Alzheimer's Disease, Dementias and Healthy Aging

October 2025 Newsletter

2nd Annual

VERMONT DEMENTIA &

BRAIN HEALTH SYMPOSIUM

Friday, November 7

8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Waterbury State Office Complex

Cherry Conference Rooms

Join the Vermont Department of Health, Alzheimer's Association VT Chapter, Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living, UVM Center on Aging and The Dementia Collaborative for the 2nd Annual Dementia & Brain Health Symposium. This year our keynote speaker is Dr. Dani Cabral Founder & Medical Director of BrainLove, a direct specialty care practice focused on resilient brain aging for those with dementia.

Morning Agenda (In-person or Livestream):

8:30 – 9:00 Networking & Light Breakfast

9:00 – Welcome

9:10 - Keynote address - Dr. Dani Cabral

10:15 – Dementia Care in a Rural & Aging State - Panel Discussion

11:45 – Guiding Themes and Morning Wrap-up

12 Noon – 1  Light lunch provided or can visit nearby restaurants downtown

Afternoon Agenda (In-person only):

1 - 3 p.m. Professional Development - Concurrent Sessions (open to all)

Cognitive Screenings and Pathways to Diagnosis and Care

Part 1: Current Landscape of Screening and Diagnosis

Part 2: RN-Led Medicare Annual Wellness Visits

From Triggers to Tools: Understanding and Managing Responsive Behaviors in Dementia - Open to All. (CEU’s Available for Occupational Therapists and Social Workers)

Building Dementia-Capable Emergency Responders

Part 1: Recognition of Stroke Symptoms and How to B-E F-A-S-T! (CEU's available)

Part 2: Management of the Dementia Patient in the Pre-hospital Setting (CEU’s available)

Register TODAY!

Build Connections in the Parkinson’s Buddy Network

The Parkinson’s Buddy Network is an online community platform created by the Michael J. Fox Foundation aimed at connecting people impacted by Parkinson’s disease including those living with Parkinson’s, caregivers, and family members. The main purpose of the Network is to help reduce isolation, encourage sharing of experiences and resources, foster meaningful relationships, and facilitate peer support and dialogue. Network members can send messages, request to meet within the platform, explore discussion tabs, access a resource library, and post or respond to questions within the community. 

National Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual observance in the U.S. from September 15 to October 15. Nearly 7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease, an irreversible and devastating form of dementia that gradually breaks down memory and thinking skills.

But not everyone is equally at risk. Hispanic people are 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than non-Hispanic people. “Our America: Unforgettable” is an hour-long special produced by ABC Owned Television Stations in partnership with ABC News that explores the impact of Alzheimer’s Disease in the Latino community.

You can watch Our America: Unforgettable on the ABC News website, the Hulu streaming service, or through the ABC Owned Television Stations' connected TV apps such as on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, and Roku. The one-hour special explores the impact of Alzheimer's disease on Hispanic and Latino families. 

Care Connection Webinar 

Healing with Pride: Designing Care that Sees, Affirms, and Restores

Thursday, October 9  

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET

This FREE session focuses on creating healthcare and dementia care approaches that honor the unique histories and identities of LGBTQ+ older adults. Participants will learn how culturally relevant and trauma-informed practices can address the lingering effects of stigma while promoting dignity, trust, and emotional safety. Through practical strategies, we will explore how care settings can become spaces that see, affirm, and restore—supporting both the cognitive and emotional well-being of LGBTQ+ people living with dementia and their care partners.

The Dementia Society of America (DSA) is a national, volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and providing support for all types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, Lewy Body Dementia, and others. The organization provides resources to people living with dementia, their caregivers, and the wider community. 

The DSA's mission is centered on three main goals: 

• Educate: To increase public awareness and reduce the stigma associated with dementia throughout the United States and Canada.
• Support: To make non-medical resources and life-enrichment programs accessible to those affected by dementia. They provide support through a hotline, online resources, and directories.
• Recognize: To acknowledge and encourage exemplary caregiving, support, and innovative solutions for the dementia community. 

Posterior Cortical Atrophy

Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a brain and nervous system syndrome. Posterior cortical atrophy causes the loss of brain cells in back of the brain. This is the region responsible for visual processing and spatial reasoning. This changes a person's ability to process visual and spatial information. Common symptoms include trouble reading, judging distances and reaching for objects. People with PCA may not be able to recognize objects and familiar faces. They also may have trouble making calculations. Over time this condition may cause a decline in memory and thinking abilities, known as cognitive skills. In more than 80% of cases, PCA is due to Alzheimer's Disease. However, it can be due to other neurological conditions such as Lewy Body Dementia or corticobasal degeneration.

The Intricate Tapestry of Family Dynamics in Dementia Care

Wednesday, October 15  

11:00 am – 1:10 pm ET

Webinar Objectives:

1. Define familial roles and relationship dynamics.
2. Describe how dementia-related illnesses can impact family dynamics.
3. Utilize assessment tools when evaluating familial strengths and challenges.
4. Apply strategies to improve communication and collaboration among family members.

A LIVE INTERACTIVE Webinar - $25.00 registration fee

2 CE credits available for social workers licensed in an ASWB accredited state, as well as New York State licensed social workers.