Brain Awareness Important at All Ages
Being more aware of our brains and how they can change as we get older is important, says Dr. Han Lee of Kaiser Permanente, who has done his best to spread that word around during June’s Brain Awareness Month.
Dr. Lee, a neurologist and Movement Disorders Specialist who focuses on Alzheimer’s, says someone is diagnosed with it in America once every 65 seconds. The neurodegenerative brain disease impacts 1 in 9 Americans aged 65 and older, an estimated 6.9 million people, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
The disease produces enormous strains on families, medically, emotionally, and often financially, along with other neurological disorders, costing the economy an estimated $800 million annually, Dr. Lee notes. Thankfully, treatments are starting to emerge.
“Getting information out is critical. Collectively, we can move mountains in the U.S.,” Dr. Lee said.
Two things Dr. Lee would like people to know are that some things people worry could be Alzheimer’s often aren’t and that even if they are, treatments are beginning to emerge for a disease once thought not only incurable but barely treatable.
“If you ask someone to pick up milk and bread at the store, and they forget one or the other but realize they forgot something, that’s completely normal,” he said. “But if they don’t recall the request at all, that may not be.”
Signs of early Alzheimer’s that are worth looking out for are making strange decisions, getting lost in familiar places, and personality changes, he said.
The first step in looking into Alzheimer’s concerns is talking with your general practitioner.
“They can do screening tests. We need to rule out things that can be fixed and aren’t Alzheimer’s,” Dr. Lee noted, adding that some medical conditions can mimic typical Alzheimer’s symptoms but are treatable and often completely curable.
Following a screening test, treatments that boost neurotransmitters in brains and protect memory to some degree can be discussed. He said some also clean out harmful plaque already in people’s brains.
While the first generation of Alzheimer’s drugs may have considerable side effects, Dr. Lee says later generations should work better with lessened side effects available in about two years.
Recommendations for preventing Alzheimer’s range from staying mentally active throughout life, wearing a helmet while biking or skating helps protect the brain and avoid injuries. Lifestyle choices such as moderating weight, managing diabetes if you have it, reducing alcohol intake, and stopping smoking are also recommended. Some environmental factors such as air pollution have also been linked to higher cases of Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Ignoring the signs or symptoms may also have longstanding negative impacts.
“We’re widely understaffed for caring for people at home, and the U.S. is not well equipped to deal with chronic diseases more generally, not just Alzheimer’s," Dr. Lee says. “We’re facing growing diseases of aging, as people live longer.”
“We’re all waiting for a cure, but people are suffering now,” Lee said.