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Carol O'Dell

My mother did not have high cholesterol or other risk factors for Alzheimer's, she simply got it because (in part) of how long she lived.

She didn't develop symptoms of this disease until her late 80s. So the lesson is, if you make it past your 70s without a heart attack or cancer, you get to look forward to Alzheimer's because your chances of contracting this disease rise dramatically with age.

Can we prevent Alzheimer's by taking better care of ourselves? Maybe. Maybe not. We need to take care of ourselves because it will impact the quality of our lives - today. Whatever comes in the future is a crap-shoot - and I'm okay with that.

Life is about taking your chances, loving big and hard - and if you're lucky, (blessed) having friends and family to get you through.

Mom had a good long life, and yes, the last few years were rough - I am her daughter and full-time caregiver. But now that she's gone I see the whole of her life and I have a lot to be grateful for.

- Carol D. O'Dell
Author of Mothering Mother: A Daughter's Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir
www.mothering-mother.com

Peter Belisi

Thank you for the helpful information...

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