More than 7 million Americans have Alzheimer’s Disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. And one in nine people over the age of 65 has this type of dementia. The disease is believed to be caused by plaques and tangles that form in the brain, destroying brain cells and connections between them. It may start developing years before any symptoms appear, and women are more predisposed to the condition. While Alzheimer’s Disease may be hereditary, there are steps you may take to prevent it, which was the takeaway from a brain health panel at the Women’s Health Lab, a day-long event in NYC that explored a wide range of women’s health issues.
Jane Francisco, editorial director, Hearst Lifestyle Group, and editor-in-chief, Good Housekeeping, moderated the discussion, while panelists included those who have had family members with Alzheimer’s Disease: Anne White, executive vice president and president, Lilly Neuroscience, Eli Lilly and Company; Arlinda McIntosh, owner, operator, and content strategist, Sofistafunk The Skirt Co.; and Paula Zahn, host & executive producer, Warner Bros. Discover On the Case With Paula Zahn, and board member, Alzheimer’s Discovery Foundation.
Ahead are key takeaways to boost brain health and help prevent the brain-altering disease.
Know the warning signs
“We tend to think, ‘I’m not going to have anyone worry about me,’” White noted. A similarity in their stories, according to White, is that each panelist’s mother knew something was going on early on. There are things that many people chalk up to normal aging. Forgetting words that you are not able to convey. Forgetting how to do tasks that you previously could do, or losing important things (like your keys or wallet) routinely, White explained.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) these may include:
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Memory loss that disrupts daily life.
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Difficulties in planning or solving problems.
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Challenges in completing familiar tasks.
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Getting confused with time or place.
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Difficulty understanding images and spatial relations.
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New issues with words in speaking or writing.
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Misplacing things and not being able to retrace steps.
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Decreased or poor judgment.
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Withdrawal from work or social activities.
Ask about testing
“There are really good blood tests now that can help tell you if you have pathology of the disease,” White said. So what’s keeping people from them? White pointed to stigma. “The fact that there is still a lot of stigma about this disease. I think that’s why sometimes people don’t speak up.” She emphasized the importance of early diagnosis. “The earlier you diagnose, the better your outcomes might be. We need to all advocate for ourselves and our family members,” she said. “Having an accurate diagnosis can really give people better outcomes.”
Be open
“It is so important to advocate,” White said. Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed, White pointed out, and a lot less likely to speak up about the signs and symptoms. “Women are often the healthcare CEOs of the family. If we see something in someone else and we don’t act, I think the likelihood that they get diagnosed is less.”
McIntosh agreed: “If we can talk about fashion, we can talk about our cognitive health.” She went a step further and made a date with her friends to all go to the doctor together. “We’ll get together and go to dinner; why can’t we go together and check on our [brains]?” she said. “It’s starting that conversation.”
Get educated
“Knowledge is power,” Zahn explained, especially for those with a family history of Alzheimer’s Disease (as was the case for each panelist). Zahn continued, saying that knowledge is key in the battle against this type of dementia. “I approach this like a reporter, trying to learn everything I can… I don’t want to live in fear,” she said.
Set yourself up for success
White pointed out that diet, exercise, and good sleep are important for cognitive health. In fact, a March 2023 study noted that the MIND diet and the Mediterranean Diet may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Thank you to the event sponsors, Northwell Health/Katz Institute for Women’s Health, Bank of America Private Bank, Lilly, Sensei, Sanofi, and Vionic.
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