This past Saturday, our team Walk On with the Wellness Navigator joined Atlanta's Walk to End Alzheimer's, and together we raised almost $15,000. I can't believe it.
Thank you to everyone who walked, donated and cheered us on. The outpouring of support and generosity was felt and appreciated. What a way to kick off November, Alzheimer's Awareness Month. This cause is a big part of why I focus my work on women in midlife and beyond.
Why I Walk
Alzheimer's runs in my family, and it touches my friends and neighbors too. I have one copy of the APOE4 gene, and like so many women, I've wondered, "Is this going to be me?" If it ever is, I want there to be a cure.
I spent 30 years as a nurse, many of them in dementia and hospice care. I loved my elders dearly. Again and again, I saw how much this disease takes. It reaches every part of a person's life and everyone who loves them.
Why Women?
Almost two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer's are women, and about 1 in 5 of us will develop it in our lifetime. We live longer, giving risk more years to build. Our hormones shift, and as estrogen declines in menopause, the brain's fuel supply can dip. (I dig into this in Menopause, Estrogen and Your Brain.) And we carry a heavy load. Most dementia caregivers are women, and caregiving often brings chronic stress and poor sleep, both linked to dementia.
Your Retirement Brain
The disease begins in the brain 20 years or more before the first symptom, and up to half of dementia cases may be prevented or delayed. That makes midlife the window of opportunity. You wouldn't wait until 75 to start saving for retirement. Your brain is no different. What you do now builds the one you'll have at 75.
And that's the hope. Thanks to neuroplasticity, your brain can keep learning and adapting, and the habits that move the needle start supporting it right away. Just like every dollar we raised, every habit adds up.
Generosity Is Brain Health in Action
Saturday's generosity was also brain health in action. Being part of something bigger, giving back and connecting with community give our lives purpose, which matters even more as we age. Research links that sense of purpose to a lower risk of cognitive decline.
So start this month by giving back to yourself and your brain, your greatest asset. The return on that investment is priceless, and it takes just half an hour.
Join me this Wednesday, November 4 at 10 a.m. for Brain Boost, my free monthly Zoom session, where we'll get ready to thrive through the holidays. New to Brain Boost? We calm the nervous system with breathwork and gratitude, dig into the science, and you leave with one habit to practice. Can't make it live? Sign up anyway and I'll send you the recording. Save your spot here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are women more likely to get Alzheimer's?
Women live longer, which gives risk more years to build. Estrogen declines in menopause, and the brain's fuel supply can dip. Women also carry most of the caregiving load, which often brings chronic stress and poor sleep, both linked to dementia.
When does Alzheimer's start in the brain?
The disease begins in the brain 20 years or more before the first symptom. That makes midlife the window of opportunity to protect your brain.
Can dementia be prevented?
Up to half of dementia cases may be prevented or delayed. Thanks to neuroplasticity, your brain keeps learning and adapting, and the habits that move the needle start supporting it right away.
Does having a sense of purpose help your brain?
Yes. Research links a sense of purpose to a lower risk of cognitive decline. Giving back and connecting with community are two of the best ways to build it.
Your Next Step
If you're ready to find the habits that move the needle for your brain, book your free Brain Health Strategy Session. Curious where you stand? Take the 2-minute quiz, Is Your Brain Ready for Your Next Chapter? And for brain health tips every week, join my free newsletter.
Christine Despres, RN, NBC-HWC, CDP
Brain & Metabolic Health Coach | The Wellness Navigator
