Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month – November

November is the month dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease awareness, it is also National Caregiver Month, as we pay tribute to those that sacrifice so much to tend to our ageing population.

What will you do this month to contribute to the cause and help advance the Alzheimer’s initiatives? It is time to get involved. If you or a loved one is concerned about dementia than is time to seek help. Call the Alzheimer’s Associations 24/7 Helpline: 1.800.272.3900 if you need help.

There are so many opportunities this month to get involved including: memory screening, dementia advocacy, Alzheimer’s disease education, and spreading the love and appreciation to the caregivers that help take care of our ageing population.

Memory Screening – National Memory Screening day November 18th

My father J. Wesson Ashford, M.D., Ph.D., the inventor of MemTrax.com, also sits on the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s Memory Screening Advisory Board as their Chairman. Dr. Ashford says “Get Screened Today! At this time, there are types of memory problems that can be cured and other types that can be treated. The key is to recognize the problem, get screened and act on the results.” Early detection of memory problems is crucial to seeking help as management of a memory disorder can be most effective.

Be Alzheimer’s Aware and Promote Advocacy

There are several ways you can get involved globally or locally if you are interested in helping with Alzheimer’s advocacy. Purple is the color that represents AD so wear your purple gear to show your support! Check out the Purple Angel: The Purple Angel stands for Hope, Protection, Inspiration and Universal Teamwork. Get inspired! Maybe consider going down to your local retirement home and ask how you can volunteer.

Alzheimer’s Education and Intervention

With the internet and advanced forms of communication people have access to so much helpful information. By using your computer you can find information on how to take a proactive approach to caring for your brain health. Changes in your lifestyle have been proven to improve your health so get motivated and do something for you or a loved one.

1. Eat Healthy – By providing your body with the proper nutrition you can allow your organs to perform more effectively and help prevent and fight diseases. A healthy brain needs to start with a healthy body.

2. Exercise Regularly – Dr. Ashford is always telling his patients this is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. We all know that it is too easy to be lazy and not get up and get active but if you want to change it is never to late to start a new exercise routine. Keep an eye on your blood pressure and take good care of your heart.

3. Stay Socially Active – By keeping an active social life you are using your cognitive capacity to maintain relationships. These connections are important for your brain health by creating new memories and fostering important neural connections.

Although it is clear there is no definitive treatment for dementia all these factors can help lower your risk. It is up to you to motivate yourself and your family to take a proactive approach to your health. Hopefully this blog post can help inspire and motivate you to take action!