Page 16 - Sonoma County Gazette Juy 2019

16 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 7/19
Coping with Alzheimer’s Disease
As we get older, we’re all afraid of getting Alzheimer’s Disease. And it’s true, 40 percent of people living in the U.S. will develop it by the time they die. Instead of worrying, however, there is something you can do.
If you’re between the ages of 60 and 75, you can get a free cheek swab that will tell you if you have an increased genetic risk for the disease. If you do, there are lifestyle changes that may delay the onset of symptoms of the disease and there are promising new trials of drugs that could also be effective.
If you don’t have the troublesome gene, you will know that too.
Even if you carry the worst variation of the gene, there is only a 30 percent to 55 percent chance of developing Alzheimer’s by age 85.
“It’s not as scary as oh, my god, I’m doomed,” said Allan Bernstein M.D., the neurologist who is holding the “Swab Day.” Bernstein is the former Chief of Neurology at Kaiser Santa Rosa and a long-time researcher on memory loss. He is now Medical Director of North Bay Neuroscience Institute in Sebastopol where the testing will take place.
The North Bay Neuroscience Institute is holding its first ever “swab day” on July 31. Drop in anytime between 12 noon and 7 p.m. The swab only takes a few minutes and Dr. Bernstein will call you when the lab comes back with the results.
Learn more about the brain and memory, attend a free presentation
by Dr. Bernstein at Sonoma State University, Person Theater, on Tuesday,
July 23 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: “The Biology of Memory: What Makes It Work and What Can Go Wrong?” Admission is free, but preregistration is recommended. Go to www.sonoma.edu/exed/olli.
INFO: North Bay Neuroscience Institute at 707 827-3593.
7064 Corline Court, Suite A, Sebastopol (right behind El Coronel Restaurant).
“I’d like people to know there are risk factors they can control,” Bernstein said.
“Keep your blood pressure under really good control. Treat your A-fib. Stroke
is a major precipitator of Alzheimer’s. A low-carb diet and exercise—just walking in nature—may give you extra years of symptom-free time,” Bernstein said.
Lifestyle makes a difference, he said. “It can lower your risk by 30 percent to 40 percent or move the curve, so you get symptoms at age 90 instead of 80.”
‘Swab Day’ - July 21st North Bay Neuroscience Institute is holding its first ever ‘swab
day’ on Wednesday, July 31st from 12 noon to 7pm. The event will be held at its office at 7064 Corline Court, Suite A, Sebastopol (right behind El Coronel Restaurant).
A ‘swab day’ is an open-house event where interested persons can come in and have their cheeks swabbed to determine certain genetic markers that are important to know when considering potential future health concerns—in this case related to memory loss.
The event is free and there are no stipulations or requirements attached other than your consent to perform the swab and you being between 60 and 75 years old. Please Bring your ID.
You may want to participate if any of the following are important to you:
● You have memory-loss concerns and want to know more
● You have a family history of memory loss and would like to know more about your risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease
● You want to learn more about studies underway for investigational drugs
By choosing to participate at the event, you will have the option later of learning your results or not. Our neurologist, Dr. Allan Bernstein, will contact all participants to help them understand their result.
Your sample cheek swab will be sent to a lab for analysis and results generally take about 2 weeks to be processed after which you will hear from us.
If you are interested, please call us at 707 827-3593 to let us know your availability that day. Remember, there is no cost and you are under no obligation to do this or any further steps.
It’s a matter of improving your cognitive reserves by keeping your mind active, Bernstein said. “Things like reading, talking to people, studying music, and lifelong learning stimulate the brain to make more connections. The brain may get smaller but it gets more dense.”
Alzheimer’s don’t carry the gene, Bernstein said. It’s not known what causes Alzheimer’s in the non-genetic cases, although head injuries, gum disease and chronic inflammation can be factors.
If you don’t carry the higher risk Alzheimer’s gene, you still might want to take up this lifestyle. More than half the people who get