PITTSBURGH —
The Alzheimer’s Association is raising awareness and funds this month through its annual walk in Pittsburgh, as it continues to support families and advance research for Alzheimer’s disease.
The walk will be held Saturday at Schenley Park’s Flagstaff Hill Pavilion. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the opening ceremony set to get underway at 10:30 a.m., and the walk stepping off at 11 a.m.
The association says new treatments and research are bringing renewed hope to families, but there is still no cure. Its helpline offers families a chance to connect with a clinician for help navigating care and community resources.
“It is a very socially isolating disease, and so we have to make sure that we stay connected with our loved ones, with our friends and family,” said Lynzy Groves, Alzheimer’s Association development director. “Our helpline is truly remarkable because a clinician picks up the phone and can walk you through what you’re dealing with, whether that’s communication issues or finding your local walk. And really, it’s a wide range of other things they can help you with.”
Groves also noted that advances in research are offering new hope, including a blood test developed at the University of Pittsburgh with support from the Alzheimer’s Association that has received FDA approval but is not yet widely available.
“These treatments are not cures, but they give us a little bit more time,” Groves said. “So it’s wonderful to know that there’s something on the horizon, and we’re getting one step closer each and every day.”
The association says Allegheny County has a higher rate of Alzheimer’s among people over 65 than the national average. The Pittsburgh walk typically draws nearly 3,000 participants each year, and organizers hope to raise $1 million this year.
People can register for the walk or donate online.