It is time to go purple! Why? Because June is Alzheimer’s Awareness month. I missed the June 21 date that is set aside to wear purple and alert people about the prevalence of Alzheimer’s. However, it’s never too late to learn more about this disease.
Just what is Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s is a fatal disease that affects the ability to remember, think and plan. Worldwide, 47 million individuals are living with Alzheimer’s and this number is set to rise dramatically unless we do something about it.
While we cannot prevent Alzheimer’s disease, we can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Before we look at how to prevent the disease, let’s look at the top 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s:
1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
4. Confusion with time or place
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
8. Decreased or poor judgement
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities
10. Changes in mood or personality
Now let’s look at ten ways to incorporate healthy habits to reduce risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease:
I remember 20 years ago when I heard about a family member with Alzheimer’s, I had no clue about it. The disease was first described by and later named after, German psychiatrist and pathologist, Alois Alzheimer in 1906.
Celebrities like country singer and guitarist, Glenn Campbell, late President Ronald Reagan and late actress Rita Hayworth (she was not correctly diagnosed for several years) improperly have heightened understanding of the illness and reduce the stigma of Alzheimer’s patients by publicly announcing their own illnesses.
Every 67 seconds someone in the United States develops the disease. Now, the Alzheimer’s Association helps to bring about awareness, care, support and research for prevention of the disease. Women are disproportionately impacted by this disease. Today nearly two-thirds of those with Alzheimer’s are women and more than 70 percent of Alzheimer’s caregivers are women.
Go purple these last few days of the month of June by taking all the necessary steps to reduce your risk. Join the movement, take the purple pledge @ https://mybrain.alz.org/join-us.asp
Have a fabulous week!
