Worried About Alzheimer’s?

If so, learning about what’s normal and what’s not can help you get support for yourself or a loved one as soon as it’s needed. “It’s important to talk about Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related illnesses without stigma and fear,” says Beth Battaglino, CEO of HealthyWomen, which partnered with Prevention and the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement on a series of brain health webinars (view them at yourbrain2021.com). “Brain health is an integral part of the healthy-aging checklist,” she adds.

Three things that might reassure you:

FORGETTING IS ACTUALLY VITAL

“Our brains lose brain cells every day starting in our 20s,” says Gayatri Devi, M.D., a neurodegenerative disorders expert. “Our brains prune with age so they can function better.” Forgetting things is how we retain other info. But if your ability to drive, cook, or do your

finances is affected, talk to your doctor.

MENOPAUSE CAN LOOK A LOT LIKE ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Maybe you’re losing keys or forgetting why you entered a room—but don’t stress yet! Menopause-related cognitive impairment affects more than half of women, so consult your doctor. “I have two words: Consider

hormones,” says Dr. Devi.

YOU HAVE MORE CONTROL THAN YOU MAY THINK

Our brains are magnificently malleable. “Of current Alzheimer’s cases, 40% are thought to have been preventable if folks had modified their lifestyles,” says Jessica Caldwell, Ph.D., director of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention Center at Cleveland Clinic. “Not smoking, good sleep, exercise, and managing things like diabetes and depression may all help.”