A gathering of residents in and around Florida's Space Coast will be taking place this Saturday to raise awareness and funds for research and care into the Alzheimer's disease crisis facing the nation for years. The Walk to End Alzheimer's will take place Saturday morning at Cocoa Riverfront Park.
The event will kick off at 8:00 am, when registration for the walk begins. At 9:00 am there will be a promise garden ceremony, with walkers carrying flowers which signify a personal meaning for them and their experience with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
Following that ceremony, there will be a one-mile walk for participants to honor and raise awareness for the victims and current patients of dementia and Alzheimer's. As of Tuesday afternoon, almost 500 participants have signed up and $119,691 has been raised toward a goal of $163,000. Organizers are spotlighting Lang Alexander, a resident who's acting as caregiver to her sister.
The event will take place at Cocoa Riverfront Park (401 Riveredge Blvd, Cocoa, FL 32922) on Saturday, September 21st. Those looking to join can register to walk, donate, or sign up as a volunteer on the event's official website.
In 2022, Alzheimer's disease was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, with 120,122 Americans dying from it according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It was outpaced only by heart disease, cancer, accidents, COVID-19, strokes, and chronic lower respiratory disease. COVID-19 in particular likely dropped below Alzheimer's in 2023 mortalities.
According to the Alzheimer's Society of the United Kingdom, there are certain factors that can affect one's risk of getting Alzheimer's. Those over the age of 65 are much more likely to get it, with the risk doubling every five years past that milestone. Women are also twice as likely to have Alzheimer's among populations over 65, a trend tied somewhat to women's longer average lifespans. Only a small portion of cases are believed to be due to a gene passed down from a parent.
Methods to lower risk of Alzheimer's disease include limiting or cutting out smoking cigarettes, excessive alcohol consumption, and unhealthy dietary habits. Avoiding traumatic brain injuries can also lower one's risk. Further risk factors include those who suffer from diabetes, stroke, or heart problems, age-driven hearing loss, and depression.
In a report written by the Mayo Clinic, there are several concepts being explored to prevent or even treat and cure Alzheimer's disease in the future. One would direct the body's immune system to clear harmful plaques from the brain, a method which is in clinical trials. Another idea is to repurpose a potential cancer treatment which has been shown to reactivate memory cells in mice.
So far a major breakthrough doesn't appear imminent, but medical science isn't at a standstill either. Supporting those who are seeking a cure for one of the deadliest, most undignified diseases prevalent in the United States is the goal of events like the Walk to End Alzheimer's and countless other awareness and fundraising initiatives around the nation.
