The fight against Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s Assn. launches program, Maintain Your Brain, to encourage people to start thinking about and working toward brain health earlier. Alzheimer’s disease has been a widely covered subject in the past few years -- with scientists and researchers learning more about what causes it, what effects it has on the brain, and what steps people can take to prevent or delay it.

To educate the public about much of the research and to encourage younger people to adopt a healthier lifestyle, the Alzheimer’s Assn. launched a campaign last November called Maintain Your Brain, which is geared toward baby boomers. The campaign focuses on brain-healthy life choices people can undertake now that could have an enormous effect on their health.

Joyce Lowder, director of communications for the Alzheimer’s Assn. Orange County Chapter, said the local chapter conducts Maintain Your Brain workshops.

“These workshops are designed for individuals who have no sign of memory loss, preferably the younger the better, since some researchers believe we can develop indicators of the disease in our younger years,” Lowder said. “I believe people are reaching out for hope and information, where they did not consider hope an option in the past, before we gained the information we have today through research.”

Some of the specific points referenced in the campaign are the importance of exercise, a healthful diet, social and intellectual activity, and avoiding unhealthful habits such as smoking and drinking excessive alcohol. People also are advised to maintain healthful body weight and blood pressure, while also monitoring cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

“I think it’s great,” said Dr. Gary Small, director of UCLA’s Center on Aging, about Maintain Your Brain. “I think whatever we can do to ... [teach] people that a healthy lifestyle is not only good for your heart and your brain, but also for your longevity.”

Small, who has been researching age-related illnesses for years, is the author of “The Memory Prescription.” The book outlines a two-week program that focuses on mental activity, physical conditioning, a healthy diet and stress reduction. Small said that through research at UCLA, he discovered that positive improvements show in a very short period of time.

“I knew that once they [the test subjects] started, they would see the benefits and they would be motivated to continue,” Small said. Research has shown that a healthy lifestyle can prevent the disease.

“Use it or lose it is true for every part of your body, including your brain,” said Jeanne Bader, a gerontologist with CSU Long Beach. In addition to exercise, diet and social activity, as people age they need to make home modifications and be sure they are properly managing their medications. Many accidents and symptoms that appear to be Alzheimer’s-related come from poor lighting and improper use of prescription drugs, she said.

When people experience aging and Alzheimer’s symptoms, a full geriatric screening should be performed. This includes a standard annual exam, as well as vision and hearing tests and a brown bag prescription drug evaluation, Bader said.

People can educate themselves about brain health by requesting information from the association, accessing the extensive information on the local and national websites, and personal research or reading, Lowder said.

She cautioned that people should stay away from fad diets and should develop eating habits based on common sense and easy-to-access information from health organizations.

For more information on Maintain Your Brain, call (800) 272-3900 or visit www.alzoc.org or www.alz.org.

TIPS FOR BRAIN HEALTH

* Head first -- Good health starts with the brain, so pay attention to brain health.

* Heart health -- Do something every day to reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke, all of which can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s.

* Numbers -- Keep body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels within recommended ranges.

* Feed the brain -- Eat less fat and more vegetables, especially leafy greens and those rich in antioxidants.

* Work the body -- Physical activity keeps the blood flowing and may encourage new brain cells.

* Jog the mind -- Keeping the brain active and engaged increases its vitality and builds reserves of brain cells and connections. Read, write, play games, learn new things, do crossword puzzles.

* Connect -- Leisure activities that combine physical, mental and social elements may be most likely to prevent dementia. Be social, converse, volunteer, join a club, or take a class.

* Protect -- Take precautions against injuries. Wear seat belts, clean up clutter to avoid falls, and wear a helmet when cycling or in-line skating.

* Think -- Avoid unhealthful habits. Don’t smoke, drink excessive alcohol or use street drugs.

-- Information provided by the Alzheimer’s Assn. 20051112iptg19knDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)A normal brain, left, and a brain with Alzheimer’s disease 20051112iluz6incDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Instructor Judy Aprile, on stage, leads members of Oasis senior center in stretching and motion exercises during a class in August.