Today is World Alzheimer’s Day

Today is a day to remember our loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease.

This is a picture of my mom, Brunhilde – just one of the 5.4 million in the U.S. with this brain disorder.

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

• It is named after  German Doctor  Alois Alzheimer.  In 1906 he saw differences in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental disorder when compared to patients that died from other causes.
• Those differences were shrinkage in the size of the brain, clumps and tangled bundles of fiber in the brain.
• Today we know Alzheimer’s disease as a degenerative brain disorder that affects memory and the ability to carry out daily activities. It is the 6th leading cause of death and there is no cure.
• Every 67 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in the U.S.
• 47 million people worldwide have dementia.

What 5 things can you do today?

1. Visit someone you know (or don’t know) with Alzheimer’s disease. See for yourself what this disease is and why we need to raise awareness, money for care, support and research. There are films to see also – Still Alice and Glen Campbell’s –  I’ll Be Me, to mention a couple.
2. Become an Alzheimer-friendly business by learning the best practices for interaction with people who have dementia.  The baby boomer generation is greatly affected already.
3. Join the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry at EndALZnow.org. Signing up only takes a few minutes to find upcoming prevention trials near you. You can help advance prevention, detection, and treatment of this disease.
4. Commit to a brain healthy lifestyle.  Eat a heart-healthy diet and exercise regularly. Get your stress and blood pressure under control. Trying new things and participating in social activities is also good for your brain.
5. Become a voice of hope for this disease, volunteer to help someone in need.

Let’s spread the word about Alzheimer’s today. Bless all those who are dealing with the devastating effects of this disease.

Please feel free to honor the memory of those you know with Alzheimer’s disease in the comments.

Enjoy each day,

Sylvia