Pat Summitt Diagnosis

It's been a week since I heard the horrible news about Pat Summitt's early-onset Alzheimer's diagnosis. It has taken me this whole week to finally write a blog post about it. I was so shocked by the news that it's taken me a while to get my emotions under control.

Let me start off by saying that I'm not a Tennessee fan. I am just a regular sports fan who has always admired Pat Summitt. I'm also a granddaughter who saw first hand what a debilitating disease Alzheimer's is.

My first thought upon hearing about the diagnosis was, "Well, there goes everything I've thought about exercising both your mind and body." Here is Pat Summitt, a former basketball player and amazing basketball mind. She's clearly been exercising her mind by coaching the Lady Vols for the past 37 years. She practically starting women's competitive basketball. She is a basketball genius. You have to exercise your mind to use your genius! I've never been to a practice, but I'm sure that she exercises her body in those practices too. I highly doubt that she's just been sitting on the sidelines during practice for 37 years.

These thoughts really shook me, and I started questioning the things I've read through the studies. It makes me think about how my Grandpa would work a crossword puzzle everyday, but yet he was still inflicted with Alzheimer's. But I have to remind myself, there is no true prevention. There are only ways to HOPEFULLY delay the onset. This gives me hope. Maybe Pat Summitt would have been been diagnosed in her 40s, instead of at 59. Maybe Grandpa would have been inflicted earlier, and I wouldn't have gotten to know him as well growing up. All I know is that I will continue maintaining my brain and exercising my body, because every day that I'm Alzheimer's free is an amazing day. I encourage everyone to do the same!

Back to Pat Summitt: The more I've thought about this, the less shocked and more saddened I've become. I'm saddened because she has accomplished amazing things. She has over 1000 victories! She's helped her team win 8 national championships and play in 18 final fours. She has 2 Division 1 basketball courts named after her. She's in the Basketball Hall of Fame. She won an Olympic silver medal as a player and an Olympic gold as a coach. She helped mold women's basketball into what it is today. I'm saddened because she's accomplished amazing things, but in the end she won't remember any of them.

She (and everyone living with Alzheimer's) is one of the many reasons that I dedicate so much of my time to the Alzheimer's Association. We have to end Alzheimer's.

Answers to 8/27 Puzzle

Since I posted the puzzle a day late, I gave you an extra day to work on it.

Here are the answers and explanations:

1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, ... 19. The numbers increase by three.

4, 3, 5, 4, 6, 5, 7, ... 6. The difference between each consecutive pair of numbers, starting with the first two, is 1: 4-3=1, 5-4=1, and so on.

2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, ... 128. Each number is twice the one before it.

2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, ... 23. Each number in the sequence is a consecutive prime number.

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, ... 55. Starting with 2, each number is the sum of the previous three.

1, 1, 2, 4, 7, 13, 24, ... 44. Starting with 4, every number is the sum of the previous three. I did these before I looked up the answers. This is the only one I missed.

3, 9, 27, 81, 243, 729, ... 2187. The numbers are in ascending powers of 3.

16807, 2401, 343, 49, ... 7. The numbers are in descending powers of 7.

Maintain Your Brain Friday, er Saturday

I'm sorry for being a day late for Maintain Your Brain Friday. I so busy at work and home yesterday maintaining my brain, that I didn't have time to help you maintain yours.

I know my mom is not going to like me for today's puzzle, because it is a number sequence puzzle, but here it is.



For each sequence, determine the next number in the sequence.

1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, ...

4, 3, 5, 4, 6, 5, 7, ...

2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, ...

2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, ...

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, ...

1, 1, 2, 4, 7, 13, 24, ...

3, 9, 27, 81, 243, 729, ...

16807, 2401, 343, 49, ...


Good luck! The answers will be posted Monday.

Answers to 8/19 Puzzle

Sorry about being a day late posting the answers.

32 = DF at which WF : 32 Degrees Fahrenheit at which Water Freezes
26 = L of the A : 26 Letters of the Alphabet
54 = PC in a D plus J : 54 Playing Cards in a Deck plus Jokers
2 = P in a P : 2 Peas in a Pod
101 = D : 101 Dalmatians
8 = H in a WD : 8 Hours in a Work Day
3 = BM, SHTR : 3 Blind Mice, See How They Run
3 = L on a TL : 3 Lights on a Traffic Light
100 = S in the USS : 100 Senators in the United States Senate
8 = S on the SS : 8 Signs on the Stop Sign
7 = C of the R : 7 Colors of the Rainbow
57 = HV : 57 Heinz Varieties
18 = H on a GC : 18 Holes on a Golf Course
24 = H in a D : 24 Hours in a Day
9 = L of a C : 9 Lives of a Cat
1001 = AN : 1001 Arabian Nights
16 = O in a P : 16 Ounces in a Pint

How'd you do? I bet you can't wait for this Friday's puzzle!

Maintain Your Brain Friday

I am going to start a new weekly post on here, "Maintain Your Brain Friday." Every Friday, I will post a puzzle, riddle, or something else just to make you think.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, research has found that keeping the brain active seems to increase its vitality and may build its reserves of brain cells and connections. You could even generate new brain cells.

So, here is this week's puzzle. I will post answers on Monday. You have all weekend to maintain your brain! :)

Interpret the following puzzles. I have done the first one for you as an example.

7 = D in a W : 7 days in a week
32 = DF at which WF
26 = L of the A
54 = PC in a D plus J
2 = P in a P
101 = D
8 = H in a WD
3 = BM, SHTR
3 = L on a TL
100 = S in the USS
8 = S on the SS
7 = C of the R
57 = HV
18 = H on a GC
24 = H in a D
9 = L of a C
1001 = AN
16 = O in a P


If you are dying to have the answers before Monday, leave a comment with your e-mail address and I will send them to you.

Maybe

I found the following poem through the Alzheimer's Association group on LinkedIn. It really touched my heart, so I thought I would share it.


Maybe

When I wander.......................................

don't tell me to come and sit down ;

wander with me,

it may be because I am hungry, thirsty, need the toilet,

or, maybe I just need to stretch my legs..........



When I call for my mother.........(even though I'm ninety!)

don't tell me she has died;

reassure me, cuddle me, ask me about her.

It may be that I am looking for the security that my mother

once gave.................



When I shout out.................

please don't ask me to be quiet......or walk by

I am trying to tell you something,

but have difficulty in telling you what

be patient…………Try to find out,

I may be in pain……….



When I become agitated or appear angry…………….

Please don’t reach for the drugs first,

I am trying to tell you something,

It may be too hot….. too bright……too noisy,

Or maybe it’s because I am missing my loved ones.

Try to find out……first……



When I don’t eat my dinner or drink my tea……

It may be because I’ve forgotten how to;

Show me the what to do….remind me,

It may be that I just need to hold my knife and fork

I may know what to do then………



When I push you away when you trying to help me……,

A wash, perhaps, or getting dressed.

Maybe it’s because I have forgotten what you have said;

Keep telling me what you are doing…….,

Over and over and over…………

Maybe others will think you’re the one that needs the help!



With all my thoughts and maybes,

Perhaps it will be you…..who reaches my thoughts……

Understands my fears and will make me feel safe…..

Maybe it will be you…..that I need to thank

If only I knew how……………..