World Alzheimer’s Month
World Alzheimer’s Month is the international campaign every September to raise awareness and challenge the stigma that surrounds dementia. 2 out of every 3 people globally believe there is little or no understanding of dementia. Dementia is a term used to describe different brain disorders that affect memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion. Early symptoms of dementia can include memory loss, difficultly performing familiar tasks, problems with language and changes in personality. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. There are currently estimated to be over 46 million people worldwide living with dementia. The number of people affected is set to rise to over 131 million by 2050.
Signs of Alzheimer’s and Dementia |
Typical Age-Related Changes |
| Poor judgment and decision-making | Making a bad decision once in a while |
| Inability to manage a budget | Missing a monthly payment |
| Losing track of the date or the season | Forgetting which day it is and remembering it later |
| Difficulty having a conversation | Sometimes forgetting which word to use |
| Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them | Losing things from time to time |
Important Preventive Measures
- Diet – Starting a Mediterranean diet. Avoid food high in trans-fat and saturated fat can cause inflammation in the body which can damage brain cells.
- Eat foods high in antioxidants like vitamin c and e, fruits and vegetables like blueberries and spinach, eating fish rich in omega-3 fish oils.
- Supplements – coenzyme Q10, Ginkgo Biloba, Omega 3 (DHA)
References
1. https://www.alz.co.uk/info/early-symptoms
2. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs
3. Ann Neurol. 2006 Jun;59(6):912-21.
Mediterranean diet and risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
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