Alzheimer’s is a prevalent disease affecting brain health and cognitive processing.
Purple is the official color of the Alzheimer’s awareness movement, and June marks the month to wear purple in support of brain health awareness related to the disease. Alzheimer’s Awareness Month sheds light on the symptoms and treatment options for individuals that are afflicted.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60% to 80% of cases, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s causes memory and cognitive ability loss and is experienced primarily by individuals aged 65 and older.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease often worsen over time. Alzheimer’s is a progressive form of dementia and can begin asymptomatic and advance into mild cognitive impairment, mild dementia, moderate dementia, to severe dementia. At each stage, an individual experiences less independence in carrying out daily life.
The most recognized early symptom of Alzheimer’s is difficulty remembering new information, as the disease impacts the part of the brain that controls the ability to learn. Severe symptoms include disorientation, mood and behavior changes, confusion, difficulty speaking, swallowing, and walking.
Research efforts
Worldwide effort has been made for research into therapies and medications aimed at treating individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, but two treatments are available that reduce functional and cognitive decline for patients. The medications Lecanemab and Aducanumab are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and address the underlying biological causes of Alzheimer’s, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
New research conducted by the Mayo Clinic and 13 other institutions around the country are also searching for possible treatments and therapies through a scientific study of Alzheimer’s from a multiethnic perspective.
“We know that Alzheimer’s disease afflicts patients from African American backgrounds at a rate twice as high as that in white populations. For Latino Americans, the risk is one-and-a-half times greater than that in white populations,” said Dr. Nilüfer Ertekin-Taner, professor of neuroscience and neurology and physicians-assistant at Mayo Clinic. “These populations have traditionally been understudied for Alzheimer’s disease, leading to a major knowledge gap. When we try to understand the molecular underpinnings, the disease fingerprints, we need to understand it for all of us to be able to identify biomarkers and therapies.”
The Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s research aims to analyze blood and donated brain tissue samples from patients with varying ethnic backgrounds. The data collected will allow researchers to learn more about the molecular side of the disease and to begin developing treatments and therapies.
“The Longest Day” Awareness Event
On June 21, thousands come together to “fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s,” according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The day June 21 is the summer solstice and longest day of the year and is symbolic for coming out of the darkness associated with the disease.
The worldwide gesture of symbolism is also a day of action that allows communities to show their support by signing up for an activity and turning it into a fundraiser. The Alzheimer’s Association encourages individuals to show support in the month of June by sharing their stories and experiences with Alzheimer’s, volunteering with the association, becoming an advocate for national policy changes, posting disease information to social media, and donating in support of research efforts.