It's no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has everyone feeling stressed.

But a new survey from MDVIP, a national network of primary care physicians, shows that the pandemic has also increased Americans' concerns about developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

However, the survey revealed that, despite these concerns, the majority of Americans are uneducated about their own brain health.

"Many people think Alzheimer's is just a normal consequence of aging, and it's not," said Dr. Andrea Klemes, Chief Medical Officer of MDVIP, in our "Tuned In to NoCo" interview. "Only one in three people knew that there were diseases that mimic Alzheimer's, but are treatable and curable."

Some of these diseases include depression, dehydration, and vitamin deficiencies — all issues that can be exacerbated during a pandemic.

While paying a visit to your primary care physician is the best option if you are concerned about your brain health, there are ways that you can assess, and improve, your current cognitive state.

"Poor judgement, poor decision making — those are more red flags for Alzheimer's," said Dr. Klemes. "Things that are normal consequences of aging — you go in a room and you forget why you went in there, and remember 20 minutes later, or you can't remember the name of an actress from a movie — that's all normal aging."

In terms of improvement, Klemes recommends simple, but important, steps: socialization, healthy eating, exercise, and activities that engage your brain.

To learn more about brain health in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, listen to the full "Tuned In to NoCo" interview with Dr. Andrea Klemes below.

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