July 2019 Community Health Topics: Brain Health & HIV/AIDS
Brain Health:
There is evidence that people can reduce their risk of memory, reasoning decline and maintain good brain health by making key lifestyle changes, including participating in regular physical activity, staying socially engaged, eating healthy and maintaining good heart health.
What Is Alzheimer’s?
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes memory loss, problems with thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time. It is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other mental functions. The rate of new and existing cases of Alzheimer’s is high in Blacks compared to Whites.
Alzheimer’s and Declining Brain Health:
Brain cells receive supplies, generate energy, construct equipment and get rid of waste. Cells also process and store information and communicate with other cells. It’s the destruction and death of nerve cells that causes memory failure, personality changes, problems carrying out daily activities and other symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s is not the only cause of memory loss. Early diagnosis gives you a chance to seek treatment and plan for your future!
Warning Signs for Alzheimer’s and other Dementias:
- Memory loss that disrupts daily
- Challenges in planning or solving
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at
- Confusion with time or
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial
- New problems with words in speaking or writing.
- Mood and personality changes
HIV/AIDS:
Blacks/African Americans account for a higher proportion of new HIV diagnoses, those living with HIV, and those ever diagnosed with AIDS, compared to other races/ethnicities. Durham County has the third highest rate of HIV in NC. Many people are still unaware that they are infected. The only way to know for sure whether you have HIV is to get tested. The CDC and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend that everyone between the ages of 15 and 65 gets screened for HIV at least once and get tested again depending on their risk for becoming infected.
Veronica Ray, MD. Internal medicine at Lincoln Health Community, says “for those at high risk of becoming infected with HIV due to their lifestyle, there is a medication that can be prescribed by a health care professional. It is one pill to be taken once a day, every day. This medication is called PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). PrEP is prescribed by Durham County health care providers to adults (over age 19), of any race, gender, sexual orientation, and income level.”
Remember the ABC’s
Abstinence is the only 100% effective way to prevent HIV, other STD’s, and pregnancy
Be tested for HIV and memory loss.
Condoms save lives
For More Information
- Durhamknows.org
- Call 24/7 Helpline: 800-272-3900 – The Alzheimer’s Association
- 1-800-438-4380 (toll-free) nia.nih.gov/alzheimers
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