Almost all of us know someone whose life has been touched by Alzheimer’s disease, a parent, grandparent, spouse, friend, or neighbor. During Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, there is more reason than ever to pay attention because science is advancing in ways that once seemed impossible. Whether you are among the millions of Americans living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, caring for someone who is, or simply looking for ways to protect your own brain health, there is good news on the horizon. The research is moving fast, the hope is genuine, and resources right here in Atlantic and Cape May counties are closer than you think.
For decades, an Alzheimer’s diagnosis felt like a door closing. That is changing. Scientists have moved from years of extraordinarily high failure rates in clinical trials to a pipeline brimming with promising new therapies, earlier detection tools, and a whole new understanding of how the disease begins, sometimes decades before a single symptom appears.
Two FDA-approved infusion treatments, lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla), have already shown the ability to slow cognitive decline in people with early-stage Alzheimer’s by targeting and clearing toxic amyloid-beta protein buildup in the brain. Researchers are not stopping there. Pill-based treatments are in advanced clinical trials, including one called blarcamesine, which works by activating the brain’s own cellular cleanup system rather than simply targeting amyloid. An effective oral medication would make treatment dramatically more accessible for patients and families.
Even more exciting is what is happening on the early detection front. Blood-based biomarker tests can now identify Alzheimer’s-related changes years before symptoms begin, helping doctors detect risk earlier than ever before. Although these tests are not yet used as a stand-alone diagnostic tool in every clinical setting, they represent a major step toward earlier intervention. In March of this year, the Alzheimer’s Association announced a pivotal shift in strategy, moving from responding to symptoms after they appear to identifying risk, making an accurate diagnosis, and intervening much earlier. That shift is a game-changer.
Researchers are also looking at the potential of GLP-1 drugs, the same class as Ozempic and Wegovy, to slow the progression of dementia, with clinical trials actively underway. The breadth and pace of exploration right now is unprecedented.
While all forms of dementia are difficult on the patient, caregiver burnout is real and it is serious. In NewJersey alone, approximately 272,000 caregivers provide nearly 500 million hours of unpaid care to loved ones with Alzheimer’s and dementia each year. If you are one of them, this message is for you: what you are doing is extraordinary, and you deserve support too.
Research consistently shows that caregivers who take regular breaks, called respite care, are healthier, less depressed, and better able to provide care over the long haul. Reaching out for help is not giving up. It is recharging so you can continue giving your best.
Support groups are a lifeline. Talking with others who understand the late-night worry, the repetitive questions, and the grief of watching someone you love slowly change is a shared experience that can be profoundly relieving. You do not have to carry this alone.
Local help is here
Right here in our community, there are organizations ready to help both patients and caregivers navigate this journey.
Alzheimer’s Association, Greater New Jersey Chapter provides support groups, education, care consultations, and a 24/7 helpline for patients and caregivers across Atlantic and Cape May counties. Helpline: 1-800-272-3900.
CARING, Inc. Memory Resource Center offers a social day program for Atlantic County residents age 60 and older with memory loss, along with in-home respite care and monthly caregiver support groups.
Atlantic County Office on Aging provides programs for seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia, including structured social day programming with respite support for caregivers.
Cape May County Department of Aging and Disability Services serves as a valuable resource for older adults and caregivers throughout Cape May County.
Project Lifesaver through the Cape May County Sheriff’s Department offers a wristband tracking program for individuals with Alzheimer’s who may wander, providing families with added peace of mind.
CONTACT Cape-Atlantic provides daily reassurance phone calls for older and disabled adults living alone in Atlantic and Cape May counties.
What we can do right now to protect our brains
While science races forward in the lab, there is powerful evidence showing that lifestyle habits we can start today make a significant difference. A major U.S. study called the POINTER trial, involving more than 2,000 older adults at risk for cognitive decline, found that a structured program combining regular physical exercise, cognitive stimulation, a brain-healthy diet, and active health management improved cognitive performance in older adults at risk for decline.
Here are some of the most well-supported daily habits:
Move your body daily. Aerobic exercise increases blood flow to the brain and has been shown to reduce dementia risk. Even a brisk walk counts.
Stay socially connected. Isolation is one of the strongest risk factors for cognitive decline. Lunch with a friend, a book club, a water aerobics class, all of it matters.
Challenge your mind. Learn something new. Take a different route. Do the puzzle, pick up the guitar, or try a new recipe. Novelty and complexity are great brain medicine.
Prioritize sleep. The brain clears toxic waste, including amyloid, during deep sleep. Seven to eight hours is not a luxury, it is maintenance.
Eat for your brain. The Mediterranean and MIND diets, rich in leafy greens, berries, fish, olive oil, and whole grains, have been linked to slower cognitive aging. Eat less ultra-processed food and more of what grows from the ground.
There is no sugarcoating Alzheimer’s disease. It is hard, and it is heartbreaking for the people living with it and the families walking alongside them. Yet for the first time in a long time, there is genuine reason for hope. The science is advancing faster than ever before. Earlier detection is becoming possible, treatments that can slow the disease are available today, and researchers continue to uncover new ways to protect brain health and improve quality of life.
Just as important, support is available right here in our community for both patients and caregivers. No one should face this journey alone.
This June, wear purple, start a conversation about brain health, check in on a caregiver, and remember that caring for our brains is something we can do right now. No matter what our age, the choices we make today can help shape how long and how well we live. While there is still much work to be done in brain research and treatments, there has never been a better time to believe that brighter days are ahead.
