Join the Fight Against Alzheimer's Disease
Contributed by: Catherine Farley, Pharm.D. Candidate
                      UMKC School of Pharmacy

What is Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a brain disorder that affects approximately 4.5 million Americans.   AD gradually destroys brain cells, affecting a person's memory and their ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate, and carry out daily activities.  It may also lead to changes in personality and behavior, as well as delusions or hallucinations. In late stages of the disease, affected individuals need help with basic functions like getting dressed, personal hygiene, and eating.

Is There A Cure?
Currently, there is no cure for AD.  Medications are available that may improve or stabilize memory and thinking skills temporarily, but these may not work for all individuals with AD.  More research is needed to find a treatment or cure that will help all patients with AD.

How Can You Help?

You can help the fight against AD by par

ticipating in the Alzheimer's Association's annual Memory Walk.  This event has been held each year since 1989 and has raised more than $200 million to help individuals with Alzheimer's, as well as their families and caregivers.  According to the Alzheimer's Association's Heart of America Chapter, there are 8 ways that you can be part of this exciting fundraising event:

1. Lace up your sneakers and walk!  This year's walk will be at Corporate Woods in Overland Park, KS, on Saturday, October 7, at 9:30 a.m.  Participants may choose a 1 or 3-mile route. 
   
2. Create a team of family members or friends to help raise money. 
   
3. Get your company involved.  Ask your supervisor to consider becoming a corporate sponsor of this event or match donations received by employees participating in the event.
   
4. Make a donation in memory or honor of a loved one.
   
5. Go online.  Visit www.kansascitymw.kintera.org to register to walk, set up a

donation website, and receive donations.

1. Join your local walk committee to help recruit walkers, find refreshment donors, and plan the event.
   
2. Volunteer the day of the event to monitor the course or hand out water to walkers.
   
3. Help the Alzheimer's Association get the word out about the Memory Walk by putting up posters or delivering brochures.
   

Halloween Candy and It's "Spooky" Effects
  Contributed by: Kelly Roark, Pharm.D. Candidate
                        UMKC School of Pharmacy

Kids look forward to Halloween because of the dress-up and cool costumes but they mostly like it for the candy and treats! Who doesn't? During all of the festivities that Halloween brings, don't forget to protect your child's teeth. When your child eats or drinks sugary foods, the germs (bacteria) in the mouth mix with the sugars to make a mild acid.  This acid attacks the hard outer layer of the tooth (also called enamel) and can make holes (or cavities) on the surface of the tooth. The damage that sugar does depends on how much sugar goes into the mouth and how long it stays in the mouth. Here are a couple small ways to prevent cavities after Halloween and keep your child's teeth strong and healthy:

1. Treating your kids to a spooky Halloween dinner will make them less likely to eat the candy they collect before you have a chance to check it for them.
   

1. Limit the number of times a day your children eat Halloween treats.
   
2. Do not give your child Halloween treats unless they can immediately brush and floss afterwards.
   
3. Avoid soft, sticky sweets that get stuck in the mouth such as toffee, raisins and rolled-up fruit snacks.
   
4. Avoid Halloween treats that stay in the mouth for a long time such as gum, suckers (or lollipops) and other hard candy.
   
5. When in doubt, throw it out. Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you.
   
6. Try to spread treats out over the days following Halloween.
   

• Surgarless Gum
  
• Key chains
  
• Bookmarks
  
• Stickers and sticker books
  
• Miniature flashlights
  
• Fun jewelry (bracelets)