June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Alzheimer’s disease affects an estimated 31,000 Hawaiʻi residents, about 11% of those age 65 and older. As Hawaiʻi’s population continues to age, the number of Alzheimer’s cases is expected to rise significantly in the coming decades. Gina Fujikami, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine and a geriatrics medicine physician, shares insights on prevention, early detection and advances in diagnosis and treatment.
What is Alzheimer’s disease, and how does it affect the brain?
Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia caused by a buildup of amyloid and tau protein plaques in the brain. These plaques lead to brain damage, resulting in memory loss and cognitive difficulties. While these proteins often begin accumulating in middle age, not everyone with them develops Alzheimer’s, and much about the disease remains unknown.
How has diagnosis and treatment improved recently?
Diagnosis has advanced from relying mostly on clinical exams and memory tests to now include specialized blood tests and PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans that detect amyloid and tau proteins in the brain. These tools enable earlier and more accurate diagnosis. In terms of treatment, new medications target these plaques to slow disease progression, though research continues on their long-term benefits.
How can people reduce their risk, and how can they tell normal forgetfulness from symptoms of the disease?
Maintaining heart health through exercise, managing blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure is important for brain health. Mental and social activities like puzzles and socializing also help. Occasional forgetfulness is normal, but consistent memory issues that interfere with daily life, such as forgetting routes home or leaving appliances on, should prompt a medical evaluation.
What is the situation with Alzheimer’s in Hawaiʻi, and what support services are available?
About 31,000 residents in Hawaiʻi—around 11% of those 65 and older—are living with Alzheimer’s. Cases are expected to double by 2050, creating challenges for families and caregivers. The Alzheimer’s Association Aloha Chapter provides caregiver support groups, educational programs and outreach, including support groups for those in early stages of dementia.
What is the Silver Alert system, and how does it help those with cognitive impairments?
Recently implemented in Hawaiʻi in July 2024, the Silver Alert is a community notification system similar to the Maile Alert for missing children. It is used when seniors or individuals with cognitive impairments go missing, helping law enforcement and the public respond quickly to ensure their safe return.
Fujikami and colleagues will be featured in an upcoming event, Research Roundtable: The Era of Treatment, hosted by the Alzheimerʻs Association Hawaii Chapter, June 14 8:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m. at JABSOM. Register online.
