Tags
#braingoals, alzheimers, Be Brain Powerful, Brain Health, brain health challenge, dementia, womens brain health
As someone who has been up close and personal with Alzheimer’s disease, I think about the future a lot. If you are caring for or have lost a loved one to AD or another form of dementia, you more than likely know exactly what I’m talking about. What are our odds of being diagnosed at some point in our lives and if that day should come, will there be a treatment or means to slow the progression? As companies like Biogen and Lilly pull the plug on Phase III studies of drugs that once seemed to hold such promise, one has to wonder.
Brain Health
Today we are seeing much greater emphasis on prevention. How can we keep our brains healthy and stave off the disease for as long as possible? Enter the Brain Health Partnership. Led by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, the BHP is “a comprehensive strategy to ensure brain health is included as an integral element of overall good health, and cognitive decline is identified and addressed in a timely manner.”
We think of heart health as a critical part of overall health; why isn’t the same true of brain health?
Last year, my PCP laughed at me when I asked to have a baseline SAGE test placed in my medical records. (Note: This was the same PCP that diagnosed my mother’s dementia, so she is fully aware of the family history.) At the time, I was stunned and quite frankly appalled. Thankfully, the Brain Health Partnership aims to ensure the medical community takes us just as seriously when we express concerns about cognitive health as they do when we raise concerns about any other aspect of our health.
Women and Alzheimer’s
When it comes to Alzheimer’s disease, women are disproportionately effected. Did you know that two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer’s are women and one in six women age 65 and older will develop AD? These numbers are staggering! Alzheimer’s is a women’s health issue – a women’s health crisis – and Be Brain Powerful was created to address it. Marilyn’s Legacy is proud to be an advocacy partner in this important campaign that shines a light on women’s brain health. The mission is simple: To be brain powerful at any age.
Join the Challenge
We invite you to join the 30-Day Brain Health Challenge kicking off on 04.02.19. It’s free and easy; think of it as the first step toward taking control of your own brain health! Each day, you’ll receive a tip or challenge that can easily be incorporated into your daily routine. You can sign up at any time during the thirty days, so please join us and invite your friends to participate as well! Click here to register.
There’s one Thanksgiving that is forever etched in my mind for all the wrong reasons. Although it occurred eight years ago, in many ways, it feels like yesterday. When I think of the November holiday that I once looked so forward to, the first image that comes to mind is from 2010.
Of course, at some point, my subconscious went off the rails – thus the dreaded idyllic vision. I’m sure memories of beautiful holidays complete with cherished traditions, found their way into the mix. Without even realizing it, I had set myself up for disappointment, profound sadness, anger, grief, and a dozen other emotions. Naturally, there was no way this Thanksgiving could be compared to or measured against those blissful memories.
Rather than working to create a holiday just like those of years gone by, focus on the current reality. Remember that too many people, a lot of noise and commotion, and sudden changes to routines can really throw your loved one for a loop. Plan accordingly. Spending quality time together and making cherished memories – when it’s all said and done, those things are much more important than setting an impeccable table or serving a perfectly plump juicy bird at 4pm sharp. Flexibility is your friend and goes hand in hand with maintaining reasonable expectations.
