For W. Imara Canady, the fight against dementia is a deeply personal journey of love, caregiving and finding strength in community.
Canady joined supporters at the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Oct. 31 at Piedmont Park. Organized by the association’s Georgia chapter, the Atlanta event brought together families, caregivers and advocates to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research, treatment and support services.
An estimated 7.4 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including approximately 188,000 Georgians, according to the association’s 2026 Facts and Figures report. Another 391,000 Georgians provide unpaid care for people living with dementia, highlighting the disease’s reach beyond those diagnosed.
For Canady, that reality became personal when his 82-year-old mother, L.M. Jamila Canady, was diagnosed with dementia following a serious fall that fractured her femur.
As her only child and primary caregiver, Canady said accepting the diagnosis was difficult. For months, he struggled to discuss his mother’s condition openly.
“I realized probably about a month or so ago that I felt like I was at a place where I could actually verbalize … that my mother had dementia, which was very difficult for me,” Canady said.
His mother, once affectionately known as the “Queen of the West End,” was an active member of Atlanta’s community, regularly attending neighborhood gatherings and hosting weekly devotional meetings. Although her mobility and daily routines have changed, Canady said her compassion for others remains.
Inspired by her lifelong commitment to service, Canady formed a fundraising team called Jamila’s Angels in her honor. What began with a $2,000 fundraising goal quickly grew, with the team fast approaching an expanded $8,000 goal ahead of the walk.
“Even with the support of so many people, it is still a very lonely journey,” Canady said.
Clay Jacobs, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Georgia chapter, said stories like Canady’s illustrate why community involvement is essential.
“Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that impacts communities,” Jacobs said. “When somebody first notices symptoms, they don’t come to us. They don’t even necessarily go to their physician. They go to their community.”
Jacobs also emphasized the importance of understanding the distinction between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Dementia is an umbrella term describing symptoms that affect memory, thinking and daily functioning, while Alzheimer’s is a specific disease and the most common cause of dementia.
The disease disproportionately affects certain populations. Older Black Americans are about twice as likely as older white Americans to have Alzheimer’s or another dementia, while women account for nearly two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer’s.
Despite those challenges, Jacobs emphasized that advances in early detection and treatment are providing new hope.
New blood tests can help doctors diagnose Alzheimer’s, while FDA-approved treatments can slow disease progression in certain patients during its earliest stages. Jacobs stressed that recognizing warning signs, including worsening memory loss, personality changes and difficulty completing familiar tasks, is critical.
He also encouraged residents to reduce their risk of cognitive decline through regular exercise, balanced nutrition, social engagement and mentally stimulating activities.
The Atlanta walk had a $700,000 fundraising goal to support research, respite care, educational programming and caregiver services. Jacobs said the association is funding more than $2 million in research in the Atlanta area this year.
The event also featured children’s activities, tribute walls and the Promise Garden ceremony, where participants raised colorful pinwheel flowers representing their connections to Alzheimer’s.
“It’s the largest support group you hold all year, but it’s a celebration,” Jacobs said.
Beyond the walk, the association partners with organizations including Atlanta Housing to provide brain health education and connect residents with resources.
For families seeking assistance, the association offers a free, 24-hour helpline at 800-272-3900 and additional resources at alz.org.
For Canady, the walk represented an opportunity to transform the pain of his mother’s diagnosis into something meaningful for others.
Through Jamila’s Angels, the spirit of service his mother instilled in him continues to reach beyond their family, one step at a time.
