Whole-Person Brain Care

If you are at risk for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, or are caring for someone living with this group of conditions, it can be a little lonely. Brain health isn’t talked about much. And many people who are struggling do so in silence. But FirstHealth of the Carolinas is actively working to change that — and their message is one of hope.

“There is so much we can do to boost our brain health as well as better care for those diagnosed with all the subtypes of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease,” explained Karen Sullivan, Ph.D., ABPP, board certified neuropsychologist and medical chief for FirstHealth's Center for Well-Being. “Now is the time to take action.”

Taking Control

When it comes to the dementias, you have more control than you might think. Although you can’t change some risk factors, like advancing age and genetics, there are ways you can lower the chance of developing brain disease.

“You can help prevent symptoms of dementia by controlling your risk factors and building cognitive reserves, which buffer the brain from damage as you age,” said Dr. Sullivan.

Here are some steps you can take:

• Prioritize movement – moderate exercise with lots of unique activities is best.

• Avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol (one drink a day max).

• Cut down on processed fare and focus on a whole-food diet.

• Prevent or manage high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.

• Treat hearing and vision loss.

• Focus on getting quality sleep and address any sleep disorders.

• Establish positive social relationships and connect often.

• Stimulate your brain by learning and doing new things.

• Reduce stress whenever possible and learn to effectively manage stressors in your life.

Whole-Person Health

Many of these lifestyle changes sound all too familiar. But each step impacts brain health in very real ways. For example, during deep sleep, our brain clears away amyloid protein deposits that can build up to cause Alzheimer’s disease. And eating a whole-food diet protects against inflammation and increases blood flow to the brain, cutting Alzheimer’s disease risk by more than 50%.

“Brain health is fundamentally whole-person health,” said Dr. Sullivan. “What is good for our bodies and souls is also good for our brains.”

Better Treatment

More than 6 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States, and the number is expected to grow exponentially. Clearly, widespread prevention is critical, but so are innovative ways to treat the disease.

For decades, the primary treatment for Alzheimer’s disease was symptom-relief medication. However, a groundbreaking drug that modifies the disease was recently approved by the FDA. This medication – the first of its kind –works to remove amyloid plaques in the brain, reducing cognitive decline in those with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

“The field of brain health care is advancing rapidly,” added Dr. Sullivan. “But I hope we can also advance how humanity values and includes people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.”

New Perspective

Dr. Sullivan is helping shift how people think about Alzheimer’s disease as well as helping people learn more positive and effective ways to support those living with it.

“I believe that dementia is more heartbreaking than it needs to be,” Dr. Sullivan said. “We need to make a culture shift in our community to focus on what people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can do and provide them with the support and resources they need. By working together, we can create a network of whole-person brain care that genuinely makes things better.”

Reid Fellowship for Healthcare Transformation : Creating a Dementia Movement

The Foundation of FirstHealth, the philanthropy organization that funds vital programs and resources for FirstHealth of the Carolinas, is tackling the issue of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Neuropsychologist Karen Sullivan, Ph.D., ABPP, serves as the fellow for the Foundation of FirstHealth’s Reid Fellowship for Healthcare Transformation program, which focuses on brain health. This funding opportunity is made possible through the generous support of the community; namely, the Reid family. In this role, Dr. Sullivan addresses the pressing need for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease education, training, support and care in our area with a focus on the health care system and community supports joining together.

“Alzheimer’s disease is currently the third leading cause of death in Moore County. With our aging population skyrocketing in the next five years and not enough specialty providers to meet demand, our community is in crisis,” explained Dr. Sullivan.

In her fellowship role, Dr. Sullivan works to improve dementia and Alzheimer’s care in numerous ways — from creating a guide to help people navigate services to educating health professionals and training community members on best practices in whole-person brain care at no cost.

“We are creating a dementia movement. We have lofty goals but are working together to make real change,” said Dr. Sullivan. “No one can care for dementia alone.”

Many of these lifestyle changes sound all too familiar. But each step impacts brain health in very real ways. For example, during deep sleep, our brain clears away amyloid protein deposits that can build up to cause Alzheimer’s disease. And eating a whole-food diet protects against inflammation and increases blood flow to the brain, cutting Alzheimer’s disease risk by more than 50%.