Alzheimer's Disease: Targeting Risk Factors Could Cut Number of Cases

Lots of articles popping up on my newsfeed about Alzheimer's Disease and dementia, must be there is a big conference going on somewhere and research papers are being presented. I was struck by this article from ABCNews.com, most especially by the part that said:

"On the basis of these figures, reducing the prevalence of all seven risk factors by 10 percent would cut the global and U.S. case counts by 1.1 million and 184,000, respectively. Prevalence reductions of 25 percent would correspondingly prevent some 3 million and 492,000 globally and in the U.S., respectively."

That kind of decrease in the number of people who will be affected by the disease is significant, not only in the suffering of the individuals and their families (I've had two friends in the last couple years who have had lives devastated by the disease, each is/was caring for a loved one), but in the financial cost to our health care system.

Temperatures back in the mid to upper 90's here in NC, so my repeated reminder: stay hydrated, and don't overdo the outdoor exercise!

To Ward Off Dementia, Try Staying Healthy From Head to Toe

Most peri/menopausal women have experienced moments/hours/days of forgetfulness, and most of us have felt at one time or another that they may be "losing it"----early signs of dementia or Alzheimer's. I know I did, but the hormonal balance has made my cognitive functioning a lot better. I like to think my daily hour of exercise helps not only my back and hips, but also my brain.

Time Magazine discusses in this article how various health issues can affect your risk for developing dementia, and ways you can work to minimize those risks. This is a good one for me to post, I just finished a 45 minute weight and balance ball workout (I don't mind the balance ball, but ugh, I hate working with weights----but I know it's important for bone health). Enjoy the rest of your weekend, everyone!