What is TAP?
The concept of helping those suffering from AD through the Arts was brought to life by Ms. Judith Simon some years ago and lead to the creation of The Alzheimer’s Project (T.A.P).
T.A.P. began its existence in 2011 and started as a movement class, based on ballroom dancing, for those with limited mobility. The prosperity of the class became possible due to the consolidation of the experience and efforts of Ms. Judith Simon and Dr. Alan Jacobs (Medical supervision and advise). The real breakthrough happened in October 2012, at the International Alzheimer’s Conference in Vancouver. The poster presentation of a study on Dementia (please note the study has not yet been officially published) announced that people who ballroom dance frequently are by 7 6% less likely to become affected by the Alzheimer’s Disease.
In January 2013 T.A.P. was presented to the NDCA (National Dance Council of America). and received an overwhelming approval.
T.A.P. is currently expending throughout the country and is being offered in several Kensington Assistant Living Properties.
Founders
Ms. Judith Simon
Judith started Ballroom Dancing in 2010- and for the past years has traveled across the country with her dance teacher entering many Dance Sport competitions and winning first place in almost all situations. She attended the Mark Morris Dance for PD program and has taught at Burke Rehab, My Second Home and Chappaqua Crossings. She also received a Certificate for the Institute Of Music and Neurologic Function in their summer workshop in 2011.
She has been in the Fitness Industry for over 25 years and started the Pilates program for New York Sports Club in Westchester and Connecticut. Judith has owned and operated a Licensed Home Care Agency and Companion Agency for 25 plus years -and has worked with Alzheimer’s patients throughout her career. She has taken the Dementia Specialist and Geriatric Specialist Certificate Programs at Pace University along with Pain and Palliation in the Older Adults. She serves on many Geriatric Committees is an Affiliate Geriatric Care Manager, President of the local Rotary Club, on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, Library Foundation, Zoning Board, and this year was named the citizen of the year in Mount Kisco. She also serves on the Mt, Kisco Council for the Arts. She graduated from the College of Mount St. Vincent, “magna cum laude” and was there first Continuing Education Student. Now she is living a long held dream and passion-to dance
Dr. Alan Jacobs
Dr. Jacobs earned his B.A. and M.D. degrees from Duke University in 1984 and 1989 respectively. He completed a medical internship at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in 1990 and neurology residency at The New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center in 1993. Between 1993 and 1995 he completed fellowships in behavioral neurology and neuroendocrinology at Beth Israel.
Hospital/Harvard Medical School. From 1995 to 2001 he was at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University as Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience, Assistant Director of the Memory Disorders Program, and Director of the Neuroendocrine Unit. As of June 2001 he has been Assistant Professor of Neurology at SU NY/Downstate Medical Center and a member of the Alzheimer’s disease and Memory Disorders Center at University Hospital of Brooklyn. His training, interests, and current practice include general neurology and the subspecialties of behavioral neurology and neuroendocrinology.
Dr. Jacobs has extensive clinical and research experience in all aspects of behavioral neurology. This includes the dementias, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy Body disease, Pick’s disease and vascular dementia, as well as non-progressive cognitive and comportmental disorders including traumatic brain injury, temporal lobe epilepsy, attention deficit disorder and many others.
Dr. Jacobs also has a strong clinical and research experience in psychoneuroendocrinology (how hormones affect behavior). He has studied the relationship between anxiety and late onset Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, catamenial epilepsy (seizures occurring in phase with the menstrual cycle) and premenstrual and menopausal influences on mood and cognition. He has diagnosed and cared for many patients with these disorders along with disorders involving the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland.
He is an accomplished lecturer and author on these subjects.