Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia & Brain Health Newsletter

November 2026

Caregiver Nation Summit 2026

Livestream

November 18, 9:00AM ET - 5:00PM ET 

30 years ago, family caregiving barely had a name in national policy conversations. Now it has a movement, and we're proud to stand behind it.

We are proudly supporting the 2026 Caregiver Nation Summit, the National Alliance for Caregiving's (NAC) flagship convening, as it brings advocates, researchers, and policymakers to Washington, DC, to turn caregiver experience into real change.

Vermont has an estimated 118,000 adult family caregivers who deliver 85 million hours of unpaid care every year, valued at over $2 billion. An increasing number of Americans are family caregivers right now. Join the summit via livestream!

Find Your Community in the Parkinson’s Buddy Network

The Parkinson's Buddy Network is a free online community platform created by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. It is designed to help people impacted by Parkinson's disease connect, share experiences, and access educational resources. The platform is open to anyone whose life is touched by Parkinson's, whether they have just received a diagnosis or have been managing the condition for years.

Users can find peers at similar life stages or with specific diagnoses, such as young-onset Parkinson's disease. Spouses, family members, adult children, and friends can connect with others navigating a loved one's care. Supporters and those at risk. Individuals with a known risk factor or those who previously cared for a loved one are also encouraged to participate.

When Pain Goes Unrecognized, Bahavior May Tell the Story

 Thursday, November 19, 2026

1:00–1:45 PM EST

Could a change in behavior be a sign of pain rather than a behavioral problem?

For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) as well as those with a dementia, pain isn't always easy to recognize or communicate. When signs of discomfort are missed or misunderstood, individuals may experience unnecessary suffering, delayed treatment, and changes in their daily functioning. Understanding how pain may present differently is an important step toward providing better, more person-centered care. Whether you are a self-advocate, family member, caregiver, direct support professional, healthcare provider, or simply interested in learning more about Down syndrome research, this webinar will provide practical information to help you better understand clinical research and the opportunities to get involved.

Beyond Stages: Making Sense of Change in Lewy Body Dementia

Tuesday, Nov. 17, at noon EST

Unlike some other dementias, Lewy body dementia (LBD) does not have clearly defined stages, making it difficult for individuals and families to know what to expect or how to plan ahead. Symptoms may shift from day to day, or even hour to hour, with changes in thinking, attention, movement, sleep, mood, and perception that can feel unpredictable and hard to interpret. Lucille Carriere, PhD, and Dylan Wint, MD, will explore how the disease progresses and how to plan for changing needs.