Chapter Carries Legacy of Support to Caregivers - Alzheimer's ...

Making A Connection
With Minority Community
By Regina McDonald
Multicultural Outreach
Coordinator
R
4 • Cornerstone • Spring 2008
ecent studies indicate that African-Americans
appear to be at greater risk for developing
dementia-type diseases due to genetic and
environmental risk factors such as cardiovascular
disease, high blood pressure and cholesterol, obesity
and diabetes.
A similar correlation between health risk factors
and dementia in the Hispanic/Latino population is also
being found in many new studies. This is particularly
alarming given the fact that Hispanic/Latinos are the
fasting growing minority population in the United
States. Recent reports also indicate that strokes may be a contributing factor
for developing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementing illnesses within the
African-American community.
Currently, the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Heart Association
and the American Stroke Association are partnering to create greater public
awareness about the connection between cardiovascular risks and brain health.
Cardiovascular diseases are prevalent within many minority populations which
can put many African-Americans, Hispanic/Latinos and other minorities at
risk for developing vascular related dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Celebrating 25 years of service, the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater
Cincinnati is here to help and provide hope to those dealing with dementia.
We offer a variety of programs and services targeting many phases of the care
giving journey. April is Minority Health Month and it is important to not only
recognize but to target health care needs of the minority community. A number
of our chapter programs specifically address the needs and concerns of African-
Americans and Hispanic/Latinos, such as our African-American Caregiver
Forum and our community Promotora de Salud education program.
We also provide early educational intervention in the elementary, middle
and high schools through health education. Alzheimer’s disease does not
discriminate between the rich and the poor, the well educated and the
uneducated, or African American, Hispanic/Latino and White. The Alzheimer’s
Association is here to provide education, help and hope to all – let’s make the
connection!
Please mark your calendar – the 2008 African-American Family Caregiver
Forum will be held on Friday, Oct. 31. Further details on the forum will be
announced later this summer.
For more information on our programs and services, please contact me at
(513) 721-4284 or email: regina.mcdonald@alz.org.
he Alzheimer’s Association
of Greater Cincinnati
recently welcomed Connie
Drews, MSW, as the new Branch
Program Manager for Northern
Kentucky.
Ms. Drews will be responsible
for providing chapter programs
and services to families affected
by Alzheimer’s disease in the
chapter’s nine-county service area
of Northern Kentucky.
“We are very pleased to have
Connie join our staff,” said
Executive Director Clarissa Rentz.
Caregiver News
Drews Named N. Ky. Program Manager
Connie Drews
T
T
Cincinnati Chapter Unveils
New Web Site
he Alzheimer’s Association
of Greater Cincinnati has a
Web site with a new look
and a new address.
The updated Web site was
unveiled in January with a new
address: www.alz.org/cincinnati. The
site features complete information
on local programs and services as
well as special events.
“For a growing segment of the
public, the Internet is becoming a
primary source of information on
Alzheimer’s disease,” said Steve Olding, Chapter Communications director.
“Usage of our chapter Web site, for example, has doubled in the past three years
while calls to our Helpline have stayed about the same in number. More people
are coming to us for information, but a growing percentage of people are using
a different method to obtain information from us.”
During the past fiscal year, the chapter site recorded more than 1.4 million
hits from 30,000 individual users.
A
Alzhemed Clinical Trial
Results Disappointing
fter consulting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on
revising its statistical model, Neurochem has completed its statistical
analysis and released the results of the company’s first Phase III clinical
trial of Tramiprosate (Alzhemed) which was held in the United States
and Canada.
While the trials found numerical differences between people taking the
drug and those taking a placebo, the results, both on cognitive functioning and
daily activities, did not reach statistical significance.
The trial results highlight the important need for more volunteers to
participate in Alzheimer’s clinical studies. Recruiting and retaining study
participants is one of the greatest impediments to developing the next
generation of Alzheimer treatments.
For more information on clinical trials, visit: www.alz.org, Clinical Trials
Index.
“She knows Northern Kentucky well and understands our mission
of service.”
As an adult learner, Ms. Drews earned a degree in Social Work
from Northern Kentucky University and a master’s degree in Social
Work from the University of Kentucky. A certified social worker in
Kentucky, she has a personal connection to dementia. Last year, her
mother, Agnes, was diagnosed with dementia.
“I am honored to join the Alzheimer’s Association and look
forward to helping families in Northern Kentucky,” said Ms. Drews.
“I know that there is a great need in Northern Kentucky for many
families and I hope to be a source of support for them.”
Ms. Drews has two children, Deanna and Debbie, and three
step-children, Gary, Nicki and Bob. She and her husband, Gary,
reside in Taylor Mill.