Alzheimer’s disease conference coming to Charleston in October

by Lori Kersey, West Virginia Watch
September 17, 2025

Caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease patients and others are invited to attend a free conference in Charleston next month. 

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is hosting the Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Educational Conference from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Charleston Marriott Town Center. 

The conference is open to anyone. Participants will learn from experts in the field of Alzheimer’s disease, brain health, caregiving and advance planning, according to a news release from the foundation. 

Charles Fuschillo Jr., the foundation’s president and CEO, told West Virginia Watch he wants attendees to leave with a greater knowledge of the disease, brain health and wellness and local resources. 

“Once Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed, it not only affects the one who has been diagnosed, but also the caregiving team,” he said. “We want to ensure that they know that there is support every step of the way on the journey.”

Sessions at the Charleston conference will be:

• “Aging and the Brain: Navigating Alzheimer’s with a Multidisciplinary Approach” by Dr. Cierra Keith, assistant professor and clinical neuropsychologist at West Virginia University’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute.
• “Safeguarding What Matters: Alzheimer’s Planning & Medicaid Access” by Claude S. Smith III, a Charleston estate planning attorney.
• “Metro AAA: Services Meeting the Struggles of Alzheimer’s” by Brenda Landers, executive director of the WVSU Metro Area Agency on Aging.

The conference is part of the “AFA Educating America” tour the foundation started more than eight years ago, Fuschillo said. 

“We travel every single month throughout the entire country, connecting individuals with experts in the field of Alzheimer’s disease, brain health, caregiving tips and strategies, and in this case, we will have an elder law attorney that will talk about advanced planning for health and legal advice as well,” Fuschillo said. “But the whole goal is to empower individuals to have greater knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease and support services that are available.”

In West Virginia, more than 38,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to 2025 data from the Alzheimer’s Association. Nationally, there are more than 7.2 million Alzheimer’s patients. 

“In the absence of any new therapy, significant new therapies or a cure, those numbers are expected to significantly increase over the next few years,” Fuschillo said. 

In addition to the sessions, the conference will also offer free memory screenings, a 15-minute assessment of memory skills, thinking and language. Those who take the test will be given a baseline score to compare with future screenings. 

For more information or to register for the conference, visit www.alzfdn.org/tour. 

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