Arkansas Federation of NARFE Chapters
The National Active & Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Association has been active for many years in gathering contributions and assisting agencies concerned with Alzheimer's. Some $7,000,000 has been collected by NARFE over recent years nationally to provide research for the disease which affects senior citizens.
What is Alzheimer's?
Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities. The most common form of dementia among older people is Alzheimer's disease (AD), which initially involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. Although scientists are learning more every day, right now they do not know what causes AD and there is no cure.
Scientists also have found other brain changes in people with AD. Nerve cells die in areas of the brain that are vital to memory and other mental abilities and connections between nerve cells are disrupted. There also are lower levels of some of the chemicals in the brain that carry messages back and forth between nerve cells. AD may impair thinking and memory by disrupting these messages.
Why is it called Alzheimer's?
AD is named after Alois Alzheimer, a German doctor. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental illness. He found abnormal clumps (now called amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (now called neurofibrillary tangles). Today, these plaques and tangles in the the brain are considered signs of AD.
Obtaining Information
There are agencies working with Alzheimer's disease, both in the area of research and in the area of care-giving. Their websites are listed below.
National Institutes of Health - http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers
Alzheimer's Organization (National) - http://www.alz.org
Alzheimer's Organization (Chapter) - http://www.alz.org/alzokar (<-- Click here and then click on Memory Walks in left-hand column on page that comes up.)
Alzheimer's Arkansas - http://www.alzark.org (<-- Click here and then click on "Events" and then "Walks" on pages that come up.)
Please refer to each particular website to view information and mission objectives of each organization.
Latest Alzheimer's Facts and Figures
To retrieve a copy of 2011 Alzheimer's Disease Facts & Figures (including a special report on early detection and diagnosis) CLICK HERE
Arkansas Federation of NARFE Contact
The Arkansas Federation of NARFE Chairperson for Alzheimer's is:
Waymond Meins
6208 Thrasher Street
Pine Bluff, AR 71603
Phone: (870) 879-5696
e-mail: meins@sbcglobal.net
Form (in PDF format) to submit Alzheimer's contributions:
Please click on the link below, fill in the form and send your contribution.
Alzheimer's Chapter Coordinator's Manual
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