Big Wall of Empowerment

The Big Wall of Empowerment

I am thrilled to announce that I made the 'Big Wall of Empowerment'. This is Maria Shriver's campaign to wipe out Alzheimer's and I am thrilled to be apart of it as well as have my image on the big wall. As I continue with my efforts in my city and town to educate others, bring awareness and be a voice for Alzheimer's. 
http://wipeoutalzheimers.org/
Join me ladies as we help wipe out Alzheimer's!
#wipeoutalz #purpledignity #endalz #beverlyjean #remembermyphoto #bmwphotography

#68, My Story

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Meet The ‘MIND’ Diet (It Slashes Alzheimer's Risk By 35%)

By: Jenna Birch

Eat a serving of Bean Every Other Day

The MIND diet promotes consumption of berries — particularly blueberries and strawberries. (Photo: Flickr/storebukkebruse)

There’s a rising interest in how nutrition fuels cognition and memory function long-term — and now, researchers are on to a winning dietary formula. The bonus? Noshing your way to brain benefits doesn’t involve following a strict regimen.

Eat Poultry At Least Twice A Week 

According to a new study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, the so-called “MIND diet” could slash Alzheimer’s risk by 35 percent, even if a person only moderately adheres to the eating plan. 

Developed by nutritional epidemiologists at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center, the regimen’s full name is the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet. 

Butter is an "Un-Healthy" Brain Food.
Limit to less than one Table Spoon
A Day

The MIND diet consists of: 

• At least three servings of whole grains a day
• A salad and one other vegetable a day
• A glass of wine a day
• A serving of nuts a day
• Beans every other day
• Poultry and berries at least twice a week
• Fish at least once a week
• Limit unhealthy-brain foods, especially butter (less than one tablespoon a day), cheese, and fast or fried food
• To study its effects, the scientists took data on the food intake of 923 Chicago-dwellers between ages 58 and 98 over the course of a decade. 

  

  "Un-Healthy" Brain Food. Limit Cheese

  They used questionnaires to determine just how closely participants’ eating habits mimicked one of three diet plans: the Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet, or the MIND diet. The researchers also measured the incidence of Alzheimer’s over a 4.5-year follow-up period, as part of an ongoing research project at Rush to examine facets of cognitive health.
  
  

  

  Eat 3 Servings of Whole Grains A Day

  All of the diets seemed to be effective in reducing Alzheimer’s risk. Those who followed DASH saw a 39 percent drop in risk, those who followed the Mediterranean diet saw a 54 percent drop, and those who adhered to the MIND plan saw a 53 percent decrease in cognitive decline.
• The biggest finding, though? Those who only moderately stuck to the Mediterranean and DASH diets did not see their Alzheimer’s risk decrease. Those who moderately followed MIND, on the other hand, still saw risk drop by 35 percent.

  

  Eat Fish Once A Week

  Related: Early Signs Of Alzheimer’s Disease Found In Patients As Young As 20 
  “I think that will motivate people [to try it],” says Rush nutritional epidemiologist Martha Clare Morris, PhD, in a statement.

  

  1 Glass of Wine A Day Approved

  As the name suggests, the MIND diet is a hybrid between the Mediterranean and DASH diets, which are both backed by the National Institute of Health as plans that offer real, research-based benefits to those utilizing them — everything from reducing risk of heart disease and stroke to lowering blood pressure.
• There are 15 dietary components to the MIND diet, including 10 that are considered “healthy brain” food groups, and five that are considered “unhealthy-brain” food groups. The point is to eat more from the healthy groups, and less from the unhealthy groups — with stricter adherence to this rule leading to greater benefit. The healthy groups are green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, whole grains, fish, poultry, olive oil and wine. The unhealthy groups are red meats, butter and margarine, cheese, pastries and sweets, and fast food or fried food.

• 

  Eat A Salad A Day

  Notably, whereas the Mediterranean and DASH diets both emphasize fruit consumption in general, MIND encourages berry intake in particular, especially cognitive-boosting blueberries and strawberries. 
  In the study, the longer men and women followed the MIND diet, the greater their protection against cognitive decline. “As is the case with many health-related habits, including physical exercise, you’ll be healthier if you’ve been doing the right thing for a long time,” says Morris.

  

  Eat One Veggie A Day

  Past studies have also shown the DASH and Mediterranean diet plans to be tied to a lower risk of dementia, which, as the current study indicates, seems to be true. The results of the MIND diet study also offer strong preliminary evidence that a combination of facets of the two regimens hold cognitive benefits — and luckily, it’s also easier to follow than the Mediterranean or DASH plans.
  Five million people in the United States currently suffer from Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to jump to 16 million by 2050 — which is even more reason to adopt these dietary practices now.
  Although more studies are needed to confirm the brain-boosting benefits of the MIND diet, science has already shown us the health benefits of the brain-boosting foods, even beyond cognition. “It is hard to come up with a potential downside to adopting these dietary habits,” Morris says.

Nevada Legislator Advocacy Day, 5 New Laws. One Day to Spread the Word.

Alzheimer's Advocacy Day. 3-16-2015

March 16, 2015 is Alzheimer's Advocacy Day. Located at my state capital in Carson City Nevada I showed up bright and early at 8 \am. This day is dedicated to meeting with legislators, there aides and understanding new policies and laws pertaining to Alzheimer's that are up for the legislative  session.
Today the different laws that I learned about and helped introduce to Assemblymen, Assemblywoman and Senators were the following:
1)Bill (Committee on Health and Human Services) Provide: Caregivers with Information and Training to Ease Hospital Transitions. This bill designates that a patient can name a caregiver that the hospital can continue to share discharge treatment with the patient to help them. The object here is if the patient is capable of designating a caregiver being that they are not to far progressed. HIPAA compliance issues have been addressed with in the bill. Over all this would help with the continuation of care for the patient.


Left to Right: Myself, Senator Greg Brower, Team Captain Cathy

2)AB9 (Assembly Committee on Judiciary) Protects Persons with Dementia from Financial Abuse by Legal Guardians. The goal here is to protect the patient. The one thing that had to be understood when it came to financial abuse was that the courts decided the patients needed to have 10K or more. This over all helps patients that have assets so that they are not taking advantage of by a caregiver or guardian when it comes to there fiances.

Left to Right: Team Capital Cathy, Myself,
Daniel Stewart-Policy Analyst Assembly Leader
 to Assemblyman
Paul Anderson

3) SCR 2 (By Hardy) Encourages Dementia -Specific Training for Health Care Providers and First Res-ponders. This is a fabulous bill! This bill encourages extra training for first res-ponders when it comes to a Dementia patient. This is both beneficial to the patient, families and healthcare workers involved. The reality is that as the disease with Dementia patient progress so does treatment for these patients. If first res-ponders or other hospital staff do not have proper care when treating these patients, it can make it difficult for both parties. Having extra treatment and education for these healthcare workers would be a huge incentive in understanding different techniques for treatment of patient and how to deal with the patients.


Advocate Bob, Myself Assemblywoman Victoria, and team Captain Cathy.

4) AB 223 (O'Neille) Protect Persons with Dementia from Negligence by Caregivers. It seems all to often the elderly and Dementia/Alzheimer's patients are targets when it comes to Negligence. Even more important is that these individuals that take advantage of these patients by abusing them or exploiting them need to be prosecuted with either a misdemeanor or felony charge. I fully support this. As elderly patients need to be protected from the predators of the world.


Advocate Bob, Mark Sprinkle for Assemblyman Edwards,
Myself and Team Captain Cathy

5)AB 325 (Sprinkle) Protect Person with Dementia from Financial Abuse by Paid Guardian. Some family dynamics when it comes to Alzheimer's patients can be very difficult. One of these that can come up can be having a paid guardian. A paid guardian is a third party that is hired to care for patient who is unable to care for themselves. Part of there responsibility as a guardian is financial responsibility when it comes to the patient. However sometimes these Guardians are over looked and they take advantage of a patient. I fully support this bill as this is an extra layer of security for the patient.

Ready to Start the Day!

Left to Right: Team Captain Cathy, Advocate Bob, Tracy Davis for
Assemblyman Hickey & Myself.

It was exciting to learn about these bills as well as help educate my state leaders on why myself and the National Alzheimer's association support these state bills in Nevada.

Series 1: Purple Dignity

Photo 6, Series 1
Hair By: Me
Makeup By: Me

Article By: Brooke Morgan Westlake-Kelley
Photos: By BMW Photography,
Brooke Morgan Westlake-Kelley
Makeup: Brooke Morgan Westlake-Kelley


Photo 7, Series 1

Hair By: Me

Makeup By: Me

“Purple is defined as a deep, rich shade between crimson and violet,^[1] or, more broadly, as a range of hues of color between blue and red,^[2] or as a dark color that is a blend of red and blue. ^[3] According to surveys In Europe and the U.S., purple is the color most often associated with royalty, magic, mystery and piety”

Dig-ni-ty

n. pl. dig.ni.ties

1. The quality or state of being worthy of esteem or respect.

2. Inherent nobility and worth: the dignity of honest labor.

3.

a. Poise and self-respect.

b. Stateliness and formality in manner and appearance.

4. The respect and honor associated with an important position.

5. A high office or rank.

6. dignities The ceremonial symbols and observances attached to high office.

7. Archaic A dignitary.

Purple Rhine stones are pretty, they sparkle and shine. Purple was one of my most unappreciated colors and now it has a deep place in my heart forever.
The series of these images will be one of many that I take on as an artist. Carefully placing one stone at a time on my face until the face was entirely covered is part of the concept of "Purple Dignity".  These beautiful purple gems sure do sparkle don't they? Yes, they do, but I do not think that you will ever be able to see them as they were.  

I spent around eight hours doing this self portrait series, however the individuals that are caretakers or the individuals that are being care taken of spend every hour of every day dealing with Alzheimer's, along with its victims, and its cruelty. This disease had ZERO survivors. This disease comes in and robs individuals of their mind, there body and then their life.  The beautiful life that was lived in and had wonderful memories. This disease does not discriminate on an individuals nationality, gender or age. It simply goes after the human mind and takes over.

I am hopeful to make an impact with my photography and art so that we gain more attention and attraction to this disease that we have yet to find a cure for. 

I read a meaningful quote, "There are only four kinds of people in the world- those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be a caregivers an those who will need caregivers" By: Rosalynn Carter.4

#Wipeoutalz   #Remembermyphoto  #Beverlyjean   #Purpledignity   #Endalz   #Nevada

This series is dedicated to those suffering with or affected by Alzheimer's.

Photo 8, Series 1

Hair By: Me

Makeup By: Me

Photo 1, Series 1

Hair By: Me

Makeup By: Me



Photo 2, Series 1

Hair By: Me

Makeup By: Me

Photo 3, Series 1

Hair By: Me

Makeup By: Me

Photo 4, Series 1

Hair By: Me

Makeup By: Me

Photo 5, Series 1

Hair By: Me

Makeup By: Me

Maria Shriver Is On A Mission To Wipe Out Alzheimer’s (And You Can Be Part Of It)

By: Rachel Bender

I got the pleasure of personally "Thanking" Maria and hugging
her at the Hilarity for Charity Event in Oct 2014

“Hope is around the corner. It might be in a lab or in a clinical trial, but I sure as heck know it won’t happen if we sit down.” (Photo courtesy of Maria Shriver) 

More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease — and nearly two-thirds of them are women. Women are also more likely to be caregivers of those with the disease, which impacts them both emotionally and financially.

For award-winning journalist and producer Maria Shriver, these facts — in addition to being personally touched by Alzheimer’s when her father,Sargent Shriver, was diagnosed with the condition in 2003 (he passed away in 2011) — have served as a catalyst to create a new initiative for mobilizing women and putting an end to the memory-robbing disease. 

The initiative, called Maria Shriver’s Wipe Out Alzheimer’s Challenge, was created in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association and the non-profit A Woman’s Nation, which Shriver founded. It aims to end the devastating disease by encouraging women to get educated about it, to learn about initiatives to help fight it, and to raise awareness and funds for cutting-edge brain research. All of the money raised through the Wipe Out Alzheimer’s Challenge will go toward the Alzheimer’s Association’s first-of-its-kind fund, the Women’s Alzheimer’s Research Fund, which will support research initiatives looking at gender differences and Alzheimer’s.

Yahoo Health spoke with Shriver to talk about her new grassroots initiative, how Alzheimer’s has touched her life personally, and her hope to empower women to make this disease history:

Yahoo Health: What led up to launching the Wipe Out Alzheimer’s Challenge?

Maria Shriver

Maria Shriver: I’ve been working as an agitator and advocate for the past 10 years. It started right after my dad [Sargent Shriver] was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Then I wrote a children’s book, What’s Happening to Grandpa?, to explain it to my children. I did an HBO documentary, “The Alzheimer’s Project.” Then I went in front of Congress to help pass the Alzheimer’s National Plan [by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which set a deadline to stop Alzheimer’s disease by 2025]. I was also the executive producer of Still Alice. [Julianne Moore won an Academy Award for Best Actress playing a woman with early-onset Alzheimer’s in the film]. So the official launch of the Wipe Out Alzheimer’s Challenge is today, but in my mind, I launched this 10 years ago.

Related: What You Should Know About Early-Onset Alzheimer’s

YH: Can you talk more about why Alzheimer’s disease is a cause you’re so passionate about?

MS: All of us have personal experiences and that is where we grow from. I was raised by a strong woman and my dad had Alzheimer’s. I was always interested in the brain — how someone as smart as my father could lose all of that seemingly overnight. I think the brain is the new frontier — how to energize it, calm it, and understand it. We’ve made so many strides on how to make our bodies healthier, but we haven’t made equal strides to make our brains healthier.

YH: Since research shows that certain lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet and exercise, can improve cognitive function and may lower the risk of Alzheimer’s, what healthy habits do you follow in your own life?

MS: Your cardiovascular heath is connected to your brain health. I have always exercised. I do Transcendental Meditation. I meditate every day and try to calm the brain. I eat a healthy diet. I drink coffee [research shows it has a protective effect against Alzheimer’s] and drink either a glass of wine or take resveratrol every day [research shows resveratrol may have some neuroprotective benefits]. I try to learn something new everyday. Between brain games, meditation, exercise, and healthy eating, all of these things together up your chances of not getting Alzheimer’s.

Related: Early Signs Of Alzheimer’s Disease Found In Patients As Young As 20

YH: What can women learn from the Challenge?

MS: Go on the site and get educated about what Alzheimer’s is or isn’t. Get updated on the facts. See that there are things women can do to help their parents. Talk about cognitive health. Look out for signs in your parents. Be aware of the demands of caregiving. Look at how many women are out there and making difference — they need our help and our support. Help fund research into women’s brains. Try to find out why this disproportionately affects women. We need to support researchers and scientists who are looking into clues in what causes Alzheimer’s. We want women to get excited about this field, to encourage women to go into it, and encourage women scientists to develop trials and get answers.

YH: What do you hope women get out of the Wipe Out Alzheimer’s Challenge?

MS: I hope they get a sense of community out of it and feel empowered as opposed to disempowered. I hope that they get excited about funding exciting research projects, that they get the sense they can make a difference, and wipe this out in our lifetime. Hope is around the corner. It might be in a lab or in a clinical trial, but I sure as heck know it won’t happen if we sit down. We have to stand up and speak out.

Learn more about Maria Shriver’s Wipe Out Alzheimer’s Challenge, and how you can get involved, Click on link below!

http://wipeoutalzheimers.org/

Early Signs Of Alzheimer's Disease Found In Patients As Young As 20

Cassie ShortsleeveMarch 2, 2015

This is the earliest that signs of Alzheimer’s evidence have ever been seen, but there are lifestyle tricks you can employ to help ward off the memory-decimating disease. (Photo: Getty Images/Nick Dolding)

Alzheimer’s disease may not be just for grandparents to worry about: Groundbreaking new research from Northwestern University has found that amyloid protein — a hallmark of the devastating disease — starts accumulating in brain neurons of people as young as 20 years old.

Scientists believe this is the first time that such changes have been noted in human brains so young. In the study, lead researcher Changiz Geula and his team from the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and team analyzed neurons from the brains of 13 “normal” young people ages 20 to 66; 16 people ages 70 to 99 without dementia; and 21 people with Alzheimer’s, ages 60 to 95.

“It was the age that really that surprised us,” Geula tells Yahoo! Health. “In the young adults, we already see accumulation of amyloids.” This becomes worrisome when amyloid clumps grow in size and abundance. The difference between old and young in this study: While the amyloids themselves were present in younger people — and clumps were present as well — there was more clumping in the aging and Alzheimer’s population, says Geula.

Related: What You Should Know About Early-Onset Alzheimer’s 

“What this means is these neurons are susceptible to accumulate at a young age, but that the clumping really occurs in aging. During life, the substance needed to make clumps is available. And if you have susceptibility to form clumps, this could worsen.”

So what does this mean for you? First, know this: “In this study, we didn’t have a huge number of brains,” says Geula. “And this doesn’t mean that because young people have a measure of amyloids that everyone is going to get Alzheimer’s. It’s not an alarm.”

But there are susceptibility factors (that science knows a lot about) — and protective factors (that science doesn’t know as much about) — when it comes to Alzheimer’s, Geula says. “We have known for a while that if we want effective therapy for Alzheimer’s, we have to start early. What these findings suggest is the earlier the better.”

So start today and protect yourself — and your brain —with these techniques, no matter your age.

1. Kick bad habits—stat. “We know that general cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s aging can be enhanced by many things — most importantly, general health,” says Geula. In fact, many health factors — diabetes, heart disease, pulmonary function, and obesity — can increase your risk of the disease.

2. Clean up your diet. Healthy habits like eating aMediterranean diet (rich in nuts, greens, whole grains, fruits and veggies, poultry, and olive oil) have been linked to better cognitive function and a lower risk of Alzheimer’s.

Related: What ‘Still Alice’ Gets Right About Alzheimer’s

3. Work it out. Exercise has been shown to enhance cognitive abilities in everyone, including the old and even the Alzheimer’s population. “Some animal studies show that the total amount of amyloid can be reduced in animals through enhanced exercise and enriched environment,” says Geula. And not only can exercise keep Alzheimer’s and dementia at bay, some research suggests it can even turn it around. When people with mild cognitive impairment walked on a treadmill for 30 minutes a day, four days a week for 12 weeks, people improved their neural efficiency using fewer mental resources to perform the same task.

4. Better your brain. Mental exercise — keeping your mind engaged and challenged through a variety of exercises — can also help. Research suggests that people who play cards, do crossword puzzles, and challenge themselves mentally on a regular basis are at a lower risk for developing the disease than those who don’t. And thinking on the bright side actually does matter: Negative thoughts can hinder your brain’s ability to think straight and form memories, according to research from King’s College in London.