June is Alzheimer’s and Dementia Awareness Month - Golden Openings
The month of June brings focus to the degenerative brain disease known as Alzheimer’s. During Alzheimer’s and Dementia Awareness Month, we learn about the memory loss that disrupts the daily lives of over 50 million people worldwide.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of all cases of dementia. Here are the 10 warning signs/symptoms that should not be ignored:
1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life
2. Challenges in problem-solving and planning
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work, or in leisure
4. Confusion with time or place
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
6. New problems with words in both speaking and writing
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
8. Decreased or poor judgment
9. Withdrawal from socialization and hobbies
10. Change in mood and personality
If you notice any of the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's in yourself or someone you know, don't ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your/their doctor.
While there is believed to be no single cause for Alzheimer’s, scientists have identified 5 key risk factors. Those factors are Age, Family History, Genetics, Head Injuries, and Heart-Head Connection.
Research has also shown that older Latinos are roughly one and half times as likely as older Caucasians to have Alzheimer’s, while older African Americans are about twice as likely to have the disease as older Caucasians.
While Age is one of the key risk factors, Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. Approximately 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 have early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Dementia symptoms gradually worsen over time and are the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. In the early stages, the memory loss is mild, but by the later stages, people suffering from the disease will lose the ability to carry on conversations.
Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, though there are treatments for the symptoms. The treatments cannot stop the disease from spreading, but it can temporarily slow down the dementia symptoms.
Bring attention to the cause all through June with our Alzheimer’s Purple Awareness Pins, Ribbons, and Giant Loops.
Wearing the color purple throughout June also will help show support.
To get involved directly, you can participate in The Longest Day, The Ride to End ALZ, and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
For more information on Alzheimer's and Dementia, go to alz.org.
