By Amy Hoffmann Schenk, RN, BSN, MS Ed, Community Engagement Lead Neuropsychiatric Research Center of SW Florida
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month. This provides us an opportunity to spread the word about Alzheimer’s disease, and its impact on all of us. President Ronald Reagan initiated the observance of June being Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness in 1983. Sadly, Alzheimer’s disease would impact President Reagan personally and he died with the disease in 2004.
According to the 2024 Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures report, nearly 7 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease. From a risk perspective, 1/5 women and 1/10 men at age 45 have a lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease impacts the entire family. About one in nine adults over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s disease. Of those living with Alzheimer’s disease two thirds (2/3) are women. In addition, older Black adults are twice as likely as older White adults to have Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Older adults with a Hispanic/Latinx background are 1.5 times as likely to have Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia than older White adults.
Talking about Alzheimer’s disease is important. One third of people die with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. There still may be a perceived stigma when one has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, which is not seen with other health concerns. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that nearly 580,000 people in Florida are living with Alzheimer’s and there are approximately 840,000 unpaid caregivers supporting them. Being a caregiver for someone with cognitive issues is stressful, and over 66% of those caregivers have health issues. Education and awareness are critical in eliminating the stigma! Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disease, a process where brain cells, called neurons are damaged and die.
Taking care of our brains needs to be a top priority. Depending on what source you use, there are several approaches you can take proactively to keep your brain healthy. From Johns Hopkins University, here are five tips you can incorporate into your routine for a healthy brain:
Get your heart pumping through exercise. Of course, be sure to clear any exercise with your health care practitioner, particularly if you are new to an exercise routine.
Stay on top of any chronic medical issues, including heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and depression through regular visits to your health care provider.
Get your sleep! Many times, this is easier said than done. We know that sleep is important and two of the biggest sleep challenges are a result of sleep apnea and stress. If you are having issues with sleeping, talk to your health care provider.
Review your medications. Medications on their own can cause memory issues. Medication interactions can have a negative impact on memory and thinking. Discuss your medications with your health care provider or your pharmacist to evaluate if there are other options if necessary.
Stay socially engaged. Challenging our brains with new activities is helpful. When you are pursuing new activities and interests with others, you get the added benefit of social engagement.
In addition to these tips, we know that what we eat impacts all aspects of our health and wellness. The diet that shows some promising evidence is the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, and other seafood; unsaturated fats such as olive oils; and low amounts of red meat, eggs, and sweets. A variation of this, called MIND (Mediterranean–DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) incorporates the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, which has been shown to lower high blood pressure, a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Every June, the Alzheimer’s Association sponsors a fundraising event called The Longest Day. On the summer solstice, people from across the world will fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s disease through a fundraising activity of their choice. Choosing to “go purple” in June, shows your commitment and passion for not only finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but also shows your support of all those living with the disease and their care partners.
Learn more about the Longest Day here at https://act.alz.org/site/TR?frid=17194&pg=informational&sid=24695
Be sure you are staying on top of your brain health by scheduling a free memory screen at NPRC. Getting a baseline memory screen can give you peace of mind. Learn more about the research studies available today that are focusing on addressing memory issues.
Contact us at 239-939-7777. #Memories Matter
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