Mind Matters During Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month

More and more, I’m learning that friends and acquaintances are dealing with dementia—whether as caregivers or as those challenged with the disease themselves. It can be overwhelming to wade through all the information and research on living with dementia and what we can do to prevent, or at least delay, cognitive impairment. June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, so I wanted to highlight some of the resources that are available for both caregivers and people living with dementia, as well as share some information about what “brain awareness,” or “brain health,” means for the prevention of dementia and other types of cognitive impairment.

The Alzheimer’s Association just released a special report: “Brain Health in America: Understanding and Supporting Lifelong Cognitive Health.” It defines brain health as how well we think, learn, and remember. These functions are shaped throughout our lives. While there are some risk factors that one cannot modify in determining whether you will develop dementia, such as family history or genetics, research has shown that there are factors that you can control to lower your risk of cognitive decline and dementia. These include:

• Exercising
• Challenging your mind through lifelong learning
• Controlling your blood pressure
• Getting enough sleep
• Eating healthy food

The report points out that midlife (when a person is in their 40s) is the time to build resilience in brain health that could serve us well in preserving cognitive functions as we age. The research finds, like many health conditions, that the earlier the diagnosis, the better the options are for treatments. As an example, anti-amyloid therapy for Alzheimer’s disease and other interventions. So, it’s important to discuss any changes you experience in cognition and memory with a primary care physician so they can assess what the source may be.

The report also includes results from a comprehensive national survey of adults asking about their views on brain health, which behaviors they believe contribute to brain health, and how they would like to receive information and tools to support long-term cognitive health. It also provides some recommendations on how to build a coordinated framework to advance brain health over our lifespan, such as engaging public health professionals and improving the social and environmental conditions that affect people’s daily lives. The special report is worth a read.

Here in King County, we have several resources for caregivers and people who have some form of dementia. Here are a few:

• Washington State Dementia Action Collaborative. Part of the Department of Social and Health Services that developed a state plan offering goals, strategies, and recommendations for how to prepare for the growth of the population in this state living with dementia. It also has many resources on brain health actions to lower the risk of dementia and other forms of memory loss. Resources also include planning tools and information about how to get involved in the effort.
• The Memory Hub at the University of Washington Memory and Brain Wellness Center (MBWC). The Memory Hub is a community center offering programs and resources for people with memory loss and all who support a dementia-friendly community. Partners include the Frye Art Museum, the Alzheimer’s Association, Eldercare, Full Life Care, and Kin On Health Care Center.
• The University of Washington MBWC also has a variety of healthy aging research projects. Visit their website or you can call 1-844-201-5480 for more information. There may be one in which you want to participate.
• The Alzheimer’s Association has a free helpline available 24 hours a day: 1-800-272-3900. It provides support for financial, legal, and care planning decisions and can connect you with local programs.
• Seattle King County Aging and Disability Services provides support for Community Living Connections, a place you can call to get objective, confidential information about community resources and service options for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, family members, and professionals. Call 1-844-348-5464.

Staying independent as we age is a vital concern and a goal for most older adults, and it’s not easy to consider a future in which we may need a lot of help due to cognitive issues. Paying attention to the health of our brains is as important as taking care of our physical health. Maybe June is a good time to start a checklist of how we can prioritize and work on brain wellness!

Contributor Alex O’Reilly chairs the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services. She welcomes input from readers via email (advisorychair@agewisekingcounty.org).

Mark Your Calendars

The following are upcoming events of interest:

• Civic Coffee: West Seattle Light Rail Impact and Updates Wednesday, June 10 (1 p.m.–2 p.m.) at The Center for Active Living 4217 SW Oregon St, Seattle, WA 98116, or online. Refreshments and light food will be provided. Contact agefriendly@seattle.gov for more information.
• ADS Advisory Council Meeting: Friday, June 12 (12 p.m.-2 p.m.) virtual meeting. To receive the meeting link and information, email michael.adusah@seattle.gov in advance.