Reducing the Risk of Dementia: A Webinar Review (Part I)

By Catherine Bryson

Happy Nowruz, to those of you that celebrate!

Last week, I wrote about diversity. This week, I am writing about dementia. (Even the word alone sounds rather frightening, doesn’t it?) The truth is, my father suffered from it, and so did my paternal grandmother.

Despite the devastating aspects of dementia, I nonetheless observed that some dementia sufferers maintain a very small bit of lucidity throughout (I suppose this observation is similar to ‘Still Alice’.) I don’t think the experts have written about that. Maybe they should. I also found the same phenomenon in those who have mental health conditions: a method, within the madness, like a hidden gem or pearl.

Nevertheless, dementia is a serious issue the world faces today. Did you know that there are 55 million people worldwide currently living with dementia? True, sadly true. And the number is expected to grow to 139 million by 2050.

However, on the brighter side, (remember the Monty Python tune ‘Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life?’), it is also true that 40% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing modifiable risk factors. Imagine… almost half! Just so you know, here are the risk factors:

• Age
• Genetics
• A family history of AD (Alzheimer’s Disease. Note: ‘Dementia’ is the umbrella term for specific types of neurodegenerative diseases such as AD, among others.)

And here are the modifiable risk factors:

• Diabetes prevention (in other words, go easy on the Easter chocolate!)
• Cardiovascular health (in other words, take the stairs)
• Hearing loss (get your hearing tested, in some centres, it’s free)
• Obesity control (maybe not that third slice of pizza)
• Stress (ah, stress. Seems so ubiquitous in this century of madness)
• Isolation (do you live alone? 15 % of Canadians do. Consider eating a meal with others, even if virtual)

And now, the 6 key areas of brain health:

1. Exercise
2. Eat right (a Mediterranean diet is often recommended. Interestingly, the same is true for dogs. Diet plays a major role in their longevity and brain health. Dogs get dementia too, sadly.)
3. Sleep and Relaxation (alas, sleep can be so elusive!)
4. Pets (Need I say more?)
5. Social connection (In other words, tea & sympathy. But as far as social connection, the experts agree that quality is more important than quantity)
6. Coffee (Yes, coffee can reduce the risk of dementia. And it helps improve memory. So don’t cut out your morning cup of java)
7. Caregiving Stress (May I suggest you take the NSCR free course: Powerful Tools for Caregivers, when it is offered? I learned all about Action Plans, which was very helpful. I also got a free book.)

Note: Most of the above material was taken from a free webinar I attended called: ‘Maintain Your Brain: Reducing the Risk of Dementia’ presented by Jenny Munro, Gerontologist, and Lakelynn Eichenberger, Gerontologist and Caregiver Advocate, sponsored by the American Society on Aging.

I hope you have a happy Easter long weekend. I’ll see you again in April with Part II (Warning Signs of Dementia) and the Tiny Dancer Activity (Surprise!) and of course cherry blossom photos. The cherry trees on my street are spectacular!

CAB 2024

The Tale of the Chaudoudoux and Dance Your PhD: Celebrating Diversity

By Catherine Bryson

“It takes all kinds…” my beloved grandmother was fond of saying. My first lesson in diversity.

I’d like to tell you a story, it’s not my story, it’s by Claude Steiner (in French on YouTube). It’s called: ‘The Tale of the Warm and Soft Chaudoudoux.’

Once upon a time, in a far-away land, there was a village. And the people there were very happy. There was a young couple with two children: each child had a bottomless sack of Chaudoudoux, these magical, warm and soft little creatures, that fit in the palm of your hand. The Chaudoudoux make you feel blissed out, warm and happy. All one had to do to obtain one of these creatures was to ask, and it would be freely given.

However, the wicked witch of the village was very annoyed because the villagers were so happy and healthy (because of the Chaudoudoux), that they weren’t buying her potions. So, she devised a plan: she whispered in a villager’s ear (Timothy), that there might one day be a shortage of chaudoudoux. So, Timothy told his wife to give the children fewer of the little creatures, to save some for him and his wife. As a result, the children became anxious, and so did the other villagers. In time, just like the witch said, there came to be a shortage of chaudoudoux. People stopped feeling warm and happy and stopped smiling, and a few of the villagers died.

One day, there arrived in the village a young woman, Julie Chaudoudoux, and she was smiling and happy and had an endless supply of chaudoudoux. She said these delightful creatures were limitless because they are given freely. But some villagers worried about the supply of chaudoudoux and so passed a law that decreed that the children could not give out an endless supply of chaudoudoux. But guess what? The children ignored that law and so (for now), harmony was restored in the village.

What would you do?

And now we turn from humanity to diversity. Why do I feel that where there was once an oasis, there is now a wilderness in some human relationships. It seems to me that with the climate crisis, the world got warmer, but emotionally; colder. It feels like some negative force in the atmosphere is causing some people to behave very badly indeed. I may be biased because I live on a small income and am somewhat of an individualist, but it is food for thought, at least.

I know I promised you dancing and kangaroos last week, so I will give it to you now. Just click on the link below (Resources) and scroll down to the 4-minute video ‘Kangaroo Time.’ This is Dr. Wali’s ‘Dance your PhD’ video, and it turns out Dr. Wali won the 2024 ‘Dance your PhD’ contest.

Last weekend, I saw the ‘Witness Blanket’ by First Nations artist Carey Newman. The replica of the blanket was on display at West Vancouver Library, the last day was March 10^th. The original went on tour across Canada and is now being restored at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights (CMHR) in Winnipeg. James Bartleman, author of the book ‘As Long as The River Flows’ (2014) wrote: ‘In too many places, the experience of residential schools had inflicted too much damage, destroying the restorative power of the healers.’ What more can we hope for now, than healing?

While we may not be able to solve the issue of climate change, at least we can move the needle on collective healing a little further. So as to ‘sing in the lifeboats’ as they say.

As a former caregiver, and à propos of this blog, I would like to add that while we’re at it, respect our elders for the truly extraordinary beings that they are. Respect our differences therefore, and realize that ultimately, we are all more alike than different. It’s our very commonality that makes us fully human.

As well as our differences, I might add.

Next week: The 10 Warning signs of dementia, and then a post on Brain Health.

Resources

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/watch-this-years-dance-your-phd-contest winner-a-musical-celebration-of-kangaroo-behavior-180983865/

Please note that I am offering the following workshop, free of charge, at the Kelty Denehy Centre in North Vancouver next month. All materials supplied gratis.

Here are the details if you’re interested:

Kelty Denehy Mental Health Resource Centre

1337 St. Andrew’s Ave, North Vancouver

April 17^th and 24^th 1:00-3:00 pm

Please plan to attend both sessions.

Click the link below to register. You must register through Recovery College.

https://recoverycollegeyvr.ca

‘Wait Without Hope’

By Catherine Bryson

As the spring nears, I find myself in a somewhat difficult situation regarding housing. Interestingly, I learn I am not the only one. You will note the article in the North Shore News recently: ‘Loss of group home puts residents at risk of homelessness.’ While my situation may not be as dire, it still lends itself to speculation about the necessity of housing as a whole, and a tendency to try to spot birds’ nests when I am walking around town; as the spring dawns, the sense of rebirth and the birth of the young and new hope. In fact, I came across a lovely poem on the hope theme by T.S. Eliot recently, which I will now share (East Coker):

‘Wait Without Hope’ by T.S. Eliot

‘I said to my soul be still, and wait without hope.

For hope would be hope for the wrong thing.

Wait without love,

For love would be love for the wrong thing;

There is yet faith;

But the faith and the love and the hope

Are all in the waiting.’

These lines of poetry seem apt for contemplating the state of our planet. It is, indeed, perhaps a question of ‘waiting without hope.’

Yet I find the seagulls a symbol of serenity for me, how they swoop and dive far over the city, and thus, I too can hope to rise above my cares. As essayist Alexander Pope wrote:

‘Hope springs eternal in the human breast.’

Or else, on a more poetic note, the words of a Japanese Haiku by Shushiki (in the delicious anticipation of cherry blossoms):

‘Dead my old fine hopes

And dry my dreaming but still…

Iris, blue each spring.’

Shoots and leaves, shoots and leaves. The bare trees slowly give way to buds…The magnolia tree on my street, pictured here both pre and post March 2024. May it inspire you towards new beginnings. With Spring perhaps, another chance.

A few more quotes. One from poet Pablo Neruda:

‘Perhaps the earth can teach us as when everything seems dead in winter, and later proves to be alive.’

Indeed, we live in Hope. No! We live in North Vancouver! As my late mother was fond of joking.

True, my father passed just months ago, and I am still wading through grief from day to day, but alongside, perhaps, comes a time to see new things, to explore, ‘perchance to dream.’

One last quote from Vincent Van Gogh, and for those of you who like to journal – a journal prompt for you:

‘In spite of us, and without our permission, there comes at last an end to the bitter frosts. One morning the wind turns, and there is a thaw. And so, I must still have hope.’

So, what will you do to hang on until there is a thaw?

Next week, I write on intolerance and diversity. There will be kangaroos and lots of dancing. Dancing? Yes, dancing! So, stay tuned…

Ever yours,

Calm Pond