Alzheimer's - A women's disease

Many theories exist as to the cause of Alzheimer’s disease, but one thing scientists know for certain: Women are being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia at almost twice the rate of men.  According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2011 report, 5.4 million women in india are living with Alzheimer’s and 90 percent of this cases are undiagnosed..

Symptoms and side effects of the disease also appear to affect men and women differently.

• Men often become more aggressive. This may manifest itself in verbal, physical or even sexual aggression.  Men also are prone to wander and can become socially inappropriate more so than women.

• Women are apt to become more emotional and reclusive.  They are more likely to begin hoarding things and often suffer from depression and even delusions.  Crying spells are not uncommon and periods of extreme anxiousness can occur.

Why isn’t brain health on top of your mind?

Recently I’ve been speaking to peoples about what a healthy lifestyle means to them.  The reason I’m doing this is to understand where brain health fits in with overall health:  eating right, exercise and emotional health.  What I mostly hear from folks is that brain health isn’t top of mind unless someone has a close family member suffering from a disease like Alzheimer, dementia.

Most of the people want to stay mentally fit as they grow older but they don't have specific things  doing about it, and the reason is they don’t see or feel a need for it yet. 

 What’s striking to me about this is that the same people will go on and on about what they do for their physical exercise, a healthy diet and in some cases, therapy or meditation for mental health.  They attend Weight Watchers and track their points religiously.  They don’t miss a day with gym.  They hit the gym and track how much weight they move.  They shop at the  market weekly for organic vegetables, use little salt in their foods, etc.  They attend yoga and aerobics.  And they do these and that things to be healthy overall.

 But why not brain health?  Why hasn’t it hit mainstream yet? 

 I think its just a matter of time.  We need to continue to get the word out to the news media about how important brain health is.  Its not about waiting until you are 70 anymore to do something about your brain health.  Its about living a brain healthy lifestyle from now until you are 70 and afterwards. 

  Earlier in 80s people use to eat a high-fat diet and rarely exercised.  There were no gyms.  And as far as mental health, it wasn’t ‘normal’ to go to therapy till last decades. 

 So, I am hopeful we’ll see the same phenomenon with brain health and brain fitness.  The more the media writes about it, the more mainstream health insurance and doctors acknowledge the benefits and the more we talk to our friends of any age about it, the faster we’ll spread the word and make it mainstream.  
Someday brain fitness will be top of mind just like eating healthy and exercising. I just hope it comes sooner than later.

- Team Shirsa

Brain Training with Crossword Puzzles?

There has been a lot of debate over the years about whether or not working crossword puzzles can prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. 

It’s all a little confusing. Here’s the scoop: Crossword puzzles are great as a cognitive workout, but they cannot prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. Unfortunately, nothing can prevent a person from developing AD. However, doing brain stimulating activities that incorporate novelty, variety and complexity can help build your cognitive reserve and reduce the effects of dementia and AD. Anyways, crossword puzzles are still a great way to sharpen your cognitive skills.

Four Ways Crossword Puzzles Benefit Your Brain

1.     Enhance vocabulary  

2.     Strengthen word recall and memory

3.     Stimulate problem solving skills

4.     Improve focus and attention

If solving crossword puzzles is part of your routine, try changing it up a little. Variety and novelty are crucial components of cognitive reserve. Look for other word puzzles like acrostics or try a book with multiple kinds of word challenges.

If you get stuck, look up the information. Use the internet or reference guides to get info on a clue rather than looking at the answers. You are more likely to remember the information for future puzzles if you search for that information rather than just looking at the answer key.

- Team Shirsa