Community leaders in business, non-profits and healthcare celebrated efforts to end Alzheimer’s on Tuesday with a business after hours event at The Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience.
Sponsored by Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center and the Alzheimer’s Association, the event served to both raise awareness surrounding Alzheimer’s Disease and kick off registration for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s set for October at City Hall Lawn.
“Mississippi has the highest Alzheimer’s death rate in the nation,” said Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center CEO and Administrator John Anderson. “There has been a 275% increase in Alzheimer’s deaths in Mississippi from 2000 to 2024. These statistics are alarming, and that’s why we’re working with the Alzheimer’s Association to raise awareness and turn these numbers around.”
Through its partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Baptist Anderson is bringing new resources and training to Meridian to help identify and treat Alzheimer’s and dementia. The earlier the disease can be caught, the more effective treatment can be, Anderson said.
Sarah Odom with the Alzheimer’s Association said bringing awareness to the disease and educating the public is vital. Unlike cancer or heart disease, Alzheimer’s isn’t often discussed publicly, and symptoms are not as widely known. With treatment being more effective earlier in the disease’s progression, getting people to recognize signs and get a diagnosis early is more important than ever.
“My 10-year-old son brought home a brochure the other day from elementary school from the Heart Association where he could raise money and win little prizes, but I guess he knows every single step about signs to get heart disease,” she said. “Why are we not starting there? This is our brain.”
Beyond the individual with the diagnosis, Alzheimer’s has a dramatic impact on those who take on the responsibility of caring for their loved one. Caregivers often have to take time off work to help with doctor’s appointments and other responsibilities, and some even take early retirement. That not only affects their lives but the businesses they work for, Odom said.
“A lot of companies don’t really acknowledge it. We’ve got to start doing something, and y’all are where we wanted to start,” she said.
The Alzheimer’s Association is asking local businesses to show their support by signing up a team to take part in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on October 24. There is no cost to take part in the walk, Odom said, but sponsorship opportunities are available for those looking for other ways to get involved.
For more information about the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit the event’s Facebook page, Walk to End Alzheimer’s-East MS.