Thirteen years after the diagnosis of her Alzheimer’s, a woman from California is more vibrant than ever – and she has started walking across the US to demonstrate the power of action in healthy aging.
Judi Benjamin, PhD, now 80 years old, closed on a 3,000 -mile journey across the country on Saturday, 5 April.
In five months, she will run from San Diego, California to St. Augustine, Florida.
Stroke, dementia and depression share these 17 prevention eligible risk factors
“People wonder why I would keep myself through this,” Benjamin said in the evening before walking in the evening during an on-camera interview with Fox News Digital. “I don’t really want to share with others.” (Watch the video on top of this piece.)
“Life is here to enjoy, and age is a number, but you do not have the identification and specialty of that number.”
Thirteen years after Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Judy Benjamin (painted) has started walking across the US to demonstrate the power of action in healthy aging. (Judy Benjamin)
Benjamin was 67 years old when she first learned about her early starting Alzheimer’s disease.
It was not surprising, because she comes from a long queue of relatives who were influenced by that form of dementia. Her mother, one of the 13 children, was 63 when she was diagnosed, and her nine uncles were also found.
“It was clearly very scary for me,” Benjamin said in the evening before the evening during an on-camera interview with Fox News Digital.
The new blood test diagnoses Alzheimer’s disease and measures how far it is
After his mother’s death, Benjamin-started to get a high-pressure job at that time.
“I was working abroad and really started getting worried because I could not miss things – even my phone number or locker combination,” he missed. “I lost driving, when I am always really good about direction.”
Benjamin was 67 years old when she first learned about her early starting Alzheimer’s disease. It was not surprising, because she comes from a long queue of relatives who were influenced by that form of dementia. (Judy Benjamin)
Benjamin also started struggling to remember his grandson’s names, and even had trouble reading a newspaper article.
“I knew it was really going down to the time quickly, and I was extremely sad and distressed about it,” he remembered.
“Life is here to enjoy, and age is a number, but you do not have the identification and specialty of that number.”
Brain scans showed that Benjamin had a lot of amyloid plaque, as well as some damage to the right and left side parietal regions of his brain.
“I really panic,” he said.
‘My whole lifestyle changed’
A close friend has a doctor in California, Dr. Dale Bradsen recommended, who was doing some innovative research on Alzheimer’s treatment.
“He explained his principle that Alzheimer’s is not due to one thing – it is many different attacks on the brain, causing it to swell,” he said. “And he said it was different for everyone. Some people are more affected by some things than others.”
Wine to study brain damage for heavy alcohol drinkers
Bradsen worked to help reduce inflammation through several stages with benjamin.
“So I wrote what he recommended, and I flew back home and I started implementing it in the letter – I changed my entire lifestyle,” he shared.
Some of those lifestyle changes included adaptation of her sleep, ensuring healthy indoor air, reducing stress and taking attention to starting a routine of exercise.
Benjamin said about his new healthy guidance, “It is important to follow all the instructions to do what you need to do, and it is not casual about it.” (Judy Benjamin)
“I also completely changed my diet,” Benjamin shared. “I stopped drinking diet soda, stopped eating sugar, and started eating more whole foods and natural foods – such as vegetables and fruits.”
“It is important to follow all instructions that you need to do, and should not be casual about it.”
Gradually, he said, things started changing.
Researchers say that dementia related to Alzheimer’s can be prevented by experimental medicine, researcher
“It was not overnight; it’s not a magic pill,” he said. “But I realized one day that I can remember the names of my grandchildren.”
After seeing the positive effects of his new lifestyle for the first time, Benjamin felt forced to help others. She eventually became a National Board-certified health and welfare coach, specializing in brain health and neurology.
Judy Benjamin spoke to Fox News Digital how his Alzheimer’s disease has been kept in the Gulf by adopting a healthy lifestyle. (Judy Benjamin)
Benjamin said that she was running for a long time to prepare for her 3,000 miles.
“I think there is no way to actually train for a walk of 3,000 miles, except that you walk as much as possible,” he said. “I think walking is the most natural thing that a person can do. I mean, we were born to walk.”
“I just have to be careful to keep hydrated.”
High dementia risk in women with general health issues
Benjamin will join a “great support team” as well as a film crew into its cross-country walk, which will collect footage for an upcoming documentary.
“I have an RV with a very comfortable bed, shower and cooking facility,” he said. “Whenever possible, if someone is a good hotel or motal, we will stop, but in long, remote stretch, we will sleep in RV.”
Benjamin (not painted) said, “I think there is no way to actually train 3,000 miles, except that you walk as much as possible.” “I think walking is the most natural thing that a person can do. I mean, we were born to walk.” (Istock)
He is also supported by many wellness sponsors, including Apollo Health and Carcasouts, which are provider of long -term care and aging solutions.
Depending on the weather and terrain, shooting 20 miles per day is the target.
Click here to get Fox News app
“I will plan to stay a day a week to relax my body, maybe take a sauna or simply kick,” he said.
“This is too much as a person, but I am encouraging people to come and join me and walk with me.”
A doctor explains evidence of Alzheimer’s disease on a PET scan at the center of Brigham in Boston of Massachusetts and Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment at Women’s Hospital. (Reuters/Bryan snider/file photo)
taking action
Today, at the age of 80, Benjamin said she feels less than before her Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
“I am very energetic and healthy – I have a lot of flexibility and I believe I will be healthy,” he told Fox News Digital.
He said, he said, life is “like a nonsense.”
Click here to sign up for our health newspaper
“Anything can happen – I am very aware of it, but all my numbers are great. My blood work, my bone study, everything is in such a good shape that I am not really worried. I don’t spend much time on negative.”
Benjamin hopes that his walk will serve as an inspiration to embrace a more active lifestyle for others, better brain function.
“I want people to see that your age or circumstances do not matter, there are steps that you can take to live a healthy, more vibrant life.”
“When I received my diagnosis, I had an option – I could let it define it, or I could take action,” he said.
“I want people to see that your age or circumstances do not matter, there are steps that you can take to live a healthy, more vibrant life. This walk is about proving that possibility.”
For more health articles, travel www.foxnews.com/health
People can follow Benjamin’s visit on judywalks.com, @judywalksamerica on Instagram, Facebook, Tikok and YouTube; And on the Facebook or LinkedIn pages of Carescout.
