(Undated)– During Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, mental health advocacy groups are highlighting treatment and medication advances in the last decade. Developments are helping people see the early warning signs of dementia, and teaching them how to plan for the future living with a disease that, so far, has no cure. The Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter’s Lauren Livingston says while a cure is still not on the horizon, all the work that has gone into research and fundraising has helped advocates make progress, and allowed patients to extend the time they have with their families…
“So just in the last, really, five to 10 years, we have learned so much more about Alzheimer’s disease than we did in the previous several decades. And because of that, there are treatments available for those in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease that can actually slow the progression.”
She adds the Alzheimer’s Association holds several fundraisers during June, including a bike ride to raise money on the 21st of the month, the longest day of the year. More than 62-thousand Iowans live with Alzheimer’s disease.
Beyond treatments, Livingston adds researchers have also made other important discoveries about Alzheimer’s in the last few years…
“We know a lot more about the risk factors that cause Alzheimer’s disease and a lot of them, nearly 50% of them, are modifiable risk factors – like your blood pressure and your health, and how much sleep you’re getting and things like that.”
The Alzheimer’s Association has published a list of 10 healthy
habits to stave off Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. That, and a lot more information, is online at ‘alz.org.’
(Courtesy Iowa News Service)
