The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin" Vol. 2025 #34 6-18-25
VOLUME 2025 JUNE 18 NUMBER 34
President Greg McCune welcomed all and again Greg Wurst gave us our daily reflection that was followed by the flag salute.
ACHES & PAINS: Be kind always and remember to breathe in the fresh air and enjoy each day!
PROGRAM: Mike Fincham introduced us to Trase McQueen, a recent graduate from K-State University. He studied Biology and Gerontology and serves as a lab manager for Dr. Heather Bailey’s Memory and Aging Lab with the focus on how the brain ages. He is making an effort to disseminate their research and share their knowledge about dementia and the aging brain. They want to inform community members about their health and how organizations like the Optimist Club can help form a dementia-friendly community. The topic today is “Understanding the Aging Brain and Ways We Can Protect It.”
Episodic Memory: Memory for specific events or experiences, tied to time or place.
Semantic Memory: General knowledge, facts, concepts – context free, culturally shared.
DECLINE AND PRESERVATION:
- Episodic memory is often the first and most severely impaired in aging and Alzheimer’s Disease.
- Semantic memory, in contrast, remains relatively preserved in early stages and can even expand into older adulthood.
Individuals with memory impairment can compensate for episodic loss by relying on semantic structures. Scripted routines and procedural knowledge for daily tasks. Use of semantic cues such as categories, landmarks, and familiar associations improve recall performance.
As we age, we experience normal declines with brain health, normal symptoms, slowness in thinking, more difficulty sustaining attention, difficulty multitasking, difficulty holding information in mind and finding words. It is time to talk to your doctor when you get lost, unable to hold a conversation, chronically losing items or forgetting what you are doing and changes in mood or behavior.
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a collection of brain diseases and their symptoms, which include memory loss, impaired judgement, personality changes, and an inability to perform daily activities.
- Alzheimer’s Disease: Impairments in memory, language and visuospatial skills.
- Vascular Dementia: Impaired motor skills and judgement.
- Frontotemporal Dementia: Personality changes and issues with language.
- Lewd Body Dementia: Hallucinations, disordered sleep, impaired thinking and motor skills.
- Other Dementias: Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, HIV, Crutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Korsakoff Syndrome
“Alzheimer’s research is getting to a place where cancer research was 30 to 40 years ago.” As for diagnosis, an early detection affordable blood test was FDA approved, the first ever blood test May 16, 2025, with numerous others in FDA development. As for treatment, Kisunla – FDA approval, July 2, 2024, and Leqembi – FDA approval, July 6, 2023
There are several other studies being done at this time. MCI Study, Logan Life Study, ChatBot, FMRI Study and EEG Study.
There was much more information shared with us, and I would encourage you to visit: https://www.k-state.edu/memory/
Valuable information, thank you Trase.
CLUB STUFF/ANNOUNCEMENTS and UPCOMING EVENTS:
Special Thank You to all who helped with the Fast Pitch Tournament – Dan O, Steve B, Bob S, Brian J, Mark L, Clyde S, Gary L, Steve M, Jim F, Bruce B and Mike F
Thank you, Clyde S, Steve B, Jerry B and Dan O, for manning the booth at the Juneteenth celebration.
Marketing Campaign is on Facebook and there have been Radio Ads. Look and sound great, be sure to share on Facebook.
Social Committee: Save the date, July 22nd at 3:30, tour the KSU Volleyball facility and Olympic training facility then head over to Rockin’ K’s for Happy Hour and perhaps dinner.
40 instruments were collected with about 25-30 deemed usable. Thanks to all helping with this drive: Lisa B, Bob S, Karen H and Tyler T. It was successful!
Meeting adjourned with the Optimist Creed