Sometimes — usually — costars pretend to be BFFs while they’re promoting a TV show or movie but obviously aren’t real friends. Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp are different. Sure, they met on the set of Stranger Things but their friendship transcends any show promotion. It was obvious, and adorable, during an Instagram Live last week, in which Brown showed off her chic new haircut while Schnapp wore under-eye patches from his bestie’s beauty line, Florence by Mills.

To promote season 4 of Stranger Things, Brown has been giving pop star with her long blonde extensions with ’90s bangs. The whole look seemed fun but like a lot of work for the 18-year-old. That’s why we were excited to see her back to a short bob that feels fresh and youthful. It’s probable all her stylist did was remove her extensions and give her strands a trim but her hair looks soft, shiny and healthy.

TikTok.

It’s a style that looks great with no-makeup on Live with your best friend, as well as sleek and slicked-down for a red carpet. This look is one of her best yet, with hair by Marty Harper and makeup by Kelsey Deenihan Fisher.

Source: Instagram

If you missed Brown and Schnapp’s Instagram Live, you can thank TikTok for capturing a ton of the adorable conversation. Brown teaches Schnapp how to wear Florence by Mills’ Swimming Under the Eyes Gel Pads ($34 at Ulta Beauty). “No, you’ve got two on your face, Noah,” she says when he doubles up on the same eye. He wears them for the rest of the convo so you know he ended it wondering how his skin felt so soft and hydrated.

The cute convo continued when Schnapp tried to describe Brown’s style, saying “There’s a lot of Louis Vuitton in there. I would say you dress really elegantly and everything has a little bit of flair. There’s always something out there a little risky. I like it. I like your style.” We do, too.

Sometimes — usually — costars pretend to be BFFs while they’re promoting a TV show or movie but obviously aren’t real friends. Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp are different. Sure, they met on the set of Stranger Things but their friendship transcends any show promotion. It was obvious, and adorable, during an Instagram Live last week, in which Brown showed off her chic new haircut while Schnapp wore under-eye patches from his bestie’s beauty line, Florence by Mills.

To promote season 4 of Stranger Things, Brown has been giving pop star with her long blonde extensions with ’90s bangs. The whole look seemed fun but like a lot of work for the 18-year-old. That’s why we were excited to see her back to a short bob that feels fresh and youthful. It’s probable all her stylist did was remove her extensions and give her strands a trim but her hair looks soft, shiny and healthy.

TikTok.

It’s a style that looks great with no-makeup on Live with your best friend, as well as sleek and slicked-down for a red carpet. This look is one of her best yet, with hair by Marty Harper and makeup by Kelsey Deenihan Fisher.

Source: Instagram

If you missed Brown and Schnapp’s Instagram Live, you can thank TikTok for capturing a ton of the adorable conversation. Brown teaches Schnapp how to wear Florence by Mills’ Swimming Under the Eyes Gel Pads ($34 at Ulta Beauty). “No, you’ve got two on your face, Noah,” she says when he doubles up on the same eye. He wears them for the rest of the convo so you know he ended it wondering how his skin felt so soft and hydrated.

The cute convo continued when Schnapp tried to describe Brown’s style, saying “There’s a lot of Louis Vuitton in there. I would say you dress really elegantly and everything has a little bit of flair. There’s always something out there a little risky. I like it. I like your style.” We do, too.

Before we go any further, let me start by saying that the risk of you having dementia as you age is much lower than you probably think.

Nevertheless, dementia is the most feared condition in women over 55 which is hardly surprising when you consider the publicity given to dementia. This is true especially of Alzheimer’s disease which is the most common form of dementia.

Dementia, in its myriad forms, is an umbrella term for a number of neurological conditions typified by a global decline in brain function. And yes, dementia kills, just as cancer kills. It is now defined as a terminal illness.

There are many, many forms of this disease, but I’m going to cover just six. Some of these you will have heard of, if not all.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this article should be considered medical advice. Always consult a doctor before making any changes to your medical plan.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that starts in middle age or old age and is the leading cause of dementia. Early onset Alzheimer’s is usually restricted to those with a family history.

The disease results in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, cognitive decline, disorientation, and marked changes in personality – including loss of a sense of humour.

In the brain, Alzheimer’s causes degeneration and neurofibrillary tangles in the neurons, and the brain is riddled with plaques containing beta amyloids.

Note: Neurofibrillary tangles (Tangles) are threads of tau protein that twist into abnormal tangles inside brain cells, causing failure of the brain’s transport system.

Scientists now believe Alzheimer’s is caused by a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that affect the brain over time.

There is no cure. At the moment. Treatments, which are not noticeably successful, are usually based on the idea of improving cell-to-cell communication.

Vascular Dementia

The second most common form of dementia is vascular dementia. It is caused by damaged blood vessels in the brain. There is no specific test for this type of dementia, so doctors will test blood pressure, cholesterol levels, sugar levels, and lifestyle. Smoking is a major risk factor to keep in mind.

The usual diagnostic techniques, which include movement, orientation, brain imaging, coordination, and balance, also include carotid ultrasound to check the blood flow to the brain.

There is no cure, and treatment usually consists of dealing with the health issues. A good Mediterranean diet and regular exercise, both of which promote cardio-vascular health, are often recommended. Drugs to lower cholesterol and blood pressure are also prescribed by doctors.

Dementia from Parkinson’s Disease and Similar Disorders

Any neurodegenerative disorder can lead to dementia. The most well-known of these diseases are Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and some types of multiple sclerosis.

These three diseases often cause what is called sub-cortical dementia in which problems lie below the cortex (the outer layer of the brain).

Speed of thinking and the ability to start activities is affected, but usually, sub-cortical dementia doesn’t lead to memory loss and language difficulties. It is a manageable condition, but it does get worse over time.

Dementia with Lewy Bodies

A type of dementia that shares many of its symptoms with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and is often diagnosed incorrectly as Alzheimer’s disease is Lewy body dementia.

As in other types of dementia, the cause is unknown. It is the result of tiny deposits of the alpha-synuclein protein in nerve cells in the brain.

Why Lewy bodies appear and how they contribute to dementia is not yet understood. But depending on where in the brain they appear, a different disease follows. For instance, Parkinson’s is caused by Lewy bodies in the base of the brain which then affect motor skills.

There is no cure for DLB at present and as the disease presents with so many different symptoms, management can be tricky. There are currently no drugs that can help in management.

Frontotemporal Dementia (Pick’s Disease)

A rare condition causing progressive and irreversible dementia is Pick’s disease. It is caused by frontotemporal lobar degeneration, and the symptoms are typical of other types of dementia:

• difficulty with language
• different behaviour
• poor thinking, judgment, and memory
• possible drastic personality changes.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

A fatal degenerative brain disorder, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is believed to be a variant of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) which is responsible for one form of CJD in humans called “variant CJD.”

Initial symptoms typically include:

• Personality changes
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Memory loss
• Impaired thinking
• Blurred vision or blindness
• Insomnia
• Difficulty speaking.

Most people with CJD die within 6 to 12 months after symptoms appear. About 10 to 20 percent of people survive for two years or more. People with vCJD usually survive for about 18 months.

CJD is an incredibly complex disease with many variable factors involved in type, cause, symptoms, treatment, et al, I have provided a link to a medical article for you to read on your own.

It’s important to remember that the symptoms of dementia can also be attributed to Thyroid conditions and vitamin deficiencies, so make sure you are tested for everything if a dementia diagnosis is touted.

What’s your greatest worry about getting dementia? Do you have a family history of dementia? Have you made any preparations for “just in case”? Share your thoughts with us and please let us know if you have any questions.

Sometimes — usually — costars pretend to be BFFs while they’re promoting a TV show or movie but obviously aren’t real friends. Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp are different. Sure, they met on the set of Stranger Things but their friendship transcends any show promotion. It was obvious, and adorable, during an Instagram Live last week, in which Brown showed off her chic new haircut while Schnapp wore under-eye patches from his bestie’s beauty line, Florence by Mills.

To promote season 4 of Stranger Things, Brown has been giving pop star with her long blonde extensions with ’90s bangs. The whole look seemed fun but like a lot of work for the 18-year-old. That’s why we were excited to see her back to a short bob that feels fresh and youthful. It’s probable all her stylist did was remove her extensions and give her strands a trim but her hair looks soft, shiny and healthy.

TikTok.

It’s a style that looks great with no-makeup on Live with your best friend, as well as sleek and slicked-down for a red carpet. This look is one of her best yet, with hair by Marty Harper and makeup by Kelsey Deenihan Fisher.

Source: Instagram

If you missed Brown and Schnapp’s Instagram Live, you can thank TikTok for capturing a ton of the adorable conversation. Brown teaches Schnapp how to wear Florence by Mills’ Swimming Under the Eyes Gel Pads ($34 at Ulta Beauty). “No, you’ve got two on your face, Noah,” she says when he doubles up on the same eye. He wears them for the rest of the convo so you know he ended it wondering how his skin felt so soft and hydrated.

The cute convo continued when Schnapp tried to describe Brown’s style, saying “There’s a lot of Louis Vuitton in there. I would say you dress really elegantly and everything has a little bit of flair. There’s always something out there a little risky. I like it. I like your style.” We do, too.

Keeping
up with children’s food preferences – or should I say prejudices – is a job in
itself. It was hard enough when we were mothers and handled it every day.

But
it is harder as a grandmother since we have to remember who will eat what, while
we don’t see the kids as often to keep ourselves up-to-date. It is so easy to
get mixed up.

Fussy Eaters

Both
my grandchildren have been fussy eaters at times. My daughter’s son is older
and was fussy at first. There were only a limited number of foods he would
tolerate as a small child, and I would check with my daughter before they came
for the day.

My
second grandson, my son’s son, started out eating anything and everything. We
have odd tastes ourselves (we prefer cold meat and salads to a cooked meal),
and he was fine with that.

“More
prosciutto!” he would demand, long before he had much vocabulary at all. Or, “More
Muenster cheese!” My daughter was envious that her son was not so ready for
these strange foods, although we did always cater to his wishes as well.

Yet
the situation changed after a couple of years. The older one slowly began to
experiment with the food his parents ate, and, after a while, he welcomed –
more or less – anything you put in front of him. No problem there. Good for
him.

At
the same time, the younger one grew fussier and fussier. He only liked
sausages, eaten after peas and before pasta. Each in their own
plate or bowl. No putting them all together into one.

It
was not worth the fuss if we digressed from the allotted routine. We knew it
was lazy, but it was always easier to take the accepted option, rather than
argue on a brief visit.

Keeping Up with the Grandchildren

But
the real problem for grandparents is keeping track. Both children like ice
cream and jelly, so we have these available when they visit. The older one likes
them both together in a bowl, with lots of sprinkles. The younger one does not
want them to touch. Not even a little.

And I
just forgot which was which. After a good meal, the younger grandchild asked if
he could have both – half the normal portion of ice cream and half the normal
jelly.

Fine.
I put them both in a bowl, side by side. I called out to ask if he wanted
sprinkles, but he was in the middle of a movie and didn’t reply. I made a
guess.

Oh
dear – I got it all wrong! They were not to be in the same bowl. He didn’t want
sprinkles. I offered him a separate bowl of each, but all was spoiled. He
concentrated on his movie in a slightly bad mood.

Changing Perspectives

When
I was younger, this kind of behaviour would have made me very cross. I never
made my children eat something they didn’t like, but such antics were of a
different order. And it was dessert!

As we
age, however, our perspective changes. Suddenly, the whole situation seemed
funny. Instead of getting angry, my biggest problem was to keep from laughing.

You
just wonder what it is about the human condition that someone could make such a
fuss about such a small matter.

But
with age we gain the wisdom to evaluate each situation from a distance. So, as
a grandmother and someone who has lived long enough, I am glad I have learned
to tell the important from the unimportant.

Other grandmothers have said much the same, as can be seen in my book about the joys and challenges of being a grandmother. It makes life much more relaxing.

Not
everything about ageing is better, but some things definitely are.

Are
your grandchildren fussy eaters? What do they fuss about? How do you handle
them? Do you feel easier about such issues than you did as a mother? Please
share in the comments below and let’s have a conversation.