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15MARCH2014BODYOFCHRISTNEWSBlacksatGreaterRiskforAlzheimersHigherincidenceofhighbloodpres-sureamongAfrican-Americansmakesthisethnicgroupmoresus-ceptibletoAlzheimersdiseaseFebruarywasBlackHistoryMonthandtheAlzheimersAssociationrecognizedthemonthbyeducatingAfrican-Americansabouttheimpor-tanceofmanagingcardiovascularriskinordertostrengthencognitivehealth.ComparedtothegeneralpublicAfrican-AmericanshaveahigherriskofdiabeteshighbloodpressurehighcholesterolandothercardiovascularcomplicationswhichcouldleadtoahigherriskofstrokeandAlzheimersdisease.AccordingtotheAlzheimersAssociation2013FactsandFiguresreportAfrican-AmericansareabouttwiceaslikelytohaveAlzheimersdis-easeoranotherdementiathanwhitesbutlesslikelytohaveadiagnosisStudieshaveshownthatwhatisgoodforyourheartisgoodforyourbrainsaysFrancisBrownAlzheimersAssociationboardmem-berandchairoftheAfricanAmericanOutreachCommittee.StudiesindicatethatbykeepingyourbrainactivewhilemanagingotherconditionsthataffectyourheartlikehighbloodpressurecholesterolweightanddiabetesyoumaybesuccessfulinimpactingtheonsetofAlzheimersdisease.WecanalldoabetterjobofpayingattentiontoourhearthealthasawaytomaintainahealthybrainBrowncontinued.Bytheyear2030thenumberofAfrican-Americansage65orolderisexpectedtomorethandoubleto6.9million.AlthoughAlzheimersisnotpartofnormalagingageisthegreatestriskfactorforAlzheimersdisease.SoitisimportantthatAfrican-Americanstakestepsnowtodecreasetheirriskofheartdiseasewhichresearchhasshowncouldalsodecreasetheriskofcognitivedecline.DidYouKnownComparedtothegeneralpublicAfrican-Americanshaveahigherriskofdiabeteshighbloodpressureandvasculardementia.nMorethan40percentofAfrican-AmericanshavehighbloodpressureandareatriskforstrokewhichcanleadtogreaterriskfordevelopingAlzheimers.nAfrican-Americansasagroupareatgreaterriskforheartdiseaseandstroke.nEveryyearmorethan100000African-Americanshaveastroke.nHavinghighcholesterolincreasestheriskforstrokeandmayincreasetheriskforAlzheimers.StepsToControlRisksnWatchnumbersBloodpressuredesirablebloodpressureislessthan12080mmHgBloodsugardesirablefastingbloodsugarislessthan100mgdLBodyweightkeepbodyweightintherecommendedrangeCholesteroldesirabletotalcholesterolislessthan200mgdLnMakehealthylifestylechoicesStaymentallyactive.Remainsociallyinvolved.Stayphysicallyactive.Reduceintakeoffatandcho-lesterol.Dontsmokeorstartaprogramtoquit.Visitwww.alz.orgcoorcalltheAlzheimersAssociationat800-272-3900formoreinformationandforhelpandsupport.HEALTHWecanalldoabetterjobofpayingattentiontoourhearthealthasawaytomaintainahealthybrain.