When doctors began studying Alzheimer’s it was initially thought that age-related memory loss was an early indication of Alzheimer’s but in a study performed at Columbia University Medical Center, researchers were able to confirm that age-related memory loss and Alzheimer’s were two distinct conditions. In this particular study they also discovered a possible reason for age-related memory loss and that this condition might be reversible!
Amy Shives is one of the founding members of Dementia Alliance International and she recently spoke at the Alzheimer’s Association 2015 Advocacy Forum in Washington DC last month. Dementia Alliance International is a non-profit organization of people who have been diagnosed with dementia from the USA, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany and other countries. Their goal is to represent, support and educate others living with the disease and change the language and perception of dementia to that of what a person CAN do, not what they CAN’T. Amy’s story is one of courage and hope in fighting the stigma of younger on-set Alzheimer’s and dementia in general. She talks about her own experience with her mother’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and then her own diagnosis at age 50. Among other things she says that those who have dementia don’t wish to be know as “suffering” from Alzheimer’s disease but as “people who have Alzheimer’s”. They are people first and have many capabilities despite their diagnosis. Watch below to see Amy’s amazing speech.
Continue reading “We Are People Who Have Alzheimer’s. We Are Not Alzheimer’s.” »
A new study as reported at Alzheimer’s & Dementia Weekly seems to suggest at least in preliminary research that being overweight and even obese might help prevent dementia. Research by Dr. Nawab Qizilbash and associates was done at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and OXON Epidemiology. The study followed 2 million people with an average age of 55 over 2 decades. The premise of the research was to see if there was a correlation between between BMI and risk of dementia.
Continue reading “Can Obesity Really Be An Asset In Fighting Dementia?” »
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