Alzheimer’s Awareness
By Jiayi Li
Are you Alzheimer’s Aware?
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may be an unfamiliar topic unless you know someone affected or are beginning to notice symptoms in yourself or those around you. It is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behaviour, and these symptoms can eventually interfere with daily tasks. In Canada, there are approximately 747,000 individuals living with Alzheimer’s or another type of Dementia, and this number is expected to grow to a whopping 2 million by 2050.
Though September was World Alzheimer’s Month, it is never too late to learn about the disease and ways to reduce your risk as well as how to become involved in your community.
Some common questions…
What is it?
A brain disorder that worsens over time, characterized by changes in the brain that lead to certain cells shrinking and dying. Common symptoms include a gradual decline in memory, thinking, behaviour, and social skills.
What causes it?
Scientists still don’t know the main cause of Alzheimer’s; however, we do know that it is a combination of age-related changes in the brain, as well as genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that contribute to this process. Some age-related changes include the shrinking of certain parts of the brain, inflammation, blood vessel damage, and cell energy production deficits. Environmental and lifestyle factors have been suggested to contribute to approximately a third of Alzheimer’s dementia cases. These potentially modifiable risk factors include diabetes, midlife hypertension and obesity, smoking, depression, cognitive inactivity, and low educational attainment.
Some common misconceptions…
It is not a normal process of ageing
The greatest known risk factor for AD is increasing age, and the majority of those with the disease are 65 and older.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia are two different things
Alzheimer’s is the most common type and cause of Dementia, accounting for about 60-80% of the cases. Other types of Dementia include Vascular dementia, Lewy Body Disease, and more.
Some things you can do to be proactive for your brain wellness…
Partake in physical activity
Regular physical activity is a proactive and viable way to reduce your risk of dementia. It has benefits for your heart, circulation, weight and mental wellbeing. Aerobic and strength-building are two types of physical activities that serve different purposes and are crucial to maintaining and improving health! Choose an activity that you like and you will be more likely to do it!!
Eat healthy
Eat more: wholegrain starchy foods in most meals, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fish.
Eat less: red meat (beef and lamb) and foods that are high in fat and sugar
Eating healthy can feel like a chore….make it fun by trying new recipes or sharing the cooking and meals with friends/family!
Minimize smoking and drinking behaviours
Smoking causes harm to blood circulation, particularly in the brain, as well as the heart and lungs. It is never too late to stop smoking.
Drinking “too much” alcohol can increase your risk of dementia. Try to keep the drinks to 14 units of alcohol each week…this is equal to about a small glass of wine each day.
Stay mentally and socially active
Engaging in mental or social activities may help boost your brain’s ability to cope with disease. This can include doing arts and crafts in your community, attending concerts, going on hikes, or learning a new language. Finding something that suits your passions, or even discovering a new passion is a great way to begin! The BC Brain Wellness Program has lots to offer!
There are many ways you can contribute to the community!
Volunteer
Find your local Alzheimer’s Society here for opportunities near you; type “volunteer” in the search bar for relevant positions.l decline in memory, thinking, behaviour, and social skills.
Donate
Donate to Canada’s Alzheimer’s Society! Any monetary sum is appreciated and helpful.
Learn
There is so much unknown about the disease and much research being done. Staying up to date and reading journals such as the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Journal can keep you up to date on the scientific literature!
Sources:
https://alzheimer.ca/en/research/reports-dementia/landmark-study-report-1-path-forward
