When I was asked by the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative to participate in a briefing with their experts last week, it was not without bittersweetness. Prior to venturing into this world of birthing babies and blogging, I was a social worker. I worked primarily in Alzheimer’s nursing home units, and the dear faces and stories of the families affected by this disease still resonate deeply with me.
And then my own mother got diagnosed with cancer, and while she was never diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she most definitively lost her mind. And her memories…it echoed very closely and felt very similar to Alzheimer’s.
Now currently, we have another family member who is struggling actively with memory loss, and well…sometimes it’s hard to think about all the sadness and loss that are incurred upon one’s mental faculties checking out. Sometimes it’s a little too poignant and real.
But I knew I had to participate. I want to learn more about this disease, and God has given me this really unique and weird platform of a blog to have a little voice in this world, so…count me in.
I’m so glad I did hop in, because the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative is simply, very, very cool. It is sponsored by the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute. Their goal is to conduct ground-breaking research, working with international scientific collaborations to create a new standard of care. The current cost of Alzheimer’s (personally and financially) is devastating, and this organization is committed to the vision that this diagnosis could someday take less of a toll on our society.
One of the innovative ways that they pursue this goal is through the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry. You can check out the site to learn all of the details, but in short, they are working to enroll 250,000+ individuals (18 and older) into an online database in which the member can opt to participate in research studies in their area and be connected with resources to learn more about combating this disease.
It takes literally 60 seconds to enroll. There is no payment nor are there any fees; it’s just a group of individuals who would like to take a stand against Alzheimer’s teaming up together, providing a large pool of persons to evaluate/research so we can understand this disease more. Basically, you give them your name and some info, and if there is an opportunity that fits, you will be contacted. Nothing is mandatory, except the desire to help this Registry grow and work as we all learn more about Alzheimer’s.
The thing is, when a diagnosis is such a big and large beast, there isn’t often much that we feel we can do as a single person. But by signing up to join this Registry, you can do something–great and small all at the same time.
I am joining in honor of my mother, family member, and all of those whom served as a social worker. Who will you join for?
Go ahead and make a difference for those affected by Alzheimer’s today. Thanks, friends.
Although Banner Alzheimer’s Institute is a nonprofit organization, I was compensated for this post, yet all opinions remain 100% my own.
You can also show your support by following the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative on Facebook and on Twitter.
Also check out this article about the numerous benefits of turmeric, one of which is slowing Alzheimer’s progression. Although it’s not a cure, any natural means to help individuals with this disease is worth exploring!
Latest posts by Meredith (see all)
- Here One Moment Book Club Discussion - November 8, 2024
- Create Fun Halloween Decor with a Decoupage Pumpkin Craft! - October 21, 2024
- Slow Dance Book Club Discussion - September 13, 2024
Leave a Reply