PAAD-2 research studies the protective benefits of exercise against Alzheimer’s disease, so the 2021 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Guilford County is right up our alley! The Alzheimer’s Association plans to host the event in Greensboro’s LeBauer Park on Saturday, Oct. 16. Our PAAD2 team will be out in full force to support our common goal of research to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Look for our bright yellow shirts with the PAAD-2 logo if you are there!
The Alzheimer’s Association provides many excellent resources and programs. One you may not have seen is their annual report that includes information about the disease, risk factors, statistics, and the impacts of COVID-19. Here are some important takeaways from the 2021 report:
Scientists believe brain changes can begin 20 years or more before symptoms emerge: “Only after years of brain changes do individuals experience noticeable symptoms such as memory loss and language problems. Symptoms occur because nerve cells (neurons) in parts of the brain involved in thinking, learning and memory (cognitive function) have been damaged or destroyed.”
Most people who develop dementia due to Alzheimer’s are 65 years old or older: “The greatest risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer’s are older age, genetics— especially the apolipoprotein e4 gene (APOE-e4) — and having a family history of Alzheimer’s.”
Projections for the United States: “By 2025, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s dementia is projected to reach 7.2 million — a 16% increase from the 6.2 million age 65 and older affected in 2021.”
Risk factors that can be changed or modified: “Examples of modifiable risk factors are physical activity, smoking, education, staying socially and mentally active, blood pressure, and diet. In fact, the 2020 recommendations of The Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention and care suggest that addressing modifiable risk factors might prevent or delay up to 40% of dementia cases.”
Impact of COVID-19: “Preliminary reports from the CDC indicate that there were at least 42,000 more deaths from Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in 2020 compared with the average of the five years before 2020. This is approximately 16% more than expected.”
*You can access the report here: https://www.alz.org/media/documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures.pdf
The facts of Alzheimer’s disease drive the PAAD-2 team’s commitment to research. If you are a family member of someone with Alzheimer’s and aged 40 – 65, please consider participating in the PAAD-2 research study at UNCG. We need your help!
Please also consider supporting the great work done by the Alzheimer’s Association. Check out information on the Guildford Alzheimer’s Walk.