Alzheimer's Awareness

November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Alzheimer’s is a disease that is a very progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the nerves or neurons in the brain. Because of this, it results in your loved one having a change in language skills, behavior, memory loss, and in how they think. If you think your loved one is showing signs of early Alzheimer’s, then I would recommend having them screened on November 13, 2007. This is National Memory Screening Day, sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. They have started this to promote early detection of this disease, to look for other related diseases, and to promote early intervention. By seeing the signs early and getting educated, AFA hopes to help those affected lead a much improved quality of life, which is only what our loved ones really want. To stay the way they have always been for as long as they can. By visiting the National Memory Screening website you can find a location close to you where you can have your loved one tested and then get on the right path to help them. Important signs to look for in detecting Alzheimer’s are memory loss, especially with recent events, confusion about place and time, struggling with simple tasks, hard time following directions or carrying on a conversation, poor judgment, changes in mood or personality such as withdrawal and disinterest in usual activities, and difficulty with complex tasks. We can also promote successful aging tips which include regular visits to your doctor, participating in activities to stimulate your brain, manage stress, treat any depression, be social, exercise daily, follow a healthy diet, treat things such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and limit alcohol consumption. By donating to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, we can all contribute to finding a cure, getting more people educated, and help those affected start early intervention. By doing this we can give many people a great holiday gift. Letting people know we care by donating money or our time, is a great way for people to know that they are not alone when it comes to this up hill battle.