I always remember the moment from the movie Still Alice, where Dr. Alice Howland, a renowned linguistics professor, loses her way on a routine jog around campus. At first, Alice brushes it off as just another “senior moment.” But as these moments grow more frequent, she realizes she is facing something much deeper—cognitive decline. This scene represents how cognitive decline often begins as a disability that’s hidden from one’s friends and family, and even oneself.
This week marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law on July 26, 1990. It’s a good time to remember that cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s are officially recognized as disabilities–visible or not. This recognition encompasses various forms, including:
🧠 Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): Early-stage cognitive decline that doesn’t severely impact daily functioning but can progress to more serious conditions.
🧠 Alzheimer’s Disease: The most common form of dementia, characterized by significant memory loss, impaired reasoning, and behavioral changes.
🧠 Vascular Dementia: Cognitive decline resulting from reduced blood flow to the brain, often after a stroke.
🧠 Lewy Body Dementia: Marked by abnormal protein deposits in the brain, leading to memory, movement, and behavior issues.
🧠 Frontotemporal Dementia: Affects personality, behavior, and language due to degeneration of the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes.
Awareness of this disease and disability is important and so is the awareness that we can take steps to reverse and prevent cognitive decline. Studies have shown that other disabilities early in life can increase the risk of developing cognitive decline and dementia. Here are some examples:
Down Syndrome: Individuals with Down syndrome are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease as they age. Studies have shown that by the age of 40, nearly all people with Down syndrome show changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): TBI, particularly if experienced in early life, can increase the risk of developing dementia later in life. Research has found that moderate to severe TBIs are linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Depression: Depression, particularly when experienced in early or mid-life, has been associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Studies suggest that the chronic stress and inflammation associated with depression may contribute to the development of dementia.
Understanding these links helps in early intervention and planning, ensuring better care and support throughout one’s life. If you or a loved one has experienced any of these disabilities, implementing the Reversing Alzheimer’s protocol and lifestyle changes as early as possible will greatly improve the chances of maintaining a healthy brain longer in life.
Just by being a part of my community, we are honoring the ADA’s legacy and continuing to raise awareness and advocate for those with cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. Through this awareness, support, and action, we can continue to prevent and reverse the symptoms of these diseases and create a world without the disability of dementia.
Warmly,
Dr. Heather Sandison
References:
Alzheimer’s Society. (n.d.). Learning disabilities and dementia. Retrieved July 16, 2024, from https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/types-dementia/learning-disabilities-dementia
Brett BL, Gardner RC, Godbout J, Dams-O’Connor K, Keene CD. Traumatic brain injury and risk of neurodegenerative disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 2022;91(5):498-507.
doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.05.025. Epub 2021 Jun 2. PMID: 34364650.Ownby, Raymond L., et al. “Depression and Risk for Alzheimer Disease: Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Metaregression Analysis.” Archives of General Psychiatry, vol. 63, no. 5, 2006, pp. 530-538. NCBI.
