What Young People Can Do To Prevent Alzheimer's

Max Lugavere isn't at an age where one usually starts worrying about Alzheimer's. But after watching his mother get diagnosed with dementia, he committed to lifestyle habits that may help ward off the neurological disorder in the future -- and he's hoping to convince other young people to do the same.

I am glad to see he is getting a lot of support on his KICKSTARTER campaign to create a film that for Alzheimer's Awareness and Possible Prevention.

Purple Lilikoi - Activist to End Alzhiemer's

People say "when life gives you a lemon, make lemonade out of it". I say "why make just plain lemonade? add some passion fruit and make lilikoi flavored lemonade".

Aloha, my name is Liza Pierce.  I am an activist on the fight to end Alzheimer's. I am an advocate to find a cure to this horrible disease. The color of my lemonade is purple. What color is your lemonade?

 Why advocate? My mom's family has history of Alzheimer's. My mom had it, my aunt had it, my uncle had it, my grandma and grandma's brothers and sisters had it.  What is the chance of me getting it? I'd say 50% chance. Should I wait for me to be afflicted by it before I take action? Absolutely not! 

I want the scientists of today to find a cure. They may not find a cure in my lifetime, but I want them to find a cure before any of my kids and grandkids have it. I am doing a lot of research myself.

I am hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. I do not want to be a burden to my family if ever I get afflicted by it.

You don't have a history of Alzheimer's in your family ... why should you care? Because no one is immune to it. I have met people who didn't have any family background and out of the blue ... they got it! And even if you don't get it, at one point on your life,  you will be touched by it - friends people you love may get it.

Alzheimer's is not just a disease of the old.  People in their 30's, 40's and 50's get afflicted by it in what we call "Early Onset Alzhiemer's Disease, EOAD for short".

Why Lilikoi?  Why Purple?

Because it's all about PASSION.  Lilikoi symbolizes passion and purple symbolizes courage.

My name is Liza and the color of my lemonade is purple. How about you? Had life given you a lemon? What color is your lemonade?

Abandonment

Abandonment. It's a serious issue for us. Every one of us with dementia has experienced it. Most often it's friends; sometimes it's family. It usually happens shortly after divulging my "horrible secret": I have Alzheimer's disease. People are uncomfortable and don't know how to deal with us. They are afraid to hurt or insult us, so they take the easy way out; they disappear from our lives. Although intellectually we know that the problem lies with them and not us, it still hurts. It effects us and impacts the quality of our lives. It's why so many of us work hard to advocate for us.

But every once in a while there appears a friendship as beautiful as this Naples Pier sunset we enjoyed while Taylor was visiting for the holidays. Last night Tiffany and I had a wonderful dinner with Shelley and Tom. Three hours went by in the blink of an eye! They ignore the disease and treat me as they would anyone else. When I screw up, we all laugh it off. Life is simply too damn short to fret the small things. We've only been friends for about six months, but one can easily tell that this is the kind of friendship that lasts.

So be thankful for those who stick with you through good and bad times, and...Stay tuned!

Written by David Kramer. Originally posted at Living Well With Alzheimer's Facebook Page