Thousands of Pittsburghers will gather at Schenley Park's Flagstaff Hill Pavilion this Saturday for the annual Walk to End Alzheimer's, an event organizers hope will raise $1 million for research and family support as Allegheny County grapples with a senior Alzheimer's rate that exceeds the national average. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m., an opening ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m., and the walk itself kicks off at 11 a.m. on October 17.
The Pittsburgh event typically draws nearly 3,000 participants each year, according to WTAE, and is part of a nationwide campaign that unfolds in more than 600 communities across the country, making it the world's largest event dedicated to raising awareness and funds for dementia care, support, and research, per WPXI. The Alzheimer's Association, which organizes the walk locally, says the disease currently has no cure, but notes that new treatments and research are giving families renewed hope.
Why Allegheny County's Numbers Stand Out
The urgency behind this year's fundraising push is rooted in local data. An estimated 11.9% of Allegheny County residents aged 65 and older live with Alzheimer's dementia — roughly 28,500 people — according to 2023 estimates published by The Almanac and researchers at Rush University, marking the first time county-level prevalence data had been made available to help local public health officials target resources. Statewide, 282,000 Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older were living with Alzheimer's in 2024, supported by 472,000 family caregivers who together provided 835 million hours of unpaid care valued at more than $17 billion, the Alzheimer's Association reports.
Lynzy Groves, development director for the Alzheimer's Association, told WTAE that the disease is socially isolating and urged people to stay connected with loved ones, friends and family. She said recent treatments are not cures, but they do give people more time — a distinction organizers are emphasizing as diagnostic and drug research accelerates.
A Pittsburgh-Born Blood Test Advances Research
At the University of Pittsburgh, researchers developed a blood test with support from the Alzheimer's Association that detects a marker known as brain-derived tau (BD-tau). WTAE reported on an FDA-approved Pitt blood test that is not yet widely available. The BD-tau assay was developed by a team led by associate professor Dr. Thomas Karikari, according to UPMC. The approach offers a far more accessible alternative to costly PET scans and invasive spinal fluid draws, which have long limited how many patients can be diagnosed early.
Early detection matters more now that the FDA has granted traditional approval to two disease-modifying therapies — Leqembi in July 2023 and Kisunla in July 2024 — the first medications proven to slow cognitive decline by clearing amyloid plaques in early-stage patients. Both drugs are administered intravenously and require biomarker testing to confirm eligibility, according to the FDA.
State and Federal Support Catching Up
Pennsylvania has moved to formalize its response to the disease's growing footprint. Governor Josh Shapiro signed Act 111 into law in October 2024, establishing the Commonwealth's first dedicated Alzheimer's, Dementia and Related Disorders Office within the Department of Aging, backed by a bipartisan $1.9 million budget allocation, per the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. State officials followed up in July 2025 by appointing inaugural members to an advisory committee tasked with guiding agency coordination and pursuing federal research grants.
On the federal side, a care model launched by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in July 2024 now allows Pittsburgh-area providers, including UPMC, to offer eligible Medicare beneficiaries 24/7 care coordination and up to $2,500 annually in respite services for family caregivers, according to CMS.
Reaching Communities at Higher Risk
Alzheimer's Association demographic research shows Black Americans are twice as likely, and Hispanic Americans 1.5 times as likely, to develop Alzheimer's disease compared with white Americans. Researchers have planned validation studies involving diverse populations.
For families navigating a diagnosis now, the Alzheimer's Association helpline connects callers with a clinician who can help with care planning and community resources, including guidance on communication issues and information about local walks, per WTAE's reporting. Those looking to take part in Saturday's event in Schenley Park can register or donate online ahead of the 11 a.m. start.
