Alzheimer Society kicks-off Brain Health awareness campaign

This January, the Alzheimer Society is challenging all Canadians, young and old, to make brain health a personal commitment as it kicks off its nationwide awareness campaign, 'Heads Up for Healthier Brains!'

"In 2007 we helped people make the connection between healthy living and a healthy brain," says Scott Dudgeon, chief executive officer of the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
"Now we are asking Canadians to make the commitment to do the things that will help keep their brains healthy, things that can also help to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease."

Making the commitment is easy.
It can involve the entire family, and include activities such as challenging your brain, being socially active, choosing a healthy lifestyle, and protecting your head from injury.
It is never too soon, or too late, to make changes that will maintain or improve your brain health.

For people already living with Alzheimer's disease, these kinds of activities go a long way in improving quality of life, as well as delaying the progression of the disease.
"Across the globe, top scientists are continuing to focus their efforts on the prevention of Alzheimer's disease, and much of this research is happening right here in Canada," says Dr. Jack Diamond, scientific director of the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

"In just the last year we have learned so much more about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and the need to keep your brain active."

The Alzheimer Society is making its own commitment to helping Canadians improve their brain health with the launch of BrainBooster, an online gym of challenging games and puzzles designed to increase mental performance.
The gym also features brain boosting recipes and simple exercises to get people moving.

Canadians can access the gym by visiting www.alzheimer.ca.
Once there, they can also sign up with their personal 'brain' pledge and enter the 'Puzzled about Alzheimer's Contest,' showcased in the Feb/Mar issue of Homemakers and Madame magazines, as well as their online sites.

Source: CNW Group

Nova Scotian doesn't get his wife back from British hospital

Sandy Munroe from Tennycape, Nova Scotia, was not surprised to hear Thursday that a British hospital will not send his wife back to Canada. But he was undeniably devastated.

"They said it was not in her best interest to send her back," he said.

"They don’t think she should be sent over to be close to her husband of almost 45 years."

Mr. Munroe was notified of the decision in an e-mail from Billingham Grange, the North Yorkshire hospital where 65-year-old Alzheimer’s patient Helena (Heli) Munroe has lived since last spring.

Many people close to Mr. Munroe believe members of the hospital panel changed their minds after the CBC aired a television report on the couple last month in which their son accused Mr. Munroe of physically abusing his wife.

"I can’t even begin to talk about The Fifth Estate," Mr. Munroe said. "It was a wicked misrepresentation of a loving marriage."

"It broke my heart to hear the things they accused me of. . . . I love my wife and I treated her well. . . . I always did."

"This has been devastating, and Billingham Grange is a good, good hospital, but they did the wrong thing."

Mr. Munroe’s voice quavered as he talked about his two-year battle to get his wife returned to Nova Scotia from her native England, where her brother took her in November 2005.

Mrs. Munroe who herself, held a doctorate in cognitive therapy and was an expert in Alzheimer’s disease, was declared mentally incompetent by her Canadian geriatricians in early 2005.

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