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Krystal Allan, far right, with her sister, mother and niece

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Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic

Krystal Allan, News Anchor

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Watching a family member go through Alzheimer’s is heartbreaking on its own, but then the inevitable thought can creep into your mind: “Could that be me?“ says Las Vegas news anchor Krystal Allan. “It’s always on your mind.”

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Dementia and Alzheimer’s runs in Allan's family. She watched the disease slowly overtake her grandmother Estella, her father’s mother—first the memories, then the ability to do mundane tasks, like feed herself, then her speech… Her aunt Doris, on her mother’s side, meanwhile, suffered from a host of conditions—like diabetes and cancer—which was compounded by dementia. “That really accelerated her decline,” Allan recalls.

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For the record, while family history isn’t necessary for an individual to have Alzheimer’s, those who have a parent or sibling diagnosed with the disease have a higher risk of developing it than those without a first-degree association. For Allan, that was enough to spur her to take the initiative in living a brain-healthy lifestyle—and sign up for the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM) Prevention Center at Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas, a program dedicated to helping women reduce their risks for the brain disorder. “You have to take care of you so you can be better for yourself and for the people around you,” she notes.

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Here, Allan talks about her experience with the WAM and the steps she’s taking to reduce her risk—and gets real about the unfortunate reality of racial disparities when it comes to the disease.

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Q&A

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You saw Alzheimer’s up close. How did that experience impact you?
It allowed me to see how Alzheimer’s impacts not only the individual but the whole support system for that person. I saw how my aunt, who was the primary caretaker for my grandmother, put her life on hold. And for my Aunt Doris, her daughter, her husband and my mother worked together as a team to make sure she got what she needed. I have a greater empathy for caretakers now in general, regardless of the disease.

And how about when it came to your own health?
When you’re seeing your loved one go through Alzheimer’s, you’re always thinking, could that be me? It made me more mindful of the fact that I probably have a predisposition to Alzheimer’s, which made me think about what I needed to address and get proactive about my own health.

For those in a similar situation, what advice do you have to push past the fear?
It’s human for fear to be the initial reaction. But you have to realize that not doing anything is not going to make it go away; if anything, it’s going to make it worse. So start, just take a step… It’s better to have options than to put yourself in a position where you have none because you waited too long.

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Grandma Estella

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What do you do now for your cognitive health?
For me, it’s the simple things that I am trying to be better with—like sleep. We undervalue how critical it is. The doctor told me that sleep—in layman’s terms—helps get rid of the gunk your brain has accumulated throughout the day. If it builds up, that contributes to unhealthy brain health. Oh, and minimizing stress. That’s tough because I live on deadlines, but “I’ve learned not to commit to 50 million things. ‘No’ is a complete sentence.”

Could you tell us about the disparities in Alzheimer’s when it comes to Black and Latina women?
Based on the reading I’ve done, a lot of the disparities have to do with lifestyle factors and circumstantial situations. For instance, a lot of times they don’t have access to quality care. If you’re not getting that preventative care on a consistent basis, then a lot of the things that may make you predisposed to Alzheimer’s—like hypertension, sugar consumption and diabetes—aren’t being addressed. Of course, genetics can play a factor, but what we’re finding is that having more of a brain-healthy lifestyle can have a great impact in reducing your risk.

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Krystal Allan with Aunt Doris

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“It’s human for fear to be the initial reaction. But you have to realize that not doing anything is not going to make it go away.”

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In the spirit of Women’s Health Care Month, any words of wisdom for women on how to self-advocate?
I always say, if your cup isn’t full, then you can’t do anything for anyone else. As women, a lot of times we feel like we’re being selfish if we prioritize ourselves. But you have to take care of you so you can be better for yourself and for the people around you. When you’re on a plane, they tell you to make sure to put your oxygen mask on first before assisting others, right?

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Also, don’t be afraid to push back if you feel you’re not getting the medical care you need. We give doctors deference, obviously, but you know your body better than anyone else. Don’t be afraid to speak up.

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And advice to caretakers?
You can’t do it alone. When you’re caring for someone else, you’re giving so much of yourself physically and emotionally—it drains you. Also, the sooner you get a plan in place, the better. Get everybody on the same page and have a plan of action.

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And if you know a caretaker, always be open and willing to help. Even if they tell you they’re OK, still offer to step in and do something—even something as small as letting them take a nap. A lot of times caregivers don’t even realize how overwhelmed they are.

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Tell us about your experience working with the WAM Prevention Center at Cleveland Clinic…
It’s phenomenal. WAM has really created a caring community that’s looking out for the best interest of women. We are more predisposed to Alzheimer’s than men and we’ve all gone through this thing called life where it’s difficult to focus on ourselves the way we should. WAM understands the solidarity of women supporting and empowering each other. The people there are compassionate, they’re patient, they’re engaged.

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Watch Krystal Allan share her experience with NBC Las Vegas:

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From now to the end of June, we will donate a portion of proceeds from every single veronicabeard.com order to the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic, which is changing the future for women and Alzheimer’s through prevention, research, education and advocacy. Learn more about the partnership here. #VBGIVESBACK

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