Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Did you know, that while genetics do play a role, everyone is potentially at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD)? That means each and every one of us can benefit from learning more about the disease and what lifestyle changes we can make to improve our overall brain health.
Alzheimer’s Disease
As cited on First Choice Neurology, Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease that causes problems with memory loss and cognitive abilities. As researchers learn more, studies show that Alzheimer’s disease may begin 20 years or more before you notice symptoms. Symptoms begin to occur when the nerve cells in parts of the brain have been damaged or destroyed. Symptoms usually develop slowly and worsen over time, interfering with an individuals’ ability to perform everyday activities. Listed below are additional important facts and statistics from The Alzheimer’s Association:
- 55 million people are living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias worldwide.
- Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women.
- About 1 in 9 age 65 and older (10.7%) has Alzheimer’s.
- Deaths from Alzheimer’s have more than doubled between 2000 and 2019, while those from heart disease — the leading cause of death — have decreased.
- 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.
How to Get Involved
Keep in mind that everyone can help in the fight to end Alzheimer’s! The Alzheimer’s Association is asking that we participate this June to help raise awareness for the disease. Doing activities such as wearing purple, posting photos and sharing stories on social media, and talking to your friends, family, and co-workers about Alzheimer’s are all ways you can help spread the awareness movement Remember to use the hashtags #EndAlzheimers, #GoPurple and #EndAlz. You can also join the cause by staying informed, making a donation to The Alzheimer’s Association, or becoming an advocate for those with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. Click here to learn more.
Stay tuned for our upcoming blog posts where we will go into detail on how to improve and maintain your brain health!
