Things to Keep in Mind This Brain Awareness Month

June is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, which makes it an excellent time to educate yourself about Alzheimer’s and how you and your loved ones can approach an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Alzheimer’s is a condition that affects the brain cells. It causes memory loss and can make everyday activities difficult. As brain cells die, information is less able to travel to different parts of the brain. Symptoms may begin slowly or progress quickly.

The most common and noticeable symptom of Alzheimer’s is memory loss. This may make it difficult to remember everyday things such as appointments and events, and even friends and family. Other symptoms include:

There are certain factors that may make a person more likely to develop Alzheimer’s. These include age, family history of Alzheimer’s, and genetic factors. There is no known way to prevent Alzheimer’s specifically, but there are ways you can keep your brain generally healthy such as

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s at this time, but there are ways to treat symptoms and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. Your doctor may prescribe medications that increase memory function, as well as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anxiety medications. Vitamin E has also been used to decrease Alzheimer’s symptoms.

Receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis for you or a loved one can be overwhelming and discouraging. But the more you know about the disease and the ways it can be treated, the better equipped you will be to move forward.