Health
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- Written by: MindMate
There’s no way around it – aging is hard. One of the biggest concerns of aging? Memory loss.
One in every 10 people over the age of 65 lives with Alzheimer’s, the sixth leading cause of death in America.
It is estimated that by 2050, these numbers triple, to ca. 15 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s.
MindMate, a company based in Santa Monica, Calif., is participating in the fight against Alzheimer’s and is working to change these dramatic statistics.The company was founded in 2015 by Susanne Mitschke, Patrick Renner and Roger Arellano, and provides an app aimed at supporting the cognitive function in Baby Boomers and seniors to help its users stay themselves for as long as possible.
The app contains physical exercises, games, nutritional advice and educational entertainment and aims to stave off the mental signs of aging, simply by allowing seniors to play on their phone, stimulating the brain. The core of the app is a Daily Activities Plan that contains a good daily mix of aerobic exercises - to get your heart rate up, a mix of different brain games, healthy recipes for you to cook at home and educational content around healthy aging.
MindMate was inspired by the care experience of co-founder Roger Arellano, who cared for seven years for his grandfather with Alzheimer’s disease.
Susanne Mitschke, the company’s CEO, said: “Many people think that dementia is caused by genes. In fact, only a small portion of dementia-related conditions are traced back to genes. There are obviously many different factors that contribute to dementia, and some of them are in your control! This is where MindMate plays its role. Recent studies, such as the FINGER study, show that cognitive stimulation paired with physical activity and a healthy nutrition reduces the risk of Dementia and Alzheimer’s, and improves cognitive function in those already suffering from the disease(s). Specifically the physical activity part is often overlooked.”
A recent study published in Neurology supports this theory, which has shown that women who have higher fitness levels are 88% less likely to develop dementia, compared to women with average fitness.
The app aims to help baby boomers make a lifestyle change that reduces the risk of developing conditions like Alzheimer’s.
Patrick Renner, the company’s COO added: “It is never too late to adopt a healthy routine. Our Daily Activities Program helps our users through exercises for body and mind and suggests healthy and delicious recipes for the user. With MindMate, we not only created an app, but a community that also brings users together with research and industry players that can make a lasting difference to how we manage these conditions in the years ahead.”
The app is free to download and use and can be found in Apple’s App Store.
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- Written by: Adventist Health Clear Lake
The free, hour-long group classes are offered Monday afternoons from July 23 to Aug. 27 at 1 p.m.
The classes are offered through the medical office’s Live Well Program, though participants do not need to be patients to attend.
The class is facilitated by Jean McNally, LCSW at the medical office.
Each of the six, one-hour sessions focuses on a different topic related to making healthy lifestyle changes and helping you build a life that you love.
Participants may attend one class or the entire series:
– July 23: Getting Started with Hydration.
– July 30: Let’s Get Moving.
– Aug. 6: Let’s Get Nutritious.
– Aug. 13: Got Stress?
– Aug. 20: Weight Management.
– Aug. 27: Overcoming Obstacles.
The Wellness Rx program was developed in partnership with North Coast Opportunities and funded by a Partnerships to Improve Community Health grant.
The program is designed to support patients who can benefit from diet, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications, including those with diabetes, arthritis and hypertension. Attendance is free, open to all and healthy snacks will be provided.
Interested individuals can RSVP for the Wellness Rx Sessions by calling the Live Well Program at 707-995-4584.
The Adventist Health Clear Lake Medical Office – Clearlake is located at 15230 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake. Check in is located at the Main Clinic.
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- Written by: Adventist Health Clear Lake
The program, called Dare to C.A.R.E., screens for common vascular diseases, such as clogged arteries, that are often symptomless precursors to serious heart complications or stroke.
Statistics show that more than 795,000 Americans will have a stroke each year caused by heart or vascular disease. Up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable.
Through the Dare to C.A.R.E. screenings, individuals are screened for four common diseases:
– Carotid artery disease, which is responsible for at least 300,000 strokes a year.
– Abdominal aortic aneurysms, the third leading cause of sudden death in men over 60.
– Renal artery stenosis, a disease affecting more than five million Americans.
– Extremity artery disease, which affects more than 10 million Americans.
Any individual age 60-plus, or an individual age 50 or over who has certain risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes or a family history, is eligible for this free screening. The program also accepts individuals with diabetes over the age of 40.
Following the painless, 15-minute screening, results will be shared with the patient and sent back to the patient’s primary care provider. If the ultrasound shows disease, the provider and patient can meet to discuss a treatment options.
“As we are all too aware, cardiovascular disease is one of the most pervasive problems facing our patients today,” says John Laird, MD, medical director for the Adventist Heart & Vascular Institute. “Early intervention, prevention and education are key to improving the heart and vascular health of our local community.”
Screenings will be offered at the Adventist Health Clear Lake Medical Office in Clearlake on two Fridays each month from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Appointments for the free, no-obligation screenings can be scheduled by calling 888-529-9018. Learn more by visiting www.adventistheart.org/dare-to-care.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
The bill – named after a former Hill staffer and White House intern who lost her battle with cervical cancer last year – would create new grants to expand preventative health care services, improve specialty training for treating low-income and women of color, and require the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct research to better understand and address the health care needs of women across the country.
Last week, Congressman Gomez was joined by Congressman Soto, Planned Parenthood, the Black Women’s Health Imperative, and Human Rights Watch to brief congressional staff and stakeholder groups about this new legislation. The full briefing can be viewed here.
“Despite the progress made by the Affordable Care Act to address our country’s glaring health care gap, far too many women of color and those battling poverty still face obstacles in accessing quality prevention health services,” said Congressman Gomez. “Not only would the Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women’s Health Act help local safety net providers like Planned Parenthood alleviate such disparities, but it would also ensure the most vulnerable among us have access to life-saving cancer screenings and critical education resources. I can’t think of a better way to honor Jeanette’s memory than helping secure healthy outcomes for generations of women in rural and underserved communities across America.”
“Cancer does not discriminate based on gender, race, or income, but access to preventative care, screenings, and early interventions is another story,” said Congresswoman Val Demings. “The Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women’s Health Act would help close this gap and increase access to life-saving care, particularly for low-income women and women of color. Dr. King said that ‘of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhumane.’ I call on my colleagues to pass this bill and fund the first-ever federal grant program specifically targeted to correct this inhumane injustice.”
“One of the main factors that contributes to the higher cancer death rates among women, in particular women of color, is access to early detection screenings and treatment,” said Congressman Darren Soto. “We can and must reverse this trend. That’s why I joined colleagues in supporting the Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women’s Health Act and urge the House to pass this bill. This legislation increases funding for healthcare providers to expand access to preventive cancer screenings, ultimately helping to save lives.”