Last week, I wrote about death and disability rates for
diseases over two decades.
In my article, I included a fascinating chart, which I was finally
able to figure out. Blue arrows went down for the diseases and injuries that
decreased between 1990 and 2010, including HIV/AIDS.
Then, red arrows went up for diseases and injuries that
increased during the same period. Alzheimer’s disease went from 33rd in the
listing to 11th.
September is World Alzheimer’s Month.
Baby boomers don’t like to talk about Alzheimer’s or even
think about it.
More than 35 million people worldwide live with dementia
today, according to the CNN article “Overwhelming Burden, Cost of Alzheimer’s
to Triple, Report Says.” By 2050, that number is expected to more than triple
to 115 million. The majority require constant care.
Tips for maintaining your brain health from the Alzheimer’s
Association are:
- Stay physically active.
- Adopt a brain-healthy diet, which includes dark vegetables
and fruits that contain antioxidants.
- Remain socially active.
- Stay mentally active.
September also is Healthy Aging Month.
A list from Webmed.com on healthy aging has the same tips
offered above and these additional ones:
- Bulk up. Eat beans and other high-fiber foods for digestive
and heart health.
- Add spices and herbs to your meals if medications dull your
taste buds.
- Sleep well.
- Reduce stress.
- Use aids for your memory such as making lists, following
routings, slowing down, and organizing.
Good luck to us all. Five people that I know have been
diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. It’s a real concern for baby boomers as
they get older.
