Day 2, yesterday, featured two more pieces of “The Alzheimer’s Project” (Grandpa, do you know who I am? and Momentum in Science), which you can watch online if you missed it or don’t get HBO. The first one was especially meant for those who have been directly effected by the disease with some lessons learned from others in a similiar situation. I liked the stories but I did feel like they were packing the punches (or tears in this case) in a little too much, but it could have been because I was still drained from the night before.
I really enjoyed the Momentum in Science piece. I was excited about hearing how well scientists are beginning to understand the brain. As one of the researchers states, “From the days of Shakespeare and before, senility has been well-described; it’s throughout history. And for the first time, most of us feel like we have a good chance of changing that course.” I was really interested to hear about vascular disease, cholesterol, inflammation and general health all seem to play a part. We often hear that genetics are the key to this, but I think it is hopeful to hear that there are many things that you can do to effect your chances. It does point to an increased need for prevention for those people with heightened risk factors. I suggest taking our complimentary Brain Health Barometer to find out your unique risk factors for Alzheimer’s.
Tonight they will be talking about mental stimulation and its effects on creating a “cognitive reserve” which is exactly what we are trying to offer with our Marbles assortment. More on that tomorrow…
~Lindsay
We tend to think of the brain as so critical to who we are as people. Seeing the doctors in Momentum in Science slice up the brain and freeze the slivers reminded me that the brain is like other parts of the body and has be cared for and kept in shape. It’s hard to separate from yourself to think about the brain in that way.