Your Turn.
On the Home page, I asked you what lies ahead, in your future.
What do you envision for yourself?
Begin With The Goal In Mind
Let’s assume for a moment that we both agree that we want to be ourselves for life.
We want:
To Know Who We Are....
And who our loved ones are.
To remember our past, and...
To live well now. And even to be in charge of our future.
To Care For Ourselves
To be able to take care of ourselves – especially our bathing, toileting, & other personal tasks.
To Be Happy
Ideally, we’d like to enjoy life, with our sense of humor intact, and a feeling of love and connection.
Would You Agree That You Too Would Like This?
Great. The question then becomes HOW to achieve this?
Which leads me to the purpose of this site.
Background
As you may know, research about brain health, and how to prevent cognitive decline, has exploded in recent years.
For example, researcher Dr Dale Bredesen has determined that there is not just one, but six different types of cognitive decline.
And that roughly 40 factors, such as nutrient status, diet, sleep, exercise etc contribute to connections in our brains being built up - or torn down.
It can be complicated to know how to choose whom to follow, and how to apply brain health suggestions in our everyday lives.
Hi, I'm Rachel Haverkos
Curious about how to protect your brain and prevent dementia? Welcome - you're in the
right place!
As I see it, my role is to provide ACCESS (as spelled by the first letters of the items below) by:
Why Do I Think Brain Health Is So Important?
On a personal level, brain health is critical to me; I’m well aware that I have about 8 intrinsic risk factors for cognitive decline – in addition to a complex medical history..
On a professional level, I want cognitive recovery and health for all those I work with.
While working as an OT in post-acute care, I observed that many patients struggled with both physical and cognitive challenges.
I routinely did cognitive screenings, and watched patients struggle to regain their “smarts” and their sense of Self.
Now, my primary focus is on helping others prevent cognitive health challenges in the first place – and teaching them to recognize their early warning signs, when there’s still time to take action.
On a Family and Community level, I want to help my loved ones, friends, and neighbors avoid the fate of my parents, grandparents, and others who succumbed to the clutches of Alzheimers and other neurodegenerative diseases. I’ve watched what the process is like, and I know it’s no fun.
On a Societal level, I agree with Dr. Bredesen that the global burden of dementia will be enormous if we don’t take steps now to minimize it as a society.
According to Alzheimers.net: approximately 50 million people have dementia or Alzheimers disease worldwide.
Every 66 seconds, someone in the US develops Alzheimer’s disease!
In 2018, the costs of this cognitive decline were $277 billion in the US alone.
Clearly, something need to be done!
Here Are A Few Things About Me. I Have:
I mention all of this here, to clarify that when I talk about protecting and enhancing the brain, I do so from actual experience.
This means that I'm not only a “talker”, I’m also a “doer.” I very much practice what I preach.
I strongly envision that my brain will be sharp for life and that cognitive decline is optional, not inevitable.|
I also know that the brain changes I’ve noticed belong to an entirely different class (reversible, fortunately) of risk factors than what others may be experiencing.
Lastly, I know what it’s like having to apply brain health advice every day of my life, no matter what.
Family History
I know first-hand how painful it is to “lose” someone to dementia, even while they are still living (I’m thinking of my sweet Mama).
Fortunately, as an Occupational Therapist (OT), I had already committed to prevention whenever possible, as it makes more sense to me than a focus on rehabilitation alone.
Why not stop a problem before it results in more serious consequences?
I now use my background in Occupational therapy, health coaching, and other modalities to support others in emerging victorious in the battle of the brain.
As I do this, I think about my feisty, pearl-wearing Grandmother, Rachel. I now know that at least one factor contributing to her Alzheimers disease was that she loved sugar so much– and ate it frequently.
And my dear Father likely had Parkinson’s disease, with cognitive decline, in part because of the severe brain injury he sustained at age 4. Helpful insights!
Do you have relatives who had cognitive decline? Are you aware of key factors in their past that may have contributed? Has anything happened to you, such as a head injury, that you're concerned about? I'd love to hear....
My Philosophy Is All About Taking Responsibility For Yourself
People who take personal responsibility for their health (particularly brain health) generally have better outcomes than those who simply give themselves over to the “system”.
I apply this philosophy to everything I do in life - and experts such as Dr. Bredesen certainly advocate this too.
Whether it be daily activities or acute health issues, it has served me well. For example:
What's Next?
This website is the focal point of what I'd like to share with you.
I look forward to learning more about you, and what steps you’re taking to protect your brain.
Together we can make a difference, proving and helping to spread the word that dementia and cognitive decline are optional - NOT inevitable – if we act in time.
To learn tips and strategies you may want to apply yourself, why not join our community by entering your details in the form below? We'd love to have you as part of our Better Brain Club.
You'll receive regular email updates as well as information on products and services to keep your brain healthy for years to come.
