2025 Walk to End Alzheimer's - Southeast Kentucky

Alzheimer’s disease is a thief. It steals your memory and robs you of the future you had planned. It doesn’t just affect the person afflicted with the condition; it changes the lives of everyone who loves them.

Like many others, I know from experience. I have family and friends who have been diagnosed with the disease, including a cousin who you wouldn’t necessarily think would be prone to the disease. While the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease doubles every five years after you reach age 65, younger people can also be afflicted. That includes my cousin Frank, who is in his late 50s. In fact, one in 20 people who have the disease are under age 65.

Memory loss is often the first sign that something may be wrong, but it may take some time before patients or their loved ones recognize what is happening. As the disease progresses, the memory loss becomes more pronounced, and that’s when a diagnosis typically occurs. 

Hope isn’t easy to hang onto at that point. Patients and their families begin to recognize that their plans for the future are gone and they must take progression of the disease into account as they look forward to much anticipated milestones in life – retirement, a grandchild’s graduation, freedom to travel.

While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, research funded through the Alzheimer’s Association and others has brought change in treatment protocols. Now, for instance, we have medications that can help improve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. There are also studies surrounding identifying biomarkers that could indicate the disease presence before symptoms are noticeable.

This is good news, as diagnosis often comes later when symptoms appear, but the disease usually begins long before that, making research so important. 

These are reasons I am so passionate about leading the Alzheimer's Association’s Southeastern Kentucky Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Oct. 4 as chair and so proud that Saint Joseph Health is the presenting sponsor for this walk. 

Every dollar raised through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s will further the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association. Our fundraising goal is $75,000, and we are still accepting walkers who are committed to helping our family, friends and neighbors facing life changes because of the disease.

Join me in honor, or in memory, of a loved one who has faced an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Visit https://act.alz.org/southeastky to find the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer's – Southeast Kentucky.