2008 Dementia Briefing
Please join us to represent the more than 90,000 Minnesotans affected by Alzheimer’s disease for a legislative briefing on dementia issues. This briefing will be for the MN House of Representatives Health and Human Services Committee.
When: Wednesday, February 6, 2008
2:00 PM
Where: Room 200 State Office Building
100 Rev. Martin Luther King Blvd., Saint Paul, MN Map
Chair: Rep. Paul Thissen
Agenda: Overview of dementia
Please contact Angie Bizal at 952-857-0522 or angie.bizal@alz.org with any questions regarding this meeting.
Alzheimer's in the News
KARE 11 is featuring a two-part series on Thursday and Friday’s 10:00 (November 14 and 15) broadcast on Alzheimer’s disease. It features the story by KARE 11’s photo journalist, Jim Douglas, that follows his aunt through a three-year journey with Alzheimer’s.
During Thursday night’s broadcast, we have 12 Association staff and volunteers who will be commanding a phone bank.
Visit KARE 11 for more information.
Annual Meeting - Engaging MindsNovember 29, 20075:00 - 6:30 p.m. The Marsh Refreshments Following Featuring: Senator Amy Klobuchar Proposed Caregiver Support Legislation Glenn Smith, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic "Alzheimer's Disease Prevention Center: Is It In Our Future?" and The Premier Showing of: "Shining a Light on Alzheimer's Disease" Developed by the Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers of the Mayo Clinic, University of California Irvine, University of Pennsylvania, and Washington University The Marsh is located at 15000 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka. Please RSVP to (952) 857-0554 |
These women are recognized as remarkable woman who have made the lives of others better:
Unforgettable Women |
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Ruby Alexander Lois Altringer Carol Sue Anderson Ruby Bakken Marge Barna Leone Bentz June K. Berg Eileen Birkeland Audrey Bjorke Elaine Bonk Esther Brockmann Lucille Brunette Alice Campbell Carmen Campbell Susan Campbell Dorothy G. Chernich Joan Churilla Rae Ortner Chuven Donna Dempsey Leona B. Dolezal Charlotte Drackley Beverly Dunne Marvel Ellingson Philomine Fisher Norma Fleischaker Jennifer Frankel Iris Freeman Verna Frounfelter Frances Fuchs Dorothy I. Gaeth Ann Gerike Elaine Gerike Dorothy Gray Angie Gratz Murle G. Griffin Carolyn L. Gumm Francis Hahn Gay Haney Roslyn Harry Ethel Haskett Eleanor J. Hatlem Anna Mae Haug Vera Hetland Sally Hiemenz Josephine E. Hill Marge Hoffmann Oronah Hudson Judy Jacobsen Florence Johnson Mary Johnson Pat Johnson Beverly Keatts Agnes Konieczny Carol Kostich Lorraine Krenelka Mable LeClair Joan Marie Leonard Betty Engle LeVin Doris Lindemeier Eila Liuska Joan McGuire Clara McMurtry Buster Miller Anna O. Novak Gen Palin Lynn Palin Beth Pearson Pam Pearson Gudrun Pfeifenberger Florence Pfliger Sibyl Plessinger Trinky Pollard Betty Pratt Donna Putzier Barbara Redpath Rogene Ann Remus Jo Retter Marilyn Rodeberg Mary Ann Rodier Alta Mae Rude Berleen M. Schmidt Frieda Schmidt Jean Schneider Katie Seguin Carol Sexton Juanita C. Smith Cristella Starkson Elizabeth Stibbe Anna Evelyn Studer Leona Swigart Evelyn Turnquist Gladys Van Vleet Donna Veronikas Lillian Wald Lynda Wander Julie Webster Muriel Zanoni Pam Ivonen Zbacnik Hazel Onnen Zenor |
Alzheimer News 3/20/2007
Alzheimer’s Disease Prevalence Rates Rise to More thanFive Million in the United States
In 2007 there are now more than 5 million people in the United States living with Alzheimer’s disease. This number includes 4.9 million people over the age of 65 and between 200,000 and 500,000 people under age 65 with early onset Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. This is a 10 percent increase from the previous prevalence nationwide estimate of 4.5 million.
These new estimates, as well as other data concerning the disease and its effects, are issued as hundreds of advocates from across the country gather in the nation’s capitol for the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual Public Policy Forum. The report titled, 2007 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, is being released at a hearing chaired by Senator Barbara Mikulski. Senators Barbara Mikulski and Christopher Bond and Representatives Edward Markey and Christopher Smith have introduced bipartisan legislation to address problems identified in the Association’s report. The Association’s report details the escalation of Alzheimer’s disease which now is the seventh leading cause of death in the country and the fifth leading cause of death for those over age 65. It also offers numerous statistics that convey the burden that Alzheimer’s imposes on individuals, families, state and federal governments, businesses, and the nation’s health care system.
Download Report: 2007 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures (28 pages)
Mrs. North Dakota International - Kerri Albrecht
Kerri Albrecht was crowned Mrs. North Dakota International 2007 on March 24th and will be competing in Chicago, IL for the national title. Her platform is Alzheimer’s – The Silent Disease.
Information about Driving & Alzheimer's
Families struggle with the decision to limit or stop the person from driving. The person may be upset by the loss of independence and the need to rely on others for going places. This sense of dependence may prevent people with dementia from giving up the car keys. A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease alone is not a reason to take away driving privileges. However, caregivers are not always best at determining if it is safe for a person with dementia to continue driving.
Warning signs of unsafe driving
- Forgetting how to locate familiar places
- Failing to observe traffic signals
- Making slow or poor decisions
- Driving at inappropriate speeds
- Becoming angry and confused while driving
- Hitting curbs
- Poor lane control
- Confusing the brake and gas pedals
- Returning from a routine drive later than usual
- The person may be wandering and getting lost in the car
Additional information:
Alzheimer's Association National Web Site
Driving and Driver Assessment Resources (PDF)
Clinical Trials
Over the last 15 years, scientists have made enormous strides in understanding how Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain. Many of these recent insights point toward promising new strategies for treatment, prevention and diagnosis. More than 150 clinical studies are now recruiting participants with and without Alzheimer’s disease, related disorders, or memory loss to help test these exciting new approaches. To view clinical trials in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease, visit the database of studies investigating experimental therapies on the Clinical Trials Index. Or, to determine if there are any additional trials under way in your area, you can also visit Clinical Trials.gov homepage (a service of the National Institute of Health) and click on "Focused search" under "Search by specific information."
Participants Needed:
Researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing are looking for volunteers for their new
study, “Comprehensive Support for Alzheimer’s Disease Caregivers.” The goal of this study is to determine if flexible and comprehensive counseling and support can help adult children care for a parent’s Alzheimer’s disease or similar memory disorder.
Caregiver Study Seeks Participants (PDF).