The Survey Says – Many Americans Worried About Brain Health, But Only Half Keep Their Brains Fit
Association’s "Maintain Your Brain™" campaign encourages brain-healthy lifestyle habits

Americans (aged 55-64) rank brain and memory health as their second greatest health worry as they age, according to a national survey commissioned by the Alzheimer’s Association.  Yet, only half say they are actually doing something about keeping their brain healthy.

In response, the Alzheimer’s Association launched the Maintain Your Brain™ campaign to encourage Americans to adopt brain-healthy lifestyle habits - such as being heart smart; adopting a brain-healthy diet; staying physically and mentally active; and remaining socially involved – to contribute to healthier aging and potentially reduce their risk for Alzheimer’s.

Survey results showed:

• 31% of adults aged 55-64 were most worried about their heart health, followed by brain and memory health (23%) and then cancer (19%).

• Only 52 % of adults nationwide said they engage in activities specifically for the purpose of exercising and building brain memory.  When asked what specific activities they currently engaged in to exercise their brains and build memory, 53% said "reading" and 31% said "puzzles" or "games." Only 12% said exercise.

• Although adults do not connect certain activities to brain health, they are doing a number of activities that strengthen the brain. Specifically, most adults "make a special effort to choose foods that are healthier" (77%), "read a book" (76%) or "walk a mile or more" (57%).

• Adults in the Northeast were the least likely to say they engaged in these activities (45%), compared to 52% in the Midwest, 53% in the South and 54% in the West.

"Brain and memory health is increasingly becoming a concern for many Americans," said Sheldon Goldberg, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. "But awareness is not enough. We need to reach people now with information on how they can keep their brains healthy and potentially reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, especially the nation’s 77 million baby boomers who are the next generation at risk."

The “Maintain Your Brain™” campaign includes a "how-to" brochure (with a helpful list describing "Ten Ways to Maintain Your Brain™") and workshops for baby boomers and others to encourage them to follow simple, brain-healthy lifestyle choices.  For a copy of the "Ten Ways to Maintain Your Brain™" brochure, call 800.272.3900 or visit www.alzheimers-illinois.org.  Look for information on “Maintain Your Brain”™ workshops this Spring.