SENIOR LIVING

Alzheimer’s Association offering workshop to help sharpen brain function and overall health

The Alzheimer’s Association is offering a Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body workshop for interested Arkansans.

The workshop covers four areas of lifestyle habits that are associated with healthy aging: cognitive activity; physical health and exercise; diet and nutrition; and social engagement, said Taco Williams Price, director of programs for the Alzheimer’s Association Arkansas Chapter.

“This program really speaks to lifestyle, things that we know can keep a person healthy and minimize some of the risks they may have for developing Alzheimer’s and dementia,” Price said.

The program will delve into certain behaviorsw and habits that can slowly but surely start to impact certain mental faculties.

“Smoking, for instance, increases the risk of cognitive decline as a person ages,” Price explained.

“We have a saying, ‘what’s good for the heart is good for the brain.’ What we do know about Alzheimer’s disease is that cardiovascular disease is a risk factor,” Price added. “So we discuss ways people can reduce their risk of obesity, high blood pressure, chronic illnesses that we know have a negative impact on the heart and the brain.”

Price, an El Dorado native, has a special connection with Alzheimer’s that helps to motivate her day to day work in combating the disease and raise more awareness around it.

“My grandmother has late stage Alzheimer’s which is why this mission is important to me not only professionally but personally as well,” Price said.

Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body is designed for individuals of any age who are looking for information on ways to age as well as possible. For more information, contact the Alzheimer’s Association at 800-272-3900 or visit their website. The workshop is free and those that register will get an email with the Zoom link to join.

“Anyone can take this workshop. It is for anyone that wants to adopt a healthier lifestyle and learn more about ways to improve brain function and health,” Price said. “It is never too late to incorporate healthier lifestyle habits and improve not only your brain health but overall health.”

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