World Alzheimer’s Day
“Let’s Talk About Dementia – End the Stigma”
September 21, 2019, marks the eighth annual World Alzheimer’s Day. This event, which takes place on September 21st each year, is used to raise awareness about dementia and challenge the stigma that surrounds it. Every 3 seconds, someone in the world develops dementia. There are over 50 million people around the world living with dementia, with more than 170,000 in North Carolina. The economic burden of dementia in the U.S. is $1 trillion every year.
Dementia is a collective name for progressive degenerative brain syndromes which affect memory, thinking, behavior and emotion. Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia are the most common types of dementia, responsible for up to 50-60% of cases of dementia. Dementia is not a normal part of aging.
10 Warning Signs of Dementia
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Challenges in planning or solving problems
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks
- Confusion with time or place
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgment
- Withdrawal from work or social activities
- Change in mood and personality
If you are worried about developing dementia speak to your doctor. If you are living with dementia, remember that you don’t have to be alone. You can seek support from your family and friends, health and social workers or local support groups. If you are a care partner, it is important to take care of your own physical and mental health needs.
North Carolina is fortunate to have a very active organization, Dementia Alliance of North Carolina (DANC), formerly AlzNC which was rebranded in 2018. DANC’s mission is to improve the lives of all North Carolinians impacted by dementia, engaging and empowering them through support, education and research. The organization provides local support through four primary focus areas: family services and support, community outreach, education and empowerment and research efforts. Educational events and support groups are available across North Carolina. For information on DANC and their services, go to www.dementianc.org/
September is National Food Safety Education Month
Each year, an estimated 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from eating contaminated food. Learn how to take the appropriate steps to help prevent food poisoning on the CDC website. Stay healthy and please share this important information with family and friends.