Did you know that June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month? And did you know that the state of Maryland has one of the highest prevalence’s of Alzheimer’s disease? The Alzheimer’s Association has listed 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s Disease that includes:
• Memory loss that disrupts daily life
• Challenges in planning or solving problems
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work, or at leisure
• Confusion with time or place
• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relations
• New problems with words in speaking or writing
• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
• Decreased or poor judgement
• Withdrawal from work or social activities
• Changes in mood or personality
Age (>65) is a factor in developing Alzheimer’s disease, but it doesn’t have to be! Keep your brain healthy by being active and exercising, socially interacting with others, reading, doing crossword or jigsaw puzzles, and eating a healthy balance of foods (lowering one’s cholesterol).
Alzheimer’s is a family disease and support is needed for all members of a family as caregivers of a loved one with Alzheimer’s also can suffer. This book was mentioned to me by one of our parishioners and you can find it on Amazon: “The 36 Hour-Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementias, and Memory Loss.” (Johns Hopkins Press).
Below are some available resources that might be helpful if you are supporting a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other brain-related injuries/diseases and ways to keep your brain healthy.
• www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/specialty-areas/memory-center/patient-family-resources
• annearundel.md.networkofcare.org/mh/library/article.aspx?hwid=hw136623
• www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-and-dementia
• www.alz.org/maryland/helping_you/virtual-resources/virtual-support-groups-and-ed-classes
• www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2018/difference-between-dementia-alzheimers.html
• www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/treatments
• www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/brain-health-tips/art-20555198
• www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/12-ways-to-keep-your-brain-young
