HEALTH MATTERS
JUNE is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Worldwide 50 million people are living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Join the Alzheimer’s Association in going purple and raising awareness this June. The more people know about Alzheimer’s, the more action we can inspire.
The day with the most light is the day we fight.
On June 20 – the summer solstice – people from across the world unite to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s.
The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not yet fully understood, although a number of things are thought to increase your risk of developing the condition. These include: increasing age a family history of the condition
untreated depression, although depression can also be one of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
lifestyle factors (such as being obese and smoking) and conditions associated with cardiovascular disease
As the condition develops, memory problems become more severe and further symptoms can develop, such as:
confusion, disorientation and getting lost in familiar places
difficulty planning or making decisions
problems with speech and language
The risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia increases with age, affecting an estimated one in 14 people over the age of 65 and one in every six over the age of 80.
This June you can turn your Facebook profile purple, wear purple and share why you’re going purple with the hashtag #ENDALZ.
You can support the Alzheimer’s Association by donating, becoming an advocate or signing up as a volunteer.
For more information please visit: https://www. alz.org/abam
WE have now moved to the next phase in easing lockdown measures, thanks to the vast majority of people following public health rules.
Non-essential shops have been able to open from Monday June 15, with pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants opening no earlier than July 4. Let’s do all that we can to support these vital local businesses in the weeks ahead.
Such steps need to continue to be taken cautiously to go on protecting public health, but it’s important to help back businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors – many of which are small and medium-sized enterprises.
In the virtual space, it’s great to see the work that the Barnaby Festival and Treacle Market are doing to maintain their important place in our community calendar and strengthen the community spirit.
The next Treacle Market on June 28 will be virtual.
Coronavirus not only poses a risk to lives, the disease also threatens livelihoods. That’s why the government has created a comprehensive support package.
Locally, we have strong economic foundations with an active life-science sector and an entrepreneurial and skilled workforce.
This is important as we take forward recovery plans to strengthen the economy and protect jobs.
The life science sector, and the important work of AstraZeneca in Macclesfield, is not just a jewel in the crown of our local economy, but it is also vital to the nation as a whole.
Never more so than at a time when we are tackling the coronavirus pandemic.
I will go on working with AstraZeneca and key stakeholders, including Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, to help realise this potential for our local economy.
I will continue to do all that I can to support local businesses at this challenging time – please let me know if I can be of any help.