Senior Living: Consider participating in an Alzhemier’s study

I attended several sessions designed for the general public virtually, and it was exciting and inspiring to hear about the advances in research and clinical practice education that will lead to improvements in diagnosis, risk reduction, and treatments.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

• Lifestyle changes matter. In the U.S. POINTER clinical trial, two intensive lifestyle programs improved cognition in older adults at risk — reinforcing how increased physical activity, better nutrition, greater social engagement, and health monitoring can help maintain brain health.

• Blood biomarker guidelines were released for utilizing blood-based biomarker tests to assist in diagnosing Alzheimer’s and reduce the need for more costly tests.

• Managing chronic conditions may slow decline: Taking common medications, like those for high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, can help slow cognitive decline.

• New Alzheimer’s drugs prove effective in real-world use. Real-world experience with newly approved anti-amyloid drugs, lecanemab and donanemab, showed promising results.

These are just a few of the examples of the progress that has been made in the last 25 years, but the greatest obstacle to developing the next generation of Alzheimer’s treatments, other than funding, is recruiting and retaining participants for clinical trials.

And this is where you can help. If you are an individual living with dementia, a caregiver, or even an individual showing no signs of dementia, you are asked to participate in one of hundreds of actively enrolling clinical trials focused on Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

You can search for trials or studies by going to Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch, a free, easy-to-use matching service. These clinical studies and trials are not just about testing promising new drugs. Participants are also needed for observational studies, online surveys, and interviews/focus groups. (I am participating in two studies: one OHSU observational study and one online.)

The benefits of participating are many:

• Provides hope for people living with dementia, their families and future generations.

• Enables people living with the disease to play a more active role in their own health care.

• Increases representation of all races, genders, and backgrounds in research.

• Gives access to potential treatments before they are widely available.

• Offers expert medical care at leading health care facilities — often free of cost — while participating in important medical research.

By participating in Alzheimer’s research, you can help to accelerate progress and provide valuable insight into potential treatments and methods of prevention. And someday, this will eventually lead to the end of Alzheimer’s.

And don’t forget, you can learn more about brain health, Alzheimer’s research, and community resources, while enjoying a free lunch, by attending one of the Alzheimer’s Association Community Conferences in the Gorge:

• Aug. 27, Sherman County Community Center, Moro, noon to 4 p.m.

• Aug. 28, Gateway Church, The Dalles, noon to 4 p.m.

• Aug. 29, FISH Food Bank, Hood River, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To register, call the Alzheimer’s 24/7 Helpline at 1-800-272-3900 or go online atalz.org/orswwa/events/community-conferences.

•••

Brain Tease: Short and sweet. Can you figure out the sixth number in this series? 65, 57, 50, 44, 39,__, 32, 30, 29

•••

The legendary performer who attempted to jump the Snake River was Evel Knievel. I received correct answers from Stephen Woolpert, Doug Nelson, Bruce Johnson, Donna Mollet, Judy Kiser, Rebecca Abrams, Jess Birge, Dave Lutgens, Rhonda Spies, Debbie Medina, Lana Tepfer, Pat Evenson-Brady, Rose Schulz, Craig Terry, Shelly Hinatsu, and this week’s winners of a quilt raffle ticket each, Chris and Matt Davidson.

And last week, I was busy trying to buy a Lava Lamp and missed Stephen Woolpert, Glenna Mahurin, and Rhonda Spies.

The popular Cruise the Gorge, which included hundreds of classic cars cruising the gut in downtown The Dalles, reminded me of this classic 1973 movie. For this week’s ”Remember When” question, what was the name of the movie directed by George Lucas that tells the story of a group of teenagers spending one final night in Modesto, California, after their high school graduation cruising the strip with their buddies? And for bonus points, what actress played the mysterious blonde driving a white Ford Thunderbird? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-980-4645, or send it with a picture of Wolfman Jack.

•••

Well, it’s been another week, staying busy just trying to figure out what I am supposed to be doing when I keep getting interrupted! Until we meet again, it’s not always easy to keep your mouth shut even when you have nothing to say.

•••

“I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” — Flannery O’Connor

•••

Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) — Wednesdays with music on second and fourth Wednesdays; Mt. Hood Town Hall (541-308-5997) — Tuesdays; Hood River Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center (541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333).

For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services: Goldendale office (509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068), and in Skamania County call Senior Services (509-427-3990).