November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness month. If you have not heard of it, then please, pay attention. If you have, then pay attention anyway.
Alzheimer’s is a disease that primarily affects a persons brain. Basically, blood stops flowing to certain areas of the brain that control memory. The effects of the disease are quite unpleasent mostly for the person’s loved ones who can only watch. The effects on the person is, well, no one really knows. The affliced appears dotty and out of it and will often mistake people for someone else.
My maternal grandmother had it when I was growing up. She was always quite happy to see me because I resembled my grandfather a bit so she always mistook me for him. But it was painful to visit her as she was constantly forgetting things and never really there.
At that time there really wasn’t much that could be done but in recent years more accurate testing and diagnosis has been developer. In addition, a few new drugs are available now that can lessen the effects of the disease. But what I want to talk about is what you, yes, you, should do right now.
Go and locate a testing facility around your area that does screening for Alzheimer’s. Any of the links on the page will take you there. Also, read up on the successful aging tips provided by the Alzheimers Foundation of America which will help you our probably more than you know.
Also remember that just becuase we are racing for a cure, that doesn’t mean we should brush aside those who have it right now. To make a difference, or to give an early holiday gift, consider donating to the AFA to help take care of those who are suffering with this disease now.
OK. I’m done. Now go and get a screening.
-Cheers