Alzheimer's Disease, Dementias and Healthy Aging

May Newsletter

The Framework for Family Caregiving and Public Health

The National Alliance for Caregiving is proud to present Chronic Disease Family Caregiving Through a Public Health Lens: The Framework for Family Caregiving and Public Health, a new report developed with support from The John A. Hartford Foundation and in partnership with the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD). This framework outlines policy recommendations, implementation actions and messaging content to help the public health community address the complex needs of America’s 53 million family caregivers.

 The report includes strategies and recommendations for viewing family caregiving through a public health lens; a framework comprised of public health data gathering research, education, and awareness and service coordination and delivery across sectors and siloes; and actions for implementing an expanded family caregiver support infrastructure.

Guided by the expertise of state-based chronic disease directors, NAC’s report and framework recognizes the importance of caregivers as a vital part of the health care team and that supporting these family caregivers is essential for improving public health outcomes for communities and the nation. 

Alzheimer's Association Reason to Hope Gala

Friday, May 19 at 5:30

Joint the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association on Friday, May 19th for the 12th annual Reason to Hope Gala. Reason to Hope is an annual fundraising event that unites the community in the fight against Alzheimer’s. The Gala is designed to recognize community partners who join us in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.

This year, we are thrilled to acknowledge the personal and professional contributions of Rhonda Williams. Rhonda is the Chronic Disease Prevention Chief for the Vermont Department of Health. Through her deep connections and collaborative approach, Rhonda has built capacity to support those facing Alzheimer's in Vermont. The Alzheimer's Association is so proud to celebrate Rhonda and her many contributions to fighting this and other diseases that impact older Vermonters and those connected to them.

The Reason to Hope Galas have collectively raised over $1.1 million to fund crucial programs and services to help Vermonters living with dementia and their caregivers, expand our advocacy efforts on the federal and state level, plus invest in cutting-edge research worldwide. 

Physical Activity & Cognitive Health

The Memory Matters Virtual Talk Series is organized by the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. In this video presentation, Ryan Dougherty, PhD addresses the relationship of physical activity and cognitive function. Does an active lifestyle impact dementia risk, and benefit brain health? Ryan addresses this and many other questions and provides tips & resources for becoming more physically active.

Dementia: An Umbrella Term



Dementia is not a single disease; it’s an overall term — like heart disease — that covers a wide range of specific medical conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease. Neurocognitive disorders grouped under the general term “dementia” are caused by abnormal brain changes. These changes trigger a decline in thinking skills severe enough to impair daily life and independent function. They also affect behavior, feelings and relationships.

Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-80% of cases. Vascular dementia, which occurs because of microscopic bleeding and blood vessel blockage in the brain, is the second most common cause of dementia. Those who experience the brain changes of multiple types of dementia simultaneously have mixed dementia. There are many other conditions that can cause symptoms of dementia, including some that are reversible, such as thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies.

Dementia is often incorrectly referred to as "senility" or "senile dementia," which reflects the formerly widespread but incorrect belief that serious mental decline is a normal part of aging. Click the button below for details about some forms of dementia.