Some answers for Alzheimer’s
Dear Readers: November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. What is Alzheimer’s disease? There’s a lot to know.
It’s common to occasionally forget something or misplace objects. But not remembering normal routines, getting flummoxed in public and repeating phrases over and over can be problematic.
AD affects the brain in older folks by slowly stamping out memory, reasoning and the ability to accomplish small tasks. What’s going on in the brain? Research is ongoing, but basically the brain is changing. These bad changes can begin in the portion of the brain responsible for memory.
There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but you can train your brain to be healthier and active — at any age. Alzheimer’s Awareness month provides an opportunity to talk about AD. Here are some easy ways to keep your brain engaged:
n Take part in regular physical activity (with proper safety gear — helmets, etc.).
n Be involved in the community.
n Take a class at a community college.
n Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.
n Play games — crossword puzzles and strategy games with the family.
n Quit smoking.
n Get enough sleep.
n to the Alzheimer’s Association website, www.alz.org, for more information. — Heloise
NO SALE
Dear Heloise: Buying clothes is tricky for me, and the stores don’t help with big sales and coupons where you have to spend so many dollars before you save a percentage.
I have sworn off sales. I instead look for quality pieces that are well-made and manufactured to last. I look at the stitching, the seams and the weight of the fabric, and I’m not so caught up in binge-buying a multitude of sweaters, for example. This is a better value in the long run.
Clothing is an investment. I want timeless pieces I can build a wardrobe around:
n a great jacket
n a wrap dress
n a well-fitting pair of jeans
n a nonpilling turtleneck
n a classic slingback pump.
I can work with these, and occasionally if there’s a T-shirt I like, I may buy more than one, but I’m more focused on quality than quantity. — Susan J. in Central Texas
STUFFED ANIMALS
Dear Heloise: How can I clean my grandchildren’s stuffed animals? I want them to be fresh when the kids come to visit. — Jane R., Fort Wayne, Ind.
Jane, it’s difficult, drippy and messy to wash them in the washing machine. Sprinkle the stuffed animals with either cornstarch or baking soda, and rub it in with your hands or a brush. Let it sit for a while, maybe an hour, and then go outside, don a mask and glasses, and beat the stuffed animals to remove the powder. — Heloise
Send a hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.