Connexions Resource Centre hosted an information session on diagnosing and preventing Alzheimer’s disease at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church hall in Shawville on Thursday morning, the second talk on the subject the non-profit group has organized this spring.
While the first talk, hosted in April, focused on how to diminish the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, Thursday’s session turned instead to explaining how the disease works, how to recognize its symptoms, and strategies for living with it.
Dr. André Moreau, a physician specializing in Alzheimer’s at The Memory Clinic in Ottawa, explained the disease is something many Canadians deal with, and that the Canadian population sees some 76,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s each year.
“As we age, the probabilities of developing Alzheimer’s disease are increasing. Up to one patient in three will have Alzheimer’s by the age of 85. So if we can intervene earlier on and try to diminish that prevalence, everybody would benefit from it,” Dr. Moreau said.
Dr. Moreau explained that the amyloid beta protein is the primary . . .
culprit when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease, and that as we age, our ability to process the protein declines, causing a buildup of it in the brain resulting in inflammation, and increasing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Moreau also touched on a variety of factors that have an impact on developing Alzheimer’s.
“We know that also there is a genetic predisposition with Alzheimer’s disease that we can be tested for,” Moreau said, making special note of a hereditary gene referred to in the medical world as the APOE gene, which increases the risk of developing the disease and which can be detected with a swab test.
Dr. Moreau emphasized his belief that prevention is possible, and explained that healthy habits such as staying well rested, getting regular exercise, socializing, and maintaining a diet with fresh produce and unprocessed foods, can significantly reduce chances of developing the disease.
“If you have a hearing deficit, hypertension, or cholesterol issues, get that also checked,” he added, noting that these health issues can contribute to the development of the disease. “It’s a global approach that can be very useful in preventing Alzheimer’s.”
Shelley Heaphy is the outreach and engagement coordinator for Connexions Resource Centre in the Pontiac.
She believes the topic of Alzheimer’s is relevant to the larger Pontiac community, and not just to people with the disease.
“Alzheimer’s is important for seniors,” Heaphy said. “But it’s also important for caregivers who are caring for their loved one, whether it be spouse, parent, to have information to be able to know, if they’re seeing signs, what it could be, but then also how to get help.”
by Guillaume Laflamme
Shawville
May 22, 2024
