{"id":885478,"date":"2026-09-06T11:52:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T11:52:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/885478\/"},"modified":"2026-09-06T11:52:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T11:52:13","slug":"world-alzheimers-month-focusing-on-support-and-early-detection-portageonline-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/885478\/","title":{"rendered":"World Alzheimer\u2019s Month focusing on support and early detection – PortageOnline.com"},"content":{"rendered":"

September is World Alzheimer\u2019s Month, and the\u00a0Alzheimer Society of Manitoba<\/a>\u00a0is reminding Manitobans that a dementia diagnosis does not mean they have to face the journey alone.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s theme,\u00a0\u201cYour Path Forward to Community and Connection,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0focuses on helping people living with dementia and their families understand what comes next and find support along the way.<\/p>\n

Erin Crawford, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, says receiving a dementia diagnosis can leave people unsure about what to do next.<\/p>\n

But Crawford says the Alzheimer Society can help people navigate a diagnosis, access resources and connect with others who understand what they are experiencing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile nobody is wanting to hear that they have a dementia diagnosis, if you are someone who gets that, you’re not alone and you don’t have to figure it all out on your own,\u201d Crawford says.<\/p>\n

Nine Manitobans diagnosed each day<\/p>\n

More than 20,000 Manitobans are currently living with dementia, according to Crawford, with about nine Manitobans newly diagnosed each day.<\/p>\n

That number is expected to increase significantly in the coming decades.<\/p>\n

Crawford says the number of Manitobans living with dementia is expected to double over the next 20 years, largely because of Manitoba\u2019s aging population.<\/p>\n

Age is the biggest risk factor for dementia, although Crawford says there are also risk factors people can modify.<\/p>\n

She emphasizes that receiving a dementia diagnosis does not have to mean isolation.<\/p>\n

Recognizing the early signs<\/p>\n

Memory loss is one of the symptoms most commonly associated with dementia, particularly Alzheimer\u2019s disease, the most common type of dementia.<\/p>\n

But Crawford says there are other signs people should pay attention to.<\/p>\n

These can include difficulty finding words or communicating, changes in judgment, dressing inappropriately for the weather and becoming disoriented in familiar places.<\/p>\n

If someone begins noticing these changes in themselves or a loved one, Crawford encourages them to keep track of the symptoms and speak with a doctor.<\/p>\n

She says an early diagnosis can help people plan for the future while they are still able to make important decisions about their care.<\/p>\n

That can include putting a power of attorney and health-care directives in place, having conversations with family, and learning about available services and potential costs.<\/p>\n

Early diagnosis may also become increasingly important as new treatments become available.<\/p>\n

New treatments offer some hope<\/p>\n

Crawford says new medications have recently been approved by Health Canada for early Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

The medications do not cure Alzheimer\u2019s or stop the disease, but they have been shown to slow its progression in some people.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey aren’t stopping it, they aren’t a cure, but they are slowing the progression,\u201d Crawford says.<\/p>\n

She says the treatments could potentially give some people additional good years.<\/p>\n

The medications are not currently available in Manitoba and are not yet widely accessible across Canada, Crawford says.<\/p>\n

Still, she says their development provides reason for optimism about the future of dementia treatment.<\/p>\n

\"AlzheimerThe Alzheimer Society is also encouraging people living with dementia to remain active and connected to their communities for as long as possible. (Alzheimer Society of Manitoba)<\/p>\n

Staying connected remains important<\/p>\n

The Alzheimer Society is also encouraging people living with dementia to remain active and connected to their communities for as long as possible.<\/p>\n

Crawford says activities such as recreation programs, or even something as simple as a round of golf, can help people maintain a sense of identity, enjoyment and connection.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don’t want those taken away from somebody just because they have a dementia diagnosis,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Some activities may need to be modified as dementia progresses, but Crawford says meaningful activities should remain an option whenever possible.<\/p>\n

Friends, neighbours and extended family members can also play an important role by continuing to spend time with someone living with dementia and offering practical support.<\/p>\n

That could mean visiting with someone so their caregiver can run errands, or simply adapting conversations and activities as communication and cognition change.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe relationship and connection are still really important for all of us,\u201d Crawford says.<\/p>\n

Reducing dementia risk<\/p>\n

There is no guaranteed way to prevent dementia, but Crawford says there are steps people can take to reduce their risk.<\/p>\n

Many of the same lifestyle choices that benefit heart health can also benefit brain health, including eating well, exercising, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol.<\/p>\n

She also points to the importance of maintaining social connections, looking after hearing health and participating in activities that stimulate the brain.<\/p>\n

While those steps cannot guarantee someone will avoid dementia, Crawford says they may help reduce the risk.<\/p>\n

For World Alzheimer\u2019s Month, the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba hopes Manitobans will take the opportunity to learn more about dementia, recognize potential warning signs and understand that support is available.<\/p>\n

\"AlzheimerThe Alzheimer Society of Manitoba offers a range of supports. (Alzheimer Society of Manitoba)<\/p>\n

Support available across Manitoba<\/p>\n

The Alzheimer Society of Manitoba offers a range of supports, including its First Link Helpline, one-on-one support, support groups, recreation programs for people living with dementia and their care partners, and educational sessions.<\/p>\n

Those programs cover topics including communication, the progression of dementia, legal and financial planning, home care and long-term care.<\/p>\n

Crawford says connecting with others can be particularly important because dementia can be isolating.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’ve heard from people it’s almost, you know, it’s a lifeline,\u201d she says. \u201cIt’s a shortcut to some of the tips and tricks that ultimately worked really well for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Alzheimer Society of Manitoba is encouraging anyone affected by dementia to reach out, learn about the\u00a0supports available<\/a>\u00a0and remember that they do not have to navigate the journey alone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"September is World Alzheimer\u2019s Month, and the\u00a0Alzheimer Society of Manitoba\u00a0is reminding Manitobans that a dementia diagnosis does not…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":885479,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[49,48,84],"class_list":["post-885478","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/885478","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=885478"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/885478\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/885479"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=885478"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=885478"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=885478"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}