The connection between our genes and dementia has to do with certain types of dementia being caused or influenced by specific genes. One of the most common forms of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, is thought to be influenced by multiple genes and other factors like environment and lifestyle. The strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's is a variant of the APOE gene, specifically the ε4 allele. However, not everyone who has this allele will develop Alzheimer's, and not everyone with Alzheimer's has this allele. Early-onset Alzheimer's disease, which happens before age 65, is ..read more

 April is volunteer appreciation month. Many seniors volunteer. These statements from volunteers highlight the personal and social benefits of volunteering, as well as the positive impact it has on both volunteers and the recipients of their support. I work with two senior organizations in my community; I am President of one and Chair of the other. We could not do what we do without the support of our volunteers. So I asked them what is it about volunteering that appeals, and their answers are below. My thanks to those who responded and a huge thank you to all of the volunteers I work wit ..read more

Let's celebrate the vibrant health and resilience of our communities! While it's true that the memories of diseases like measles have faded over the past few generations, it's essential to recognize the importance of vaccinations in preserving our well-being. Measles, a once-common threat, has largely disappeared from our collective consciousness, thanks to the success of vaccines introduced in the 1960s. However, as we've seen in other parts of the world, complacency can lead to a resurgence of this highly contagious disease, with potentially severe consequences. Measles, with its roots datin ..read more

 In the poetry of life, the dance unfolds, A burning violin, a tale to be told. Dance me to your beauty, an enchanting embrace, In the rhythm of kindness, a harmonious grace.   Through the panic of life, let kindness guide, A dance that soothes, like a tranquil tide. Gather me safely in your compassionate arms, In the dance of empathy, where kindness warms.   Lift me as an olive branch, a symbol of peace, In the dance of benevolence, worries cease. Be my homeward dove, soaring above, In the dance of generosity, boundless love.   To the end of love, let the dance extend, A t ..read more

In the comedy of life, kindness takes the stage, A thread so soft, it's like a comedic sage. Intertwining with actions in a comical dance, Creating patterns, a laughter-filled trance.   It's gentle like a joke whispered in the ear, Yet remarkably resilient, spreading cheer. A tapestry of humour, woven with grace, Kindness adds layers, a smile on every face.   With each act, a punchline in the grand show, A jest of compassion that continues to grow. Indelible marks left on hearts, so divine, As kindness becomes the punchline of time.   It's the soft chuckle of a helping hand, A r ..read more

In the symphony of life, a catalogue of 'afters' unfolds, A melody of moments, precious and untold. Navigating the score, with choices to make, Wisdom realized, not to let moments forsake.   The coffee grows cold, a subtle metaphor, For time slipping away, knocking on the door. Priorities dance, a shifting ballet, In the rhythm of life, they constantly sway.   Promises, like notes, can be easily lost, In the hustle and bustle, the price is the cost. The symphony plays on, a relentless stream, Yet, the echoes of broken vows haunt our dreams.   Children grow, like the crescendo's ..read more

The tapestry of life is such that moments and memories are intertwined in the same way threads are woven. Weavers, we give ourselves a role in the story of our lives. Every thread represents our choices, who we really are, and how much we have been able to leave out on the canvase of life. Imagine an expansive horizon surrounded by a loom that encompasses almost every experience of which you might think. This loom also allows us to weave vibrant threads such as joy, kindness and love which light up even the darkest corners transforming ordinary things into masterpieces. In this loom, there are ..read more

 In the mosaic of olden days, reflections unfold, The rearview mirror of memories, a tale to be told. Highs and lows painted on the canvas of time, A masterpiece of life, an intricate rhyme.   Laughter and tears, like brushstrokes so bold, In the gallery of recollections, stories are scrolled. People, once vivid, in my journey they played, A tapestry of connections and memories laid.   Some departed, like whispers in the wind, Time's gentle teacher, lessons chime within. No rewind button in life's relentless track, A realization dawns, no going back.   Parents, like anchors ..read more

 A song by Al Stewart called Time Passages was playing in the background and these thoughts leapt to my mind. Enjoy. In the tapestry of time, I sit and reflect, From the barely started day to the evening's sweet sunset. Mondays to Fridays, a seamless blend, Years passing swiftly, like a transient wind.   Forty, fifty, sixty years unfold, A lifetime's story in moments told. Highs and lows, laughter and tears, People departed, echoes in my ears.   Parents, friends, their absence profound, Realizing too late, that time has its bounds. Yet, amidst losses, a spirit to find, To embrac ..read more

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