Quilters have long known that a quilt is a loving tribute that bonds quilters with recipients across generations and across vast distances. A quilt has a nurturing effect that comforts and soothes the soul. The warmth of a quilt is enhanced by the often bright patterns and colorful images which frequently suggest a simpler time.

Under a unique donation program organized by the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) quilts are brightening the lives of Alzheimer's research study patients around the nation.

The Alzheimer’s Study Quilt Project began in late January 2010. An employee who is a quilter instituted the project because she knew how quilts have a positive effect and how quilters are wonderfully generous people. Her plea for quilts to give participants in the Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) Study was picked up by numerous quilting newsletters. Good Samaritans circulated the request for quilts and they began arriving from communities all over the U.S. To date the ADCS has received enough quilts for all NGF Study participants and are now looking for lap-sized quilts for participants in other ADCS studies.

Many of the quilters had family members with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). With the quilts often come memories and stories of why people have chosen to make and donate a quilt to the project. Just as touching are the stories from the research sites of how grateful study participants are who received the hand-made quilts.

If you are interested in donating a new, lap-sized quilt it should be approximately 40 inches wide and 45 to 50 inches long, and made of 100% cotton or flannel. A little larger or a little smaller is fine. You can use any design or pattern. The study participants are both men and women so a variety of colors would work best. Or you can make a “themed” quilt specifically for a woman or a man. We’ve received very feminine pink and flowery quilts as well as quilts featuring trucks, cars and golfing that appeal to the men. There is no deadline. Whenever you can make and send a quilt will be fine. Some of our quilters have put labels on the back with their name and city or thanking the recipient for participating in Alzheimer’s research but that is optional. No label is necessary or required.

We receive the quilts here at our office and distribute them to our research study sites located throughout the U.S. when they notify us of a newly enrolled participant.

Please mail the quilts to the following address:

Jeffree Itrich, M.S.W., M.J.
Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study
University of California San Diego
8950 Villa La Jolla Dr, Ste C-227
La Jolla, CA 92037-1712

For more information email us at adcs-quilts@ucsd.edu or call us at 858-246-1317