How You Can Get Involved in Alzheimer’s Research

Let’s break down the biggest ways that anyone can get involved in Alzheimer’s research:

Participate in Clinical Research

One of the most direct ways to advance Alzheimer’s research is by participating in clinical studies. Today’s trials aren’t limited to experimental drug testing—they also include observational studies, genetic research, and even online cognitive tests that help scientists track patterns over time.

How you can get involved with Alzheimer’s:

Enroll in a Clinical Trial: If you’re a caregiver or family member, you may qualify to participate in studies aimed at better understanding early warning signs.
Join a Research Registry: Platforms like the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry (supported by Banner Alzheimer’s Institute) help match volunteers with ongoing studies.
Explore Online Studies: Many research groups, including the Alzheimer’s Association’s TrialMatch program, offer virtual opportunities.

Every data point counts. Even if you don’t have Alzheimer’s, your participation could help identify early risk factors, develop better treatments, and eventually, find a cure.

Resources to Get Started:

Volunteer Your Professional Skills

You don’t need a medical degree or years of laboratory experience to bring valuable expertise to the fight against Alzheimer’s. In fact, many nonprofits, research initiatives, and advocacy groups urgently need the skills you might already use every day.

Here are some ways your unique background can drive meaningful change:

Tech and Data Professionals

If you work in IT, data analysis, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, or engineering, your skills could be transformative. Many Alzheimer’s organizations are exploring:

Data Management for Research Studies: Helping manage massive databases of clinical trial results, brain imaging, or genetic information.
AI Modeling and Predictive Analytics: Building smarter tools that can detect early signs of Alzheimer’s through medical scans or patient behavior.
Cybersecurity for Patient Data: Protecting sensitive patient records is crucial for research credibility and compliance with privacy laws.

There is no shortage of research opportunities for Alzheimer’s. Researchers often struggle with the technical side of managing and interpreting large volumes of data. Your tech skills can remove bottlenecks and accelerate discoveries.

Writers, Designers, and Marketers

Storytelling is one of the most powerful weapons in the fight against Alzheimer’s. If you have a background in communications, journalism, social media, or graphic design, there’s a place for you, too:

Creating Patient Education Materials: Translating complex medical information into accessible guides and resources for families and caregivers.
Fundraising Campaigns: Helping craft compelling narratives for donor drives, social media outreach, or annual giving campaigns.
Website Content and Design: Improving user experience and accessibility for nonprofit sites, making critical resources easier for families to find.

Clear, compassionate messaging helps advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness, attract funding, and support families.

Event Planners and Administrative Professionals

Behind every major Alzheimer’s walk, fundraising gala, or research summit is a team of organized, detail-oriented professionals keeping everything running smoothly:

Coordinating Advocacy Days: Organizing travel, meetings, and materials for grassroots lobbying events on Capitol Hill.
Managing Local Fundraising Events: Leading community outreach for charity walks, educational seminars, and benefit concerts.
Supporting Clinical Trial Logistics: Helping researchers coordinate patient scheduling, data entry, or trial documentation.

Even simple tasks like scheduling volunteers or managing email lists allow scientists and advocates to spend more time doing the work that matters most.

Healthcare Professionals Outside of Neurology

If you’re a nurse, therapist, pharmacist, dietitian, or social worker, you may be uniquely positioned to:

Support caregiver training initiatives.
Educate communities on healthy aging practices.
Volunteer in early detection screening events.

You don’t have to specialize in dementia care to contribute meaningfully to Alzheimer’s awareness and prevention efforts.

When you volunteer your professional skills, you help Alzheimer’s organizations do more with fewer resources—freeing up critical funding and manpower for advancing research, providing family support, and driving policy change.

Where Your Skills Are Needed:

Advocate for Policy Change

Alzheimer’s is one of the most underfunded diseases relative to its impact. Changing that reality doesn’t just happen in research labs—it happens in legislative chambers, city councils, and everyday conversations with elected leaders.

Here’s how you can get involved and help drive real change:

Contact Elected Officials

Personal stories are powerful. Share yours, and advocate for priorities like increased federal funding for Alzheimer’s research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), expanded Medicare coverage for early detection screenings, and better caregiver support programs.

Push for Better Local Services

Advocate at the state or county level for policies like respite care funding, dementia training for first responders, and greater access to memory care facilities.

Join Organized Efforts

Groups like the Alzheimer’s Association’s AIM (Alzheimer’s Impact Movement) coordinate opportunities to meet directly with legislators during national and state advocacy days. Showing up matters.

Spread Awareness Locally

Host informational events, write op-eds, or collaborate with schools, libraries, and faith organizations to raise visibility. Community momentum often lays the groundwork for bigger legislative change.

Examples of Policy Areas Where You Can Make an Impact:

Research Funding: Encouraging Congress to allocate more dollars toward Alzheimer’s research initiatives.
Public Health Infrastructure: Supporting legislation that mandates cognitive health assessments as part of annual wellness visits under Medicare.
Caregiver Support: Pushing for tax credits, paid leave policies, and grant funding for families caring for loved ones at home.
Workforce Training: Advocating for laws that fund dementia-specific training for healthcare workers, home aides, and law enforcement.
Affordable Access to New Treatments: Urging insurance reforms that ensure new FDA-approved Alzheimer’s therapies are accessible and affordable for those who need them.

You don’t have to be a politician or a professional lobbyist to move the needle. Being a passionate, informed constituent, especially one armed with real experiences, can be more influential than you might realize.

Advocacy Resources:

Start making an impact on Alzheimer’s today. You don’t need to wait for a cure to make a difference. Find out how Daugherty Enterprises is working to accelerate Alzheimer’s breakthroughs—and find ways you can join the mission.

Our Projects and Innovations

Support Fundraising and Awareness Campaigns

Funding fuels breakthroughs. Without consistent donations and public engagement, research initiatives can stall before they even begin.

How you can help:

Participate in Events: For example, one of the best fundraising opportunities is The Longest Day by the National Alzheimer’s Association.
Start a Peer-to-Peer Fundraiser: Turn a birthday, anniversary, or personal milestone into an opportunity to raise donations online.
Promote Awareness Campaigns on Social Media: You’d be amazed how far a few thoughtful posts can go in inspiring others to give, volunteer, or educate themselves.

Big change often starts small—with a $20 donation, a neighborhood walk, a shared story. Every little bit compounds into greater progress.

Learn More About Fundraising Events:

The Top Organizations You Can Get Involved With

Ready to plug into the Alzheimer’s movement? These organizations are doing transformative work across research, advocacy, and patient care:

Each offers a range of opportunities—whether you’re ready to volunteer your skills, participate in research, or advocate for change.

Last But Not Least: Support Affected Loved Ones

The best way to fight against Alzheimer’s? Show up for the people in your life.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be exhausting. There’s no sugarcoating how much it asks of families, friends, and caregivers. If you’re already providing emotional support, coordinating care, or just being there for someone affected, know this:

You’re doing enough. You’re making a difference. You’re changing a life in the most personal and profound way possible.

Being there for someone you know means:

Listening without rushing. Giving them space to talk about their fears and frustrations, even when the words don’t come easily.
Helping with small, everyday tasks. Grocery shopping, organizing medications, scheduling doctor visits—small acts build a foundation of stability.
Making moments of joy a priority. Shared memories, music, laughter, or even simple outdoor walks can bring incredible light to otherwise difficult days.
Looking after the caregivers. Supporting the spouses, children, and friends who carry the daily weight of Alzheimer’s is just as vital as caring for the person diagnosed.

Don’t feel like your impact has to be massive to matter. Alzheimer’s care starts at home, and compassion given freely—to your parent, spouse, grandparent, friend, or neighbor—is the first and most enduring form of advocacy.

Before you change the world, it’s okay to change the lives of those right in front of you.

Your Voice, Your Skills, Your Impact

Ending Alzheimer’s isn’t the job of scientists alone. It’s the job of communities, families, advocates, students, engineers, writers—everyone who believes in a future where memories aren’t lost to disease. Ready to get involved? Get in touch with Daugherty Enterprises and help us build a future without Alzheimer’s, together.