Purple Cookie Day!

Awareness has never been so sweet! In celebration of World Alzheimer's Day 2010, the Alzheimer's Association is partnering with E-Z Way Store in Alpena and selling purple frosted sugar cookies.
Cookie orders must be received by Friday, September 17th. Order forms are available at the Alzheimer's office (526 W Chisholm) and E-Z Way Store (2060 M-32 West). Or e-mail the office for a form. Cookies are $5.00/dozen and can be picked up at E-Z Way Store on Tuesday, September 21, between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm.

We are especially targeting businesses this year, asking employers to purchase cookies for their employees. In addition to providing a sweet treat, each box of cookies will include our office contact information. People working 9-5 often don't have time to search us out. This is one sweet way we can find them. Please recommend our cookies to any business or employer you know!

Alzheimer's Myth #7

Silver dental fillings increase risk of Alzheimer's disease

Reality: According to the best available scientific evidence, there is no relationship between silver dental fillings and Alzheimer's. The concern that there could be a link arose because "silver" fillings are made of an amalgam (mixture) that typically contains about 50 percent mercury, 35 percent silver and 15 percent tin. Mercury is a heavy metal that, in certain forms, is know to be toxic to the brain and other organs.

Many scientists consider the studies below compelling evidence that dental amalgam is not a major risk factor for Alzheimer's. Public health agencies, including the FDA, the U.S. Public Health Service and the World Health Organization, endorse the continued use of amalgam as safe, strong, inexpensive material for dental restorations.

• March 1991, the Dental Devices Panel of the FDA concluded there was no current evidence that amalgam poses any danger.
  
  
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1991 funded a study at the University of Kentucky to investigate the relationship between amalgam fillings and Alzheimer's. Analysis by University statisticians revealed no significant association between silver fillings and Alzheimer's. The abstract for this study is posted on the Journal of the American Dental Association Web site.
  
  
• October 30, 2003, a New England Journal of Medicine article concluded that current evidence shows no connection between mercury-containing dental fillings and Alzheimer's or other neurological diseases. The abstract for this study is posted on the New England Journal of Medicine Web site.

Alzheimer's Myth #6

Flu shots increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Reality: A theory linking flu shots to a greatly increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease has been proposed by a U.S. doctor whose license was suspended by the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners. Several mainstream studies link flu shots and other vaccinations to a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease and overall better health.

• A Nov. 27, 2001, Canadian Medical Journal report suggests older adults who were vaccinated against diphtheria or tetanus, polio, and influenza seemed to have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than those not receiving these vaccinations. The full text of this report is posted on the journal’s Web site.
  
  
• A report in the Nov. 3, 2004, JAMA found that annual flu shots for older adults were associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes. The abstract of that report is posted on PubMed.

Teens In Action on a Friday Night!

TEENS IN ACTION joined street musicians, magicians, local artists, and food vendors on Front Street in Traverse City, August 13, for Friday Night Live!

This great TC tradition is held every Friday night for six Fridays in a row, beginning in late July. Each Friday Night Live has a theme of its own. Our Friday Night the theme was "Dancing In the Streets"!

This fit perfectly when SwingShift & the Stars dancer Heather Daniels joined us to promote the Association, Memory Walk, and SwingShift.

The TEENS had a great time with face and hair painting!! Through donations they raised $142.00 towards their Memory Walk Team Goal of $1,000.00.

You can help these TEENS reach their goal. Donate on-line to their Memory Walk team. Thank you for your support!

Alzheimer's Myth #5

Aspartame causes memory loss.

Reality: This artificial sweetener, marketed under such brand names as Nutrasweet and Equal, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in all foods and beverages in 1996. Since approval, concerns about aspartame's health effects have been raised.

According to the FDA, as of May 2006, the agency had not been presented with any scientific evidence that would lead to change its conclusions on the safety of aspartame for most people. The agency says its conclusions are based on more than 100 laboratory and clinical studies. Read the May 2006 FDA statement about aspartame.

Alzheimer's Myth #4

Drinking out of aluminum cans or cooking in aluminum pots and pans can lead to Alzheimer’s disease.

Reality: During the 1960s and 1970s, aluminum emerged as a possible suspect in Alzheimer’s. This suspicion led to concern about exposure to aluminum through everyday sources such as pots and pans, beverage cans, antacids and antiperspirants. Since then, studies have failed to confirm any role for aluminum in causing Alzheimer’s. Experts today focus on other areas of research, and few believe that everyday sources of aluminum pose any threat.

Alzheimer's Myth #3

Only older people can get Alzheimer's

Reality: Alzheimer's can strike people in their 30s, 40s and even 50s. This is called younger-onset Alzheimer's. It is estimated that there are as many as 5.3 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. This includes 5.1 million people age 65 and over and 200,000 people under age 65 with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer's Myth #2

Alzheimer’s disease is not fatal.

Reality: Alzheimer's disease has no survivors. It destroys brain cells and causes memory changes, erratic behaviors and loss of body functions. It slowly and painfully takes away a person's identity, ability to connect with others, think, eat, talk, walk and find his or her way home.