Walk to End Alzheimer's Traverse City Chairperson

We are pleased to have Jessica Schlimme, who is employed by First Community Bank in Traverse City, serve as the 2011 Event Chairperson for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Jessica is very excited about this year’s event. “Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be a day to remember those who have been lost to this disease, to honor their caregivers, and to work toward an end to this illness.”

The Traverse City walk will take place Saturday, October 1st, at the Village, Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City. Join Jessica in this event by visiting Walk to End Alzheimer’s or call the Alzheimer's Office at 231.929.3804. The end of Alzheimer's starts here.

14th Annual Bar Pool Tournaments - Hoppe's Hut

Join us Sunday, April 3, at
Hoppe's Hut
6449 M-65 South, Lachine
for the fifth 9-Ball Tournament of 2011.

Registration - 11:30am
Pool Play begins - noon
Costs - $5.00 per player
Lunch provided to players by Hoppe's Hut
Non-players lunch for $5.00 donation to the Alzheimer's Association
50/50 raffle
$500 cash prize raffle (drawing 04-15-11)
32 or less players - double elimination
33 or more players - singles elimination

Train Your Brain

The Alzheimer's Association has long endorsed our "Maintain Your Brain" program which stresses using your brain to keep it active and healthy. This study done by Institut Universitaire de Geriatrie de Montreal illustrates the reasons why.

The hypothesis behind the research was that certain cells traditionally involved in other brain processes could, through a simple memory-training programme, temporarily take over since they themselves are not yet affected.

The above has been accepted for many years, the exciting part of this study is seeing it displayed through Magnetic resonance imaging.Before the memory training, magnetic resonance imaging in both the healthy elderly subjects and those with MCI showed activation in areas of the brain traditionally associated with memory.

As expected, decreased activation was observed in subjects with MCI. After training, brain areas in elderly subjects with MCI showed increased activation in areas typically associated with memory, but also in new areas of the brain usually associated with language processing, spatial and object memory and skill learning. “Analysis of brain activity during encoding as measured before and after the training program, indicates that increased post-training activation in the right inferior parietal gyrus is associated with post-intervention improvement. The healthy area of the brain has taken over for the area that is compromised,” said Belleville.

Diane O'Connor and Lisa Teglas, both Program Coordindators for our Northern Region, are available to give the "Maintain Your Brain" presentation to groups upon request. Contact your closest office to schedule a date, phone numbers are below the header.

2011 Facts and Figures Video

Please share this video with your friends and family, re-post on Facebook, your personal blog, Twitter, wherever you can share. People need to know!

14th Annual Bar Pool Tournaments - Avalon Bar

Join us Sunday, March 27, at
Avalon Bar
18020 County Road 451, Hillman
for the fourth 9-Ball Tournament of 2011.

Registration - 11:30am
Pool Play begins - noon
Costs - $5.00 per player
Lunch provided to players by Avalon Bar
Non-players lunch for $5.00 donation to the Alzheimer's Association
50/50 raffle
$500 cash prize raffle (drawing 04-15-11)
32 or less players - double elimination
33 or more players - singles elimination

Senate Appropriation Subcommittee Meeting March 16

Pegg Thomas, from our Alpena office, will be testifying before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee in Lansing on Wednesday, March 16th. She will be appealing to the Senators for reinstatement of funding for the Greater Michigan Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

All state funding was cut in 2009. But today is a new day! Our new governor wants "value for dollar" spending and that's what we plan to demonstrate to the Senators on Wednesday. Here is a snippet from Pegg's testmony:

According to data release this year, in Michigan there are 180,000 people with dementia. If even 1% of them per year, 1,800 people, are able to live an extra 3 months at home due to our services, it will save the State of Michigan $8,497,764 in nursing home Medicaid payments alone. The state could reinstate our past support of $600,000 yearly and still save $7,897,764 per year.

You can help by contacting your local Senator and asking that he look at the facts and make the determination to support the Greater Michigan Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

District 35 - Darwin Booher
District 36 - John Moolenaar
District 37 - Howard Walker

We currently have no state or federal funding. Our offices survive on the generosity of the people of Northern Michigan, some grants and our fundraising events. Given the state of the economy here in Michigan, however, it hasn't been enough. We are facing a dire shortfall at the end of our fiscal year on June 30, 2011. Nobody wants to cut services, but we face that possibility without a change from Lansing. Please make that contact now.

14th Annual Bar Pool Tournament - Know-Good Pub & Grub

Join us Sunday, March 20, at
Know-Good Pub & Grub
12350 State St, Atlanta
for the third 9-Ball Tournament of 2011.

Registration - 11:30am
Pool Play begins - noon
Costs - $5.00 per player
Lunch provided to players by Know-Good Pub & Grub
Non-players lunch for $5.00 donation to the Alzheimer's Association
50/50 raffle
$500 cash prize raffle (drawing 04-15-11)
32 or less players - double elimination
33 or more players - singles elimination

McFalda Law Office - Rogers City

Thank you McFalda Law Office for joining us again in 2011 as a Program Sponsor for Walk to End Alzheimer's in Alpena! Attorney Judy McFalda cares about the people of Northern Michigan. This is the 3rd year McFalda Law Office has made this commitment. Returning sponsors build the backbone of our Walks.

Join the cause by supporting Walk to End Alzheimer's today. Start a team, join a team, or donate to a registered walker on-line today. The end of Alzheimer's starts HERE.

Brain Awareness Week - March 14-20, 2011

What is Brain Awareness Week and why should we care about it? Started in 1996 by The Dana Alliance, Brain Awareness Week focuses international attention on the field of neuroscience and offers opportunities for teachers and students to engage in fun educational activities. The goals include:

* Inspire the next generation of scientists

* Contribute to general understanding of basic brain functions

* Improve public health by expanding awareness of neurological disorders

* Make the connection between increased support for biomedical research and benefits to public health

All of these goals fall in line with our vision for a world without Alzheimer's. Today's student may be tomorrow's scientist who unlocks the mystery of the disease.

Do something good for your brain during the week. Take a walk (exercise), visit with friends (be social), play a game (stimulate your mind), and try one of the healthy recipes (eat healthy foods) found here on our blog.

14th Annual Bar Pool Tournaments - Hi Way Inn

Join us Sunday, March 13, at
Hi Way Inn
231 N State St, Hillman
for the second 9-Ball Tournament of 2011.

Registration - 11:30am
Pool Play begins - noon
Costs - $5.00 per player
Lunch provided to players by Hi Way Inn
Non-players lunch for $5.00 donation to the Alzheimer's Association
50/50 raffle
$500 cash prize raffle (drawing 04-15-11)
32 or less players - double elimination
33 or more players - singles elimination