wrote this. The results of the test were not good and the recommendation was that he could drive, but only around his neighbourhood during the day. That is impossible to monitor so my friend lost his license. He is very upset but his wife although she is upset is, I think relived because she told us that my friend was getting lost on the way home from the supermarket, which is 4 blocks away. As well he was driving on sidewalks and over peoples yards.

We still hold hope that his dementia will slow down in its rate of attack. For those who don't know Vascular Dementia is caused by a series of small strokes. Multi-infarct Dementia (MID) is the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer disease in people over age 65. MID usually affects people between ages 55 and 75. More men than women have MID. I have talked about this before, my friend had a series of small strokes about three years ago, and did not tell his doctor, and by the time he did and he was looked at it was determined that he had Vascular Dementia. The doctors at the time said that he probably had about five good years ahead of him. We hope they are wrong, but it appears that he is getting worse. 

I know that many of you have lost friends to Alzheimer's and Dementia and it is a very sad time but my friend is still in good spirits and has a positive outlook on life, which is all we can ask for during this time. 

Unpaid caregivers and the supports available

The federal, provincial and territorial governments recognize the need to keep seniors at home as long as is suitable for the person, as well as the benefits of doing so. They also recognize that their caregivers require significant support. The literature describing and analyzing services that support and sustain people with dementia living in their own homes is growing. The expansion of these services and programs is also growing, partly due to policies and practices that are increasingly emphasizing the benefits of supporting people to live in their own homes, for the individuals, their caregivers and health systems at large. While there are multiple gaps in the evidence base, some of the practices and recommendations that may help keep seniors with dementia in the community longer include:

·         Avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations by ensuring safe environments and providing assistance and support with more instrumental activities of daily living like shopping, food preparation and managing finances

·         Improving early detection, which could be beneficial in modifying lifestyle in order to delay the onset of symptoms as long as possible and in expanding cognitive reserve through intellectual stimulation

·         Maintaining and improving activities of daily living, like getting dressed and managing personal hygiene, by providing rehabilitation/exercise programs

·         Providing group housing options for seniors who would otherwise be living alone and unsupported

·         Providing better technology and support to seniors with dementia in the community

·         Providing meaningful breaks to unpaid caregivers through respite care and adult day care programs for individuals with dementia

·         Ensuring that education, training, practice guidelines and tools for front-line home care providers are available to support them to provide high-quality person-centred dementia care

Providing effective support to those living with dementia in the community and their families is an important component of dementia strategies. Such support helps caregivers to maintain their caregiving activities and have a personally rewarding experience.

Find out more about some of the community support resources available for caregivers in Unpaid caregiver challenges and supports.

More information on Alzheimers',

Risk factors

According to the Alzheimer's Association, age is the primary risk factor for developing Alzheimer's.

From the age of 65, the risk of developing Alzheimer's doubles every 5 years. By age 85, a person has a 50 percent chance of developing Alzheimer's.

Another risk factor is family history or genetics. A person is more likely to develop Alzheimer's if they have an immediate family member with the disease. If more than one person in the family has had Alzheimer's, the genetic risk increases.

Researchers are still unsure why Alzheimer's develops at an early age in some people. However, they have identified rare genes in some people who experience Alzheimer's in their 30s, 40s, and 50s.

If a person experiences one or more of the symptoms listed above, they should speak to their doctor as soon as possible. Early diagnosis might help slow the progression of the disease.

There is no standard test to diagnose Alzheimer's, so a doctor will make a diagnosis based on several factors.

A doctor will ask a person about the symptoms and concerns. The doctor will also review a person's family history, specifically looking for a history of Alzheimer's and dementia. It may help to bring a loved one to the doctor's office for support.

After an initial review of the person's symptoms and family history, a doctor may order medical tests, including a neurological exam and brain imaging.

Treatment

Treatment focuses on managing symptoms, as there is still no cure for Alzheimer's disease.

There are some medications available that may help with memory loss. These are most effective if started early on in the disease's progression.

Doctors can also provide recommendations and medications to help a person who is experiencing related health issues, such as insomnia, which may be contributing to memory problems.

A person may also benefit from talking to a counselor about any behavioural changes they experience. Also, some medications are available to help with symptoms of depression or anxiety.

Supporting a loved one

A person can support a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer's in many different ways. Some recommendations include:

·               Learning about Alzheimer's disease to understand the symptoms better.

·               Participating in activities with the person as often as possible.

·               Discussing the changing relationship with a counsellor or other trusted person.

·               Talking to the person about concrete ways to help, such as by preparing meals or driving them to appointments.

·               Connecting with other people through support networks.

 Outlook

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but treatment can help in some ways. Early detection may help slow the progression of the disease but will not prevent it.

A person is most at risk of developing Alzheimer's as they age, especially if they have a family history of the disease. If a person suspects they or a loved one is developing Alzheimer's, they should speak to a doctor.

What are the signs of early-onset Alzheimer's?

Published in Medical News Today on Fri 22 June 2018 and written by Jenna Fletcher, and reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph.D., CRNP

This article is of interest to me because I had two close friends who were inflicted with early-onset Alzheimer’s and they died within 3 years of contracting this disease. It was devastating to their friends and families, and if we had known the signs perhaps they could have received help earlier than they did.

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia typically associated with older adults. However, early-onset Alzheimer's disease occurs before the age of 65. Alzheimer's causes memory problems and a variety of related symptoms. It is a degenerative disease, which means the symptoms will get worse over time.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of all known dementia cases. Though there is no cure, there are some treatments available to ease symptoms and slow the disease's progression.

Signs and symptoms

There are several distinct signs and symptoms of memory loss that may indicate Alzheimer's. If a person experiences one or more of the following signs or symptoms, they should speak to their doctor.

  

1. Memory loss that impedes daily activities

Reliance on memory aids may be a sign of early-onset Alzheimer's.

The most common symptom of Alzheimer's is memory loss. A person experiencing memory loss may:

·     forget recently learned information

·     ask for same information repeatedly

·     have a higher reliance on memory aids, such as calendars and notes

·     forget important events or dates

 As a person ages, it is not uncommon to forget things from time to time. Typical, non-Alzheimer's memory loss may include forgetting an acquaintance's name but remembering it later on. A person with early-onset Alzheimer's will have more noticeable memory loss and may repeatedly forget the same information.

2. Trouble completing everyday tasks

Another common early sign of Alzheimer's is when a person has difficulty completing an otherwise familiar task. A person with early-onset Alzheimer's may:

·     forget how to get to a grocery store, restaurant, or place of employment

·     have problems balancing a home or work budget

·     forget the rules of a familiar game

Sometimes, natural ageing may cause a person to need help with new or unfamiliar things. For example, helping an older loved one figure out the settings on their new phone is not uncommon and does not necessarily indicate a problem. By contrast, if a person has used the same phone for years and suddenly cannot remember how to make a phone call, they may be experiencing Alzheimer's-related memory loss.

3. Problem-solving or planning difficulties

Some people with early-onset Alzheimer's find they have trouble following directions, solving problems, and focusing. It may be hard for a person to follow a recipe or directions written on a product. They may also have trouble keeping track of monthly bills or expenses.

4. Problems with vision and spatial awareness

Alzheimer's can sometimes cause vision problems, which may make it difficult for a person to judge distances between objects. It may also cause a person to have difficulty distinguishing contrast and colours. These vision problems combined can make it difficult or impossible to drive. Normal ageing also affects eyesight, so it is essential to have regular checkups with an eye doctor.

5. Confusion about location and time

Another common sign of early-onset Alzheimer's is getting confused about places or time. A person may have trouble keeping track of seasons, months, or time of day. A person may occasionally be unable to recognize where they are or have no memory of how they got there.

6. Frequently misplacing items and not being able to retrace steps

misplaced items may be due to early-onset Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's may cause a person to forget where they placed an item. Most people will lose items at some time but are usually able to locate them again by searching in logical locations and retracing their steps. A person with Alzheimer's may forget where they placed an item, especially if they put it in an unusual place.

Alzheimer's also makes it difficult for a person to retrace their steps to find the missing item. This can be distressing and may cause the person to believe someone is stealing from them.

7. Problems writing or speaking

A person may have trouble keeping up in a conversation or may repeat themselves. A person may also have trouble writing down their thoughts.  The person may stop in the middle of a conversation, unable to figure out what to say next. They may struggle to find the right word or label things incorrectly.

It is not uncommon for a person to occasionally struggle to find the right word. Typically, they eventually remember it and do not experience the problem frequently.

8. Showing signs of poor judgment

Everyone makes bad decisions at times. People with early-onset Alzheimer's, however, may display a marked change in their ability to make good decisions. Signs of poor judgment include:

·   spending too much on unnecessary items

·   showing inattention to personal grooming

·   not showering or cleaning themselves regularly

9. Mood or personality changes

A person with Alzheimer's may start to become confused, anxious, suspicious, or depressed. They may show these signs in a variety of settings, including at work, at home, and in unfamiliar places. They may become frustrated with their symptoms or feel unable to understand the changes taking place. This may present as aggression or irritability towards others.

10. Stepping away from social or work activities

As Alzheimer's develops, a person may stop participating in the social or work activities they used to enjoy.

Alzheimer's: Can a challenging job and exercise keep the condition at bay?

As we age, many of us fear the onset of dementia or Alzheimer's, there is some interesting research that shows that you can train your body and your mind to help, if not prevent, the onset of dementia. The following is taken from a story written by Yella Hewings-Martin, Ph.D., published in July 2017. The full story is here.

Needless to say, understanding how lifestyle and targeted interventions affect the brain is complex. However, keeping the brain and body active throughout life certainly seems to have positive effects on brain health.

A study presented by Bianca Bier, Ph.D., from the University of Montreal in Canada, looked at the effects of two different types of brain training.

Single attention training allowed participants to focus on one of two tasks and practice it repeatedly. But in the divided attention training group, participants performed two different tasks at the same time, controlling which one they paid the most attention to.

In a study of 30 healthy adults, these two different training schemes had very different effects on the brain. For instance, divided attention training activated those regions of the brain responsible for multitasking, but this plateaued halfway through the study.

Meanwhile, single attention training resulted in rapid activation of regions responsible for the particular task the participants were performing up to the halfway study point, but it declined afterward.

Dr. Bier explained that this is important as it means that all brain training exercises are not equal and that it will be important to choose the right type for individual patients.

This assessment was echoed by Narlon Silva, a Ph.D. student at Western University in Ontario, Canada, who looked at physical exercise and cognitive function.

His study included seniors who had all self-reported some cognitive decline. He compared regular mixed physical exercise - which consisted of aerobic and strength training - with an additional group that performed a new form of mind-motor training.

In this type of training, an instructor demonstrates a stepping pattern on a mat that is marked with four columns of equal squares. As the instructor moves along the mat, he places his feet on different squares, creating a stepping pattern that can range from simple to complex.

Participants were then asked to copy the stepping pattern demonstrated to them in an exercise lasting 15 minutes. These exercises were repeated three times per week for 24 weeks.

Both groups improved their cognitive function after 24 weeks, but there was no difference between the groups. However, during a subsequent follow-up at 52 weeks, the mind-motor training group had improved significantly more than the exercise-only group.

This led Silva to speculate that the training tested in the study had a delayed effect, and that, as Dr. Bier had found, all training is not equal.

The data presented at AAIC certainly point to exercise, cognitive training, and cognitive complexity in daily life as all having a positive influence in preventing a decline in old age. But do scientists know anything about the underlying causes?

The findings were only significant for white study participants, who showed that one particular variant of this gene was associated with higher exercise levels during the study period. However, regardless of which variant of the gene a particular participant carried, all had reverted back to pre-intervention exercise levels at the 12-month follow-up.

Prof. Rosso speculated that higher dopamine levels may play a role in sticking to exercise regimes in lifestyle interventions, but more work is needed.

Scientists are continuing their search for the best methods to keep our brains young and protect them from the deadly neurodegeneration that occurs in Alzheimer's disease.

Why are scientists redefining Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, thought to be caused by buildup of proteins in the brain. But there is increasing evidence that different biological processes are at the heart of the disease, providing scientists with a different approach to possible therapies.

In a plenary session delivered at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) 2017, held in London, United Kingdom, Julie Williams, Ph.D. - a professor in the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University in the U.K. - challenged the traditional views of Alzheimer's disease by saying that "immunity is playing a significant role" in the disease.

Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, affecting more than 5 million adults in the country.

The traditional view is that proteins accumulate in the brains of patients, leading to neuronal death. The culprits are the amyloid beta peptide and the tau protein.

How are scientists challenging the traditional view that abnormal protein buildup in the brain is to blame for the neurodegeneration seen in Alzheimer's disease?

Joint efforts to identify new genetic variants

Until 2009, only four genes were known to be associated with Alzheimer's disease. Mutations in three of these - APP, presenilin 1, and presenilin 2 - cause the inherited form of Alzheimer's. This typically develops early in life, between the ages of 30 and 50. It is also known as early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Less than 1 percent of Alzheimer's disease patients have this inherited form of the condition, in which an overproduction or abnormal folding of amyloid beta in the brain can be observed.

The majority of patients have the sporadic form of Alzheimer's. Despite the fact that mutations in the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) were known to be involved in susceptibility and earlier age of onset, only a subset of patients have the variant associated with the disease.

Predicting an individual's risk of developing the disease with accuracy is, therefore, a challenge. For many years, there was a serious lack of progress in research looking to establish the underlying causes of susceptibility.

Today, we know that sporadic Alzheimer's disease has a large genetic component, with its heritability being in the range of 58 to 79 percent. This means that other genetic variants must be involved.

Identifying individuals at risk

In a study published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging in 2017, Prof. William's team used their knowledge of susceptibility genes to test how accurately they could predict an individual's risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Using data from 17,000 Alzheimer's patients and 37,000 controls, and looking at 87,583 mutations, they were able to identify the condition with an accuracy of 74.5 percent.

Prof. Williams explained that they were "now able to predict quite a lot of the risk of AD [Alzheimer's disease] and it's better than looking at APOE."

So might the amyloid buildup seen in Alzheimer's patients be less of a problem with excess production and more to do with other processes?

Prof. Williams challenged the audience to imagine a scenario wherein there was no historic knowledge of the genes implicated in amyloid processing being involved in Alzheimer's disease. "Alzheimer's disease is more of an autoinflammatory disease, than anything else," Prof. Williams said.

"What we are seeing with immunity is happening quite early in the disease and maybe a primary event that is happening alongside amyloid [accumulation]," she added. "What we need to do is to understand mechanisms."

The team's latest discovery was published this week in Nature Genetics, and it supports this theory.

This study, performed by the IGAP group, identified two new genetic variants that confer Alzheimer's disease risk. The genes - phospholipase C gamma and B-3-domain-containing transcription factor ABI3 - are highly expressed in microglial cells in the brain, which are part of the immune system.

Prof. Williams told the audience that scientists around the world are now studying genetic models to better understand how the immune system is involved in the neurodegeneration seen in Alzheimer's.

What is really important is how researchers are putting this new knowledge and redefinition of the condition to use.

The above are excerpts taken from a story published in MNT Weekly story By Yella Hewings-Martin, PhD, Published Thursday 20 July 2017. It is an important and for the full story please go here

Exercise is good for you

At the annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in July 2015, scientists report some encouraging news about the benefits of exercise. In the first studies to look at physical activity among people already diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer’s, researchers reported that:

• People who participated in the exercise program had far fewer neuropsychiatric symptoms (such as anxiety, irritability, and depression). Those in the control group had deteriorated on measures of psychiatric symptoms, while the intervention group improved slightly. This lead to a statistically significant difference between the two groups.
• People in a subgroup of the exercise group who attended more than 80% of the classes and exercised vigorously (raising their heart rate to more than 70% of their maximal rate) had statistically significant (p=0.03) improvements on mental speed and attention, as measured by the SDMT.
• In addition, people who participated in the exercise program improved in physical fitness, physical function, dual-task performance and exercise self-efficacy.

Participants in the study were randomly assigned to either supervised aerobic training or a stretching group for 45-60 minutes four times per week for six months, using community facilities. The aerobic group exercised at 70-80% of their maximum heart rate, while the stretching group exercised at below 35 percent. The researchers tested participant’s cognitive skills (verbal recall, tests of executive function) and examined blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples at the beginning and end of the study. Forty participants also received MRI brain scans. Participants completed their assigned exercise activities 92 percent of the time.

The researchers found that:

• Participants who completed aerobic exercise (most commonly using a treadmill) saw a statistically significant (p<0.05) reduction in tau levels in CSF. The effect was most pronounced in adults over the age of 70.
• Aerobic exercise significantly (p<0.05) increased blood flow in the memory and processing centers of participant’s brains, with a corresponding improvement in attention, planning, and organizing abilities referred to as “executive function” (p<0.05).

“These findings are important because they strongly suggest a potent lifestyle intervention such as aerobic exercise can impact Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain,” Baker said. “No currently approved medication can rival these effects.”

A change in Walking patterns

An interesting study posted in the New York Times shows a link between walking gait and early signs of dementia. The full story is here, the following is an excerpt from the story

A large study at the Mayo Clinic involved basic walking, not dual-tasking, but found a similar relationship, said Dr. Rodolfo Savica, a neurologist at the clinic. Most of the 1,341 participants did not have dementia. They were evaluated twice, 15 months apart, with tests of cognitive ability and walking.

Dr. Savica and his colleagues found that on average a person who walked one meter per second slower on their second test scored half a point lower on cognitive tests.

Slower walking was mostly strongly linked to declines in “executive function,” the ability to plan and organize activities. A study led by Dr. M. Arfan Ikram, a neuroepidemiologist at Erasmus MC University Medical Center in Rotterdam, tried to connect particular changes in gait with specific cognitive impairments.

More than 1,200 people with no signs of dementia were asked to walk normally, to walk and turn around halfway through, and to “tandem walk,” in which the heel of one foot is placed directly in front of the toe of the previous foot. The subjects also were given cognitive tests.

People with poor tandem walking scored low on tests involving fine motor skills. People with lower cadences, who took fewer steps per minute, did worse on tests of thinking speed. And people whose walks were slower and more variable showed poor executive function.

Aside from suggesting that walking may provide early clues that dementia is on its way, the studies may reinforce the possibility that physical activity could help stave off dementia. If slower and more erratic walking signifies neurological damage, could exercises to improve fitness and coordination not only help people walk, but also by help them think?

“Those are the ultimate questions,” Dr. Ikram said. “Right now, we are really at the first step.”

Support Alzheimer's Association

I want to share a unique way that you can support the Alzheimer’s Association®.

Leave a lasting legacy in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and meet your own financial goals at the same time. A charitable gift annuity will not only provide you and one other person with income for life – it will also allow you to continue the fight against Alzheimer’s for future generations.

With a gift annuity, your payment is fixed at the very beginning. This means that your income does not fluctuate with investment returns. You have the confidence of knowing that your income will never change.

Consider a charitable gift annuity if you want:

Fixed lifetime payments that are usually largely tax-free or taxed at lower rates than other income. Income, gift, and estate tax savings, as well as favourable treatment of capital gains.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s

The following is from Beth Kallmyer, Vice President, Constituent Services Alzheimer’s Association

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be lonely and overwhelming. To help, the Alzheimer’s Association created ALZConnected, the first dedicated online social networking community where people with Alzheimer’s, their caregivers and others affected by the disease can share answers, opinions, ideas and support.

ALZConnected launched last year thanks to the generosity of our donors. This free site, designed especially for the Alzheimer’s community, offers a safe place for people to connect with others in similar situations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year through:

Message boards where members can pose questions and offer advice to one another.

Community solutions that include both public and private groups focused on topics of shared experience.

Personal inboxes that let members communicate one-on-one by sending secure, private messages.

If you or someone you know is impacted by the disease, I encourage you to explore ALZConnected. This extremely helpful resource is offered exclusively by the Alzheimer’s Association.

“Women and Alzheimer's disease: The Caregiver's Crisis

The results of a new survey released earlier this year, by Working Mother Media highlights the growing number women serving as a primary caregiver for a family member with dementia.

The Alzheimer's Association® acted as a knowledge partner on the survey, “Women and Alzheimer's disease: The Caregiver's Crisis,” which reveals the increasing demands on women to balance career, parenthood and caregiving.

• More than half of caregivers had to adjust their work schedules to accommodate caregiving and 39 percent passed up a promotion.
• 55 percent of caregivers are not saving for retirement.
• 65 percent of caregivers have not had a vacation in the past year.

As we learned from The Shriver Report: A Woman’s Nation Takes on Alzheimer’s, these competing priorities have severe consequences on a woman’s financial, emotional and physical health. Heather Snyder, Ph.D., senior associate director, Medical and Scientific Relations, Alzheimer’s Association, said, “We cannot think of Alzheimer’s as a disease on one person. Every area of a caregiver’s life is affected: her job, her relationships, her children and even her own health.”

The survey results reveal that 49 percent of current caregivers feel overwhelmed. The Alzheimer's Association provides information, support and resources to caregivers in need. Visitors to the new Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Center can access:

Practical caregiving tips for every stage of the disease.

• Advice on how to manage a wide range of caregiving issues, from daily care to safety issues to planning for the future.
• Information on managing stress and coping with emotions related to caregiving.
• Information on local support groups and AlzConnected, an online community for people with the disease and their caregivers.

If you are a caregiver, tell us how we can help you by filling out this survey. We also encourage you to visit the Alzheimer's Association website for support and information on how to care for individual with Alzheimer's disease while maintaining your own well-being.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s disease.