Upcoming Events From Our Community Partners

The St. Louis Public Library's community partners have some great events coming up. Make sure to check them out!

Our partners at Siteman Cancer Center's Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities will be participating in a free health fair this Saturday, September 27. The Shalom Church HealthFest will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hazelwood East High School, 11300 Dunn Road, 63138, and will feature a wide variety of health screenings and resources. PECaD's Prostate Cancer Community Partnership will be providing free prostate cancer screenings. To pre-register for the health fair call 314.653.2322.

On Tuesday, October 7, the Washington University School of Medicine will host a lecture by Dr. Goldie Byrd, who will discuss engaging the community in the recruitment of African Americans for genetic studies in Alzheimer's Disease. The lecture is the 9th annual Norman R. Seay Lecture, named in honor of the civil rights leader and advocate for Alzheimer's research. The lecture will take place from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. October 7 in the Connor Auditorium at WUSM's Farrell Learning & Teaching Center, 520 S. Euclid Ave. Reservations are required. Call 314.286.0930 to RSVP.

Take a Moment to Think About Alzheimer's

Every day, we hear about Alzheimer's Disease, yet for many of us, we only have a vague notion of what it is. According to the National Library of Medicine, Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia, a brain disorder that first affects thought, language, and memory. "In AD, over time, symptoms get worse. People may not recognize family members or have trouble speaking, reading or writing. They may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care." While Alzheimer's generally affects older adults, early-onset Alzheimer's can affect people much younger.

So why is it something we should care about? Frankly, because it affects a lot of people. According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's Disease, and more than 500,000 people a year die of the disease, making it the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Furthermore, one out of every three senior citizens dies with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. Check out the video below for a quick rundown on the state of Alzheimer's today.

The St. Louis Public Library has lots of resources for those dealing with Alzheimer's and their caregivers, and for those who hope to stave off the disease through maintaining social and mental stimulation. Check out the list below for some examples.

• The Handbook of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
• Encyclopedia of Alzheimer's Disease by Elaine A. Moore with Lisa Moore
• The Validation Breakthrough: Simple Techniques for Communicating with People with Alzheimer's and Other Dementias by Naomi Feil and Vicki de Klerk-Rubin
• The Alzheimer's Answer: Reduce Your Risk and Keep Your Brain Healthy by Marwan Sabbagh
• Alzheimer's in America: The Shriver Report on Women and Alzheimer's
• The Alzheimer's Action Plan by P. Murali Doriaswamy and Lisa P. Gwyther with Tina Adler
• 100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's and Age-Related Memory Loss by Jean Carper
• Loving Someone Who Has Dementia: How to Find Hope While Coping with Stress and Grief by Pauline Boss
• Memory Books and Other Graphic Cuing Systems: Practical Communication and Memory Aids for Adults with Dementia by Michelle S. Bourgeois

You can also check out these online resources.

• The Alzheimer's Association has a great section that gives an overview of the different risk factors, treatments, and stages of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. There's also a page explaining preventative measures that can help decrease your risk for developing Alzheimer's Disease.
• The National Institute on Aging has a downloadable and printable booklet explaining the basics of Alzheimer's, as well as another booklet on prevention of the disease.
• The Washington University School of Medicine's Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Facility provides a lot of great information on the research being done locally on Alzheimer's Disease, including how to get involved in clinical studies.
• The Alzheimer's Project is a four-part documentary series created by HBO, in partnership with the National Institute on Aging, the Alzheimer's Association, the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, and the Geoffrey Been Gives Back Alzheimer's Initiative. The entire series can be viewed free of charge on HBO's website.
• The Nemours Foundation has a great page discussing how to explain Alzheimer's to children.
• Finally, any list of Alzheimer's Disease resources must include some sites to help support caregivers. Check out these pages from the National Library of Medicine, the Alzheimer's Association, and the National Institute on Aging.

Learn About Heart Health at the Library

Everyone has heard that having a healthy heart is part of living a healthy life. But how can you tell if your heart is healthy? And if it’s not, what can you do to make it healthy?

These are some of the questions the St. Louis Public Library and its community partners hope to answer on Tuesday, May 27, during a program called “Cardio Health: Risks, Intervention and Prevention.” The event, which will feature cardiologist Dr. Angela Brown and pharmacist Anastasia Armbruster, and will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Central Library, 1301 Olive St., 63103.

Dr. Angela Brown

Brown is an associate professor of medicine in the cardiology division at Washington University School of Medicine and director of the school’s section on hypertension. Armbruster is an assistant professor of pharmacy practice at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, and a clinical pharmacist specializing in cardiology and internal medicine at Missouri Baptist Medical Center.

The Library and its partners have chosen to focus on cardio health because it is something that affects

everyone. “It’s not just old people — it’s young people too,” Brown said. “This is the number one killer of men and women in the U.S.”

During the May 27 event, Brown and Armbruster will discuss what exactly constitutes heart disease, as well as risk factors and the lifestyle interventions that can decrease someone’s chances of developing heart disease. Brown said that after the event, she hopes people will feel empowered to take charge of their own heart health, noting that there are things people can do to improve their overall heart health and live a good-quality life.

Anastasia Armbruster

“It’s all about understanding your risk factors and knowing what you need to know to live that long, healthy life,” Brown said.

Fortunately, there is a lot that individuals can do on their own to improve their heart health. Both Brown and Armbruster suggest simply talking to your doctor about your personal risks for heart disease, and making sure you get the right screenings.

“Talk to your doctor about your risk. Have a yearly checkup, and ask about your blood pressure,” Armbruster said. “Heart health is a big deal. It is important, and something you want to put at the forefront.”

“Cardio Health: Risks, Intervention and Prevention” is presented as part of “Can I Catch That?,” the 2014 Consumer Health Information Speaker Series. The series is presented by St. Louis Public Library and its community partners: HealthStreet, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, and Washington University's Bernard Becker Medical Library. For more information about this event or about health information, call 314-539-0390.

*This article was originally published in the May 2014 issue of The Healthy Planet.

Cool News From One of Our Partners

According to a recent report, our partners at the Washington University School of Medicine have created a new technology that allows surgeons to "see" cancer cells. The new technology, used for the first time earlier this month during a surgery at the Siteman Cancer Center, combines video technology, special glasses, and an FDA-approved dye that makes tumors glow blue when seen through the glasses. The technology has yet to be named, but has been featured in a study published by the Journal of Biomedical Optics. For the full report from the Washington University School of Medicine, go here.

For more cancer information, stop by Central Library on Tuesday, March 25 for "Can I Catch That? Cancer: Risks, Intervention, and Prevention." This panel discussion, featuring local health experts including some from the Siteman Cancer Center, takes place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Central Library Auditorium. This is the first program in the 2014 Consumer Health Information Speaker Series. Check back later for more details on this event!