Category Archives: Research

An Alzheimer’s Anthem: Remember Me

24 Saturday Jan 2015

Posted by in Advocacy and Awareness, Cure Alzheimer's Fund, Events, Face of Alzheimer's, Fundraising, Inspiration, Mom, Music and Art, Research, Ruminations

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#remembermeWhile there are plenty of things that stir my emotions, music can really send me into a tailspin. I still haven’t listened to the Glen Campbell song, I’ll Be Me. One day I will, but I’m not ready yet.

Over the past day or so, I’ve seen a couple of Facebook posts regarding a new song and video by Chris Mann, a 2012 finalist on The Voice.

Remember Me is the result of a collaboration between Mann and a rather unlikely suspect, world-renowned Alzheimer’s researcher, neuroscientist Rudy Tanzi.

A recent Rolling Stone article describes how the two met and what inspired the partnership. (Call me crazy, but I feel as though this could be a game changer with regard to bringing Alzheimer’s out of the shadows! Who could have imagined uttering the words “Rolling Stone” and “Alzheimer’s” in the same sentence?)

Tonight as I was driving home, I shook off my apprehension and clicked the play button to listen to this remarkably powerful song for the first time. Within seconds, I found myself sobbing – it’s difficult to describe the raw emotion I felt as the beautiful lyrics cut into my heart. A rush of piercing grief, intense regret, and tremendous loss washed over me – body and soul. It took my breath away in every sense of the word. I couldn’t help but imagine my mom…

I know there’ll come a day, when I have gone away / And the memory of me will fade / But darling think of me, and who I use to be / And I’ll be right there with you again / I hope I’m one thing worth not forgetting / Tell me that you’ll never let me go

You can watch the poignant Remember Me video below, but please click over to iTunes and buy the single, then encourage your friends to do the same. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.*

 

Join the #RememberMe movement. Learn more -> here

*Since its inception in 2004, the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) has contributed $27.4 million to research. The founders cover all overhead expenses, and 100% of donations go directly to research. Dr. Rudy Tanzi is a key member of the organization’s research consortium.

Alzheimer’s Talks: Dr. Rudy Tanzi

16 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Advocacy and Awareness, Events, Helpful Resources, Research, USAgainstAlzheimer's

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If you missed the October Alzheimer’s Talks call, I hope you’ll take time to listen to the recording. We don’t often have the opportunity to hear directly from a leading researcher, but thanks to our friends at USAgainstAlzheimer’s, we were able to spend 60 minutes with Dr. Rudy Tanzi last month. The discussion was fascinating, informative, and full of reasons to be hopeful.

Take a listen as Dr. Tanzi talks about his team’s recent “Alzheimer’s in a Dish” discovery and how it will allow researchers to screen potential drugs 10 times faster and cheaper than ever before. During the second half of the call, he takes questions from listeners – again, giving us rare insight into the latest research.

To listen, click here –> A Major Breakthrough: Alzheimer’s in a Dish – Dr. Rudy Tanzi, Alzheimer’s Talks – October 2014

Also, be sure to register for the November Alzheimer’s Talks discussion with Olivia Mastry of ACT on Alzheimer’s. Ms. Mastry will share Minnesota’s very successful model for creating dementia friendly communities.

National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month: Health-eBrain Study

31 Friday Oct 2014

Posted by in Advocacy and Awareness, Caregiver Burnout, Caregivers, November-National ALZ Awareness Month, Research, Sandwich Generation, USAgainstAlzheimer's

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Here’s a great way to participate in National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month!

If you are one of the 15 million caregivers looking after a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, your input is crucial to the success of the Caregivers’ Health-eBrain Study! Please join Meryl Comer, advocate, journalist, author, and caregiver, as a participant in this important online study.

Just 30 minutes of your time will help scientists understand how the caregiving lifestyle impacts brain performance. And you can complete the questions right from your home computer! 

You may be reading this and thinking, “I’m not caring for my parent/spouse/loved one 24×7 at home. I just oversee her care and help out with things. I’m not really a caregiver.”

I get that line of thinking. There was a time when I thought being a caregiver meant caring for a loved one at home, period. However, the definition is much broader than that.

You’re a caregiver if:

  • You’re a son or daughter supporting a parent with memory problems. They might live three doors down or in another state, but regardless, you are a caregiver.
  • You missed your daughter’s school play because you were called into action to handle a crisis with your loved one. You are a caregiver.
  • You’ve had to take time off work to drive a parent to doctor’s appointments or run home to handle a crisis. You are a caregiver.
  • On Sunday afternoon, you can be found at Mom’s house setting up her meds for the coming week. You are a caregiver.
  • You’re sandwiched right between the children you’re still raising and the parent who needs your support on a regular basis. You are a caregiver.
  • You spend your lunch hour on the phone making medical appointments and dealing with insurance companies. You are a caregiver.
  • You couldn’t get away for your usual summer vacation this year. Who would look after Mom while you were away, and what if there was an emergency? You are a caregiver.
  • You coordinate in home assistance or oversee the care provided to your loved one in a care facility. You are a caregiver.
  • You can often be found at your loved one’s house helping with household tasks like cooking, cleaning, yard maintenance, caring for pets, or shopping. You are a caregiver.

If any of these sound familiar, we hope you’ll take just 30 minutes to participate in the Caregivers’ Health-eBrain Study and share the link with others.

To begin click here –> https://www.health-ebrainstudy.org