Mayor makes proclamation to turn Kokomo purple in support

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June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and in honor of it, the City of Kokomo recently recognized the fight for a cure with a ceremony in Foster Park, encouraging businesses and individual to “turn purple” to raise awareness this month.

Fronted by multi-colored pinwheels in the shape of flowers, Mayor Tyler Moore joined with Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter representative Avery Smith on the performing arts stage in the park to proclaim June 2024 Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month.

“I am just consistently blown away by the support and the passion and the commitment to service here in this community,” said Smith. “Thank you to all of you. Kokomo is a huge part of what we're doing here in the state of Indiana with the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

“We are committed to raising funds for Alzheimer's care, support, research, and advocacy. That's what our Walk to End Alzheimer's does.”

Moore expressed thanks to the association for its work and encouraged the community to get involved with the upcoming walk, as well as to show visible support for the organization now.

“Thank you to the committee for its efforts here locally to raise awareness,” said Moore. “We're encouraging folks around the downtown area and throughout the city to ‘turn purple’ for June to help raise that awareness.”

The mayor then read a proclamation, designating June as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month in Kokomo.

In Kokomo, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s will take place on Oct. 5. People and teams can register now for the walk by visiting act.alz.org. Already, more than $13,000 has been raised this year to meet the Kokomo chapter’s $50,000 goal.

Smith added that the walk is just one component of what the Alzheimer’s Association does. It also maintains a help line and support groups for those going through the disease and those who provide support. The association also offers educational programming concerning Alzheimer’s and other cognitive afflictions.

The helpline, which is staffed 24 hours a day, is 800-272-3900.

According to the association, one in three seniors is afflicted with Alzheimer’s or another dementia at the time of their deaths, and nearly seven million Americans currently live with the disease. It costs the U.S. approximately $360 billion a year to deal with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

However, there is some good news on the horizon. Already, there are therapies for dementia in its earliest stages, and earlier this month the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Leqembi, a drug designed to remove the protein plaque that forms in the brain and can cause Alzheimer’s disease.

“We are in a new era of treatment for those in the earliest stages of the disease,” said Smith. “But not everybody is diagnosed early. So, we're working towards getting earlier diagnoses. We do have a treatment available for those in the earliest stages of the disease.

“And recently, the FDA recommended approval for (Leqembi) from Eli Lilly. It is only fitting that it would happen during June, during Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month.”