AARP Illinois

We received such positive feedback from last month’s blog post, so I’m sharing a few additional questions I’ve recently received from patients and their families. Should you have a question of your own, please comment below so others can benefit from the discussion.

With key U.S. Senate and congressional races heating up for the November elections, AARP will be at the state fair in Springfield, Aug. 11-21, engaging thousands of people in urging candidates to explain their plans to keep Social Security strong for current and future generations.

The link between what you eat and how you feel is real, which is great news for people with arthritis. Research suggests that anti-inflammatory diets (low in sugars, carbohydrates and gluten and high in omega-3 fatty acids, olive oils and fiber) can help reduce joint pain and stiffness. Besides a healthful boost, this type of diet almost always leads to some surprising and rapid weight loss, taking pressure off bones and joints. Don’t be intimidated by the mistaken idea that you have to lose 25 lbs, an especially difficult task when joint pain restricts how much exercise you can do. The rule of thumb is that every 1 lb of weight loss reduces the force distributed through the hip, for example, three-fold. A little bit of weight loss has a big impact!

I am often asked about ways to reduce the risk of developing certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The following are a few recent questions that have been posed online and through social media, along with my responses, so you, too, can understand the significance of healthy lifestyle choices and early testing to maintain brain health.

By Lisa Bertagnoli

In last month’s blog post, I addressed the impact of genetic risk in developing Alzheimer’s disease. In this post, I explain the importance of genetic testing, and how hope is NOT lost, should you have a higher risk genetic profile.

Statistically speaking, one in five women and one in ten men will get Alzheimer’s in their lifetime; however, certain individuals have a higher genetic risk. Your lifetime risk for Alzheimer’s disease can be as low as 5%, but as high as 70%, depending on your APOE genotype.

Last month, Dr. Maraganore explained the theory of the Mediterranean diet, and how it can be incorporated into food choices during the holidays; in Part 2 of this series, he discusses details behind recent research which indicate the impact of a Mediterranean diet on brain health.

When it comes to what we eat, research indicates in a strong and clear direction: the food we consume does indeed impact the health of our brains. Emmaline Rasmussen, MS, RD, E-RYT, a nutrition specialist and clinical research dietitian at NorthShore University HealthSystem, works with each of our Brain Health patients on an individualized plan based on their unique health and lifestyle factors. Below, Emmaline shares details about the Mediterranean diet and tips for eating better during the holidays.

November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and National Caregiver Month. An estimated five million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, and that number is expected to double by the year 2035. Illinois has the 6th largest prevalence rate of Alzheimer's in the country. And, as more and more loved ones get diagnosed with Alzheimer's the number of caregivers, and the burden on them, increases. Today there are more than 15 million Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers in the U.S. Perhaps you're caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's, and you've experienced firsthand the challenges a diagnosis brings.