An aging population is producing a growing number of Alzheimer’s and dementia diagnoses in the state. These increasing numbers have prompted first year students at the IU School of Medicine in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne to attend training seminars for caring for patients with these diseases.

Members of the Indiana chapter of the Alzheimer's Association made their case Monday at the Statehouse.

Noblesville and Carmel firefighters have already received the training that will be offered statewide.

In Indiana, the number of patients with Alzheimer's is expected to grow by nearly 20 percent in the next five years, there are a number of new programs and opportunities for people to use music to support memory.

A new movement is underway to make Indiana more dementia friendly through better awareness and understanding of the disease.

Since there's no cure for Alzheimer's disease, researchers are focused on ways to identify early signs and create treatments before dementia sets in.

The students are helping these seniors create customized playlists that can help trigger memories.

A cooperative study from Butler and funded by the Indiana State Department of Health will examine how effective a personalized playlist is for patients suffering from dementia.

Organizers say the training could impact as many as 1,000 nursing home residents in southwestern Indiana.

The study looked at chronic use of anticholinergic drugs by older adults. The drugs can include certain antihistamines and nighttime cold medicines.