Alzheimer's awareness month

This month, the whole month of November is Alzheimer’s awareness month.

That being said, I want you my dear readers to be made aware that November 13, 2007 is scheduled as National Memory Screening Day. This effort is going to be made possible by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. This move is aimed at making the public know of the importance of memory screening, the key to prevention and early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses.

Why do we need to get memory screening you may ask. Yes it’s needed because memory screening is key first step to find out if one has Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia or any other condition that’s causing memory loss. The test is also going to let one know if the test result comes out negative from Alzheimer’s or related illnesses thus, taking out the anxiety for fear of having the disease. It is imperative that one identifies the reasons of memory loss because the memory of a person is affected by a lot of factors such as stress, lack of sleep, vitamin deficiencies and depression to name a few . There are some conditions of memory loss that are reversible. Largely, it is easier to treat a condition if it’s diagnosed earlier.

Furthermore, I would like to emphasize that a memory screening test is not a conclusive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. One should still consult with a qualified healthcare professional or physician. You must put in mind, that taking the memory screening test is also a good gauge of one’s thinking capability and intellectual functions. I am reiterating that early diagnosis will greatly improve one’s quality of life. Knowing more about the disease is a good amunition to being able to cope up if one is diagnosed. Being well informed as to the best kind of care and where to get help, counseling and support is crucial to having quality life. Currently, there is still no cure for Alzheimer’s but availability of new medical treatments that’s known to work favorably when administered earlier will help in slowing the disease from progressing.

To those that get a normal result from memory screening test, the test is a great resource of valuable information on how to maintain and keep a healthy mind and live a healthy life so one can age gracefully.

Let’s spread the word and let everyone know that November 13, 2007 is the National Memory Screening Day. Locate a nearby Memory Screening site in your area by visiting nationalmemoryscreening.org.

Let us all be one in spreading the fact that the key to successful aging is leading a healthy lifestyle. We all want to prevent and suppress damage of healthy brain cells. In order to attain this we should consider the following tips such as visiting the doctor regularly, exercising, control high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, indulge in doing activities that stimulates the brain, being social and keeping good relationships, strive to treat depression and having healthy diet to name a few. Doing the above tips will only make ones life more worth living and age gracefully.

For some that are already afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease,getting utmost quality care is highly important. Helping the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America through holiday gift will help fund research so we can better manage Alzheimer’s Disease.