The JH Walk to End Alzheimer’s Team Thanks You!

13 people joined the 2023 Johns Hopkins’ Aging & Alzheimer’s Centers’ Walk to End Alzheimer’s Team.

The Baltimore event was held on Saturday, October 28th in Hunt Valley.

Thanks to more than 50 donors to date, we have raised $3,850 for the Alzheimer’s Association, which reflects 77% of our $5,000 goal.

Tax-deductible donations are still being accepted through the end of the year; give here.

Learn more about our team and this cause in a recent COAH blog, which you may find here.

See images from the walk here. 

By Anthony L. Teano, MLA
Communications Specialist

 

 

 

 

Presentations by JHU Researchers at the GSA 2023 Annual Meeting

We are excited to share a comprehensive list of Johns Hopkins University (JHU)-affiliated presenters at the upcoming 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting of The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).  JHU faculty, staff, fellows, and students, including many from the Center on Aging & Health, will lead symposia, papers, and poster presentations.  A full list is available here for download and/or to print out.

We wish everyone a great experience at 2023 GSA Annual Meeting in Tampa, FL from November 8-12, 2023!

Alzheimer’s Awareness & JHU’s Team for the Baltimore Walk to End Alzheimer’s

“The COAH team deeply cares about improving the lives of people living with dementia and their caregivers, which motivates our research. Alzheimer’s Awareness month is an opportune time to lend the community our support through scientifically sound information, and to give back to the community through efforts like the Baltimore Walk to End Alzheimer’s.”  

–COAH Director Jennifer Schrack, PhD

 

November is Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, and there are several upcoming activities of interest around Alzheimer’s disease in which COAH faculty are participating that we would like to bring to your attention. 

 

Baltimore Walk to End Alzheimer’s: October 28th  

 Leading up to the month-long observation, COAH joined several other Johns Hopkins University aging and Alzheimer’s centers to form a team that will participate in the Baltimore Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which will occur on Saturday, October 28th at the Hunt Valley Towne Centre. You are cordially invited to join us! For details about the walk visit our team’s page, where you may also sign up with our team, show support and cheer us on, and make a tax-deductible gift towards our team’s $5,000 goal.  Your colleagues from the JH Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), and Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR), Hopkins’ Economics of Alzheimer’s Disease & Services Center, Older Americans Independence Center, and COAH thank you.

“It is wonderful to see so many members of the Hopkins community participate in the ‘Walk to End Alzheimer’s.’ The walk here in Baltimore, combined with those elsewhere in the US, represents the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for dementia and memory loss prevention, care, and research. The annual walk provides the funds that help the Association to advocate for improved care for patients and increased funding for research. I hope as many people as possible will join our walk team on October 28th, and consider contributing funds to this effort, which continues till the end of the year.” 

–JHU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Director Marilyn Albert, PhD 

  • Please enjoy this PowerPoint with a few of the reasons “Why We Walk”.

#BrainMatters Webinar: November 3rd 

The JH ADRC & RCMAR are cosponsoring a free #BrainMatters “Alzheimer’s Disease Research Update & Study Opportunities” webinar at noon on November 3rd. Topics will include new treatments and recent reports on the state of the Alzheimer’s disease nationally and locally, and ways people can make a difference to help advance scientific research and discovery by participating in research studies, clinical trials, and interventions. Register for the webinar here

 

About Alzheimer’s Disease & Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month  

As you may know, Alzheimer’s disease is one of many different types of dementia, and it is the most frequently diagnosed and well-known type of dementia. Other examples include Frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, and mixed dementia (a combination of different forms of dementia).  

 

The National Institute on Aging describes dementia as “the loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, and reasoning—to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities.”  

 

Currently, the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that there are more than 6 million people over 65 years of age who are living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. Over the next 25 years, they project that number will be nearly 13 million people. 1 out of 3 seniors in the United States die from dementia-related illnesses—that’s more than breast and prostate cancer—combined.
 

There is no cure, but treatments are available. Research continues, so there is hope. Without a doubt, Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders constitute one of the most important health challenges of our time, yet the Alzheimer’s Association reports that only 4 out of 10 people experiencing early signs of memory problems would talk to their doctor about it.  In fact, less than 1 out of 5 Americans are familiar with Mild Cognitive Impairment.  

 

You may be interested to know that women and people of color are more frequently diagnosed than others, indicating disproportionate prevalence rates mirroring social determinants of health.  

 

Additionally, nearly half of all family caregivers are supporting a loved-one with dementia, per Alzheimer’s Association research. 

 

Now in its 40th year, President Ronald Reagan declared November as National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in 1983.  The former president died in 2004 from Alzheimer’s disease after living with it for more than a decade. 

 

Are you interested in volunteering for a research study about Alzheimer’s?

COAH faculty in recent news related to Alzheimer’s disease:

Recent dementia research from COAH faculty:

Alzheimer’s Association Reports:

By Anthony L. Teano, MLA
Communications Specialist

 

 

Home, but homebound: Aging in the community with serious illness

Katherine Ornstein, PhD, MPH is a Professor and Center Director of the Center for Equity in Aging at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing.  Dr. Ornstein is an epidemiologist with expertise in the research of home-based care, family caregiving, dementia, and aging.  Her geriatric and palliative care research determines how end-of-life care, including hospice care and the use of life-sustaining treatments, for patients with serious illness impacts the long-term health and health care utilization of family members.  She will present “Home, but homebound: Aging in the community with serious illness” at the next scientific seminar being held on Monday, November 6 from 3:30pm – 5:oopm. The seminar will be held at 2024 E. Monument Street, Powe Room, 1-500Q.  In person attendance is encouraged.  You can also view by registering at https://bit.ly/3tvxmOL.  Light refreshments will be served.

This seminar is sponsored by The Matthew Tayback, Sc.D., Memorial Lecture Fund; Center on Aging & Health; Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology; Johns Hopkins Older Americans Independence Center; Epidemiology and Biostatistics of Aging Training Program.