What Are Clinical Trials And Why Are They Important?

 A clinical trial is when scientists do a study to see if a treatment (such as a new Alzheimer's drug) works well is is safe to take. 

Clinical trials give us hope! Researchers are always testing new medications for Alzheimer's patients, but they need participants. A participant is a person who volunteers to take an experimental drug. They need recruit volunteers.

If you have a family member with Alzheimer's disease you can discuss it with your parents and maybe the loved one could participate.

Video Explanation of Clinical Trials

There is a really cool website that the government runs called ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov)

If you go to that website you can type in: Alzheimer's disease or dementia and find trials that are taking place in your area.

Scientists are working very hard so maybe one day, there will be an amazing treatment or even a cure! 

The scientists need our help in finding volunteers for the studies!

Here is an AHEAD Study Recruitment film.  It is very informative!  This is a study taking place at Brigham and Woman's Hospital in Massachusetts!

Here is a link to the recruitment video

Amazonian Indigenous Groups Have World's Lowest Rate of Dementia! Why?

 This is a big deal!  

A study compared to the  Tsimane and Moseten peoples with the rest of the world. The Indigenous Peoples have only 1% dementia, while people in the US aged 65 and older have 11%!

Why?

Scientists think it is because the Indigenous Peoples are VERY physically active throughout their lives. They fish, hunt and farm. They has less brain atrophy (shrinkage, wasting away) than Americans and Europeans. Their diets are also low in saturated fat.

The lesson we need to learn is to keep moving, eat less saturated fat. WE cannot sit around.

For future scientists out there here is the study article

Caregivers are HEROES!

 As a caregiver for my grandma I had many roles. Even though I was a kid, then a tween and lastly a teen I had a lot of responsibilities, in which none of my friends had:

Physical care: helping grandma walk, giving medication, sometimes treatments

Personal care: dressing, feeding, walking to the bathroom

Special care: making sure that she was safe at home

Coordinating care: scheduling appointments, taking to adult day care

Housework: cleaning, laundry, cooking

Shopping: clothing, groceries

I helped with all of these things while attending school!

I was under STRESS!

I felt: angry, depressed, lonely, had anxiety, trouble concentrating!

Here are strategies that I used to help deal with the STRESS:

Allow people to help you. I finally allowed my friends and other relatives to help me

Be good to yourself and focus on what you are actually providing. I had to accept that I am doing a good job, even though I did not think I was doing ENOUGH

Set reachable goals: I had to realize I cannot do EVERYTHING all of the time. I made lists and tried to follow most of the items

Research caregiving services: There are services out there for caregivers who can help with transportation, meals and housekeeping. Check with your local Alzheimer's Association 

Join A support group! As you know we have a FACEBOOK support group and Zoom sessions. In addition please feel free to email me at kidcaregivers@gmail.com to ask me a question. I will gladly answer it and give my advice!

Do something fun for yourself. You need some TLC and need to unwind. 

Zoom Support Group for kids/tweens/teens!

 Please join us for a relaxed and informal support group. We can chat and share stories about caregiving and realize something very important...WE ARE NOT ALONE!  

Actually there are 1.8 million kids who are acting as caregivers.

We have voices that need to be heard!  We are going through a lot and are here to support each other!

Here is the Zoom code link

Truthful Kindness

 I would like to share a blog from an amazing woman who is living with Alzheimer's disease. She is so helpful is letting others know what it is like to have Alzheimer's disease and offers her perspective.

Here is a great article which compares caregiving to a 3 Legged Stool!

Click here

Multiplying Good MidWinter Leadership Conference at the Harlem YMCA

 It was such an honor being a Logistics Coordinator at the Multiplying Good (formally Jefferson Award Foundation) Leadership Conference.  I had the privilege of meeting such incredible youth members who are striving to make a difference.

I learned about Land Acknowledgment.  Before we even began the conference we took the time to acknowledge the land where the Harlem YMCA is situated was once the homeland and territory of the Munsee Lenape, Wappinger, and Wecquaesgeek peoples.

During the conference I was able to mentor the students and recruit new Puzzle Time volunteers as well Harlem Ambassadors!  Stay tuned for updates about these amazing students!

We also spent a lot of time discussing Marginalized Populations and how to close the gap!  I am working very hard to gain diverse student volunteers to reach diverse Alzheimer's communities.

I also had the chance to act as a judge and help student volunteers learn how to enhance their volunteer initiatives.