Bradenton Research Center

03/23/2026

Happy Monday from Bradenton Research Center! ☀️

Each new week brings a fresh start and new opportunities to grow. Whether you're setting new goals or continuing your journey, today is the perfect day to refocus and move forward.

If you’d like to learn more about what we do or get involved, feel free to reach out!

📞 (941) 708-0005
🌐 bradentonresearch.com
📧 info@bradentonresearch.com

03/22/2026

You’re not alone on this journey 💙

Join our Parkinson’s Support Group THIS TUESDAY for an encouraging and informative meeting designed for individuals living with Parkinson’s, as well as caregivers, family members, and friends. Connect, learn, and find support in a welcoming community.

📅 THIS Tuesday, March 24th
⏰ 11AM–1PM
📍 Freedom Village – Landings Building Auditorium
6406 21st Ave W, Bradenton, FL

🍽 Lunch provided

🎤 Presentation by Dr. Eric Folkens with Bradenton Research Center

Reserve your spot using the QR code on the flyer or visit: HCAFloridaHealthcare.com

03/21/2026

👋 Meet Our Team: Dr. Folkens, Medical Director

We’re excited to kick off our team spotlight series by introducing Dr. Folkens, the Medical Director here at Bradenton Research Center!

Here are a few fun facts to help you get to know him better:

☕ Drink of choice: Hot chocolate (no coffee or tea!)
🐶 Dogs or cats? Both—but dogs have a slight edge
🌴 Beach or mountains? Mountains! He enjoys biking in the summer and snowboarding in the winter
🎬 Favorite movie: We’ll have to follow up on that one 😊
🍕 Favorite food: Pizza, with chicken fried steak as a close second

Dr. Folkens plays a key role in leading our clinical research efforts and helping bring new treatments to our community. We’re grateful to have him on our team!

📍 Bradenton Research Center
🌐 bradentonresearch.com
📞 (941) 708-0005
📧 info@bradentonresearch.com

Stay tuned as we continue introducing more of our amazing team!

03/20/2026

Happy First Day of Spring! 🌼🌱

A new season means new energy, fresh goals, and more sunshine.

What’s one thing you’re looking forward to this spring? Drop it in the comments! ☀️👇

03/20/2026

It can be challenging to fully understand your loved one’s Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis.

As their caregiver, you’ll need to consider how they may need help with their daily activities, how you can make their living area safe, what eating and nutritional challenges they may face and how their mood and behavior may change over time.

People with Alzheimer’s disease will eventually need help with activities of daily living. Depending on their level of independence, your loved one may need help with personal care activities, including eating, bathing, shaving and using the toilet.

To assist with these activities, caregivers need support, knowledge, skills, and patience. Clinical health psychologist and caregiver expert Lucille Carriere, PhD, suggests the following tips:

Establish a daily routine. Schedule grooming activities for the same time and same place each day. For example, brush teeth after meals or schedule baths for the mornings or evenings.

Respect their privacy. Close doors and blinds. Make sure you cover your loved one with a towel or bathrobe to help them feel more comfortable.

Encourage their independence as much as possible. This will help to promote a sense of accomplishment.

Keep in mind their abilities. Allow enough time to complete each task — for example, brushing their hair or teeth.

Give encouragement and support as they complete tasks. Acknowledge your loved one’s efforts when completed. For example, you can say, “You did a nice job brushing your hair today.”

Tell the person what you’re doing. Make sure you keep an open line of communication with each activity.

Be attentive to personal hygiene. Keep fingernails and toenails clean and trimmed regularly and attend to oral hygiene needs.

Break down all grooming tasks into simple, step-by-step instructions. Changes in memory and language abilities make it harder for your loved one to follow multiple verbal instructions.

“Due to the progressive nature of Alzheimer’s disease, you’ll want to continually assess if your approach is working with your loved one, and if not, try to adapt to meet your loved one’s ability level,” advises Dr. Carriere.

03/20/2026

A blood test can predict the risk of dementia in women up to 25 years before symptoms appear, according to new research.

Researchers from the University of California San Diego examined data for 2,766 women in the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study, a large US study that enrolled women aged 65 to 79 in the late 1990s and followed them for up to 25 years.

Blood samples collected at the start were analysed, and again years later to measure p-tau217 - a protein linked to the brain changes seen in Alzheimer’s disease.

During the 25 years of follow-up, researchers noted the women who developed memory or thinking problems, including dementia.

This study suggests that there may be a correlation for women between having a higher level of the p-tau127 biomarker earlier in life with an increased risk of developing dementia 25 years later.

These findings are promising, but of course more research is needed to understand whether early identification of biomarkers can affect whether people will go on to develop dementia later on.

Blood tests could transform how dementia is diagnosed.

Research we're funding aims to make a blood test routinely available on the NHS for symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease within the next few years, so everyone who needs a diagnosis can get one quickly and accurately.

Dementia research is making huge progress and bringing great hope, and we’ll continue to invest in pioneering research to ensure people get the diagnosis, treatment and support they deserve.

03/20/2026

Dopamine plays a key role in how the brain controls movement. 🧠

In Parkinson’s disease, dopamine-producing brain cells gradually decline, leading to symptoms like tremor, stiffness and slowed movement. Less dopamine disrupts the brain’s ability to control movement smoothly.

Learn more for Brain Awareness Week: Parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/what-is-parkinsons

03/19/2026

🔬 Now Enrolling for Clinical Research Studies!

We are currently recruiting volunteers for several clinical research studies that aim to improve treatments and advance medical knowledge.

📋 Current Studies Include:
• Gout
• Anxiety
• Op**te Use Disorder
• Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Parkinson’s Blood/CSF Biocollection

Clinical research plays a vital role in developing new therapies and improving patient care. By participating, you may help advance medicine for future generations.

📞 Call us: (941) 708-0005
📧 Email: info@bradentonresearch.com
🌐 Fill out our contact form:
https://www.bradentonresearch.com/contact/

03/19/2026

03/19/2026

03/18/2026

🚨 These Alzheimer’s numbers will stop you in your tracks…

Did you know that Alzheimer’s disease kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer COMBINED? 😳

And that’s just the beginning…

📊 2025 Alzheimer’s Facts:
• Over 7 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s
• Nearly 12 million Americans provide unpaid care for someone with dementia
• Caregivers provide 19 BILLION hours of care valued at about $413 billion
• By 2050, the cost of Alzheimer’s care could reach $1 TRILLION
• 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia
• Deaths from Alzheimer’s have increased 142% while deaths from heart disease have declined

These numbers affect millions of families every day, maybe even someone you know.

💜 The good news? Up to 4 in 5 Americans feel optimistic about new treatments in the next decade.

📌 Information sourced from the 2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts & Figures report by the Alzheimer’s Association.

03/18/2026