The Youth Movement Against Alzheimer’s Club (YMAA) is a club at Lexington High School that aims to educate the public on Alzheimer’s prevention and volunteer support for people with Alzheimer’s. The club meets every other Day 5 during I Block.
YMAA is a national non-profit organization with Lexington representing one of 29 chapters. The club is run by a board of leaders who plan events and run club meetings. Such meetings usually involve a lesson on brain health and strategies for preventing Alzheimer’s.
“We just did a lesson that was about experiencing Alzheimer’s. We watched a video that was a simulation of someone with Alzheimer’s and did activities to simulate the symptoms,” Sophie Le, a junior and President of YMAA, said.
In addition to having lessons about serious topics, YMAA hosts fun events and opportunities at their club meetings.
“We do jeopardy, games, and challenges […] on how to improve our brain health habits,” Le said.
Outside of club meetings, YMAA participates in volunteer activities and events. In the past, its members have volunteered with organizations like Youville and joined the Walk to End Alzheimer’s last Oct. These experiences have helped the club grow.
“The Walk to End Alzheimer’s was our biggest achievement. We raised over $1,500, and then we all, as a club, did the walk together. It was really nice,” Agnes Brodrick, a junior and YMAA’s treasurer, said.
The club has also received official recognition. They recently won “most inspiring Instagram post” out of all of the other YMAA branches, earning a $200 prize. Successes like the former stemmed from the rapid growth in club participation.
“I feel like we did a really good job growing the club from literally nothing my freshman year to really big last year and even bigger this year. We’ve gotten in touch with a lot of people. We’ve made a lot of good connections and that’s something to be proud of,” Le said.
There are many ways for students interested in healthcare or Alzheimer’s to get involved in YMAA:
“Joining the club, signing up for the activities you participate in, like the walk, even if you’re not a consistent member of the club, and following Instagram,” Marissa Hao, a junior and Vice President of YMAA, said.
The club has had a meaningful impact on its members. Many have family experiences with Alzheimer’s and want to learn more about the condition itself, as well as how they can approach and support those affected by the disease.
“I want to make an impact on my community and help others with managing and preventing Alzheimer’s. I think YMAA can [also] be really helpful to learn how to interact with someone with Alzheimer’s,” Hao said.
