Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic
Krystal Allan, News AnchorQ&A
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.
Grandma Estella
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.
Krystal Allan with Aunt Doris
“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.”
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?
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.
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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