June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. In other words, the month of June is the perfect time of the year to show unwavering support for the millions of unfortunate sufferers globally who are afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. The month of June is also a prime time to acknowledge caregivers for the diligent work they do behind the scenes for those struggling with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

According to the UCSF Memory and Aging Center (2019), dementia is a general term that describes any disease process that causes changes in memory skills and/or thinking skills that is severe enough to impair an individual’s daily functioning. Some aspects of daily functioning that can be profoundly affected by dementia include routine tasks such as driving, grocery shopping, managing household finances, maintaining employment, communication, and so forth.

In addition, multiple types of dementia are in existence. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s dementia, better known as Alzheimer’s disease.  The part of the brain that contributes to the formation of new memories tends to be affected very early on in the Alzheimer’s dementia disease process, and this is one of the reasons why short-term memory loss is normally one of the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s (UCSF Memory and Aging Center, 2019).

Since June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, what can people do to show their support for the millions of persons who suffer with dementia, as well as their brave caregivers? There are a number of actions people can take during the month of June to show support and spread awareness regarding the truly devastating Alzheimer’s disease epidemic. Some ideas to display steadfast support for dementia sufferers and their devoted caregivers have been listed below.

1. Wear purple to show support for the themes and purpose that revolve around Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Purple is the official color.
2. Offer to volunteer at a memory care center or nursing home that specializes in dementia and memory care issues. These residents often enjoy volunteers.
3. Utilize the hashtags #EndAlzheimers and #EndAlz on social media outlets such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to spread awareness.
4. Participate in a walk to end Alzheimer’s disease. These walks are organized and held in more than six hundred communities across the United States yearly.
5. Discuss preventive and protective techniques. Measures such as regular exercise, healthy eating, low alcohol intake, ample rest, maintenance of good sleep/wake cycles, stress reduction, and social engagement are all excellent ways to potentially prevent Alzheimer’s disease and practice self care at the same time.
6. Do not forget about the myriad of other health problems that have a detrimental impact on the brain. Illnesses that can negatively affect the brain, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol, need to be treated if present (UCSF Memory and Aging Center, 2019).

REFERENCES

UCSF Memory and Aging Center. (2019). Dementia & the Brain. Retrieved June 9, 2019, from https://memory.ucsf.edu/dementia-brain

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