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Make the Commitment: Take Charge of your Brain Health

Alzheimer Society encourages Canadians to reduce their risk
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/a.../02/c5551.html

TORONTO, Jan. 2 /CNW/ - 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 imprve your brain health. For people already living with Alzheimer's disease, those 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 our Puzzled about Alzheimer's Contest, showcased in the Feb/Mar issue of Homemakers and Madame magazines, as well as their online sites.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative brain disorder that destroys vital brain cells. Alzheimer's and related diseases affect an estimated 1 in 13 Canadians over the age of 65, or approximately 450,000 people. If a cure is not found, it is estimated that 750,000 Canadians will have Alzheimer's or a related disease by the year 2031.

The Alzheimer Society is a nationwide, not-for-profit health organization dedicated to helping people affected by Alzheimer's disease. The Society is a leading funder of Alzheimer research and training in Canada, and develops and provides support and educational programs for people with the disease, their families and their caregivers.

The 2008 Awareness Campaign was made possible in part through the generosity of the following sponsors: Pfizer Canada Inc., Lundbeck Canada Inc., BMO Financial Group, Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy and support in-kind was provided by Transcontinental Media and Burnbrae Farms Ltd.

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For further information: Patricia Wilkinson, Manager, Media Relations
and Communications, Alzheimer Society of Canada, Office: 1-800-616-8816 or
(416) 847-2959, Mobile: (416) 669-5715, pwilkinson@alzheimer.ca,
www.alzheimer.ca