Neuropsychologist Dr. Luciana Vita explains how to maintain brain health and support families facing Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease affects more than just the person diagnosed; it also transforms the lives of family members and caregivers. During Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Dr. Luciana Vita—a neuropsychologist and member of the Alzheimer San Juan Foundation—explained on the Salud & Bienestar (Health & Wellness) program why discussing brain health from an early age and supporting families is a community effort.
“Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized primarily by forgetfulness and memory issues,” Vita noted. It is the most common form of dementia, and age is its primary risk factor. Raising awareness is crucial for encouraging people to seek medical advice when warning signs appear and for promoting habits that support brain health.
Caring for the Brain Throughout Life
For Vita, brain health is about more than just the absence of disease.
“Our brain health is built over the course of a lifetime and depends on a wide range of factors that go beyond just medical issues,” she explained.
Therefore, prevention shouldn’t wait until the first memory problems arise. Signs that should prompt a medical consultation include persistent changes in memory, behavior, or language—especially when these changes begin to interfere with activities that were previously performed without difficulty.
“The moment something seems abnormal or unexpected—and starts impacting daily life—that should serve as a warning sign to consult a specialist,” she indicated.
A Walk to Raise Awareness for the Cause
In San Juan, awareness-raising and support efforts will come together at the 18th National Alzheimer’s Walk, an initiative that brings together educational institutions, healthcare professionals, local governments, organizations, and families. “We can already feel that it is a walk for all of San Juan,” Vita said regarding the growth of the initiative.
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