The aging brain

International Association of Ministers’ Wives and Ministers’ Widows, Inc.

July 1, 2009

The Aging Brain and What the Faith Community Can Do

Health Power’s Definition of Health

Physical Health +

Mental Health +

Spiritual Health .

Health Power’s Key Focus

Disease Prevention

Early Disease Detection

Disease Control

Hallmarks of Health Power’s Approach

Customized health information and promotion messages that are:

Authoritative - user-friendly - culturally relevant

Focus on physical, mental and spiritual health

Hallmarks of Health Power’s Approach (Continued)

Focus on disease prevention, early detection and control

Web-based and other multi-media health communications

Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s

• Age 10% of persons over 65 years of age;

50% of persons over 85 years of age.

Since the number of African

Americans over 64 years will

double in the next 30 years, it’s

a coming silent epidemic.

Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s

• Family History A history of Alzheimer’s in a first

degree relative is consistently associated with Alzheimer’s.

Yet, one can never know for sure.

A Rapidly Changing Demographic Picture

Source 1: U.S. Census Bureau; Source 2: Multiple Reports

Growth of Multicultural Populations

24.8

3629.3

05

10152025303540

1990 2000 2015

U.S. Trend1:

Increasingly, a racially and ethnically diverse nation;

Result: Unless major action is taken to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities:

- A less healthy workforce and society,

- A further increase in the spiraling cost of health care,

for all2.

How Alzheimer’s Affects the African American Community

• A “Silent epidemic” in the African American community

• May disproportionately affect African Americans

• There’s often later diagnosis and treatment, if at all.

What Alzheimer’s Is (Continued)

• Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of the aging process.

• Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that gets worse over time.

What Alzheimer’s Disease Is

• The most common form of dementia;

• A progressive, degenerative brain disease with gradual onset;

• The disease can last from 7 to 20 years. The average duration is 7 to 12

years.

Key Alzheimer’s Information:

Causes brain damage as a result of: Fragments of plaques and

tangles causing nerve cell death, and

Decreased levels of chemicals being involved in sending brain messages.

What Happens During Alzheimer’s

There’s a steady decline in the ability to: Remember and Learn Think and Reason Communicate and Respond Live independently

Three Key Causes of Dementia

Alzheimer’s Disease

Vascular Dementia*

Alcohol-Related Dementia*

* Related to lifestyle and health practices

Risk Factors for Vascular Dementia

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

Diabetes Smoking Peripheral vascular disease AgeCardiac disease

Alcohol-Related Dementia

Alcohol-related dementia results from brain damage. Key causes of damage:

- Toxic effects of alcohol on the liver

and brain;

- Secondary damage to other organs from alcohol abuse, increased

vitamin deficiency, risk of stroke.

About the Normal “Aging Brain” A slower pace of learning.

Need for new information to be repeated, and possible tendency to repeat past experiences.

Some also have some cognitive decline (have greater risk of dementia.

Ten Warning Signs of Dementia

• Memory loss

• Difficulty in doing familiar tasks

• Problems with language

• Confusion about time and place

• Poor or decreased judgment

Ten Warning Signs of Dementia(Continued)

• Problems with abstract thinking

• Misplacing things

• Changes in mood or behavior

• Changes in personality

• Loss of initiative

Importance of Early Diagnosis of Dementia

May help the person with dementia:

Educate him/herself on the disease to decrease fear;

Participate in their own care planning

Make legal and financial arrangements

Importance of Early Diagnosis of Dementia

Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, with early treatment some medications can improve symptoms or slow the disease down.

Ways to Help a Loved One with Alzheimer’s/Dementia

Be flexible about the way the person talks or what he or she says.

Make connections through songs or old hymns.

Have a quiet room where the caregiver can take the person if he/she becomes anxious during the service.

Ways to Help a Loved One with Alzheimer’s/Dementia

Plan short frequent (home) visits.

Encourage the person to continue taking part in service and social events (choir, etc).

Ways to Help a Loved One withAlzheimer’s/Dementia

Create a memory box with old family pictures and other special events.

Create an atmosphere of joy, trust and comfort.

Helping the Caregiver

Care-giving with dementia can be very stressful.

Clergy and other faith community presence and support help a lot.

Encourage respite care.Encourage use of support

groups.

Special Care Issues

Agitation, often associated with difficulty in carrying out usual personal care tasks.

Wandering, or getting lost.

Difficulty getting to sleep at night.

Looks of Advanced Alzheimer’s/Dementia

How to Decrease One’s Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease?

• Stay informed and active.• Maintain healthy lifestyle• Partner to support

research:• Become a volunteer – to

anindividual or organization.

Recent Research Findings on Improving Brain Health

Stay physically healthy.

Control your hypertension (high blood pressure)

Participate in social activities.

Tips to Keep the Memory Sharp

- Make, and use ‘Things To Do’ lists. Planning tasks in advance. It exercises the mind.

- Use note pads and calendars.

- Exercise regularly.

- Limit alcohol intake. Heavy drinking

over time can cause permanent

memory loss & brain damage.

More Tips to Keep the Memory Sharp

- Develop hobbies and stay involved in them. If they stop, being enjoyable,

select new ones.

- Do activities that reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. If they don’t work, or stop working, talk to your

doctor.

Women’s Health Channel

Channel Editors

Men’s Health Channel

Channel Editor

Joint Organizational Opportunities

Cross-linking our web-site with yours:

- For Information Exchange and - To help narrow the “Digital Divide.

Other possible collaborations;

Membership in “The Health Power Network”.

Health Power looks forward to working with you and yours.

Remember:

Knowledge + Action = Power !

www.healthpowerforminorities.org