June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. To learn more about how you can protect your brain, visit this site: https://www.alz.org/abam#promoteBrainHealth
Throughout the month of June, we are encouraged to ‘go purple‘–the color of the Alzheimer’s movement to help raise awareness of this disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, deadly brain disease for which there is no cure, and is not a normal part of healthy aging. Researchers are still working to discover the root cause of the disease, but it’s widely believed to be due to the buildup of misfolded proteins between nerve cells, which causes brain damage. This damage begins a decade or more before symptoms start to show. I
- There are over 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s Disease with 3 million new cases diagnosed each year.
- Alzheimer’s is deadlier than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.
- The disease is most prevalent in women and Black Americans.
- 11 million Americans act as unpaid caregivers for a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
- Fewer than 1 in 5 Americans are familiar with mild cognitive impairment, which can be an early stage of Alzheimer’s.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease:
- Memory loss
- Poor judgment leading to bad decisions
- Loss of spontaneity and sense of initiative
- Taking longer to complete normal daily tasks
- Repeating questions
- Trouble handling money and paying bills
- Wandering and getting lost
- Losing things or misplacing them in odd places
- Mood and personality changes
- Increased anxiety and/or aggression
- Difficulty with language