The Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation (ARPF) is dedicated to the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease by funding research studies and providing educational outreach and memory screenings.
INSIDE
On the Cover:
• President’s Message
Page 2:
• “Kitty and the Doozy Pie”
Page 3:
• What Others Are Saying
Page 4:
• ARPF Outreach Update
Page 5:
• ARPF Research Update
Page 6-7:
• Donor List – Thank You!
Page 8:
• Give while you Shop
with Amazon Smile
PRESIDENT/MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.
VICE PRESIDENT
Randal Brooks, MA, LPC
TREASURER
Carolyn S. Sechler, CPA
SECRETARY
Kirti K. Khalsa
MEMBER
Carolyn Lucz
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Conni Ingallina
PUBLIC RELATIONS
The Professional Image
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Tryn Rose Seley
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COUNCIL
Ma Gloria Borras-Boneu, M.D.
GRD Health Institute – Barcelona, Spain
Karen E. Innes, MSPH, Ph.D.
Western Virginia University School of Public Health – Morgantown, WV
Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine Harvard Medical School Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Boston, MA
Miia Kivipelto, M.D., Ph.D.
Aging Research Center and Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Karolinska Institute – Stockholm, Sweden
Karen Koffler, M.D.
Medical Director, Canyon Ranch Miami Beach Miami Beach, FL
Helen Lavretsky, M.D., M.S.
Professor, Department of Psychiatry UCLA Semel Institute and Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital – Los Angeles, CA
Roberta A. Lee, M.D.
Vice Chair, Department of Integrative Medicine Beth Israel Medical Center – New York, NY
George Perry, Ph.D.
Dean and Professor, College of Sciences University of Texas at San Antonio – San Antonio, TX
Michelle Sierpina, Ph.D.
Founding Director
UTMB Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning University of Texas Medical Branch – Galveston, TX
N E W S L E T T E R
Report from the International Alzheimer’s Conference
I recently gave a presentation where the audience was mostly business people. It was a great group, and the work and research of the ARPF were very well-received. This experience made me reflect, once again, on the great interest there is in keeping the brain sharp in our society, at every age. Even people in their 40’s are looking for ways to stay sharp, or to increase their brain power. It seems there is a great need to be mentally at the top of our game, so that we can be more productive, or competitive, or keep up with ever-evolving technology.In early November, the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet, published a very important article about aging populations in industrialized countries. The statement that stood out for me was, “By 2020, for the first time in history, the number of people aged 60 years and older will outnumber children younger than 5 years.” This begs the question of what we are doing to age well, especially about how to keep our brains healthy.This is a great time in history, because we now have access to much more information and tools for aging well than ever before. There truly is a community movement for healthy aging in many parts of the world. There is also a tremendous amount of research being done on brain health, from innovative diagnostic scans and tests, to genetic testing, and lifestyle-based tools like the studies you are helping to support.
As I reflect on the many medical advances, I believe we still need to educate our healthcare providers to communicate with the public in a way that demystifies dementia. Many people are confused about various forms of memory loss, and what that really means. I receive questions all the time about someone whose grandma had dementia, and is concerned that he or she might be at risk. In fact, this was one of the questions asked at our November 2014 teleseminar. If you have a chance, I invite you to listen to that enlightened discussion – it’s posted at www.youtube.com/user/preventalzheimers.
I encourage you to take part in ARPF’s programs to ensure that you stay mentally sharp with a healthy brain, no matter your age. If you are in a city where we have an event, come and meet us. We would love to connect with you personally.
As we approach the end of the year, I want to thank you in advance for remembering the ARPF in your year-end, tax-deductible contribution. We wouldn’t be able to fund research or offer valuable programs without your support. Take a look at Stephanie’s testimonial on page 4 – it’s an honor to be able to help people like Stephanie and her mom.
Finally, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a very happy holiday season, and a healthy and happy New Year. May this be a special time of peace and kindness for all.
May all your memories be great,
Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.
Founding President/Medical Director
To reflect our newsletter’s name, Forget-Me-Not, the ARPF, on occasion, will publish a story to maintain your loved one as vibrantly as you remember him or her. We invite our readers to submit stories for our consideration at info@alzheimersprevention.org.
Each story should be 500 words, and include one high-resolution picture.
“Kitty and the Doozy Pie”
by Cynthia Legorreta-Hawkins
To this day, whenever I hear the name Wappingers Falls, a town in upstate New York, I think of my friend, Kitty. Vivid, clear as any photograph, I see her in front of me, holding a platter upon which sits an apple pie.
Could Kitty make pies, you are probably wondering? To paraphrase the old song, she could bake an apple pie “fast as cats can wink an eye.” No doubt about it – they were works of art. Dense with fruit, wafting cinnamon, topped by sublime, golden-domed crusts, tiny slits all around giving them the appearance of crowns.
Kitty and I were inseparable buddies for over a decade before Alzheimer’s took up residence in her brain. During Kitty’s pie-baking years, I was blessed to enjoy her company, sampling cookies and pastries she regularly produced. One pie, however, lingers in fond, fragrant memory, because of the apples we used, and the journey we made to get them.
Frank had been a popular tenant in our building. His wise investments allowed him to buy a home and retire comfortably, about an hour’s drive from the city. We had remained in touch since he moved. Wappingers Falls had several lovely Victorian houses, and Frank’s was one of them. At the far end of his wide lawn stood a gnarled, temperamental apple tree. Its yellow apples were small, tart, and of mysterious pedigree.
“You better come get them before the squirrels do!” Frank cracked. “And, oh yeah – bring a big basket. These babies are all over the place!” I called Kitty. Her immediate response was to ask, “What kind of apples are they?” I hesitated a minute, then thinking of the tree’s unique harvest, heard myself fib, “They’re…Moodys. And they only grow in Wappingers Falls.” She seemed pleased to learn this. We started planning our trip.
The autumn wind was cool against our faces as I drove north on FDR Drive. We were traveling early, so there was almost no traffic. We’d brought sweaters, and savored the brisk, transitional time before fall’s chill arrived. An hour later we were enjoying a breathtaking view of The Hudson River from the hilltop. As I pulled into Frank’s driveway, we spotted the notorious tree.
Many years of Tai Chi had kept Kitty’s short, chunky body supple, well into her seventies. I remember thinking that, for a woman her age, she still marched like a trooper across the lawn. There was a paper stuck on the tree, reading, “Hello ladies. Had to go to Poughkeepsie on business. Take all the apples you want. Frank.”
We rolled up our sleeves and got to work. Two hours later, the bushel basket was overflowing. I grabbed one end, she took the other. Together, we staggered back to the car, hefting and groaning. We wrestled the basket into the trunk. I panted, out of breath, “This apple pie…” whereupon Kitty finished my sentence “…is gonna be a doozy!!”
Back in the city, we pulled up to Kitty’s building, then lugged the basket up the stairs – three flights. I didn’t mind. I was even happy to risk a backache, for I knew a wonderful pie was in my future. At that point she banished me. It was Kitty’s custom whenever she baked: she was going to work her culinary magic. Alone. In her own kitchen.
I have learned that patience in life is often rewarded. So I was certain I would hear from her soon. Kitty had a set of keys to the front door of my apartment. That afternoon, when I heard the familiar jingle of keys in the lock, my intuition told me THE PIE had arrived. I was right! There she was, with a brown paper shopping bag. The aroma was beginning to drift from the package as Kitty hurried in.
“Wow…” I smiled, the scent of baked apple surrounding us. “Bring that pie in here!” I switched on the coffee machine. She put the bag on the table, and stepped back after the tin foil wrapping had been removed. In hushed silence, we took a moment to admire her masterpiece. Kitty said, “I made two. The other one’s home in the freezer.” She had read my mind.
The next ten minutes were a whirlwind of activity: setting out cutlery, plates, coffee cups, and my best white napkins to surround the pie, which sat in the center of everything. We took our chairs. I solemnly handed Kitty the carving knife, so she might do the honors.
I half-joked, “Wouldn’t this be great with a chunk of cheese on the side?” She stopped, the knife poised mid-air. I will never forget the look Kitty gave me. “MY apple pie can stand on its own,” she snapped.
And that’s exactly what it did, throughout that memorable afternoon, indeed, and over all the happy years she baked for us!
Testimonial by Daryl Nardick, Ph.D., August 2014
In April of 2014 my mother died after suffering from progressive dementia for over four years. She was 87 years old. Up until her dementia surfaced, she was a dynamic, vital, curious and inordinately health-conscious soul.
When a loved one dies, it is often the custom to ask those who are kind enough to want to pay tribute, to donate to a favorite charity or nonprofit organization. Collectively, my family selected the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation (ARPF) as our donation designee. We chose the Foundation because we were intent on supporting research into this most merciless, destructive disease. In truth, we actually knew very little about the foundation other than its commitment to the prevention of Alzheimer’s through research.
The irony of our decision is that ARPF is in complete alignment with my mother’s belief system toward health. From a very early age, my mother believed and embraced integrative health care starting with her yoga practice in her thirties, to her dietary preferences, to using the power of her mind for healing purposes during her retiring years. She was an individual who was truly well before her time. The blessing in selecting ARPF to be the recipient of the many kind gestures of support that were received in memory of my mother is that she herself would have approved of our selection.
It is a gift to know that through her memory, others might be spared the suffering that she endured.
ARPF Outreach Update
by Conni Ingallina, ARPF Communications Director
Throughout the fall, we have had some great things going on. The biggest of them all was the annual AARP Convention in San Diego, September 4th – 6th.
We had one of the busiest booths there. Not only did we have great information to hand out, like our 4 Pillars of Alzheimer’s Prevention™ brochures and research information, but we provided more than 300 memory screenings to attendees throughout the 3-day conference.
What’s a “memory screening?” It consists of a 15-minute question-&-answer test. These questions are designed to test various aspects of your working memory, from recall to orientation, and give you a baseline memory score at this point in time. Doing a memory screening is a valuable tool in the prevention of Alzheimer’s tool belt. Many people are afraid of doing a screening, citing how many times they lose their keys in a day, but are relieved afterwards when the score is perfect, and he or she is doing the right things to protect the brain.
It was gratifying to talk with seniors from all walks of life about how they are preventing disease in their life, and humbling to hear their stories about how Alzheimer’s has touched their families. People like Stephanie Wong, whose mom took a memory screening, and also won one of our raffles (testimony below). When we hear stories like this, we know that we are doing exactly what we are supposed to be doing, bringing hope to countless people around the world by spreading the word that you can prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Blessings,
Conni Ingallina
Communications Director
7949 E. Acoma Drive, Suite 207
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Phone: 1-888-908-5766
Fax: 480-289-5765
Conni@alzheimersprevention.org
PS: You can check out more pictures on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PreventAD.
My mother and I attended the AARP Convention in San Diego, and my father brought to our attention that the Alzheimer’s booth was giving memory tests, so we definitely wanted to visit that booth, since my mother has been suffering from memory loss for about two years now and it has recently gotten worse.As we waited for my mother to take the test, everyone who worked at the booth made us feel very welcome, and were very warm and friendly. My mother took the memory test while I sat and observed. I was really impressed by the test, and the manner in which the test giver was giving the test.She was very positive and encouraging, and didn’t make my mother feel bad for giving wrong answers, but instead assured her that she could benefit from memory therapy if we asked her primary care physician for a referral, and showed him the test results. She was incredibly patient and we both appreciated the fact that the test giver didn’t rush us, and answered all our questions. I could see the relief in my mother’s face when she was talking to the test giver as my mother felt there was hope in sight in spite of all her frustrations with her memory loss.Out of all the booths at the AARP Convention, we found the Alzheimer’s booth the most informative as it related to something that she and I are very familiar with. To top it off, my mother “won” a jigsaw puzzle with two adorable dogs on it. I just have to encourage her to try to do the puzzle! Thanks for a great experience!
ARPF Research Update
ARPF recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Wiesje van der Flier after her presentation at the International Alzheimer’s Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, in July of 2014.
Dr. van der Flier is the Head of clinical research at the Alzheimer Center in the department of Neurology, and teaches Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
ARPF: What is your present research?
Dr. van der Flier: I am particularly interested in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, and earliest brain changes that ultimately lead to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The current focus of our research are patients with Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD).
ARPF: You talked about Subjective Cognitive Decline. How does SCD relate to what is called Age-Associated Memory Impairment?
Dr. van der Flier: Age-Associated Memory Impairment is a term that stems from approximately 20 years ago. I believe it encompasses both Subjective Cognitive Decline and objective cognitive decline. Since then, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) was introduced, and we now move forward to Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) to better diagnose the disease.
ARPF: How would you define SCD for laypeople?
Dr. van der Flier: When a person perceives cognitive decline, but they have normal cognitive tests (there is no MCI, or dementia, or any neurological or psychiatric disorder).
ARPF: Does SCD progress?
Dr. van der Flier: SCD does not always progress. There is a lot of research presently going on to answer the question of which patients with SCD will progress to MCI. We have the beginnings of an answer, but that is in a research setting for now, so we cannot translate that yet to the clinical setting.
ARPF: Have you studied interventions to slow the progression?
Dr. van der Flier: No, we have not yet, because actually this group is only now attracting attention. But I do think this is an excellent population to study interventions for, such as lifestyle modifications, because these patients are worried, and they are very likely to be highly motivated to do something about their memory. So this is an excellent population to study.
ARPF: In your study, where and how did you recruit patients?
Dr. van der Flier: We perform our own studies, and they are all memory clinic-based. The patients come from the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort, University Medical Center in Amsterdam. Most of them come to our clinic because they are worried about their memory. We do a full diagnostic evaluation, and the results are normal (there is no neurodegenerative disease, with normal cognition). Actually, we reassure them and send them home, but we follow many of these patients on a yearly basis, and some of them do progress to Alzheimer’s disease. In some cases, the patients themselves were more sensitive to the (progression) than our cognitive tests, and these are really the patients we need to learn how to identify earlier and better.
We also know, from a clinical perspective, when the concentrated biomarkers of Amyloid Beta and Tau in the cerebrospinal fluid are normal in these patients, the chances of showing clinical progression are really very low, so they are very unlikely to develop dementia. From a clinical point of view, that is more important, because it is really reassuring.
ARPF: Tell us about your future research.
Dr. van der Flier: We just started the SCIENCe cohort (Subjective Cognitive Impairment) in Amsterdam. We intend to include 300 patients with Subjective Cognitive Decline, perform extensive baseline phenotyping investigations, measure their memory and cognition in every way we can, perform an MRI, amyloid scans, and hopefully also Tau scanning. Then we plan to follow them for as long as possible, preferably 20 years, because this is how long it takes for preclinical Alzheimer’s disease to develop.
Ed. Note: Although this is not ARPF-sponsored research, we are reporting about it because it fits perfectly with our 4 Pillars of Alzheimer’s Prevention to help maintain a healthy brain and a sharp memory.
THANK YOU to Our Generous Donors!
| JULY – SEPTEMBER 2014 | Individual Donations | ||||
| Donations Made In Honor Of:Sanjay & Nikole Baliga’s Wedding, In Memory of her Grandparents, Ruthanna and Frank Massari Pearl Chang Jamal GoreDaniel L. Casetta Jonathan M. CasettaTeam Gibson Marlie Acabou Eric Anderson David Boisjolie David Carroll Elizabeth Currie Lisa Dettmer Mike Dorsey Matt Genovese Caitlin Gibson Charles Gibson Maria GibsonLori Rosen-Giglio Robert Giglio Craig Orndorff’s Challenge Jean Wyatt In Memory Of: Paul D. Alexander |
Aaron Brodbeck Emily BrodbeckMaureen Crean Anne McDonnell Tom McDonnellRichard Harlan Danielson Yvonne ParrotteRose DiDomenick Anonymous John Freeman Russell O. Hamende Bobbie Jean Wilcox Hare Robert Gordon Hayes Reverend Robert Jones Mr. & Mrs. Keech Grandma & Grandpa Madji Elvah Marella James Rosier |
Sam, my precious Dad Maria GardeaNed Vaughn Scott, Jr. Howard Tellepsen, Jr.Shirley Nan Thompson Cindi TomlinJames Wells Barbara Reeder In-Kind Donations Cranium Crunches Esther Darbyshire Khalsa International, Inc Puzzles To Remember, Inc Workplace Campaigns Aetna Foundation American Express AT&T BT Americas & Global Impact Citigroup General Mills Lockheed Martin National Instruments Roll Giving Wells Fargo |
Many Anonymous Donors Marilyn Addison Gladys Amaya Alisa Arnold Anatha Atthar Lindsay Ayers Helene Barab Calvin & Shirley Bardal Donna Blubaugh Ronald Boese Diane Burkard Elva Carter Richard Cianci Brenda Clay Rene Cournoyer Anna M. Covell Renate Crowley Merrill Davison James Dennis Warren Dorfler Mary M. Eary Colleen Ehret LeRoy & Mary Elfmann Christine Flick Elaine Flynn Renee George Dan Griffin Sandy Gross Kathryn Habib Barbara Hagelstein Laury Hamilton Jena L. Harden Lamar Haupt Joseph Hickson IV Wendy Hill Amandah Hoogbruin Bruce Jardarian Nicholas Kaniaris Laura Katleman Thomas Kennedy Katherine J. Kerchner Sat Kirpal Khalsa Richard Klucznik Louise Koslofsky Janet Krok Marjorie Kulak David Kuzner Dominique Lavelanet Linda Liebman |
Johnny Loi Silvia Lom-Ajan Laurel Loomer Nathaniel Lotze Gary Lowe Mari Lyford Sharon M. Linda Mandeville Amy Manifase Sarah Mitchell Allison Monroe Kelly S. Morgan Jose Navarro Marcy Nieto Nalini Patel Carlos Perez Sherry Pfaffenberg Diane Prytulak Gail Pavek Raynor Clare Relton Joseph Robbins Jackie Roller Alexander Ruchti Illona Ruhoff Clione Schneider Ralph Sedgley Dorothy Shinn Phyllis Shushan Jason Skramstad Leonora Stapleton Malenna Sumrall Craig Sutton Daniel & Sheila Teitelbaum Krystyna Thomas Mari Thomas Brad Thorgersen Catherine Tornbom Anstyce Ruth Travis Ricardo Trevino Sarah Trombaugh Mary Trueblood Alex Vecchio Kendra Weitzman Danielle White Neil Yazma John Yoakum |
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Don’t Forget to Remember
The elephant, with its extraordinary memory is, for our organization, a symbol. One of our supporters thought about it and said, “Don’t forget to remember.” Remember how Alzheimer’s impacts all our lives. Give what you can to help further our ongoing work. And learn how you can become involved.
And… isn’t Cindy’s necklace lovely?
The tiny ring which allows it to dangle from the elastic bracelet works PERFECTLY on a chain – a silver one is ideal!
Support Alzheimer’s research and order yours today at www.alzheimersprevention.org (click the ‘store’ tab).
Give to ARPF while you Shop!
If you shop on Amazon.com, you can also easily raise research funds for Alzheimer’s prevention at no cost to you.Yes, the fantastic people at Amazon created this program that gives back .5% of your total purchase to your ARPF.It’s extremely easy and simple to set up:
1) Go to https://smile.amazon.com
2) Sign in with your email address and Amazon password.
3) You will be asked to “Select a Charitable Organization to Start Shopping.”
4) Go to “or pick your own charitable organization:” and type in Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation. Click on “search.”
5) Then “select” the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation.
6) You will get a confirmation that we are now your charity of choice for future purchases.
7) Then every time you shop, you need to log in to https://smile.amazon.com to ensure your donation goes to ARPF.Sign up now and let’s keep each other smiling!
If you have any questions, please email us at info@alzheimersprevention.org.
Discover all the exciting activities the ARPF has in store for you for 2014 by visiting us on the web at
www.alzheimersprevention.org,
following us on Twitter at
https://twitter.com/PreventAD,
or ‘Liking’ us on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/PreventAD
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