Fight Alzheimer’s disease by keeping your brain healthy

January is Alzheimer Awareness Month. We know that Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, but what we may not know is that it’s the degeneration of our healthy brain tissue that causes a steady decline in our mental and social abilities. Dementia affects one in thirteen Canadians over 65 and one in three over 85. In my practice I’m finding that more and more people are touched by this family altering disease.

The impact of Alzheimer’s can become increasingly demanding for individuals caring for a spouse, parent or family member with the disease. Over time, their loved one will need increasing amounts of supervision and, eventually, hands-on help with the activities of daily living. When you speak with someone who has a family member affected by dementia, each person’s story is different and has its own unique challenges. What’s common is the need for better understanding about Alzheimer’s disease (www.alzheimers.ca).

I had a client last Christmas who missed out on holiday celebrations with her family because she was too unstable to leave her care facility. I also cared for an 83-year-old woman who was asked to leave a retirement residence because of her physical outbreaks and, most recently, we heard the heartbreaking story of a 67-year-old Toronto woman who died on the street after wandering away from her home in the early morning hours. How can we change some of the outcomes of this devastating disease and how do we prevent dangerous, life-threatening situations from occurring?

In my opinion, family caregivers need to consider turning to community health care resources for support. But will they receive the level of care they require, and in a timely manner? Our public health system is facing increasing financial challenges in delivering services to an aging population. Another option is to use a private home care agency or to hire your own caregiver. Many don’t realize that care for individuals with Alzheimer’s can be provided in a more economical manner through home support and personal care professionals, rather than more costly nursing staff.

From a preventative standpoint, healthy living habits can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. Intellectual activities such as social interaction, reading, doing crossword puzzles or playing a board or computer game have been shown to reduce likelihood of the disease. According to Dr. Jack Diamond, Scientific Director of the Alzheimer Society of Canada, exercise, eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and which are brightly-coloured, is good for your brain.

Here is my Alzheimer prevention challenge: walk a mile, eat a red apple and do a word puzzle every day. It just might help keep your brain healthy and ward off this dreaded disease.