National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month 2017: Go Purple for Alzheimer’s Awareness

November has been designated National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. It is a time to spread awareness about this non-degradative disease that affects nearly two million Americans today. To help in this effort, we at Bel Marra have brought you some of your most informative articles on the subject. You will learn about the brain structure and how Alzheimer’s disease affects it, innovations in Alzheimer’s treatment and research as well as the components of the MIND diet, which was specifically designed to help preserve cognitive functioning.

Brain structure may be a protective factor against Alzheimer’s disease

More than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease; a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by difficulty remembering recent events and other cognitive shortcomings. For the most part, the cause of the disease is still mostly unknown. However, a new study shows that the brain structure of some individuals may make them resilient to the condition.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. It is not a part of normal aging. However, the greatest risk factor for its development is increased age. The majority of those affected by the condition are 65 and older. Continue reading…

Individualized Alzheimer’s disease treatment may a better option

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a condition that destroys a person’s memory and other vital mental functions. It is the most common form of dementia, a broad category of brain disease that leads those affected to gradually lose their ability to think and remember.
An estimated five million Americans are affected by Alzheimer’s disease. This number is expected to increase to 60 million by 2050 in the U.S. alone.

What is more distressing isn’t the fact that it is an incurable disease or that there are limited treatment options, but that Alzheimer’s disease has an insidious onset, often not being recognized until it is too late. Continue reading…

Potential early sign of Alzheimer’s disease discovered

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurogenerative condition that results in dementia and a loss of cognitive ability. These symptoms develop slowly over the years, making it quite difficult to recognize early on. It is this lack of early recognition that limits treatment options, resulting in poorer outcomes.

However, a team of researchers now believe that they have found an identifiable sign that may help with the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. Continue reading…

MIND diet reduces Alzheimer’s disease risk by 53 percent

The MIND diet stands for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay and has been shown to improve brain health and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. As we age, the threat of developing Alzheimer’s increases. Although the cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still unknown, researchers are working diligently to uncover more information to combat this life-changing condition.

What we do know is that there are effective ways to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. And there is something you do every day that can make a difference: eating well. Continue reading…

Poor sleep associated with Alzheimer’s disease: Study

We all have difficulty falling asleep from time to time. Restless nights spent tossing and turning can ruin anyone’s day. For some of us, this is infrequent. However, there are some people who constantly struggle to get to sleep, and according to new research, these sleep problems may increase Alzheimer’s risk.

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. It is not a part of normal aging, however, the greatest risk factor for its development is increasing age. The majority of those affected by the condition are 65 and older. The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not well understood but is believed to be due to a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Continue reading…