Hawken Miller, features writer —

The start of summer holds the promise of beach trips, barbecues, and vacations, but for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers, family, and friends, June also means Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Monthlong initiatives aim to honor the more than 55 million people living with dementia worldwide, according…

When Lewis Hornby’s grandmother was rushed to the hospital in 2018, his family feared the worst. Pat Dickinson suffered from dementia, but in this instance it turned out that she was simply dehydrated. Once she got some fluids in her, she bounced back. But what happened to his grandmother gave…

To honor their grandmother who died from Alzheimer’s in 2011, two sisters have written a children’s book to explain to kids what the disease is and how it affects those who have it. Tanya Iovino and Kiki Kouris wrote “A Kids Book About Alzheimer’s” to provide support and information…

When Enma Espinosa worked during the day and her husband, Francisco Espinosa, worked the night shift, they barely saw each other. So it took longer for her to realize the small changes in his cognition were not just a normal part of aging. It wasn’t until her husband’s barber called…

It took seven years from the time she started showing symptoms for Sophia Rodriguez’s mother to receive a confirmed diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. After her death 14 years later, Rodriguez can’t help but wonder how things might have been different had her mother received an earlier diagnosis. Early diagnosis…

Every November since President Ronald Reagan’s proclamation in 1983, Americans have been partaking in National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. These next 30 days will be an opportunity for people to honor the progress made toward understanding and treating the disease while raising money for research and care. It also…

Researcher Amir Hirsa has found a way 240 miles above the Earth’s surface to study the aggregation of proteins that are the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and type 2 diabetes. Hirsa, PhD, is a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering with a joint appointment in chemical and biological engineering…

A new documentary released in advance of World Alzheimer’s Day today tells the story of a Worcester, Massachusetts, photographer and art professor who captured the gradual cognitive decline of his late father through a large format black-and-white camera. “With Dad,” which is available to stream on the…

Phil Frengs is on a coast-to-coast mission to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s disease, always thinking of, and honoring, his wife Mimi, who was diagnosed with the condition in November 2013. Frengs, a racing aficionado, is the president and CEO of Legistics, which specializes in document support services…

Note: An update to this story on Aug. 23, 2021, changed the percentage of assisted living facilities that have incorporated personalized music into their care from 3% to 10%, according to corrected information from Dan Cohen.  According to Dan Cohen, founder of the organization Right to Music, about 25,000…