CANADA: 84-Year Old Has Alzheimer's, Stays Active Both Physically And Mentally

CALGARY (Calgary Herald), February 8, 2008: By Alex Frazer-Harrison Speaking with 84-year-old Hazel Cameron, it's hard to believe she has Alzheimer's disease. In fact, it's easier to believe that up until only a few years ago, she was setting Canadian records in seniors' track and field and running eight-minute miles. But then, there is no real stereotype when it comes to people who are affected by Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. This incurable condition often (but not always) associated with age takes on many forms, and effects people differently. "I started running when I was sitting in the office all day working for the airline," recalls Cameron. "I'd come home and I'd feel after sitting all day I couldn't handle it, so I ran. I did all my serious thinking when I was running on my own." Cameron was living in the Vancouver area when she got into seniors athletics at age 55 she competed in triathlons and started running marathons, 400-metre runs and those eight-minute miles, often accompanied by one of her six children. "She was doing all of the right things regarding her health and she started sprinting and going faster as she got older," says daughter Loverna Hood. At age 76, Cameron suffered a broken blood vessel and ended up in hospital with stroke-like symptoms. A year later, she started having signs of Alzheimer's. Cameron is living proof that there is life after such a diagnosis. Although she no longer competes, since moving to Calgary, she and her daughter go for walks every day, they cross-country ski, and Cameron keeps her mind sharp by attending day programs and helping immigrants with their English at a local church. But where her problems lie is in her short-term memory. "I just don't remember. I have to lie there and think where I am," she says. "Sometimes mom will put her eyedrops in, and if her eyes aren't tearing up, she might ask, 'Did I put my eyedrops in?' We have a little calendar to help," says Hood. Hood says she's fortunate that her mom, who is now a great-grandmother, has been able to stay physically active and continue being a constant part of her family's life. "She can get around, go up the stairs, go for walks, it's just her short-term memory," Hood says. "It's a real team effort, a family effort, and mom still has fantastic physical ability, this really makes it so easy for all of us and it's an emotional outlet when you can be active." Hood credits her mother's physical fitness and ability to take care of herself for making it easier for everyone as Hazel battles Alzheimer's. The importance of keeping fit and taking care of your body at any age is one of the key messages of Alzheimer's Month 2008, says Sarah Price, director of dementia care programs for the Alzheimer Society of Calgary. "We're making a commitment to the connection between heart health and brain health," she says. "It's one thing to just say, yeah, you have to eat healthier -- but now we're saying to commit to something for 2008 and beyond, what can you change in your life? "It could be improving physical health, reducing stress, challenging your brain with activities and doing it as a family." Price says don't wait till you're in your 60s, when many people start watching for the warning signs of dementia. "Brain health is something you should look at as a lifelong endeavour," she says. And it doesn't mean dropping everything this instant and joining a health club or buying out the local health food aisle. Price says there are little things you can do within moments of reading this article. "It can be as easy as doing some things with your non-dominant hand," says Price. "If you always open your car door with your keys in your right hand, try doing it with your keys in your left hand. It's about strengthening the connections in your brain by forcing it to do something in a different way. "Try brushing your hair using your non-dominant hand. Or challenge yourself with a 'word of the day.' Drive or walk a different route to work." Price says there are six things people can do to keep their brains healthy. While not proven to be 100 per cent effective at preventing the onset of Alzheimer's, "research is showing you can delay the onset," says Price. They are: physical activity, healthy eating, staying socially active, challenging your brain, reducing stress, and protecting your head from injury. Price adds a bonus of living healthier is that it can also impact your body's ability to resist other conditions, from diabetes to some cancers. For those with Alzheimer's disease, the support programs offered by organizations such as the Alzheimer Society are valuable, says Hood. "There are wonderful support groups that gave me all the information and made me confident in my choices," she says. "Having a home care nurse visit once a month is a real relief." Hood, who had a career in physiotherapy before retiring, says it's important for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's to not forget about their own lives. "The Alzheimer Society has a program where mom can go and do brain-stimulating games and talk about current events," Hood says. "When Mom goes Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have a whole day to myself it's a time out and it has enabled me to maintain some balance." Hood says caring for her mom has offered many rewards. "I've enjoyed slowing down, watching the birds," she says. "It's a real privilege. It hasn't always been easy, but I've enjoyed it." Says Cameron: "I don't know what I'd do without my family." © The Calgary Herald 2008