Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles

Stories in Our Steps: Walk to End Alzheimer's Recap

• J Smiles • Season 6 • Episode 11

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The Promenade at Piedmont Park turned into a surge of color, courage, and hope at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s hosted by the Atlanta chapter of the Alzheimer's Association—and we brought our cameras and team to capture it all. From the first cheers to the last hug, we connected with caregivers, researchers, and supporters who refuse to let this disease define our futures. As a media sponsor, Parenting Up! dug into practical takeaways and lifted the voices that make this movement real.

We spoke with a variety of advocates - caregivers and families honoring parents and partners, and supporters who showed up with empathy even without a personal connection. We spoke with Dr. Levey of Emory’s research team who laid out why deep sleep, daily movement, and social connection can reduce risk, how accurate blood tests are transforming early detection, and why new medications that slow progression mark a true turning point. We also talk candidly about clinical trials—why enrollment lags far behind cancer, what’s at stake for prevention studies, and how a strong trial culture can accelerate breakthroughs for everyone.

Throughout the day, small moments carry big meaning: the flower garden of colors, a little girl holding the white flower that symbolizes the first survivor, and the reminder that empowerment programs help people live well with ability, not just diagnosis. The crowd’s energy makes one thing clear—joy is a strategy, and community is a form of care. If you’re a caregiver, a person living with dementia, or an ally ready to do something that matters, this conversation brings both hope and marching orders.

Walk with us, learn with us, and help move the science forward—subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs it, and consider joining a clinical trial or local chapter event. Your step might be the one that brings the white flower into bloom.

Visit Alz.org for more information and check us out at parentingup.com. 

Executive Producer/Host: J Smiles 

Producer: Mia Hall

Videographer/Editor: Annelise Udoye

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"Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!"
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SPEAKER_10:

I am standing in Piedmont Park at the world's largest Alzheimer's event. Why is it the largest? It's because the walk to end Alzheimer's happens all over the country at the same time, more or less, right?

SPEAKER_01:

Today, we are actually a media sponsor. Jay Smiles is out there raising awareness. She reaches a community of caregivers that we may not be able to reach on our own. So the more awareness we can raise, the better. On top of that, you know, caregiving and Alzheimer's and dementia can be so heavy. And she really shows people that like you can you can laugh. You can still live, you can still laugh, and you can still enjoy life as much as you can, and that's just so important. It's such an important part of caregiving.

SPEAKER_02:

So one of the things that's most important, we think, is that it's estimated about 40-45% of Alzheimer's disease must be preventable. And the way we can prevent it is by having people do things that are going to promote healthy behaviors. Sleep is one of the most important things. Getting a good night's sleep, slow-weight sleep, enhances our memory, and clears out those toxic amyloid flaps and neurofibrillar candles in our brain. So sleep is really critical.

SPEAKER_10:

Parenting up caregiving adventures with comedian Jay Smiles is the intense journey of unexpectedly being fully responsible for my mama. For over a decade, I've been chipping away at the unknown, advocating for her, and pushing Alzheimer's awareness on anyone and anything with a heartbeat.

SPEAKER_08:

That's why I died, don't die. Don't be ready for the joke.

SPEAKER_10:

Caregiver newbies, OGs, and village members just willing to prop up a caregiver. You are in the right place. Hi, this is ready. I hope you enjoy my daughter's podcast.

SPEAKER_12:

Is that okay?

SPEAKER_10:

Today's supporter shout out is two people. Libby and Leslie of Alzheimer's Association of the Rockin' Georgia chapter.

SPEAKER_01:

Jay Smiles is out there raising awareness. She reaches a community of caregivers that we may not be able to reach on our own. So the more awareness we can raise, the better. On top of that, you know, caregiving and Alzheimer's and dementia can be so heavy. And she really shows people that like you can you can laugh. You can still live, you can still laugh, and you can still enjoy life as much as you can, and that's just so important. It's such an important part of caregiving. So it's just really cool that she is in this middle where she gets it and she is raising awareness and she's just showing caregivers like it's okay and you're not alone.

SPEAKER_06:

She's amazing. First of all, her spirit and her energy, of course, is amazing. Um, she did one of our pre-interviews, which is a big um benefit to our sponsors who get to have some airtime. And um one of the pre-interviews that we did with our research tent in with Emory University, and that was so impactful. Um, the entire crowd had stopped to hear what what they were saying, and it was just really, really great. Not to mention she's you know jumping in around and interacting with the crowd all day. It was amazing. We're really thankful to have her.

SPEAKER_10:

Now you know you want to get a support shout out too. I know you do, I know you do, and you should know what to do. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or Instagram. We are at parenting up everywhere. What's up, family? It's your girl Jay Smile, and I am standing in PowerPark at the world's largest Alzheimer's event. Why is it the largest? It's because the walk-to-in Alzheimer's happened all over the country at the same time, more or less, right? Today, we are actually a media sponsor. Community. We got a kid and all kinds of fancy stuff. We got giveaways. So many people trying to fight and beat this disease. We met people living with what they call young Alzheimer's. We met people who have family members that die from Alzheimer's on both sides. Can you imagine that? Anyway, we're out here. Today is about joy, awareness, and advocacy. The joy is that we have a community that is willing to fight this thing. Yes.

SPEAKER_04:

Good morning. Good morning, like we're gonna take a few minutes to bring information of the biggest person here.

SPEAKER_11:

Thank you, Ben.

SPEAKER_10:

Thank you. Good morning, all cyber spider team. The weather is on our side, and right now that makes me feel good. I'm very smiling of the parenting of the podcast. We are one of the media sponsors. My mother was the most early sponsors about 14 years ago. I'm a very caregiver, and because of it, I started a podcast to support family caregivers. So what we say is humor. We lead with benefits, and no matter what, until there's a cure, we can lock arms and support each other across the globe. So one time for the all-size association. Now we want to hear some real data and science and stuff.

SPEAKER_11:

Dr.

SPEAKER_10:

is with every stuff about you know legends and things and dad.

SPEAKER_08:

How are you?

SPEAKER_02:

I am great, and I'm so happy to be here. Thank you, Jay. This is fabulous. What a great turnout. Um, you want to hear about ending Alzheimer's disease? Who's gonna walk today to end this disease? That's our goal. We certainly have a lot of caregiving to do and caregiving research to do, um, but we're on the walk on the walk to end Alzheimer's disease, and we have been making so much progress over the last two years. We have come hundreds of miles getting closer. Some of the research that's ongoing now is actually testing things that might be able to prevent Alzheimer's disease. And we'll know in the next year or two whether some of the things that we're now treating patients with are actually going to be effective for preventing the disease. So we're getting there.

SPEAKER_11:

I love that so much. Can you give us a little information with some of the research that's excited about there's there's a lot that I'm excited about.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, right here behind me, we have our sleep research team and who's out here. So one of the things that's most important, we think, is that it's estimated about 40-45% of Alzheimer's might be preventable. And the way we can prevent it is by having people do things that are going to promote healthy behavior. Sleep is one of the most important things. Getting a good night's sleep, low-weight sleep, enhances our memory, and clears out those toxic amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary cannabis in our brain. So sleep is really critical. How do you get good sleep? You do things to promote good sleep, like exercise, have a good diet, have good social interactions during the day. And so those are the types of healthy lifestyles that are gonna end Alzheimer's disease for many, many people.

SPEAKER_11:

Oh my goodness, as a family caregiver, I'm urged in sleep losing if I try to walk out the house. Okay, all right, we would have a lot of people.

SPEAKER_10:

But thank you for giving me our marketing orders.

SPEAKER_11:

Now, we know there's a lot of research and trials medication might work. Can you explain to us why those trials really are important?

SPEAKER_02:

Um, thank you for bringing that up. We have so many ideas because of the advances of the research, how medications can be more effective. The biggest problem is getting people to volunteer to test medications to prevent the disease, to slow the disease. And so clinical trials and research is absolutely critical. If you look at the progress that's happened in fighting cancer, which we know has been spectacular, there are ten times the number of clinical trials and the culture is that people with cancer get into a clinical trial. We need to make that happen for Alzheimer's disease and related to methods because we can go faster on our you know race for a cure.

SPEAKER_11:

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02:

One is early detection. Our ability to help rest on identifying people in early stages, not waiting for them to go through a difficult journey of years and stress trying to find a diagnosis. We now have a blood test, which is very accurate. So what a transformation because we can think about screening people and finding the disease as early as it starts. Second thing is we can do something with new medications. Over the last couple years, we've had our first medicines that can slow down the progress of the disease. That is huge. That is the first step on our factor appearance.

SPEAKER_10:

Did you all hear blood tests? I would like a round of applause for whoever made it that simple. I could probably almost test my knew it, but I probably could.

SPEAKER_11:

Now, lastly, what can you give us as caregivers and those who've been diagnosed?

SPEAKER_10:

That could be a thing today. Some of the big model.

SPEAKER_02:

We have this phenomenal program called the Cognitive Empowerment Program, and it helps educate people about the lifestyle changes they can make to embrace other abilities. Having a disease like Alzheimer's disease doesn't mean you're robbed of all abilities. It's about how do we empower people, take advantage of the gifts that we have, the social interactions, our families, our friends, and keep ourselves as healthy as possible and enjoy the best quality of life. So there are things we can do. We need to get people engaged, diagnosed, and get them the services they need.

SPEAKER_10:

That's it. You heard from the best of the best. Let's give a round of applause for Dr. Lee, for Aerie, for the all kinds of associations. Together, we can beat this.

SPEAKER_02:

You're welcome. Thank you. One of the things that we need to do.

SPEAKER_13:

I am the PRC. Don't have me to see my hurt. She's got great work. I'm not doing this morning and all this for people living in the future.

SPEAKER_10:

You know, just trying to do some good in the world. You've been doing good, baby. Look, she is playing herself now. She does so much research for us and our community. So I got this all the time.

SPEAKER_13:

That's why we got so much.

SPEAKER_10:

She's at Emery. She's a PhD, okay? I'm not. I'm a bullshit talker, but I'm good at it. We need the real mix with the research, right? Absolutely, sweetheart. Wait, better now. Are you kidding me? I know, right? Wait, is that still on?

SPEAKER_05:

Is that still on?

SPEAKER_10:

Yeah, hey. This is the guy. He's been on the podcast already. Dan, look, it rhyme with turkey. I know you it's G-O-E-R-K-E. It's a mess.

SPEAKER_07:

Tell the name of your book. You're beautiful. Unforgettable, unbelievable. I wrote a memoir of my caretaking journey with my wife, Denise, who was diagnosed when she was just 56. Anyway, it's out there. Buy it. It's on Amazon. This lady is wonderful, an amazing lady. Thank you for what you do. Same here.

SPEAKER_10:

And listen, this part is, it's, I'm gonna say it, and don't y'all judge. But let me tell you how badass he is. His wife has been an angel for years, and he is still trying to fight with us in this community to get um a cure.

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_10:

So once a caregiver, always a caregiver, right, Dan?

SPEAKER_07:

Absolutely. You are awesome.

SPEAKER_10:

Dan was at the recording of my first comedy special. So we go together. We go together, go together.

unknown:

All right.

SPEAKER_10:

In the dementia Alzheimer's community, yellow means you're a caregiver or a supporter of caregivers. So what up, though? All my yellow people. Thank you for being a yellow person. I'm Jay Smiles. I'm one of the media sponsors here. Okay. Have Parenting Up Podcast. Nice to meet you. Ann Chicago. Okay. Hey, how you doing? It's a pleasure. But I did see you out at the tent. Yep. Yep. Yep. How is awesome? Come on, my dad. But in the early stages of awesome and just before time. But she kinda, you know, has been like the forerun. Yeah. At the forefront of, hey, let's do this, let's donate, and let's come out and walk. And so I'm trying to piggyback on her when it comes to attending me. So I'm part of her team. We are supporting my room. We gotta have team Ali. I'll be on her team next year. Why not? That's right. I'm on her team right now. And parenting up, we can merge and do everything. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I love it. It's a pleasure to meet you all.

SPEAKER_05:

Thank you. 14 years.

SPEAKER_10:

14 years. And she bless her heart. She's not talking much anymore, but she can still chew. She can walk-ish. And if I call her name, she looks around. And that's all. I just need if I say mama and she does like this, that's good enough. I'm like, she knows that's my voice. All right, good to see y'all again. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What's your name, honey? Taylor. Taylor.

SPEAKER_03:

Yes.

SPEAKER_10:

What's up with the shirt?

SPEAKER_03:

So I was looking for a shirt to kind of like represent how I feel, and that's how I feel, and I'm doing this for my mom. Okay.

SPEAKER_10:

Your mom?

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, my mother, yeah.

SPEAKER_10:

She is she currently battling the disease?

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, she is. She is. Okay.

SPEAKER_10:

How old is she?

SPEAKER_03:

She will be 65 in two weeks. Actually, a week and a half.

SPEAKER_10:

She was diagnosed kind of early.

SPEAKER_03:

Uh, maybe like a year, two years. Actually, two, three years ago. Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_10:

And for anybody, if you can't see it, it's F U, and then I love that the ribbon for Alzheimer's is on the side. It's on the side horizontal. So it's really he's saying fuck Alzheimer's. Without putting a C in the K.

SPEAKER_03:

Right, right.

SPEAKER_10:

Where'd you get that from?

SPEAKER_03:

Actually, Amazon.

SPEAKER_10:

Okay, listen, sometimes Amazon works. Yeah, sometimes it does.

SPEAKER_03:

It does.

SPEAKER_10:

But so this is your first time doing the walk?

SPEAKER_03:

It's my first time, yes.

SPEAKER_10:

Well, please join us on the Parents and Up Podcast. I would love to have you on the podcast. I've been caring for my mom for 14 years.

SPEAKER_03:

Okay.

SPEAKER_10:

And the Parents and Up Podcast, our 10 is right over there where you can see the big banners. Okay. We got some giveaways. Okay.

SPEAKER_03:

I'll be over here.

SPEAKER_10:

Uh a power pack, but most importantly, we use humor and levity to keep family caregivers like me and you uplifted.

SPEAKER_03:

I appreciate that. Thank you.

SPEAKER_10:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thank you. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you as well. All right. Listen, we're out here. We're out here. How has Alzheimer's impacted you? So I've not had any direct effect other than I forget where I put my phone and my keys. So who knows what's happening? Honey, listen. So I'm just walking to support any and all. I love that. And thank you. Absolutely. So, like I said earlier, I'm with the Parenting Up Podcast. My mom has had Alzheimer's for 14 years. And my whole goal is to support family caregivers with humor and leave with levity. Yes. This disease totally sucks. And until there's a cure, we can at least be able to lean on each other.

SPEAKER_13:

Absolutely. So I am supporting my siblings. My uh sister is deceased. Um, you know, effects of Alzheimer's. My brother is currently in the uh late stages of Alzheimer's. So I know the disease well firsthand from being a caregiver and that support system. So that's why my shirt says I'll remember for you.

SPEAKER_10:

Oh, I love that.

SPEAKER_09:

I'll remember for you. Okay, so my name is Sophia. I am walking in support. I don't have any direct descendants of um Alzheimer's. Yes, but I am a Mahjong enthusiast, and um Mahjong is proven by science to prevent or prolong the effects of Alzheimer's. It builds memory and things of that nature. So I am hoping to get more people that look like me, black and brown people, into the game because it is a proven fact that it keeps Alzheimer's away.

SPEAKER_10:

I want you to teach me. Did you live in Land?

SPEAKER_09:

Absolutely. Yes, we have a group, Black Girls Mahjong 2.

SPEAKER_10:

We'll have all y'all, you and your group will be on the podcast. Look, at least two or three times for us to get an idea of what the hell we're doing. That mahjong, it scares me.

SPEAKER_09:

You'll love it once you learn how to play, girl. Well, I believe. We have a group as well. We have two different groups where one. Okay. Sisters play mahjong too.

SPEAKER_10:

Sisters mahjong. Sisters mahjong too. Please go to the tent, put that on, and on the back of your piece of paper, put mahjong. Okay. That'll help me remember. Absolutely. I can't wait.

SPEAKER_04:

We want to welcome you here to the walk to end Alzheimer's. And let me tell you, we are deeply honored to be here with you today on behalf of the Alzheimer's Associations for the World.

SPEAKER_12:

Of course, this is a part of my heart because my grandfather, who will be 90 years old in December, is actually, you know, battling this disease. He's has Alzheimer's. So I'm his primary caretaker. And when I tell you it has been a journey, so when I reached out to the Alzheimer's Association and we promoted on the show, when we took calls from my millions of listeners, and I didn't know that people like me were actually going through this. And so I felt like I'm not alone in this journey because I thought that I was. And thank God that I'm not. So once again, I'm walking for my grandfather, uh, my great-grandmother, and also my grandmother who is uh battling with this disease.

SPEAKER_00:

I'm here to advocate for my father, his sister, their father, and all of your family. My father passed away in March of this year, and his sister passed away last month when my grandfather was diagnosed in the late 90s. It was a death sentence. Vividly remember we didn't talk about it, we didn't know what to do about it, and uh, there was a lot of confusion. I wasn't aware of the association, I wasn't aware of the support network. I was young and confused, and my father was diagnosed. I found this association, I found strength, I found wisdom, and I found education. Um things have changed rapidly, but it was too late for my father. Today things have changed dramatically for those of you getting diagnosed. I have friends who are on some of the drugs that are available now. The FDA is released. There's finally hope. Unbelievable how close we are to putting this thing to rest.

SPEAKER_04:

There's also a white flower. And I'm confident that one day we will be able to add this white flower to the garden that will represent the first survivor of all times. That will be such an incredible addition to the garden, but until that day, we can't back down, y'all. We must continue to lead the way because together we can end Alzheimer's.

SPEAKER_10:

Nice sky. Meaning it's not too hot, it's not too cold, and then there are about 2,500 people who are on your team. We are standing right here at the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer's. Now, this is sponsored by the Georgia chapter, but it's happening all over the place. Y'all, we have cheerleaders from Georgia Tech helping us learn how to not cheer and leave that to people who are much younger than us. I'm gonna tell you that. What they were doing, I can't do that. We have people from B103, we have people from news, multiple radio stations, making sure that the word gets out. There are people who are fighting hard as hell to beat this disease. I met one lady where she got diagnosed two years ago and she's not even 60. It's considered young Alzheimer's. It's not even quite early onset, and she's one of the very few ambassadors that the Alzheimer's Association has used to be a spokesperson across the nation. Your girl got to get on stage with a yellow flower. What we learned today was whether you're a caregiver, a survivor, lost somebody to the disease, a corporate sponsor, you get a different color flower. So it felt like we were in a world of tulips and daisies because everybody at the appropriate times like jumped up and down with their flowers. It was so colorful and it was so beautiful. There are at least 15 different facilities who are here sharing what they do for loved ones, family members who are suffering with any form of dementia. Parkinson's, frontal, uh, temporal dementia, vascular dementia. But these are care centers that very specifically only want people suffering with dementia. Emory University was here. They had this huge research tent telling us what they're doing to move the needle. The biggest thing, one of the most prominent people, um, Dr. Levy, in all of the country when it comes to neurology and science and thinking this, all the dementia-related things out, he told us we gotta get in more clinical trials. Did y'all know that? Like, unfortunately, cancer is beating our ass. 10 to 1 with participants in clinical trials. Now, that helps them get to treatments and a cure. We haven't gotten to a cure yet. I learned today that the color white, a white flower, is symbolic. We are fighting to wait and see when will we have the first survivor of Alzheimer's? A person who is diagnosed, but then the disease is reversed or it vanishes. The number of people who started crying and cheering at the thought of when will we get the first survivor? My heart started beating fast. To me, it felt like having the first black president or having uh the first woman do something, or the first time the Cowboys won the Super Bowl. I'm just saying, you know, big fancy first. Researchers, kids. The cutest thing ever, this little girl could barely walk. She had on a fit that was so damn adorable. It was Alzheimer's. She had purple pom-poms, and she was the symbolic holder of the white flower. She was blowing purple bubbles. There was so much joy and happiness around us on this big old football field. We had two different lengths of the walk. There was a 1.5 distance and a 2.5 distance miles. 1.5 miles, 2.5 miles. And there were people in wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, and some people were getting pushed. You see what I'm saying? That is serious. You talking about commitment to support. You are in a wheelchair getting pushed to fight for other people while you are already potentially in a compromised physical state. It was so amazing. I have I've never met so many people supporting a disease that they didn't have a connection to. I met at least five people who haven't had a family member, a coworker, or anybody have any form of dementia. You know why they're here? Because they have empathy, they are reading the news, they're watching stuff on social media, and they're getting involved simply because advocacy is what you do to make humanity better. It blew me away. How many things do you fight for that have not ever affected you? Now you're talking about heart. That's big heart. That's big heart. So we had calisthenics, that's such an old school world. We were stretching. They got porta potties with hand sanitizer, there smoothies, chicken and waffles, yeah, food carts at the Alzheimer's walk to end the disease. It's been a great day. There are all every gender, every race, at least eight generations. Congratulations, Alzheimer's Association. Congratulations on putting on the biggest, most productive, most financially um let's say something. They raised the most money and got the most people out here that they've ever done. In a time when our country and our world is starving for community and the lack of hate. We found it today. So I'm happy. So I'm so very happy. I'm right now thinking about my grandfather who died from the disease, and my poor mama's daddy, which is the reason why. I'm a caregiver, I got a podcast, and I'm a comedian. And then look, we pucked out some new merch, y'all. Alright, so if you if you listen, you're gonna have to go to the YouTube page to look at it. Let me know what you think. But we for the first time, we got front and back on our gear. Thank y'all, thank y'all, thank y'all. Please like, share, get in the comments, get in the DMs. Tell me what else I can do to help support you and those you know who are family caregivers. Peace. Grandgraddy. Apparently, when I was little, I couldn't say granddaddy, so I said grandgraddy. The snuggle up. The most prominent thing about today attending the Alzheimer's Association, walk to end Alzheimer's, is that racism, sexism, classism, all the isms of bigotry and bias were not present. Ageism wasn't present. Disabledism wasn't present. That was so rewarding, impactful, and inspiring to feel, not just see, to actually, like my body and my bones got re-energized. And then the other thing I want to say, and I and I'm encouraging y'all, and no, no, I'm challenging you. Go to a walk for something. If for some reason they don't have dementia or Alzheimer's near you, go to it for leukemia, for cancer, for domestic violence. The amount of hope I have right now in humanity, in this world, and the fact that what I see in the news is not the whole truth. Right now, I'm ready to go talk shit to Congress. I want to go talk shit to the man on the corner. I am more fueled right now. Last night wasn't such a good time with Daddy. She had a tough night. And that kind of got me down. But I get out here and I'm like, oh shit, okay. I'm not alone. I'm not the only one thinking this way. And more importantly, I'm not the only one experiencing this. Dazzy from V103, look her up on IG, was one of the hosts during the opening ceremony. She had to stop several times because of tear. Real tears. This is a radio personality. She is used to talking in front of people. Happy, sad, catastrophe, but she was talking about her family, how they've been adversely snatched around emotionally. And she was so excited to see how many people were out here with the disease. The blue flower meant you had the disease. And it was a bunch of them. And that's when she broke down. I was like, you know what? This thing is bigger than all of us, but together we can beat it. So that's that's it. That's all I got. Thank you for tuning in. I mean, really, really, really thank you so very much for tuning in. Whether you're watching this on YouTube or if you're listening on your favorite podcast audio platform. Either way, wherever you are, subscribe. Come back. That's the way you're gonna know when we do something next. Y'all know how it is. I'm Jason Miles. I might just drop something hot in the middle of the night.