Iowans marching for Alzheimer’s research

MASON CITY — Advocates for people battling Alzheimer’s disease and their families marched in Mason City earlier this month to raise money for brain research and ultimately to find a cure. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease and the most common cause of dementia.

Iowa chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association communications director Lauren Livingston says the point of events like the one in Mason City and others throughout the state goes beyond raising money.   “I’ve heard a lot of people who come to the event who are personally affected say that they feel like it’s kind of a big support group,” Livingston explained. “Where you are getting together with other families who have been through something the same, or very similar, to what you’ve been through with your loved one.”

Roughly 62,000 Iowans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and Livingston pointed out the number grows every year. At least 100,000 family members and caregivers in the state are also directly affected. The Alzheimer’s Association reported the number of disease-related deaths doubled between 2000 and 2021, despite a huge increase in research. Nationwide, 7 million people have been diagnosed, and at least 11 million caregivers are directly affected.

Livingston notes money raised during the march will be used to provide services to them, too. “Services like support groups for caregivers and education programs to help people learn about the disease and what to expect if a loved one is living with it,” Livingston outlined. “We’re there to help caregivers right now, when they’re in the middle of the disease with their loved one.”

There still is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease but federal regulators have recently approved medications that can slow its progression.

While the Mason City event took place on September 15th, there are other similar walk events taking place in Muscatine, Clinton, Des Moines, Iowa City and Council Bluffs this weekend; Sioux City, Dubuque and Storm Lake next weekend; in Ames on October 13th and in Burlington on October 19th.