January is Alzheimer's Awareness Month in Canada. If you do not know much or anything about Alzheimer’s or dementia, take some time to educate yourself by reading this blog and other sources of information.
The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” and brain health as “the state of brain functioning across cognitive, sensory, social-emotional, behavioural and motor domains, allowing a person to realize their full potential over the life course, irrespective of the presence or absence of disorders.” (World Health Organization). Disorders that affect the brain includes dementia which affects 50 million people globally, stroke, Parkinson’s, and epilepsy can cause disability for many people. Brain health includes cognition, emotion, motor behaviour and sensory functioning. Dementia impacts the functioning of our brain and affects individuals psychologically, physically, socially and economically, as well as family members and caregivers.
Alzheimer’s disease is one type of dementia. It was first identified in a patient by a German psychiatrist, Alois Alzheimer, in 1901. What is Alzheimer’s disease? It is a “chronic neurodegenerative disease that destroys brain cells, causing thinking ability and memory to decline over time. Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging, and is irreversible. It is the most common form of dementia affecting approximately 60 to 80 percent of all dementia cases.” https://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/what-alzheimers-disease
Alzheimer’s disease progresses over the individual life and includes several stages. They are as follows:
Early Stage: Mild symptoms. Individuals are aware of their condition and requires minimal assistance.
Middle Stage: More noticeable symptoms. Individual begin to require more assistance with activities of daily living.
Late Stage: Individuals start becoming unable to verbally communicate or take care of themselves.
End of Life: Cognitive decline has progressed to the point where the person needs 24-hour care. The focus shifts to palliative care and comfort to ensure quality of death.
There are other types of dementia that include the following:
Vascular Dementia is associated with problems with blood flow to the brain, which damages brain cells. Causes for vascular dementia may include: stroke, brain aneurysm, narrowed blood vessels, other cerebrovascular conditions
Lewy Body Disease is a neurodegenerative disease associated with abnormal proteins in the brain called Lewy bodies. These proteins are also observed in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, so some symptoms overlap. Lewy body disease can impact a person's ability to think and solve problems. It can also cause: tremors, lack of balance, slow movements, sleep disturbances, visual hallucinations.
Mixed Dementia is when someone lives with 2 or more types of dementia. The most common form of mixed dementia consists of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. This type of dementia affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Damage to nerve cells in these areas can limit interactions with other parts of the brain. This type of dementia most often affects: behaviour, personality, movement, communication.
Korsakoff Syndrome usually happens when someone's levels of vitamin B1 are severely low for a long time. This can cause: forgetfulness, difficulty learning new information, other common signs of dementia. Vitamin B1 deficiencies have many causes, including: problematic alcohol use, poor nutrition, dietary disorders, some chemotherapy treatments.
Risk factors may increase the chance, but not the certainty, of an individual developing dementia, and they as features of one’s genetic background, lifestyle, and environment increasing the possibility of having a disease. Risk factors for dementia, within a person’s control, include (1) high blood pressure, (2) diabetes, (3) obesity, (4) smoking, (5) lack of physical activity, (6) a poor diet, (7) low levels of cognitive engagement, (8) high alcohol consumption, (9) depression, (10) traumatic brain injury, (11) hearing loss, (12) social isolation, and (13) air pollution. Risk factors, outside of our control, are age (over 65 years old), gender (women higher risk), and genetics.
How can you support your brain health? Think about engaging in physical activity (going for walks, exercising), healthy nutrition (follow the Canada Food Guide recommendations, drink plenty of water), cognitive activities (reading, pickup a new hobby), socialization (engage with family and friends, volunteer work), a good sleep pattern (try to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night) and manage your stress (relaxation exercises, connect with your support network).
Why is it important maintain good brain health? A healthy brain can improve mental and physical health contributing to a better overall wellbeing and quality of life.
References
- Alzheimer’s Society of Canada. https://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/what-alzheimers-disease
- Public Health Agency of Canada. (January 2025). Dementia: Overview. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/dementia.html
- Public Health Agency of Canada. (March 2024). Dementia in Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/dementia.html
- World Health Organization. Brain Health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/brain-health#tab=tab_1