Cost of Care, Amyloid in Eyes Alzheimer’s, Your Job, Happiness

The Staggering, Exhausting, Invisible Costs of Caring

“As a society, we are living so much longer, and the diseases and conditions we live with require so much more: more care, more medicine, more vigilance, more maintenance.” “It’s brutal, it’s tearing my family apart, it makes me resent everyone, including the people for whom I’m providing care.” “We can’t have a strong economy if we have millions of people working as full-time caregivers and making so little that they are still living in poverty,” [said] Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “We can’t have a strong economy when we have millions of other people dropping out of the work force to take care of elderly loved ones.”

Thank you, ASA, for including this piece in Generations SmartBrief

Amyloid Deposits in Eyes—Alzheimer’s Disease Risk.

Like the proverbial “windows to the soul,” researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine observed that the presence of retinal spots in the eyes correlated with brain scans showing higher levels of cerebral amyloid. The finding suggests that non-invasive retinal imaging may be useful as a biomarker for detecting early-stage Alzheimer’s Disease risk.

Your Job Is NOT Your Family

Your job is your paycheck. “Would your family toss you out on the street during one economic downturn? Work has failed us… [it] was one aspect of [our] life, not the whole of it. Not our identity.” “… we need to stop buying into the big lie… [that our] job will make [us] whole & complete” “You have family, friends, hobbies, passions, a life outside of the office… ” “Don’t beat yourself up because you have to take a job to pay the bills because you don’t have the luxury or privilege of following every fleeting passion. There’s nobility in providing for your family. There’s nobility in having a job that leaves you enough time to pursue other aspects of your life that bear more meaning.”

Is Being Too Comfortable Killing Your Happiness?

A man with a PhD who goes simply by “Thomas of Copenhagen” wrote a powerful article of the irony of happiness (which leads to sadness and depression) when we no longer have to work hard for the things people need, like healthcare and an education. In loss, we value life. “… there is a sickness in health, but there is also health in sickness. When we’re sick, we have the healthiest mentality of all because our priorities are at their highest.”  [What Life in Otherwise Happy Denmark Can Teach Us About Depression | The Mighty]

The Myth of Happiness

UK-based psychologist, Dr. Sue Roffey, “has dispelled some of the common misconceptions about what it takes to be happy, and how to enhance your wellbeing by harnessing positive thinking and relationships.” It’s not about money; although a baseline of money helps. It’s more about communication and support in relationships.

Why You Shouldn’t Skip Exercise After 60

“… if you’d like to bolster your brain’s protections against dementia… a consistent exercise schedule benefits the brain just as much as the body.” Exercise helps the hippocampus, usually the first part of the brain Alzheimer’s disease attacks, to form and maintain new neurons. Exercise is a better preventative measure than a prescription.