RJG Legal

What is My Retirement Plan Missing?

“How can you possibly know how much money you will need for retirement, if you don't know what you will be doing?”

Forbes’ article, “The One Piece Missing From Most Retirement Plans” says there’s just one small piece that many people don't think about when crafting their retirement plan. Any guesses what that is? Well, the missing piece is: THEIR RETIREMENT PLAN!

All the calculations are critical, but they aren’t much good without actually thinking about what you plan to do during retirement. There are two reasons why thinking about the final years of your life are crucial. The first is that you can’t possibly know how much money you’ll need for retirement, if you don't know what you’ll be doing, right? There’s a big difference in the money needed to travel around the world versus sitting on the porch knitting sweaters for grandchildren and playing bingo at church.

Next, when you wake up on your first morning of official retirement, you’ll have no responsibilities or plans. How great! But, be honest: how much can you really tend to your garden or catch up on reading? Retirement can be up to 30 years or more. That's a lot of time left to live. Retirees frequently are bored, lonely, or depressed during retirement, because they don't have the routine, social interaction or purpose that they had at work.

Before you begin your retirement calculations, ask yourself these questions:

• Where will I live?
• Do I want to downsize?
• What are my dreams and goals in retirement?
• Do I want to have the flexibility to move near my children?
• Do I want to help my children with their finances?
• Have I adequately considered the rising cost of healthcare?
• Do I have family to help me?
• Will I need to consider living in a retirement home?
• Do I want to work a part-time job to keep busy?
• Do I want to leave my estate to my children or charity?

If you’ve thought about how much money you have and how much money you'll need in retirement, that’s terrific. However, as you’re planning for retirement, remember to think about exactly what you’ll do when you retire.

Reference: Forbes (November 21, 2018) “The One Piece Missing From Most Retirement Plans”

Why Do I Need Life Insurance?

“ Should I get life insurance?”

There are two basic kinds of life insurance: term and permanent. Term insurance can be used for paying for the things you would need (or want) to finance, were you to die during the next 20 to 30 years. Permanent insurance (such as whole life or universal life) will pay for the things you want to have taken care of when you die, like funeral costs or leaving an inheritance. Permanent insurance also builds cash value that you can access over time.

NBC News recently published a story that asks “How much life insurance do I need?” As the article explains, term policies are cost effective and can be specifically designed to be in place when you need the coverage, like paying your mortgage or college tuition for children. Of course, the downside with term policies is that they’re only for a set duration. They’re not forever. People wait until the end of their term policy to get another one. Instead, they should buy a new policy as early as possible. Otherwise, you wind up paying more for the same amount of coverage later. Another negative about term policies, is that if you go to renew after the term, the premium will increase.

Permanent policies span your whole life and have cash value. They also grow tax free, and the savings can be borrowed from the policy tax free after a certain number of years. For higher-income earners, this can be a good way to have tax-free income in retirement and have greater tax diversification. Another benefit of permanent policies is that they can be used to pass down an inheritance tax-free. When someone dies, there may be an estate tax on their assets. Purchasing a permanent policy to alleviate this cost, is an effective way to pass down your wealth.

However, permanent life insurance policies are expensive. Returns in a life insurance policy are highly debated, with some believing in the tax advantages, and others counseling to “buy term and invest the rest.” Everyone’s situation is different. You can assess your needs by taking the “DIMEF” test:

• Debts: Look at all of your debts, except your mortgage.
• Income: Lost income from a spouse or a partner is the primary reason to buy life insurance and maintain the current lifestyle.
• Mortgage: Life insurance can pay off a mortgage, so your family can remain in the same home.
• Education: College costs for children or a spouse.
• Funeral expenses: These expenses add up quickly and your life insurance proceeds can pay for them.

Experts say you should have at least five times your annual income and enough to pay for 100% of your debts. You can calculate it with the following approach:

1. Take the total of your liabilities and debts, income to be replaced, final expenses and education or extra goals;
2. Subtract the savings or assets your family would use immediately, if you passed away; and
3. Subtract any current life insurance you own, excluding coverage offered through your work.

The cost will differ, based on factors such as age, health, lifestyle, gender, type of insurance and amount of coverage. You may also need to take a physical exam. If you’re ill, the cost will be more, or you may not be eligible for life insurance. The older and less healthy you are, the shorter your life expectancy is—and the more expensive the policy. To get a solid quote, you’ll need to undergo underwriting. The insurance companies can pull medical records or order a full physical. If you take prescription medications, the likelihood of a paying a higher premium also increases.

The younger you are when you buy a life insurance policy, the lower your premium will be. However, this once standard investment isn’t being considered by many millennials the way it was by previous generations. Almost 60% of millennials are not carrying any life insurance, but they should be thinking about it, because there’s a big cost for delaying.

Reference: NBC News (November 24, 2018) “How much life insurance do I need?”

What are the Top Four Estate Planning Mistakes Made by Celebrities?

“Americans are drawn to celebrities. We read about their lives, gossip about their deeds and ogle their pictures. Perhaps it is admiration of glamour, fascination with royalty or learning their tricks of the trade. However, celebrities often make the same mistakes as us “commoners.” Let’s use their stories as lessons learned, in protecting our wealth and values.”

The Reno Gazette Journal gives us the top four estate planning mistakes by celebrities you need to avoid in the article, “Yes, even celebrities make estate planning mistakes.”

You don’t have a will. Your affairs should be properly handled, and your family should be protected, when you pass away. However, neither singers Aretha Franklin nor Amy Winehouse had a will. Franklin left behind four sons with some financial issues. Amy didn’t take the time to plan either. She didn’t say how she wanted her $6.7 million estate to be distributed. Without any written instructions, her estate went through probate and was distributed to her parents. The primary purposes of a will are to designate the guardians of minor children, an executor of your estate and which beneficiaries are to get what assets.

Not considering a trust. Who wants to be a celebrity when it comes to private matters? Remember that a will is a public document, and anyone can go to the courthouse and look it up. However, with a living trust, your wishes remain private. Learn from the saga of the late Whitney Houston, who died at age 48. First, her will named her daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown as sole beneficiary. However, her daughter then died three years later at age 22. Houston’s estate was then involved in a battle with the IRS over the valuation of recording royalties and was assessed a tax bill of $2.2 million. To top it all off, her ex-husband Bobby Brown, ironically may be the heir of the Houston estate.

A living trust can help your estate plan remain private and away from others. It names who is entitled to your assets and how they are to get them. A trust names trustees. It also may provide estate tax benefits. If you look at Whitney Houston’s situation, a living trust may have helped by providing guidance to daughter Bobbi, after her mother’s death.

Failing to update your estate plan. We all experience changes throughout our lives. This includes finances, health, family dynamics and relationships—any one of these can mean it’s time for an estate plan review with your attorney. Look at the late Michael Crichton, the author of Jurassic Park, who was diagnosed with throat cancer, when his sixth wife was pregnant. Crichton failed to update his estate plan to include his soon-to-arrive son. His wife sued to include the baby as an heir, and Crichton’s daughter from a prior marriage opposed. The judge ruled the baby could inherit. Crichton could have saved everyone a lot of stress, anguish and money, by simply updating his estate planning documents.

Failing to plan for disability before death. You should also think about planning for the possibility of being disabled and needing assistance in managing your affairs. Ask your estate planning attorney about powers of attorney and living wills to help protect you and your loved ones, in case of incapacity. For example, the final years of blues singer Etta James, known for “At Last” and “Tell Mama,” were full of court hearings. The legal battle was between her husband of 42 years and her son from a prior marriage. Etta signed power of attorney over to the son in 2008, but her husband claimed that she suffered from dementia and was incompetent. Her son wanted to restrict the amount of money Etta’s husband spent for her medical care. They settled, and the husband was named as conservator. However, he was limited to $350,000 for medical care for his wife. Etta James passed a short while later.

These celebrity misfortunes with their estate planning don’t need to be a roadmap for you and your family. Talk with your estate planning attorney now.

Reference: Reno Gazette Journal (November 14, 2018) “Yes, even celebrities make estate planning mistakes”

What’s the Difference Between Medicaid and Medicare?

“Learn the basics of the government health programs that insure millions of Americans.”

A big difference between Medicaid and Medicare is that Medicare beneficiaries are usually seniors, and Medicaid beneficiaries are people in low to moderate income households, says U.S. News & World Report in the article “Medicare vs. Medicaid.” People who aren’t eligible for employer-based insurance or who don't earn enough to buy an individual policy, may be eligible for coverage through one of these two government programs.

Each program concentrates on different populations and offers specific benefits for its insured. There are several differences between Medicare and Medicaid. However, they share one thing: they are similarly complex. Let’s look at the key differences between Medicare and Medicaid and how each health insurance program works.

Medicare

Medicare beneficiaries are primarily seniors. Everyone who has paid into the Medicare system becomes eligible for Medicare, when they reach age 65. Medicare isn’t based on income. Those who’ve received Social Security disability benefits for two years or who have certain conditions, like ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), are also eligible. Medicare is operated by the federal government, and expenses are paid from Medicare trust funds. Original Medicare includes Part A, which pays for expenses related to hospitalizations, and Part B, which covers outpatient care. Beneficiaries can also buy a separate Part D plan for prescription drugs. There may be deductible and copayment costs associated with these plans.

Those who’d rather get benefits from a private insurer, instead of from the government can sign up for Medicare Advantage, or Part C. These plans are required to cover everything provided by Medicare Parts A and B, and many also provide Part D coverage and dental or vision care benefits. Medicare Advantage plans vary in their deductibles and out-of-pocket costs and can restrict participants to the use of a network of approved providers.

Medicaid

Medicaid is the government health insurance program for those in low to moderate income households. People may also be eligible if they have physical, intellectual or behavioral disabilities. The income and asset limits vary by state, but 138% of the federal poverty limit is the median eligibility requirement for adults. Applicants can usually have no more than $2,000 in liquid assets. Medicaid coverage includes hospitalizations, outpatient care and prescription drugs, as well as long-term care. Many enrollees have little or no out-of-pocket costs for coverage.

To be eligible for Medicaid, seniors must spend down most of their assets, as well as meet income requirements. Most states have a five-year look-back period that prevents seniors from transferring assets to another family member to meet Medicaid eligibility.

Medicare and Medicaid pay for many of the basic services, but there may be gaps in coverage, such as dental services or prescriptions. One can close the gap in dental care, by coupling their Medicare or Medicaid coverage with an affordable alternative to dental insurance, such as a dental savings plan, which can save members between 10 to 60% on procedures. For prescriptions, free discount services can reduce drug costs by half or more.

Working through Medicare and Medicaid can be confusing. An elder law attorney can be a great resource.

Reference: U.S. News & World Report (November 21, 2018) “Medicare vs. Medicaid”

What Estate Planning Mistakes Should I Avoid After a Divorce?

“According to a report from UBS Global Wealth Management, 56% of married women leave control of major financial planning and investing decisions to their spouses.”

Divorce can be a very difficult time and a big change for most people. However, women, in particular, often realize that they’re impacted most by the financial aspects of divorce. As a result, it’s no shock that many women find themselves financially overwhelmed when divorcing.

Forbes’s recent article, “The Top Estate Planning Mistakes Divorcing Women Make,” notes that even though you may be dealing with a lot of emotion at the start of a divorce, it's important to focus on certain issues, like your inevitably changing financial situation. This is especially important, if you have children. You may be busy taking care of many aspects of your immediate financial needs, but this is also the time to consider your future as well. It's never too early to address this often-overlooked task and learn how to protect yourself (and your children), while avoiding these estate planning mistakes that divorcing women commonly commit.

Reviewing Your Will. When you divorce, your will should be reevaluated and updated. If your spouse was named as a beneficiary on any accounts, you may want to make changes to those.

Reviewing the Children's Guardianship. If you don’t name a guardian, there's no knowing who gets custody of your children if you were to die. If you and your spouse already created a guardianship plan before you divorced, and you now have custody, review this plan. That’s because the appointed guardian may be one of your former spouse's family members. This may be someone with whom you’re no longer comfortable.

Failing to Plan for All Assets. You may be entitled to some of your former spouse's deferred savings plans, like a 401(k), IRA or other eligible savings plan. After you've claimed your share, be sure to designate beneficiaries (such as your children) for these plans.

Failing To Incorporate Trusts Into Your Estate Plan. A trust can help to protect your assets (and have them distributed according to your wishes) in certain circumstances. Creating a trust can ensure that your money still goes to whom you want after you pass. Trusts can also be used to defer asset distributions, until your minor children are legal adults.

No Planning Whatsoever. The biggest estate planning mistake a person can make is not having a plan at all. When someone dies without a will or estate plan, their assets go through probate. Your children, grieving your loss, will have to spend a great deal of time and money on this process. State law will determine who inherits assets, when there is no will or estate plan in place. The final decision may also end up being against your wishes. Estate planning may be the last thing on your mind right after a divorce, but it's important to make it a priority.

Not Using an Estate Planning Attorney. Many women new to the estate-planning process make the mistake of going at it alone. It’s critical to get the help of an experienced estate planning attorney. Without the help of a professional, you may overlook important aspects of the estate-planning process.

Reference: Forbes (November 8, 2018) “The Top Estate Planning Mistakes Divorcing Women Make”

How Do I Protect the Identity of my Deceased Spouse?

“After someone dies, there's a lot to do in order to deal with finances and making sure that no one steals the dead person's identity.”

When a senior passes away, there are frequently questions about the type of benefits from Social Security that are available to her husband (especially when the wife’s benefit was larger than his).

Along with this, questions arise about the protective measures to take to protect her identity from being stolen and other legal measures that are needed after the death of a spouse.

nj.com’s recent article, “A to-do list for widows, and how to protect the identity of a dead loved one,” says that when a loved one dies, there’s a lot you can do to protect their identity.

As to the widower’s Social Security benefits, he’s entitled to the greater of his benefit or her benefit, whichever is higher. It’s good reason to plan your Social Security benefits for when you retire.

While some say it doesn't matter if a deceased person's identity is stolen, it can be an issue. There are several things you should do when someone dies.

First, the executor should contact Social Security and inform the agency of the wife’s death. Next, contact the three credit bureaus to also tell them, and ask that they put a freeze on her credit. To do this (and most of the other actions here), the executor will need copies of the death certificate and letters testamentary to wrap up the finances. The executor should then inform the wife’s attorney and/or tax preparer, as well as all her investment custodians and financial institutions.

If she had a non-qualified (non-retirement) account, there should be a step-up in basis on at least 50% of the account and possibly 100%, depending on the circumstances. In either case, the executor should obtain the fair market value of each of the investments as to the date of death right away. This should be immediately mentioned to both the accountant and the attorney. Make certain that the investment custodians increase the cost basis, as needed. If there’s an IRA, there are options, and for a spouse, the account can be treated as a rollover IRA or an inherited IRA. Note that an inherited IRA requires minimum distributions annually but doesn’t impose a 10% penalty on withdrawals.

Another step is to look at any life insurance policies. If the deceased had a will and trust, the executor should talk to an estate planning attorney to understand where the assets are going. Taxes should be estimated to determine if any changes need to be made to withholding or estimated tax payments.

Last, the surviving spouse/beneficiary should sign proper forms for all brokerage accounts and new account forms to indicate the new ownership and title.

Reference: nj.com (November 6, 2018) “A to-do list for widows, and how to protect the identity of a dead loved one”

What Does Irrevocable Really Mean?

“When it comes to implementing an estate plan, the word irrevocable is commonly part of the conversation. While it may sound scary to do anything irrevocable, in estate planning there are several instances where it may make sense.”

The Patriot Ledger’s recent article, “Sometimes irrevocable is good,” explains that the first situation where an irrevocable trust may be wise, is for asset protection purposes. When assets are passed outright to heirs, there’s no control, and heirs can do whatever they want. You may have a child that can’t handle her money. You may also have a son-in-law that you’re not crazy about. If you leave your assets outright to your daughter, they may become jointly owned with your son-in-law. If your daughter dies prematurely, the assets would be the sole property of your iffy son-in-law.

However, if those assets were left to your daughter through an irrevocable trust, the assets would be under the control of a trustee you select for the benefit of your daughter only. The trustee could be a professional or another trusted family member. You can even add terms in the trust that allow the daughter’s beneficiary to change trustees, in case there’s a falling out later in life between the trustee and the beneficiaries. The trust may include liberal terms to allow for distributions for the beneficiaries and others at the trustee’s discretion.

Another spot where irrevocable may be ideal is with life insurance, because life insurance owned or controlled by the insured may be includable in the decedent’s estate. It depends on the size of the policy and the estate. For federal purposes, the death tax threshold is $11.18 million per individual. However, some states have their own estate tax. For example, in Massachusetts, the state death tax begins when assets (including the death benefit of owned life insurance) hits $1 million per decedent.

However, if the life insurance policy is owned by an irrevocable trust with an independent trustee other than the insured, the policy may not be included in the insured’s estate for tax purposes.

Irrevocable also makes sense, when gifting a business or investment real estate to children or minors. To avoid or reduce estate taxes, many wealthy families frequently delay in making gifts to the next generation.

If minority interests in businesses or business real estate were to be gifted via an irrevocable trust or other entity, the assets could be protected from creditors of the minority owners. This also precludes the minority from spending all the money, affecting the management or operations of the underlying business or getting any distributions from the business or the trust.

If you’re interested in an irrevocable trust, work with a seasoned estate planning attorney.

Reference: The Patriot Ledger (November 2, 2018) “Sometimes irrevocable is good”

Can Prince’s Estate Trademark the Color Purple?

“One of Prince's many nicknames was The Purple One. It was reportedly his favorite color, and after the success of Purple Rain, its use defined his image and his legacy.”

Prince’s Estate is set to claim ownership over the use of "the color purple" in films and live and recorded music. They want to secure exclusive rights to shades similar to Love Symbol #2, which Pantone created last year in memory of the late singer, who died of a drug overdose in 2016.

The Wealth Advisor’s recent article, “Prince's estate wants to trademark purple, the color synonymous with the late pop singer” reports that Paisley Park Enterprises, the late musician’s company, filed an application earlier this month with the US Patent and Trademark Office to claim the color purple.

"The [trademark] consists of the color purple alone," the application states.

"The color purple was synonymous with who Prince was and will always be," Troy Carter, an entertainment adviser to Prince's estate, said at the time.

The trademark application explains that Prince had been using purple as part of his identity since 1984, when the album and film Purple Rain was released. The album, a soundtrack to the film of the same name that starred Prince, was a huge hit and sold tens of millions of copies.

It’s not as crazy as you think to try to protect the use of a color, or more specifically a particular shade within a certain industry. In 2012, a court allowed shoemaker Christian Louboutin to trademark red soles, after the company sued Yves Saint Laurent over a YSL line that had a similar look. The judge held that the red soles had "the requisite 'distinctiveness' to merit protection".

Some say this is just a way to monetize Prince's legacy. It’s just one of dozens associated with the late rock star. Paisley Park Enterprises also is seeking to trademark the phrase "purple one" in relation to concerts, music, video games and various assorted consumer goods.

The trademark filing covering the color purple also mentions "operating a museum and providing guided tours of the museum.” Guided tours of Paisley Park, Prince's private estate, are now available in suburban Minneapolis.

Prince was known for fiercely protecting and monetizing his intellectual property throughout his career.

Reference: Wealth Advisor (November 1, 2018) “Prince's estate wants to trademark purple, the colour synonymous with the late pop singer”

What Do I Need to Know About an Inherited IRA?

“Make note of two important dates after inheriting an IRA: Dec. 31, when required minimum distributions must be taken by, and Sept. 30 of the year after death.”

U.S. News & World Report’s recent article, “What Day of the Dead Can Teach Us About Inherited IRAs,” says that understanding all the details of an inheritance can be overwhelming, especially during a difficult time. The article suggests that it may help to link an emotionally-fraught situation to a joyful one. The Day of the Dead is a joyful, life-affirming celebration. Let’s look at some important lessons Day of the Dead can teach us about inheriting an IRA.

Relationships are key. Day of the Dead honors those who’ve passed away, and with an inherited IRA, your relationship to the deceased is critical. If you’re the spouse, you have flexibility in what you can do with the funds. Spousal beneficiaries can take ownership of inherited IRA assets and treat them as their own. However, non-spousal beneficiaries don’t have this choice—they’re required to retain inherited IRA assets in a separate account, where they can’t make contributions and must take required minimum distributions (RMDs) each year, based on the inherited IRA owner’s life expectancy. Both pre-tax and inherited Roth IRAs have RMDs. You can withdraw as much as you like from an inherited IRA in any given year without penalty., However, you’ll pay ordinary income taxes on withdrawals from pre-tax inherited IRAs. You have until December 31 of the year following the original owner’s death to begin taking RMDs. However, there’s one exception: If the original owner was 70½ or older and didn’t take his RMD the year he died, an RMD must also be taken out by December 31 of the year of death.

A penalty-free loophole for spouses. Inherited IRA rules work in a spouse’s favor. IRS rules say you can’t access your own IRA assets, until you turn 59½ without incurring a 10% penalty. If you inherit an IRA from your spouse when you’re 55, you can put it in an inherited IRA, instead of combining it with your own. That way, you’ll be able to access the money in the inherited IRA without paying any penalty. If you decide you don’t need the funds from the inherited IRA, you can roll it into your own IRA to pause the RMDs until you reach 70½.

Watch your calendar. As you mark Day of the Dead on your calendar, there are two important dates to remember after inheriting an IRA. One is December 31. That’s the date by which RMDs must be taken. The other is September 30 of the year after death. IRS rules state that joint beneficiaries have until September 30 of the year after death to separate inherited IRA assets. If you fail to divide the inherited IRA by then, the RMDs default to the life expectancy of the oldest beneficiary. Splitting the IRA is even more critical, if your joint beneficiary is a trust or a charity. Non-human entities aren’t considered designated beneficiaries and have no life expectancy, so the inheritance defaults to the five-year rule.

The five-year rule says that beneficiaries must withdraw all assets from an inherited IRA by December 31 of the fifth year after the original owner’s death. This accelerated withdrawal rate will eliminate the after-tax amount you receive, so you should do whatever you can to avoid it.

Take some time. If you take a lump sum out of an IRA, you‘ll see a large tax bill and lose the benefit of tax-deferred growth. There are no taxes with inherited Roth IRAs, but you do lose the tax-free growth. If you don’t need the funds, leave as much of the money in the inherited IRA as you can. Or, in the case of spouses, roll it over into your own IRA to keep from incurring RMDs.

Tidy up. Day of the Dead celebrations include cleaning the deceased’s gravesites, sort of a big graveyard picnic with weed-pulling, songs, and food. You may feel that you need to hold onto your relative’s investments in honor of their memory, but there are better ways to remember a loved one—especially if those investments aren’t a good fit for your financial goals.

Plan. Day of the Dead is a celebration of the lives of the deceased, but it’s also a reminder that death is an inevitable and natural part of life.

Review your beneficiaries. Do this if you make a change, like leaving a job or getting married. You should also name contingent beneficiaries to whom the account will pass, if your primary beneficiary predeceases you. If you don’t do this, the IRA will go to your estate and default to the five-year rule.

Wise investors are choosing asset protected IRA trusts to protect inherited IRAs and any other qualified retirement account from creditors and bankruptcy. At Gregorek and Associates, PLLC out attorneys are experienced in Retirement Plan Trusts, give us a call today to see if a Retirement Plan Trust is right for you.

Reference: U.S. News & World Report (October 29, 2018) “What Day of the Dead Can Teach Us About Inherited IRAs”

What Odd Things are Connected to Dementia?

“Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe diseases associated with memory loss, like Alzheimer's disease. There are several things that are commonly known to lead to it, such as high blood pressure or a traumatic brain injury. However, as fairly recent research has found, there are also some pretty unexpected things that are linked to dementia as well.”

The Alzheimer's Association found that 5.7 million Americans are living with the disease. Every 65 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer's or another type of dementia.

Bustle’s recent article, “7 Weird And Surprising Things Linked To Dementia” reports that Dr. Luqman Lawal, MD, remarked "Dementia occurs when once-healthy neurons in the brain stop working, which results in a loss of cognitive functioning. This lack of ability to problem solve and remember things that have happened to them, affects their everyday routine."

In addition to memory loss, those with some form of dementia may experience other symptoms like an inability to focus, an impaired sense of judgment and an inability to problem solve. Others may have issues with communication. There are several different studies that have examined possible causes. Here are some of the most surprising things that have been linked to dementia, according to recent research:

Hearing Loss. A long-term study released in early 2018 found a "strong link" between hearing loss and dementia in seniors. About 33% of participants who experienced hearing loss were found to be more likely to have other major health issues like depression, disability and dementia.

Herpes. A study from Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience found connections between herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which often causes mouth sores, and Alzheimer’s disease. Those with the herpes virus were 2.5 times more likely to develop dementia, than those who didn’t. Researchers also discovered that people infected with HSV-1 carry a specific gene associated with Alzheimer’s disease, ApoE4—known to increase the risk for getting the disease.

Constantly Feeling Sleepy During The Day. A 2018 study found links between sleep disturbances and Alzheimer’s disease. Feeling excessively sleepy during the day is a common symptom of several sleep disorders, such as insomnia or sleep apnea. The study said that those who often felt sleepy during the day. were three times more likely to show signs of Alzheimer's disease in the brain.

Taking in Too Much Sugar. A 2018 study published in the journal Diabetologia looked at more than 5,100 adults over 10 years and found that those who had higher blood sugar levels had faster rates of cognitive decline than those with more normal levels.

Air Pollution. A 2017 study from the University of Southern California found connections between air pollution and dementia in older women. Tiny air pollution particles, which mostly come from power plants and cars, can get inside the body via the nose and then travel into the brain. Breathing in toxins can increase inflammation in the body. Research said that if a person had the Alzheimer's gene, excessive exposure over time to those toxic particles can "exacerbate and promote" the disease. The adverse effects were found to be much stronger in older women who had the gene. More research still needs to be performed. However, if it’s confirmed that air pollution causes dementia, it may the cause for over 20% of dementia cases.

Sense of Smell. A 2016 study found a connection between a person's sense of smell and Alzheimer’s disease. Participants who were unable to correctly identify certain odors like menthol, strawberry and lemon, were the people who were at risk for having the disease. Researchers believe that a person’s poor sense of smell can possibly be an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease.

Loneliness. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences looked at data of over 12,000 people over 10 years. The researchers found that those who reported to having greater feelings of loneliness, were 40% more likely to get dementia. While there's no one clear explanation as to why, researchers believe some people may cope with feelings of loneliness by behaving in ways that can damage the brain, like binge drinking or being sedentary.

Again, these studies show possible links to dementia—it doesn't mean these things can cause it.

Dr. Lawal says, there are several actions you can take to limit your risk. "Don't smoke, protect yourself against concussions when participating in high-impact activities, don't over-consume alcohol, stay active and eat a balanced diet," he says.

Try to live a healthy lifestyle, to the best of your ability.

Be sure to have your estate and elder law planning up to date. If you are recently diagnosed with any form of dementia or cognitive impairment, you should seek legal counsel to avoid making common mistakes and wasting time and money. The experienced attorneys at Gregorek and Associates, PLLC can guide you through this difficult process.

Reference: Bustle (November 5, 2018) “7 Weird And Surprising Things Linked To Dementia”