Meet Leah Korkis BSN, RN:
Leah Korkis is a registered nurse and family caregiver. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Bradley University and is currently pursuing her Masters of Science in Nursing as an Adult-Geriatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (MSN, AG-CNS). Her nursing career started in neurology, and she has since worked in acute care, long-term care, community health, and nursing continued education. In addition to nursing, Leah is the primary caregiver for her Grandparents and disabled Aunt. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband John and their fish Thor. She can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
"As an outlet for my passion of sustaining quality of life and person-centered care, I created Healthy Now and Later for individuals and caregivers. This hub for learning and community brings to light hard to discuss topics and hard to find resources. I want to partner with you so that you can continue to live well, eat well, and love well, now and in the future." - Leah Korkis, BSN, RN
Food for Thought: Good Health Starts with Your Brain
Take that spinach salad, that besides being good for your waistline, is literally food for thought as well, says the Healthy Aging Partnership, a coalition of 40 Puget Sound-area organizations dedicated to the health and well-being of older adults.
An estimated 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease as of 2013, the most common form of dementia, and that number is expected to grow as the first baby boomers begin to turn 65, according to the National Alzheimer's Association. Given the odds, it’s not surprising that Americans age 55 and older fear Alzheimer's more than other diseases, including cancer, according to a 2011 MetLife Foundation survey.
The good news is, "the lifestyle choices you make now can improve your brain health and lower your risk for dementia," says Dr. Jane Tornatore, family care consultant with the Alzheimer's Association, Western and Central Washington State Chapter. “Even a simple mental exercise like driving a different route home helps to create new brain pathways,” she says.
Resources: MetLife Foundation (2011). Retrieved from https://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/contributions/foundation/alzheimers-2011.pdf