Memory Care

By Mark Loehrke
Appears in the June 2025 issue.

Shining a light on a dark disease

The summer solstice (June 20) is often seen as a day to cram in some extra fun, thanks to its peak abundance of daylight. But for those leading the fight against the darkness of Alzheimer’s disease, the solstice is about much more than a few extra holes of golf or a slightly longer evening stroll.

“The Longest Day”—when people are encouraged to organize and promote personal fundraisers—is the centerpiece of the Alzheimer’s Association’s campaign highlighting Alzheimer’s disease and brain awareness throughout the month of June. The goal is to educate the public about the disease and other dementias, advocate for research, support those affected, encourage early detection, and promote brain health and wellness.

To help support the national observance of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, the organization’s local chapters ramp up their year-round efforts even more—including here in Illinois, where director of community engagement Hadi Finerty says the group is providing crucial funding and advocacy on behalf of Alzheimer’s patients and their loved ones. While the organization’s high-profile walks in September (including the Walk to End Alzheimer’s—DuPage County) tend to get the most attention during the year, she says June is a significant piece of its mission as well. “In 2024 the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter served over 33,000 individuals with education, information and referral, early-stage engagement, support groups, care consultations, and awareness presentations,” Finerty says. “And on the Longest Day last year, we had 350 participants who raised more than $429,000.”

Much of the funds from this and other activities gets directed toward Alzheimer’s research, including advancements in cutting-edge biomarker technologies, which Finerty says are helping to fuel rapid progress in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. “These biomarker tools will change our experience in the physician’s office in many ways in the future, but they are already changing the research and clinical landscape,” she explains. “The goal is to ensure access to early detection and accurate diagnosis for all communities.”

Like many others in the Alzheimer’s fight, Finerty was drawn to the cause by personal experience, starting in 2000 when her grandmother was diagnosed with dementia. She and her family participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s (then called the Memory Walk), and a little more than a decade later she joined the Alzheimer’s Association staff, where she’s been ever since.

“My grandma was on this journey for 15 years, and as a caregiver alongside my family I developed a deep passion for this cause,” she says. “This journey has been filled with a mix of laughter, love, and sadness, and now I am very dedicated to educating others about this disease and helping caregivers find relief and hope.”

It’s a dedication that Finerty hopes others will take up this month and all throughout the year.

To learn more about starting a Longest Day team, alz.org/thelongestday.

By the Numbers

Alzheimer’s Disease

• Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s; by 2050, this number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million.

• Alzheimer’s disease was the fifth-leading cause of death among people age 65 and older in 2021.

• Health and long-term care costs for people living with dementia are estimated to reach $360 billion in 2024 and nearly $1 trillion in 2050.

• The lifetime risk for Alzheimer’s at age 45 is 1 in 5 for women and 1 in 10 for men.

Source: 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, Alzheimer’s Association

Artwork: iStock