According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Americans care about their brain health but do not know how to protect it.

More than 60,000 Arkansans over the age of 65 are living with Alzheimer's.

Heather Snyder, senior vice president of medical and scientific relations for the association, said the majority of people living with Alzheimer’s have at least one other chronic condition.

"Part of that is likely linked to cardiovascular and metabolic health and related risks," Snyder explained. "There are many causes of dementia that we see, including vascular disease, frontal temporal degeneration, Lewy body diseases, and Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common."

Snyder pointed out risk factors like high cholesterol or blood pressure can also have a direct effect on cognitive health, adding taking steps toward overall wellness is important, especially for aging adults. Approximately 175,000 family caregivers in Arkansas provide essential support to people living with Alzheimer's.

States in the southeastern U.S., including Arkansas, have a higher rate of Alzheimer's disease. Snyder acknowledged there is no list of specific activities someone can do to prevent Alzheimer’s but learning something new helps engage the brain.

"By learning a new language, you're engaging your brain, you're challenging your brain, you're building new brain connections between your brain cells that are building that resilience," Snyder outlined. "Other people I've met over the years have talked about taking a class that is in economics, but they were an art teacher. Again, learning something new."

The Alzheimer’s Association said more than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. The organization estimates the cost of care could reach $409 billion this year.

Source: Public News Service