Events in dozens of BC communities this weekend to raise Alzheimer awareness

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – More than 70,000 British Columbians live with some form of Dementia and this weekend events are being held in dozens of communities around the province to raise money and awareness.

The Alzheimer Society of BC says it’s doing its best to promote the need for a much needed cure.

“There is lots going on to help raise awareness and support for families and people who are impacted by Alzheimer’s, however, there is always much more that can be done,” says the organization’s CEO Maria Howard.

She adds part of that means paying attention to loved ones for any potential symptoms as they age.

“There are normal changes in one’s cognition as you age but there are some changes that one may see or may experience that aren’t normal. So, things like memory loss of activities that you’ve always done like how to get dressed or tie your shoe and disorientation in a familiar place.”

Howard explains researchers are making progress when it comes to finding a cure, but they are still a long ways off. “While we’re beginning to learn more and more about what impacts it has, we still are not closer to that idea of what causes Alzheimer’s or what could be a cure, but certainly the more we know about how the disease impacts people — the more informed we can be in providing treatments.”

She says the recent new release of the movie Still Alice which highlights early onset Alzheimer’s has helped bring the disease to the forefront.

“It is a great experience of a family. Again, we really encourage families who are impacted by the disease to speak out so we can help raise awareness. Alzheimer’s and Dementia impacts everybody very individually and so everyone has their own experience and so it’s great that people feel comfortable to raise their voice and be an advocate for their needs so that as communities, government and health-care professionals — we can all come together to work harder to find a cause and a cure and better support.”

Alzheimer’s is not preventable but Howard says proper exercise and diet go a long way towards keeping your mind active.

To find the location of the Walk for Memories in your community, visitwww.walkformemories.com

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