KU Medical Center gets grant for Alzheimer’s research
BY KHI NEWS SERVICE
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Researchers at the University of Kansas Medical Center have received $3 million from the National Institutes of Health to study whether exercise can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
It will be one of the first such studies in the country, KU officials said today.
The researchers aim to enroll healthy adults age 65 and older in a new Alzheimer’s prevention program. Those determined to be at higher risk for the disease would exercise on a treadmill regularly over the course of a year. Brain scans would then be used to measure whether the participants were at higher or lower risk.
“This is the first time we can really test the impact of exercise on prevention of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Jeffrey Burns, a neurology professor at the medical center and associate director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Center.
Burns and others at KU’s Alzheimer’s center have worked for years determining how exercise affects the brain. But the new study would be one of the first trials to examine whether exercise can potentially prevent Alzheimer’s, according to KU officials.
More than 5 million Americans have the disease, which is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S.
“Prevention of the disease is a whole new area for Alzheimer’s research,” Burns says. “We’ve never really been able to identify the risks like we can today.”
KU is recruiting healthy adults older than 65 to participate in the trial. Those interested in learning may call 913-588-0555.
Joe Gittemeier, 71, of Prairie Village, will be the first person enrolled in the study.
He said he was interested because he has seen the effects of the disease firsthand.
“Quite a number of people in our family have had Alzheimer’s disease,” Gittemeier said, including his father, his brother and his sister. “It is a terrible disease. I was interested in helping not only so I could get more exercise, but also to add to their body of knowledge and hopefully to help other people.”
Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. To battle this memory-robbing disease, the Alzheimer’s Association holds walks across the nation to raise awareness and funds.
Great Bend will be hosting its Alzheimer’s Walk on Saturday, Oct. 5, with registration to begin at 1 p.m. followed by the opening ceremony at Barton County Courthouse Square. The walk will begin approximately at 2 p.m.
“This walk is important because Alzheimer’s disease not only affects the person with the disease , but also the life of their family members,” said Missy Pflughoeft, walk organizer.
So far, she said they raised $6,098 with a goal of $9,593. They have 10 teams and 54 walkers registered.
The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for care, support, and research, Pflughoeft said. The events are held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide.
Alzheimer’s Disease is fatal and is the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured, or even slowed down, she said.
Here are some other facts:
• One in three seniors dies from some for of dementia.
• Someone develops Alzheimer’s every 68 seconds.
• Younger people are being diagnosed in their 50s and 60s.
“I feel this event is important to bring awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research for a cure,” Pflughoeft said. “Everyone will be touched by this disease and everyone will lose a loved one from this disease because at this current time there is no cure or prevention.”
Teams include: Country Place Senior Living - Hoisington, Country Place Senior Living- Larned, River Bend Assisted Living, Sterling House, Turning Point Rehabilitation, Good Samaritan Society-Lyons, Just Mor’ Rumors, Clara Barton Hospital and Clinics, Great Bend Pilot Club and First Christian Church Youth Group.
Sponsors include: Volunteer Kansas, Office Products, Inc, Country Place Senior Living-Hoisington, Turning Point Rehabilitation , Ike Walters Enterprises Inc, Superior Essex Communications, Alterna Care, Country Place Senior Living-Larned, Good Samaritan Society-Lyons, Kathy Burt-State Farm Insurance, Law Offices of Darren Shoen, Hazmat, Circle F Hauling, Fish Construction, JRZ Enterprises, LLC, River Bend Assisted Living and Just Mor’ Rumors.
To sign up to walk or donate to the walk, call Pflughoeft at 620-653-4121. Or, one may also register online by going to alz.org/walk.
If One is unable to walk the day of but would like to support the cause, call Jan Evans, outreach coordinator, at 316-267-7333.
