The Alzheimer’s Association South Carolina Chapter helps families act early and move care forward
By Jenny Peterson
Long before Ashton Houghton was helping South Carolina families navigate Alzheimer’s, she was watching the disease change someone she loved.
“My grandmother had younger-onset Alzheimer’s, and I watched what the disease takes — not just from the person, but from everyone who loves them,” Houghton said.
Today, Houghton uses her experience to help shape a more hopeful future for families facing the disease. As executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association South Carolina Chapter, she works to improve outcomes and raise awareness of the disease across the state.
An Alzheimer’s diagnosis is overwhelming, but there are more reasons than ever for families to act quickly. Emerging treatments can help delay symptoms when prescribed early, while comprehensive support services and statewide advocacy are changing the landscape of dementia care.
Statewide Support and Advocacy
The Alzheimer’s Association South Carolina Chapter, a 2006 merger of the Upstate South Carolina Chapter, established in 1987, and the Palmetto Chapter, helps families navigate a diagnosis while working to improve dementia care statewide.
Its advocacy efforts helped establish and protect South Carolina’s Alzheimer’s Caregiver Respite Program and contributed to the state’s 2023–2028 Statewide Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias, with a focus on improving access to care, strengthening caregiver support, educating health care providers and communities.
New Treatments and Family Resources
Two FDA-approved therapies, donanemab (Kisunla®) and lecanemab (Leqembi®), target beta-amyloid, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, and can slow cognitive and functional decline in people with early Alzheimer’s.
“When I started in this field, we talked about Alzheimer’s treatment mostly in terms of managing symptoms. Now we’re seeing therapies that actually target the underlying disease process, more sophisticated tools for early detection and a research pipeline that’s more active than it’s ever been,” Houghton said.
The chapter advocated for the statewide Dementia Care Specialist program through the SC Department on Aging, with dedicated staff in ten regions providing local resources for families to take proactive steps that have been shown to help delay symptoms.
The Alzheimer’s Association also supports research, promotes brain-health strategies and offers free resources. The 24/7 Helpline, 800-272-3900, connects families with experts and local resources.
“The memory of my grandmother is what I carry into every meeting, every conversation with a family who’s just gotten a diagnosis,” Houghton said. “I believe the work we’re doing now is genuinely changing what the future looks like. My hope is that my kids grow up in a world where a diagnosis doesn’t mean the same thing it meant for my grandmother. That’s not wishful thinking anymore. It’s the direction we’re actually headed, and I want to help get us there faster.”
To learn more about the Alzheimer’s Association South Carolina Chapter, or to make a donation, visit www.alz.org/sc.
