Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month is observed every June to raise awareness, promote brain health, and support research and caregiving for Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Purpose and Significance
Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month, established in 1983 to educate the public about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, encourage early detection, and highlight the importance of caregiving and research support. The month emphasizes that brain health is vital at every age, and adopting healthy habits may reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia
Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.
Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging. The greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and most people with Alzheimer's are 65 and older. Alzheimer's disease is younger-onset Alzheimer's if it affects a person under 65. Younger-onset can also be referred to as early-onset Alzheimer's. People with younger-onset Alzheimer's can be in the early, middle or late stage of the disease.
Alzheimer's worsens over time. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. On average, a person with Alzheimer's lives four to eight years after diagnosis but can live as long as 20 years, depending on other factors.
Ways to Promote Brain Health
We are at a turning point in what we know about brain health — and the actions you take today can make a meaningful difference for you. Positive, everyday actions can make a difference in brain health, even lowering the risk of cognitive decline and possibly Alzheimer's and dementia. Incorporate some or all of these habits into your life to help maintain a healthy brain. Take charge of your brain health today — it's never too early or too late to start. Science shows that adopting healthy habits may reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Incorporate some or all these 10 Healthy Habits for Your Brain into your life and share them with someone you know.
Source: Alzheimer's Association