Has Alzheimer's Touched Your Life? Help End Alzheimer's Now

Occasionally, I drift from my usual frivolous topics here and use this space to talk about something serious.  Today is one of those days because I want to share with you a topic I think is important, and I want to help spread the message. 

Did you know that Alzheimer’s disease is now the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the only one in the top 10 causes of death that cannot currently be prevented, treated or changed?

It’s time we work to change this statistic.

I can count on my one hand, at least, five people I know who have been impacted by Alzheimer’s disease in some way.  And I’m not just talking about the person diagnosed with the disease.  I’m referring to their loved ones. 

Think about it. Can you do the same?

One of the reasons I accepted an invitation last week to attend a webinar from the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute was to learn more about its new prevention registry.  I’ll be honest: The thought of my not knowing my husband and children in the future scares me, and the same is true if my husband had the disease. Without knowing much about Alzheimer’s, I wanted to know if there is something I can do to prevent the disease.

In a nutshell, I learned the disease needs a lot more research. As with most health-related studies, it’s good to have a heart-healthy diet and exercise. It’s good not to smoke. But there is not really a correlation yet that says food and environment are part of the risk factors.  We need to learn more.  

We do know that research is showing that there are signs of Alzheimer’s years before the actual onset of the disease, which is why it is so important to learn the warning signs and realize that dementia is not a normal part of the aging process.

Research has also shown that only 1 percent of cases are actually genetic.  People may have Alzheimer’s in their families, but the genetic form is a rare mutation, and it can hit individuals in their 30s, 40s, and 50s.

Every day, researchers learn more about Alzheimer’s, but they still need our help.  I joined the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry, and I hope you will, too. 

The Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry is a community of people interested in making an impact on Alzheimer’s research to help stop the disease. It will provide regular updates on the latest scientific advances and news, as well as information on overall brain health. And to overcome one of the greatest obstacles to clinical research, the Registry will support enrollment into a variety of Alzheimer’s prevention studies across the country.

How to Join the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry

You must be 18 years of age, and your information will be kept private and confidential.  Visit www.endalznow.org to sign up, and join the fight against Alzheimer’s.  Being a member of the registry, you may be asked to participate in research studies in your area, but participation is optional.

Thank you for your time today.  Please help others know about this important effort by sharing with your friends and families.

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Disclosure: I was compensated for my time to be part of an awareness campaign for the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry through TheMotherhood. I chose to become a member of the registry on my own and really hope that more awareness can help provide more research into this devastating disease.