Research offering more insight into how to reduce the risk of dementia

January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and in the Cochrane and Temiskaming districts alone, there are more than 2,400 people living with dementia.

The theme for this year’s campaign is brain health and the organization’s website has tips on how small lifestyle changes can reduce one’s risk of dementia by more than 40 per cent.

The Alzheimer Society for the Timmins area and Timmins Mayor Michelle Boileau proclaim January as Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. (Lydia Chubak/CTV News)

"One of the things that research is starting to show is that if you receive a diagnosis of dementia when you're 65, it started when you were 40 and so … the progression is very slow," said Tracy Koskamp-Bergeron, executive director of Alzheimer Society Cochrane-Temiskaming-Timmins-Porcupine.

"So really, we want to focus on how you keep your brain healthy … through, you know, healthy eating, moving, being socially active, being connected to other people, learning something new, challenging your brain, getting off social media … thinking about what you can do."

The Alzheimer Society reminds people that dementia affects more than just the person with the disease. It's also inviting caregivers to visit the local office at the 101 Mall to learn more about how to respond to changes in a loved one’s behaviour.

"When you're better equipped with knowledge and education about how to manage those behaviours, it will minimize the behaviours and give a better environment for the person," said Julie Thibodeau, behaviour support facilitator with the local chapter.

"You have to meet them where they're at -- they no longer have the ability to adjust or adapt to our reality, so it's up to us to adapt to theirs."

And the Alzheimer Society said there needs to be more awareness about the organization.

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"I help support families and caregivers in Timmins and the MICS area so that includes Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Cochrane," said Emily Moisan, first link care navigator with Alzheimer Society Cochrane-Temiskaming-Timmins-Porcupine.

"But our whole Society helps from Hearst all the way down to Temagami, so we're a very big society and I think a lot of people don't realize how much of the community we support and that they're not alone."

Another way the Alzheimer Society said people can help is to rebuild community connections.

For example, if your neighbour lives alone and shows signs of forgetfulness or confusion, keep an eye out and even reach out and offer assistance.