Currently, approximately 3200 individuals in Huron and Perth Counties are living with dementia.
As January marks Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Jeanette Sears, the Public Education Coordinator at the Huron Perth Alzheimer’s Society, says that it’s important not only to increase awareness of the disease, but also to recognize the toll that it takes on families and caregivers.
Many living with alzheimers or another form of dementia rely on the support of those closest to them, and Sears says that they offer many support groups for those that take care of people living with dementia.
She says that it’s important that we recognize some of the earliest warning signs.
These symptoms include changes in personality, apathy toward things that once excited a person, unusual amounts of fear or suspicion, difficulty with abstract thinking, and disorientation and getting lost easily.
She says that there are several types of dementia.
Sears delved into the exciting developments in dementia research, noting the progress made in medication and the exploration of innovative diagnostic methods, such as blood tests and retinal scans, offering hope for earlier detection – which she says can improve outcomes.
At the end of the day, Sears says that there are many risk factors for dementia, some of which are outside our control.
If you’re interested in increasing your brain health, Sears says that there are a couple of things you can do to reduce your risk of dementia – these include a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise, but also engaging your brain through hobbies like knitting, and remaining socially engaged. Not only do these practices increase overall health, but many also increase brain activity, flexing one of your most important muscles.
If you’re interested in learning more about brain health or alzheimers, the Huron Perth Alzheimers Society is hosting a series of local information sessions throughout January and February – they will be at the Exeter library on February 29th at 3pm.
Written by: B. Shakyaver
