Anne O. Fraser: A Woman on a Mission to Bring Hope to Alzheimer's and Dementia
Chasity Robinson Mwangi Certified Dementia Practitioner
Senior Community Relations Director | Speaker | Mentor | Professional Sales Trainer & Coach | Writer
Introducing Anne Omohundro Fraser, a remarkable woman who not only exudes beauty on the outside but also possesses an innate ability to make people feel comfortable around her. As a well-known realtor in the Kansas City area, Anne leads The Fraser Team - eXp Realty with her husband, Mark, while also providing hope in the healthcare industry and community through her work raising awareness for Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. This passion stems from her personal experience caring for her parents, who were diagnosed with dementia, and later her diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) after scoring 24 out of 30 points on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, which further fueled her dedication to spreading awareness.
Anne and her husband, Mark Fraser, have been together for thirty-three years. They were married in their senior year at the University of Kansas and lived in Arizona until Anne realized her aging parents in Prairie Village, Kansas, were not doing well. Autopsies later showed that her mother had Alzheimer's and her father had vascular dementia. Driven by a desire to honor her parents and return to her roots, Anne and Mark moved back to Kansas to care for her parents. Anne provided 24/7 care for them for three years until they passed away in 2012, just six months apart.
Providing constant and stressful care for loved ones with dementia can take a heavy toll on caregivers, with 25% of them succumbing to the stress and experiencing mental distress. Anne faced this situation, and after her parents passed away, she noticed her cognitive issues surfaced. She explained that,?
"Most caregivers focus so much on caring for those in need that they neglect to care for their health, or they don't realize things have shifted in their health until signs and symptoms begin to present."?
Anne began noticing that her brain wasn't firing as sharply, and she was having cognition changes, such as being unable to concentrate or losing track of words while in the middle of a conversation.
After running a series of labs and tests, Anne received confirmation of her suspicion when the doctors diagnosed her with MCI. Worried about her cognitive issues, Anne sought professional help from a general practitioner, a functional/integrative medicine doctor, and a neurologist. With the help of her team of medical professionals, she learned that she was highly deficient in the five sex hormones (Estrogen, Progesterone, Estradiol, Testosterone, and Pregnenolone), receiving a score of zero. She had no vitamin B and sensitivity to inflammatory foods, such as foods containing gluten and sugar, contributing to the massive decline in cognition.
Despite the diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment, Anne reminds everyone that it does not necessarily mean a dementia diagnosis is imminent. She added,
"Just because someone has a diagnosis of cognitive impairment does not necessarily mean a destination of a dementia diagnosis."
After seeking medical advice from multiple professionals, including her general practitioner, an integrative and functional medicine doctor, a neurologist, and a nutritionist, Anne was diagnosed with?MCI, but?found a better path toward healing her brain. Through extensive research and a diligent nutrition and exercise regimen, Anne restored her brain health to 100%, as evidenced by a perfect score of 30 out of 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Although it took a year to achieve this, the results were so profound that Anne was inspired to share her story and provide hope to others facing a similar diagnosis.
One of the ways that Anne brings hope is through her mission to raise awareness about brain health and early detection of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Her successful yearly fundraiser, the Night of Hope Gala, raises awareness and support for brain health and the growing issue of dementia. Through her work, Anne Fraser is positively impacting the lives of those affected by dementia while inspiring others never to give up hope.
Anne recommends paying attention to brain health and she shares her experience with restoring her brain health after experiencing symptoms such as:?
Since her improvement, Anne has implemented several self-care practices, such as:
Anne's journey with Alzheimer's and Mild Cognitive Impairment has motivated her to become an advocate for brain health and an ambassador for Alzheimer's prevention. She is passionate about sharing her story and inspiring others to care for their brain health. Anne firmly believes that early detection is crucial in preventing or delaying the onset of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
To join Anne in her crusade to Bring Hope and awareness, join her and other Hope Ambassadors on June 8th at the Night of Hope Gala. Tickets are available for just two more days at TheNightOfHope.com.
In addition to Anne's advocacy work, Anne is a successful realtor who has earned numerous awards and accolades for her outstanding performance. She is a National Association of Realtors member and the Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors. Together with her husband, Mark, she leads The Fraser Team - eXp Realty, which specializes in helping clients buy and sell homes in the Kansas City area.
Anne inspires others and sets an example of what hard work, dedication, and a commitment to helping others can achieve. Her passion for brain health and Alzheimer's prevention is making a real difference in the lives of countless individuals and families. Her legacy will continue inspiring future generations to care for their brain health and work towards a world without Alzheimer's.
To learn more about The Night of Hope or to listen to Anne's podcast (Bringing Hope to Alzheimer's), visit TheNightOfHope.com.
?