November is Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month!

The month of November is full of fall leaves, family gatherings, and of course, turkey dinner! But the fall season is also a perfect time to make sure you are educating yourself on ways to stay healthy, and this week, we are focusing on a topic that affects more than 5.5 million Americans over the age of 65.Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. Dementia is a general term for memory loss and other issues with cognitive ability that are impactful enough to seriously disrupt a person’s day-to-day life. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for the majority of dementia cases in the United States—between 60 and 80 percent.Usually, when one thinks of an Alzheimer’s patient, they may think of someone older. However, it is important to note that developing Alzheimer’s is not a normal or expected aspect of aging. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, meaning that it worsens over time, but it is not simply caused by growing older. The Alzheimer’s Association has great resources about this illness, including facts, figures, and information about treatment. You can learn about ten of the early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s, and learn the differences between Alzheimer’s warning signs and typical age-related changes here. For example, a sign of developing Alzheimer’s could be losing track of the date or the season, while a typical age-related change could be forgetting the day’s date and then remembering later on.Although Alzheimer’s currently has no cure, there are a number of treatment options available that can help treat patients’ symptoms. Fortunately, Medicare plans cover many of these symptom-management options and treatments.An especially great way you can spread awareness about Alzheimer’s this November is by participating in a Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the world’s largest event to raise awareness and money to research a cure. There is an interactive map tool where you can find a walk close to you, and gather with members of your community to show your support for those with the disease and dedication to finding a cure. Raising money for research initiatives, especially while participating in a fun community activity, is one of the best ways we can make progress toward finding a cure for Alzheimer’s.We would love to see how you plan on commemorating Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month this November! If you attend a walk, be sure to share a picture with us on our Twitter and Facebook pages, and remember to keep your health a priority as we enter the holiday season!