Alzheimer's Foundation of America
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Alzheimer's Foundation of America Appoints New CEO
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Sen. Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr.
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Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) Chairman Bert E. Brodsky announced today that Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., an eight-term New York state senator, has been appointed chief executive officer of the leading national nonprofit organization.
"It is with great pride that I announce Charles Fuschillo's appointment as chief executive officer of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America," said Brodsky. "With Chuck at the helm, we are poised to expand the foundation's services to benefit even more people at a time when AFA's services have never been more critical."
During his tenure in the senate, Fuschillo authored more than 200 state laws, including some of the country's toughest laws related to drunk driving, as well as the state's landmark Do Not Call Registry, insurance protections for people with autism, New York State's Clean Indoor Air Act to make worksites and public places smoke free, and tools to protect consumers from identity theft. He most recently chaired the Senate's Transportation Committee, and was a member of numerous committees, including health.
"Joining AFA as the new CEO presents an exciting opportunity to improve the lives of others and effect change in a disease state that is reaching crisis proportions," Fuschillo said.
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Vitamin E May Help Slow Progression of Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease
People with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease who took a high dose of vitamin E--2,000 IU/d of vitamin E (alpha tocopherol)--
experienced slower functional decline compared to study participants who took a placebo, according to new research findings published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association."
The study involved 560 people who received either a synthetic vitamin E or memantine--a drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat Alzheimer's disease--or a combination of both, or a placebo. In analyzing data during the mean follow-up period of 2.27 years, as measured by Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study/Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL) Inventory scores, participants in the vitamin E group had less of a decline in functional ability, or loss of independence. The findings translate into a delay in clinical progression of 19 percent per year or approximately 6.2 months vs. the placebo group. Those taking vitamin E also showed a decrease in caregiver burden.
The study found no significant difference in the performance of participants receiving memantine alone or memantine plus vitamin E.
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Congress Passes Budget Setting Two-Year Spending Limits
Before Congress left for its holiday recess, members agreed on a modest two-year budget package of deficit reduction measures and fee increases that establish new spending caps for fiscal years (FY) 2014 and 2015.
These new spending caps will provide some relief to the sequestration cuts that had a devastating impact on Alzheimer's disease research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and caregiver supports and services provided by the Administration on Community Living (ACL), among other programs.
AFA continues to work to increase funding for Alzheimer's disease research and caregiver services, including supporting Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) on Senate Resolution 303 (S. Res. 303) that calls for making Alzheimer's disease a national priority and tripling funding to $2 billion a year by (FY) 2019. AFA encourages all Alzheimer's disease stakeholders to contact their Senate delegation, via the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121, to support S. Res. 303. |
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Dementia Care Professional of the Year Named
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Nancy Pertl
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Nancy Pertl, of Mount Juliet, Tenn., recognized an absence of tools to help family caregivers navigate the complexity of Alzheimer's disease in her own community. So she built them--not only to fulfill a local need, but with the utility to serve broader audiences.
For Pertl's efforts to tackle dementia on both the small and big scale, and for her demonstrated passion to advance dementia education, Dementia Care Professionals of America (DCPA), a division AFA, recently announced that Pertl is its 2013 "Dementia Care Professional of the Year."
"Knowing that I make a difference each and every day is the most rewarding part of this job for me," said Pertl, aging services coordinator at Mental Health America of Middle Tennessee (MHAMT) in Nashville.
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News to Use
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Learn Nutrition-Maximizing Strategies - On January 9, AFA's monthly caregiver teleconference, "Care Connection," will offer techniques to maximize nutrition and eating. This month's guest hosts are Eileen O'Connor, BSN, RNC-RYT, director of nursing services, and Stephani Shivers, MEd, OTR/L, CDP, director of community education and services, at the Alzheimer's Resource Center, Plantsville, Conn. The free one-hour teleconference begins at 1 p.m. EST. To join, call 877-594-8353 and use guest identification number: 46692951#.
- AFA Introduces Two New Support Groups - Next month, AFA will kick off two free support groups for caregivers. The first, a six-week, Skype-based support group is for teens who have or have had a loved one with Alzheimer's disease and will offer coping strategies specifically tailored to this under-served group of caregivers. This group begins on February 18 and runs subsequent Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m. EST. The second is a 10-week, telephone-based grief and transition support group for widows and widowers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses. This group--which begins on February 24, and runs subsequent Mondays from 3-4 p.m. EST--offers an opportunity for participants to express their feelings, vent frustrations, learn new coping techniques, and share personal stories. Both groups will be facilitated by AFA's licensed social workers. Registration is required and space is limited. For more information, call 866-232-8484.
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News Updates
- Are Concussions Linked to Alzheimer's Disease? - A new study suggests that a history of concussion involving at least a momentary loss of consciousness may be related to the buildup of Alzheimer's disease-associated plaques in the brain. Researchers performed brain scans on 448 people without any signs of memory problems and 141 people with mild cognitive impairment. The study found that those participants with memory and thinking impairments and a history of head trauma had levels of amyloid plaques averaging 18 percent higher than those with no head trauma history. Read more...
- Heart Disease in Older Women Could Signal Greater Dementia Risk - New research of nearly 6,500 American women, ages 65 to 79, found that study participants with heart disease were 29 percent more likely to experience mental decline over time than those without heart disease. Read more...
- Cholesterol Levels Linked to Alzheimer's Disease Plaques - A new study shows high levels of LDL or "bad" cholesterol and low levels of HDL or "good" cholesterol are associated with more of the protein deposits in the brain associated with the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Read more...
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January 2, 2014
Volume 7 Issue 2
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Holiday Celebration Mash-Up
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Thelma's Place attendees have a blast during an indoor "snowball fight."
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Several of AFA's member organizations in various states hosted creative celebrations this holiday season. Among them, Thelma's Place, Canby, Ore., created fake snowballs and had an indoor snowball fight. Back east, Silver Fox Senior Social Club, Baldwinsville, N.Y., took an artistic approach to seasonal festivities, making crafts with children from Elden Elementary School. In Milwaukee, Wis., clients at St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care Inc. performed for their families, staff and community friends at a Christmas Concert. Attendees of Respite Care Charleston's (S.C.) day program enjoyed a visit from Santa himself. 
Mike Greenly
New York, N.Y.
Inspired by his parents' love for one another, Mike Greenly, a former corporate marketing executive and online journalist, wrote the lyrics to "With You." The song was recorded by vocalist Kimberly Davis, who performs with disco and R&B band, Chic. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the song, which is available on iTunes, are being donated to AFA.
Both Greenly and Davis have personal experience with Alzheimer's disease. Greenly's father, Samuel Clifford Greenly, passed away from the disease at age 87. Davis' grandmother, Corinne Webb Davis, age 90, is currently living with the disease.
To date, Greenly has raised $2,500 for AFA.
May 8, 2014 - "5 Boroughs Concepts in Care Conference"
AFA's third "5 Boroughs Concepts in Care" conference will be held at the Marriott Marquis-Times Square in New York, N.Y.
This free educational conference will include sessions for professional caregivers, family caregivers and individuals with dementia, as well as an exhibit hall and hands-on activities.
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The Legacy SocietyAFA's Legacy Society offers special recognition to individuals who have included AFA in their wills or estate plans.
Support AFA Monthly
Donors can now make recurring monthly donations
to AFA, which will be automatically deducted from your credit card each month. You may cancel at any time.
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