PENNSYLVANIA — On Thursday, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging held its annual Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) Virtual Forum. The forum, which attracted over 400 attendees, serves to educate, assess progress on issues related to ADRD, strengthen partnerships, and share perspectives from those living with ADRD and their caregivers.
This year’s forum spotlighted Lewy Body and Frontotemporal dementias, two specific types of the condition. Lewy Body dementia is one of the most common causes, while Frontotemporal dementia impacts the front and temporal lobes of the brain.
Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich opened the forum with remarks emphasizing the importance of dialogue and cooperation in improving support and services for those affected by dementia.
“Every year since the creation of the State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders, the Department of Aging gathers subject matter experts, stakeholders, and caregivers whose lives are touched by dementia, Alzheimer’s, or another related disorder. It is critically important for all of us to talk and listen to people who are living with dementia and caregiving for someone with dementia,” said Secretary Kavulich.
The Alzheimer’s Association’s 2023 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures Report on Pennsylvania reveals that:
- An estimated 280,000 people aged 65 and older in Pennsylvania were living with Alzheimer’s as of 2020, a number expected to rise to 320,000 by 2025.
- There were 4,150 deaths from Alzheimer’s Disease in 2019.
- Nearly one in every three seniors who dies each year in Pennsylvania has Alzheimer’s or some other dementia.
Dr. Debra Tann, Ed.D., CEO of Georgia-based brain health organization Reminiscent, delivered the keynote address. The forum also featured a presentation on Lewy Body Dementia, updates on Pennsylvania’s Master Plan for Older Adults, and a panel discussion on living with Lewy Body and Frontotemporal Dementias.
Among the panelists were Dr. Gary Schmidt, who is living with Lewy Body Dementia, and his wife and care partner, Janet Schmidt. “As a retired registered nurse with experience in geriatrics, hospice, and nursing homes, I thought that I knew quite a bit about dementia. But I had no idea of the challenges a person with Lewy Body Dementia faces. I had no idea that it really affects every body system and can affect each person so uniquely,” said Janet Schmidt.
The ADRD Forum is held annually each November to highlight National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and to further Pennsylvania’s progress in implementing the recommendations of the State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders. The Department of Aging’s commitment to addressing this critical health issue continues to be demonstrated through such initiatives, aiming to improve the lives of countless Pennsylvanians affected by Alzheimer’s and related disorders.
Learn more about Lewy Body and Frontotemporal dementias along with ADRD-related resources by visiting the Department of Aging’s website.
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