Worldwide, more than 55 million people are living with Alzheimer's or another dementia. Take action now — for yourself, your loved ones and for the fight to end Alzheimer's. 

Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimer's or other dementia. Alzheimer's is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There are 10 warning signs and symptoms. If you notice any of them, don't ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Whatever your age, now is the right time to take actions that help promote a healthy brain. Get familiar with brain health and learn what steps you can take if you or someone you love has memory concerns.

Doctors say the test could help individuals who are experiencing symptoms get an earlier diagnosis.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has green-lit a blood test that can help doctors diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. It is the first blood test to be cleared by the FDA for the disease, which affects more than 7 million older Americans and is marked by a decline in memory and thinking skills.

The test, called Lumipulse, can detect abnormal clumps of protein in the brain, known as amyloid plaques. These plaques disrupt brain cell function and are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.

Eating too much added sugar can increase your risk for numerous health problems

There’s some not-so-sweet news when it comes to sugar: Eat too much of the stuff and it can wreak havoc on your health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), consuming too many added sugars — which you’ll find in many packaged and processed foods and drinks — can lead to obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

But what about cancer? Here’s what researchers know so far about sugar and cancer risk.

• Caregiving for a loved one can come with complex emotions, including love, guilt, frustration, grief and exhaustion. The comments people give to caregivers, however, are often simplistic, romanticized or contain unsolicited advice.
• Caregivers often feel socially isolated because others don’t seem to understand what they’re going through, offering only unhelpful and even hurtful comments. These responses from others, along with the demands of the role, can have negative effects on caregivers, who might become lonely, overwhelmed or feel a loss of identity.
• Friends and family of caregivers can better support them by listening without judgment and offering practical ways to help. Helpful comments acknowledge the difficulty of caregiving and validate the range of emotions involved.
• Simple check-ins or letting a caregiver know you’re thinking about them is a better way to offer support. Caregivers don’t need “perfect” words: They just need someone to be there for them.

Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley is looking for a part or full-time Home Health Aide to join our team! If you are passionate about providing quality care to individuals in need, we encourage you to apply.

Please submit your resume to: sfoley@visitingnurses.org.

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 Questions? Call Us! 860-767-0186