Free Alzheimer’s educational conference in Bedford on Sept. 16

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is hosting a free educational conference in Bedford on Sept. 16, the organization has announced.

Alzheimer’s experts will be in attendance to teach about the importance of early detection, provide support to caregivers, and discuss the communications challenges the disease brings, according to the event release.

The event will take place at the Bedford Event Center on South River Road from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those who wish to attend can register online at www.alzfdn.org/tour. For those who can’t attend, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America also operates a hotline — 866-232-8484 for calling, 646-586-5283 for texting — people can contact if they have questions about Alzheimer’s.

More than 7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s across the United States, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. There is no known cure, but researchers trying to understand the illness for decades have developed some treatments that can slow the cognitive and functional decline that comes with Alzheimer’s.

“Knowledge is a useful and powerful tool that can help make any situation easier to navigate, especially something as challenging as caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease,” Charles J. Fuschillo Jr., president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, said in a press release. “Connecting families with useful, practical information and support that can help them now and be better prepared for the future is what this conference is all about. Whether Alzheimer’s is affecting your family, you are a caregiver, or just want to learn more about brain health, we invite you to join us on September 16.”