Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month

History

The observance of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month started 39 years ago, in

1983. President Ronald Reagan wanted to raise awareness about various brain conditions, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. The point of this was to bring greater attention to this issue that started over seven decades earlier. The year 1906 saw the first case of Alzheimer’s disease, and since, many more cases appeared, giving cause for the observation of June as the official Alheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. However, Alzheimer’s has actually existed for thousands of years, first being documented in Turkey in the second century. Later seen in ancient Rome and Europe, the disease has persisted until modern day.

Alzheimer’s

Also known as senile dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that slowly destroys

many important cognitive functions, most commonly memory. The brain atrophies and neurons die, which is the cause for the decline in cognitive functions. The nearly six million people above age 65 in the U.S. that live with this disease slowly lose their ability to carry out everyday tasks as the disease continues to progress in them. Although the symptoms can temporarily improve and slow down, there is no cure for this disease. There are only some services and programs that support those affected, as well as their families. This disease is very harsh on both the affected and those closest to them. Slowly watching someone you know and love lose their memory, knowledge, and life in front of your eyes is something that is difficult to bear, and is very emotionally draining.

How to Help

First, learn about the disease. You can’t help if you don’t know what you are helping.

Second, just try to be friendly. Both the affected and their family could use a friend, and that would mean a lot to them. Third, just be someone to talk to. Talking to the one affected will bring them happiness even though they may not know what they are talking about. Also, being someone that the family of the affected can talk to will give them an emotional outlet that will help them destress and feel better. Lastly, if possible, try to remove the family’s burden. Offer to take care of their affected relative so that the pressure of doing so is temporarily removed from the family, and they can enjoy themselves, even if only for a bit. Those are some good ways to help someone with Alzheimer’s and their family.

Brain Awareness

In this month, people spread the word about dementia and talk about various dementias. Another tradition is to wear purple, in addition to training brains to fight diseases. The reason purple is worn is that it combines the passion of red with the serenity of blue to create a color that perfectly embodies the spirit of the observance of this month. In addition, some ways that people train their brains is to practice naming music, doing crossword puzzles, training creativity and imagination, and various sets of cognitive exercises.

Sources

https://nationaltoday.com/alzheimers-brain-awarenessmonth/#:~:text=President%20Ronald%20Regan%20initiated%20the,by%20someone%20suffering%20from%20it.

https://www.alz.org/about/our_story

https://www.nevadaadultdaycare.com/try-these-brain-exercises-for-alzheimers-brain-awareness-month/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447#:~:text=Alzheimer's%20disease%20is%20a%20progressive,person's%20abili

ty%20to%20function%20independently

https://www.alz.org/blog/alz/october2019/10_ways_to_help_a_family_living_with_alzh

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