Alzheimer's And Brain Awareness Month: Understanding The Impact Of Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease can be a severe threat to the functional abilities and life satisfaction of those affected, including those living with the disease and their loved ones. Although it tends to be the most common type of dementia, experienced by millions of Americans, many people don’t think about it until they’re forced to do so by advancing age. Yet, taking care of your brain health before it becomes a problem can be one of the most effective strategies for combating this disease.
Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month was instituted in 1985 by President Reagan to call attention to Alzheimer’s and other dementias. By encouraging people to support research efforts, care options, and their own cognitive health, you may be able to reduce the impact of these debilitating diseases. You can help by sharing information about risk factors and protective strategies, or by pitching in to help scientists and care providers in their fight against Alzheimer’s. Those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease may use this month as an opportunity to reach out for support through in-person or online therapy.
Understanding the toll taken by Alzheimer’s disease
Dementia, which can be defined as the loss of brain function and cognitive ability over time, can take a variety of forms. The most common is usually Alzheimer’s disease, which was estimated to affect roughly 6.7 million Americans in 2023. This number is projected to grow to more than 13 million by the mid-2060s.
Alzheimer’s is generally marked by the development of two specific brain abnormalities:
- Clumps of non-functional amyloid beta protein fragments between brain cells, known as amyloid plaques
- Clusters of misplaced tau proteins inside neurons, known as neurofibrillary tangles
These changes typically hamper neural activity and can ultimately lead to brain cell death. The brains of people with advanced Alzheimer’s disease usually show considerable shrinkage compared to those unaffected by dementia.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease most commonly appear around age 65 or older, though there is a rare form of the disease that tends to begin earlier and progress faster.
In either case, the basic pattern is roughly the same, involving the progressive decline of memory and other cognitive abilities. This process is usually irreversible and can eventually lead to the loss of basic functional skills like motor control, language, and awareness of time and place. It’s often accompanied by physical atrophy as well. In the long run, Alzheimer’s can be fatal, and it currently ranks as one of the leading causes of death in the United States.
Along with causing a decline in mental function and early death, Alzheimer’s disease can cause serious distress in affected individuals. Negative emotions and behaviors, such as depression, aggression, fear, and sadness, can be common features of dementia. Patients may also experience considerable frustration and pain due to their difficulties in conveying their needs and thoughts to those around them.
The impact of Alzheimer’s on friends, family, and caregivers
Negative consequences of Alzheimer’s aren’t necessarily limited to individuals living with dementia. It’s often sad, frustrating, and frightening for loved ones to watch the affected person gradually lose their sense of identity, ability to communicate, and everyday functionality.
In addition, friends and family members often expend a substantial amount of effort caring for people with Alzheimer’s, which can lead to stress and exhaustion. There’s typically a significant financial cost as well. One study estimated that the average lifetime cost of medical care for a person with dementia was over $300,000.
The combination of these emotional and financial pressures can present challenges for mental health. Researchers have found that taking care of a friend or family member with Alzheimer’s often leads to a significantly higher risk of mental illness, with anxiety and depression being particularly common.
How raising awareness can make a difference in Alzheimer’s care
Since there’s currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, prevention may be one of the most effective strategies for reducing the impact of this condition. Spreading information about the risk and protective factors for dementia can enable people to take steps to protect their brain health.
Helpful lifestyle factors can include the following:
- Learning and education: The effort of learning new things appears to increase cognitive reserve.
- Physical activity: Regular exercise of moderate or greater intensity may increase your brain’s resilience.
- Quitting smoking: Smoking tobacco can be a risk factor for dementia.
- Eating nutrient-rich foods: According to the National Institute on Aging, making nutrient-dense food choices may lower your Alzheimer’s risk, possibly due to the lower likelihood of obesity, which can be another dementia risk factor.
- Enriching hobbies: Leisure activities that challenge and engage your brain, such as reading books, playing games, making music, creating art, playing sports, and interacting socially with others, can have a significant protective effect against Alzheimer’s disease.
The more people understand the serious challenges Alzheimer’s can bring, along with the factors that can increase or decrease their disease risk, the better they can plan for their cognitive health and care options in old age.
Ways to contribute to Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
Those looking to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and dementia have a variety of options. Here are a few ways you can pitch in.
Share information online
Spreading educational materials via your social media page, blog, or other online platform can be an excellent way to bring wider attention to Alzheimer’s and other diseases related to dementia. Consider sharing articles discussing the prevalence and risk factors for these conditions or linking to organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association that provide detailed informational resources.
If you’ve been personally impacted by Alzheimer’s, sharing the story of your family’s battle with this condition can be a compelling way to spread awareness. Personal testimonies — for example, Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez’s recollections of her grandmother — can make the issue of Alzheimer’s come alive for readers.
Start a dialogue with friends and loved ones
Sharing what you’ve learned about dementia in face-to-face conversations can often be even more impactful than discussing it online. You could start a discussion about what you’re doing to keep your brain healthy as you get older, or how you’re financially planning for the care of aging relatives.
Talking about cognitive health with older loved ones could be particularly helpful, even if it’s not always an easy conversation. If you know someone who shows possible symptoms of the early stages of Alzheimer’s, you may want to encourage them to receive screening for cognitive impairment.
Advocate for change
Another option could be to lend your support to public policy initiatives meant to reduce the damage done by Alzheimer’s disease. Groups like the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement often push for legislative changes to increase funding for research and decrease the cost of care for families. You can amplify their efforts online or in person.
You can also engage in direct advocacy, such as calling or writing your congressional representatives to register your support for key issues. Many concerned groups are calling for Medicare to start covering Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments for Alzheimer’s that many people currently pay for out of pocket. Pressure from citizens might make this shift possible.
Participate in awareness and fundraising events
Since it’s nationally recognized as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, June tends to be a popular time for events designed to spread the word about dementia. One notable example may be the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, in which participants across the country wear purple and walk to raise funds and awareness. You can get involved in a local event or even organize your own.
Donate to charities battling Alzheimer’s
Offering financial support can be a tangible way to advance the cause of dementia awareness and care. You can put your dollars toward charities that fund research into Alzheimer’s disease, advocate for patients and families, or raise awareness of this illness. Examples include the following:
- The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research
- Alzheimer's Foundation of America
- Alzheimer’s Association
- The Cure Alzheimer's Fund
- The American Brain Foundation
Volunteer
It’s often possible to lend direct support for Alzheimer’s-related charities by volunteering. You can help run fundraising events, act as a community ambassador, or even work directly with dementia patients as a part-time caregiver.
Seek support as a caregiver
As previously mentioned, Alzheimer’s often has an impact not just on those who live with the disease, but also on their loved ones, who frequently act as caretakers. If you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s, this month may offer the opportunity to seek the professional support you deserve. Talking to a therapist about your thoughts and feelings, as well as learning healthy ways to cope with the situation, may be helpful.
However, as a caregiver, it may be challenging to attend in-person therapy sessions. You may find it more accessible and convenient to try online therapy and speak with a licensed mental health professional from the comfort of your home.
One 2022 study evaluated the efficacy of online cognitive behavioral therapy for caregivers of people with dementia. It found that the online intervention typically reduced the caregivers’ emotional distress associated with their loved one’s dementia symptoms, and it also improved their emotional well-being.
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