Smith Alzheimer's Center at SIU Medicine

11/01/2025

November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month 💜
We’re sharing a tip a day to help make life a little easier for people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia — and their caregivers.

🍽 Today’s Tip: Dining Out
Eating out can be overwhelming — reading the menu, choosing a meal, and keeping pace with conversation all take extra effort.

✅ Check the menu online and decide what to order before you go.
✅ If you’re already there and they're having trouble, make specific suggestions or say, “How about if I order for you?”

Small steps like this can make mealtime more enjoyable for everyone. 💜

10/28/2025

🍴 What’s cooking?

Join our MIND Diet Cooking Class and discover delicious ways to eat healthy and support brain health!

This hands-on class partners with SIU Culinary Medicine, guiding participants through three nutritious and tasty dishes that follow the MIND diet, a diet that helps protect brain health for all. This class is intended for patients and caregivers.

🗓️ Upcoming dates: Nov. 10 | Dec. 1
📧 Interested? Contact Debbie Kuhns at dkuhns76@siumed.edu
to learn more!

10/23/2025

Thank you to Illinois Women in Leadership for their generosity and selecting us as a grant recipient through the Community Foundation's Community Grants Program!

This support will provide our MIND Diet Cooking Class and Dementia Caregiving 101 with the resources they need. Whether it's through a hands-on activity on how to make healthy meals or learning the latest information and tips to help their loved ones, these programs provide education and enjoyment at no cost to families.

We greatly appreciate IWIL's Community Health Giving Circle support!

10/01/2025

Do you have someone in your life with memory loss or dementia?

The first session of Dementia Caregiving 101 is the perfect place to start.
👉 Learn what dementia and Alzheimer’s are
👉 Understand the next steps after a diagnosis
👉 Discover how friends and family can provide support

Whether you’re a full-time caregiver or only see your loved one occasionally, this program offers tools and insights to help.

🗓️ Monday, Oct. 6
⏰ 2–4 p.m.
💻 Offered virtually – join and interact with the presenter right from home!

Hosted by the Smith Alzheimer's Center at SIU Medicine, Dementia Caregiving 101 is an educational series for caregivers to learn what to expect when caring for loved ones with dementia.

09/24/2025

We're a week out from the first session, but there is still time to sign up! Come be a part of this joyful program!

09/22/2025

🌟 Dementia Caregiving 101 is back! 🌟

Starting Monday, Oct. 6, this 8-week virtual course will give caregivers the tools, resources and support they need — all from the comfort of home. There is no cost for any of the sessions.

Each week, expert presenters will dive into a new topic, including:
✅ Handling new behaviors and developing effective communication
✅ Creating meaningful activities
✅ Legal and financial preparations
✅ Home safety and balance
✅ Recent research and treatment
✅ And much more

Limited in-person availability as well. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and grow in your caregiving journey. 💜

📅 Begins Oct. 6 | 💻 Virtual availability | 📌 Register today below

Hosted by the Smith Alzheimer's Center at SIU Medicine, Dementia Caregiving 101 is an educational series for caregivers to learn what to expect when caring for loved ones with dementia.

09/12/2025

The Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment and SIU School of Medicine are deeply saddened by the passing of Henry Dale Smith, Jr. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Deborah, their family and friends.

Through their extraordinary generosity, Dale and Deborah Smith provided new opportunities to improve care for those with dementia, expand outreach programs and fuel innovative Alzheimer’s research in a magnitude of ways that would not have been possible without their philanthropy. Put simply, thousands of Illinois families have benefitted from their support.

Dale and Deborah not only gave from their heart, but also inspired others to join them. When the couple announced their gift in 2021, Dale spoke about how he wanted it to “create a consciousness within the community” about the importance of Alzheimer’s care and research.

The Smiths’ contribution established the Smith Alzheimer’s Center as just the second named department in SIU Medicine’s 50-plus year history, a testament to their lasting impact.

Dale’s vision and generosity provided an incredible foundation and will forever shape the future of Alzheimer’s care and research. The Smith Alzheimer’s Center is deeply grateful for his life, generosity and the enduring difference he made for so many Illinois families.

Henry Dale Smith, Jr. obituary:

Celebrate the life of Henry Smith, Jr., leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Butler Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center - Springfield.

09/03/2025

Interested in being part of a program that lets you sing your heart out?

Sing by Heart collaborates with the Springfield Choral Society and Westminster Presbyterian Church to create a group that sings familiar songs and lets you connect with new friends. Starting October 1 and running for eight weeks, Sing by Heart is more about creating a joyful experience than hitting the perfect pitch.

This fall, the music will have a 60s flair! If you are interested to learn more, or to register, contact Debbie Kuhns at dkuhns76@siumed.edu. Or, visit siumed.org/alzsing

We look forward to singing along with you!

08/23/2025

The Smith Alzheimer’s Center welcomed U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski to discuss the latest in Alzheimer’s research and how collaboration among faculty, graduate students and others drives innovation in the labs.

08/22/2025

Want to make a difference in the lives of those affected by Alzheimer’s? 💜 Join us Monday for our volunteer information session to learn how you can support outreach programs, raise awareness, and bring hope to families in our community.

Come on out to The Salvation Army on Clear Lake at 11am — we’d love to see you there!

https://www.siumed.edu/events/volunteer-information-session-smith-alzheimers-center

08/19/2025

It's always a treat to cook with SIU Culinary Medicine! Yesterday, we cooked up some spicy and sweet healthy recipes that delivered some serious flavor.

Looking for a new recipe to try at home? The Indian butter chickpeas fulfills your need for legumes (an essential part of the MIND Diet) and can be either a great snack or meal. https://www.siumed.org/alzheimers-center/indian-butter-chickpeas

Learn more about how nutrition can help protect brain health at: siumed.org/alznutrition

08/08/2025

Part of what makes SIU distinct is how specialty areas can come together for research. Congratulations to Dr. Aida Adlimoghaddam for receiving the Team Science Grant, partnering with Simmons Cancer Institute to learn more about chemobrain.

“What makes this research so important is that we’re not only trying to understand why this happens, but also how it may affect men and women differently. By identifying biological markers like cytokines that are linked to these cognitive changes, we can take the first steps toward predicting who’s most at risk—and ultimately, how to prevent it.”

Research study will explore possible link with cytokine profiles, differences between men and womenThe Smith Alzheimer’s Center and Simmons Cancer Institute are teaming up to better understand the common side effect of “chemobrain,” and why some patients are at higher risk of developing it tha...