On Friday, April 23, 2021, walkers gathered at Delano Park in Decatur, Ala. for the Taking Steps Together Against Alzheimer walk. The walk was organized and hosted by the Mental Health Association (MHA) in Morgan County.

Alzheimer disease affects an estimated 5.8 million Americans. The disease is often characterized by loss of memory and cognitive abilities. Currently, there are few treatments and no known cure for the disease. To help individuals, families and caregivers living with Alzheimer disease and other forms of dementia, the MHA offers support groups, dementia education, caregiver resources, activities and an annual conference. 

The funds raised from the Taking Steps Together Against Alzheimer walk will support local education and research efforts. Nick Cochran, HudsonAlpha senior scientist, kicked off the walk with an update on HudsonAlpha’s Alzheimer disease and dementia research projects.

MHA donated a portion of the proceeds to the HudsonAlpha Foundation’s Memory and Mobility Program to fund neurodegenerative disease research at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.

“We are grateful for the support from the Mental Health Association in Morgan County to continue our research to find answers to these devastating diseases,” said Jeff Moore, HudsonAlpha Foundation director of annual and planned giving.

If you would like to support neurological disease research like Alzheimer disease and dementia, please visit hudsonalpha.org/mm-give.