Happy New Year to all caregivers

Are you a caregiver?

I would like to wish you the best for the year to come.

There have been a lot of advances in Alzheimer's and dementia treatment
I hope that will bring improvement to your loved one.

Just as you enjoyed Thanksgiving with your loved one, click here to read the beginning of these posts

Also read this article calling for all to honor caregivers

Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks and keep up the good work

For more dementia information, click here

For Alzheimer's and dementia activities, click here

Music Therapy & Memory Sharing

Activities Directors, other healthcare professionals and caregivers, this may be of interest to you
Dementia often robs spouses of quality time together but an innovative University of Queensland project hopes to find ways to reclaim it.

Dr Felicity Baker, from UQ's School of Music, has received a $70,000 UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award to investigate how music therapy might improve partner satisfaction by providing opportunities for the sharing of memories associated with certain songs.

The UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards have been run for 10 years and are an initiative of UQ to recognise outstanding performance and leadership potential in early career researchers.

"One of the biggest problems of couples living together where one person has dementia is that there's a....read the whole article

Click here for more dementia ideas.

And for more Alzheimer's and dementia activity ideas, ckick here

New developments in memory support research

Citizen.com
By KATHERINE THORNDIKE, RN
Forestview Manor Assisted Living

There have been exciting developments in the scientific research to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

At the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease held this year in Chicago, researchers from 60 countries shared groundbreaking information and resources on the cause, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's and related disorders.

New medications show a promise of halting or slowing the progression of dementia. It is hoped that the most encouraging of these medications, aptly called Rember, will be available in 2012.

It has been shown that people with better......read the whole article

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For Alzheimer's and dementia activities, click here

Don't "Misunderestimate" People With Dementia

Caring.com
by Paula Spencer, Caring.com senior editor
One of the strange truisms about Alzheimer's and other dementias is that it tends to be easier to see what's not there rather than what is. After all, it's a disease of loss: memory loss, most noticeably, but also loss of the ability to reason, to drive, to recognize where you are, to manage finances, to go shopping without buying a tenth jar of unneeded mayonnaise.

Witnessing all this can lead family members and friends to underestimate the person with the disorder. I know I'm guilty of that. You see that they can't do this and they can't do that, and pretty soon you're neglecting to give them credit for much of anything. And while it's purely unintentional, it can be hurtful to both of you.

Caring.com Recommends a To-Do List What To Do When You First Learn a Loved One Has Alzheimer's
How to respond when a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer's: 16 practical steps for managing care, in both early and late stages of Alzheimer's........Read the whole post

More dementia information is available here

And for activities for those with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, click here

Caregivers get no holiday, though friends, family help

USA Today
By Mary Brophy Marcus, USA TODAY
Something about Carol Blackwell is reminiscent of the main character from this year's film Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. Not because she solves her and everyone else's relationship problems in 24 hours. But like Miss Guinevere Pettigrew, Carol focuses intently on the present and in subtle, loving ways makes everyone around her feel all right at the end of the day.
Carol's husband, Bob, 66, a retired CIA executive, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease two years ago. After the initial shock, Carol says, she had no other choice than to keep a firm grip on reality. That meant pursuing health solutions for Bob and keeping family happiness and security thriving.


IN DEPTH: Video, plus what you need to know about Alzheimer's
BETTER LIFE: No carbs, no memory?
BLACKWELL'S BLOG: Personal account of living with the early stages of Alzheimer's

That doesn't mean it always has been...read the whole article

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Caregiving May Lengthen Life

Washington Post
By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter

(HealthDay News) -- Much has been reported about the stress and burden of caregiving, but a new study suggests there may be a flip side to taking care of someone you love as they age -- a decreased risk of death.

"We found that caregivers who spent an average of 14 or more hours a week caregiving lived longer and reduced their risk of dying by about half," said study author Stephanie Brown, an assistant professor in internal medicine at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She added that even after they controlled the data to account for things such as age or previous illness, "there was about a.....read the whole article

For mooe information about dementia, click here

For information about Alzheimer's and relateddementia activities, click here

Holiday tips to handle dementia

The Advocate
Every 71 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive, fatal brain disorder that causes serious memory problems as well as loss of other physical and mental abilities.

Thousands of people in the Baton Rouge area are affected by the disease, and more than 83,000 people in Louisiana will develop Alzheimer’s by 2010. Caregivers often care for their loved ones with Alzheimer’s for an average of eight to 20 years, during which personal demands increase and stress levels progressively rise. That’s why we are always on the move to find a cure and have developed an array of services and support systems to help caregivers and their families along their journey now, until we achieve our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s.

For most families, holidays are filled with opportunities for togetherness, sharing, laughter and memories. But holidays can also be filled with stress, disappointment and sadness. Here are some tips to help you and your family make the most of your time together:

Adjust expectations......read the whole letter

Click below for more good ementia tips
dementia today
Alzheimer's activities

Experimental Drug Could Help People with Alzheimer's Disease

voanews.com
Voice of America
By Deborah Block
Washington
17 December 2008
An experimental drug appears to be helping people who suffer from memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease. The drug is called Dimebon. Early trials in Europe and Russia show it improves people's memories. Now another study is taking place in the United States.

Alzheimer's is a progressive disorder that gradually causes a decline in memory and language skills, and eventually, the ability to care for oneself. The risk of developing the disease increases as people grow older.

In Wisconsin, the Dean Foundation is one of a dozen research groups working with Alzheimer's patients to see if the drug Dimebon has long term effects. Dr. Leslie Taylor heads the study.

"It won't be a cure, but hopefully it will....read the whole article

For more information about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, click here

Click here for a great activities for dementia source

Dementia: mind games

The Independent

If physical exercise keeps the body young and healthy, does mental exercise do the same for the brain? Does a sudoku a day keep dementia away?
Dr Fred Kavalier answers your health question:

Physical exercise undoubtedly prolongs life and reduces the risk of many diseases, including heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis. There is even some evidence that regular physical exercise reduces the risk of developing dementia. But it is less clear that mental exercises will do the same for the brain. According to the Alzheimer's Society, certain activities are linked to a reduced risk of dementia. These include....read the whole article

Click here to see an award winning blog which has great activities that keep the mind of a dementia person, active.

Here is another great dementia activity blog

Making travel plans for those with dementia

Bancroft
With the holidays fast approaching, plans for traveling are also on many people’s minds. This can also be said of caregivers who may be thinking of traveling with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease. Although potentially stressful, a short vacation may be beneficial and needed. In order to try and reduce the stress of traveling and make the vacation a positive experience, a little pre-planning goes a long way. Traveling results in constant change that involves strange people, new sights and surroundings. If planning a trip, a caregiver should consider the following ideas to try and reduce the potential stress:

• As a caregiver, be prepared to do everything for two. This can be challenging so it is a good idea to rest before the trip.

• Notify the airline and airport in advance that you will be traveling with someone with Alzheimer’s disease. They can offer special assistance to ensure your time in the airport is as stress free as possible. You can also pick up an information card that can be used in public venues that informs individuals that you are traveling with someone who has Alzheimer’s disease.

• Wheels on luggage are a must.

• As a caregiver, you should be responsible for important possessions such as passports, identification, money or credit cards.

• If you travel with a group tour, the stress.....read the whol article

For more good holiday ideas for those with dementia, click here

Good information is also here

CSIRO scientists announce Alzheimer's disease breakthrough

EurekAlert
Rapid screening system may lead to prevention or delay of Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia
Astrid Engelen
The Netherlands – Australian scientists at CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), have developed a new system to screen for compounds that can inhibit one of the processes that takes place during the progression of Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia. In a paper published in the November issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, folate is shown to be beneficial in the screening system.

Lead author, CSIRO's Dr Ian Macreadie says folate is already well known to have a protective effect against Alzheimer's disease, which is believed to be caused by the loss of neurons in the brain due to a process whereby toxic multimers of a small protein called Aβ are formed.

"However, a team of scientists working within CSIRO's Preventative Health Flagship has discovered a......read the whole story

For information on dementia, click here

For ideas on dementia activities, click here

How to Find the Best, Most Trustworthy Caregivers

This would apply to loved ones with dementia
Aging Parents Authority
Blog article: How to Find the Best, Most Trustworthy Caregivers
By admin

You’re worried sick because you can’t find a good caregiver for your aging parent.

You want to keep your parent home and out of a nursing home as long as possible but your parent needs 24 hour care and you’ve got a job and a family. To make matters worse, you live out of state.

You’ve searched and searched for good caregivers but you’ve only interviewed people that you don’t really trust and you wouldn’t leave with your helpless parent.

What can you do?.......Read the whole article

For more ideas for your loved one with dementia, click here

For dementia activity ideas, click here

Alzheimer's, related dementias, and the holidays

About Dementia
Holidays: Just the facts
For most families, holidays are filled with opportunities for togetherness, sharing laughter and memories. But holidays can also be filled with stress, disappointment and sadness.

Because of the changes he or she has experienced, the person with Alzheimer's or a related dementia, may feel a special sense of loss and time passing during holiday season. At the same time, caregivers may feel overwhelmed in their effort to maintain holiday traditions on top of caring for the person with this disease. In addition, caregivers may feel hesitant to invite other family and friends over to share the holiday, for fear they will react negatively to the changed behavior of the family member.

If you are feeling guilty, angry, frustrated, or trapped before, during or after holiday celebrations, it may help to know that these feelings.....read the whole article

For more helpful information- go here

You can see other holiday ideas here

Cholinesterase inhibitors reduce aggression, wandering and paranoia in Alzheimer's disease

EurekAlert
INDIANAPOLIS — Cholinesterase inhibitors, used to treat cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, are also a safe and effective alternative therapy for the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, according to a study that appears in the December 2008 edition of Clinical Interventions in Aging.

Investigators from the Indiana University School of Medicine, the Regenstrief Institute and Wishard Health Services reviewed nine randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of three popular cholinesterase inhibitors in managing behavioral and psychological symptoms displayed by patients with Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers report that the trial results indicate.....read the whole article

click here for more useful information about Alzheimer's disease and other dementias

Slow Alzheimer's and other dementias with exercise

Stop Aging Now
By Maggie Spilner
Fitness, Walking and Yoga Expert
If you know someone who feels helpless about having early Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, here’s something they can do to ward off anxiety and slow the progress of their disease—exercise! New research shows the important relationship between exercise and Alzheimer’s.

A recent study found that people with early Alzheimer's disease who were less physically fit had four times more brain shrinkage than those who were more physically fit. (Burns, J. Neurology, July 15, 2008; vol. 71: pp 210-216.) Researchers think that exercise has a....read the whole article

Ror more information on how to slow Alzheimer's and related dementias, click here

Man, 91, charged with strangling wife with Alzheimer's disease

Do not let this happen in your family.Get the sopport you need when it comes to dealing with someone who has Alzheimer's disease or another dementia
Freep.com
BY TAMMY STABLES BATTAGLIA • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Benno Zoch, who was undergoing a psychiatric evaluation in Ann Arbor today, has no recollection of the Thanksgiving Day death of his wife, Taimi Zoch, 87, his court-appointed lawyer said.


“He’s upset with the loss,” Michael West said. He interviewed Zoch at Port Huron Hospital before Zoch's bedside arraignment Tuesday afternoon. “He knows that she’s dead because people have told him she’s dead. But he doesn’t know how she died.


“On the surface, he’s a very pleasant 91-year-old man,” West added. “(He says) that he loved her — and that....read the whole story

For information about dementia click here

How Caregivers Can Stay Positive During the Holidays

In keeping with the Christmas and other holiday theme. caregivers with loved ones who have dementia can benefit from this article
Agingcare.com
Drop the Fantasy, Lose the Guilt
By Carol Bradley Bursack
There's an image of holiday perfection that our culture encourages. Starting with Thanksgiving, we are inundated with fantasy images of perfect families happily enjoying each other's company during a holiday meal. Most of us have memories from our childhood that feed this drive toward the Norman Rockwell nostalgia of holidays past. If we lived it, we want to duplicate it. If we didn't, we want to create it.

Few of us can measure up to....read the whole article

click here for realistic ways to enjoy the holidays with someone who has dementia

click here for more Alzheimer's activities and some advice

Holiday chaos can bring confusion

Decorations, crowds may spur some seniors with dementia to roam
By CINDY GEORGE
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Warm thoughts of her hometown a week before Thanksgiving prompted Estelle Williams to walk away from her Houston apartment into the chilly night wearing a T-shirt, shorts and slippers.

The 80-year-old Alzheimer's patient got the notion to leave while longing for her childhood home of Livingston, relatives said. Her husband, an elderly man who uses a walker, wasn't fast enough to stop her.

Williams caught rides on city buses, relatives said, and surfaced three days later at a homeless shelter. Employees at the Star of Hope recognized her as the missing elderly woman whose photo had been flashed on the news and called authorities.

For those with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, holiday frenzy and changes in routine can prove disruptive.

According to the Chicago-based Alzheimer's Association, the weeks around Thanksgiving and Christmas bring a 10 percent.....read the whole article

click here for more info on dementia

Caregiver Tips For Getting Through the Day

Ezine
By Rebecca Sharp Colmer

The duties of the caregiver usually change and increase over a period of time. One of the most difficult aspects of the caregiver role is that the job continues seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

One way to help caregivers get through the day is to set up a care plan and develop a routine.

The caregiver's care plan is very similar to the nurse's plan of care and the hospice plan of care. It is a daily record of the care and treatment of the care-receiver.

It provides a record of events that assist everyone on the care team. It also allows another caregiver to take your place fairly easily. With a written plan you don't have to rely on your memory.

A daily record will help both the caregiver and the care-receiver, and everyone on the care team. For any care plan to work, the care-receiver should be included in every possible aspect of the planning process. This may be difficultif the are receiver has Alzheimer's diseasor another dementia.

Then observation and a loosely stuctured routine might work best

To get started the family must determine who is going to be the primary caregiver. This person will have the main responsibility for the actual care.

Establishing a well-thought out care plan will help relieve stress for everyone involved. Many decisions will have to be made.

An evaluation of needs and activities can be done to assess and determine a baseline which will help determine the caregiver's duties.

These may include....read the whole article

click here for more ideas about activities

Maintaining the brain's wiring in aging and disease

EurskAlert
Contact: Dr. Claire Cockcroft
Researchers at the Babraham Institute near Cambridge, supported by the Alzheimer's Research Trust and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), have discovered that the brain's circuitry survives longer than previously thought in diseases of ageing such as Alzheimer's disease. The findings were published today in the journal Brain.

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias cause nerve cells in the brain to die, resulting in problems with memory, speech and understanding. Little is known about how the nerve cells die, but this new research has revealed how they first lose the ability to communicate with each other, before deteriorating further.

"We've all experienced how useless a computer is without broadband. The same is true for a nerve cell (neuron) in the brain whose wiring (axons and dendrites) has been lost or damaged," explained Dr Michael Coleman the project's lead researcher. "Once the routes of communication are permanently down, the neuron will never again contribute to learning and memory, because these 'wires' do not re-grow in the human brain."

But axons and dendrites are much....read the whole article

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Treating sleep apnea in Alzheimer's patients helps cognition

Bio-Medicine
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment seems to improve cognitive functioning in patients with Alzheimer's disease who also suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, according to the results of a randomized clinical trial conducted at the University of California, San Diego. The study led by Sonia Ancoli-Israel, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry at the UC San Diego School of Medicine and one of the nation's preeminent experts in the field of sleep disorders and sleep research in aging populations was published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.

"Although it is unlikely that OSA causes dementia, the lowered...read the whole story

click here for other valuable information

Mix Of Taiji, Cognitive Therapy And Support Groups Benefits Those With Dementia

ScienceDaily (Dec. 4, 2008) — Those diagnosed with early stage dementia can slow their physical, mental and psychological decline by taking part in therapeutic programs that combine counseling, support groups, Taiji and qigong, researchers report. Some of the benefits of this approach are comparable to those achieved with anti-dementia medications.

"Most of the research on dementia and most of the dollars up until this point have gone into pharmacological interventions," said Sandy Burgener, a professor of nursing at the University of Illinois and lead author on the study. "But we have evidence now from studies like mine that show that other approaches can make a difference in the way people live and can possibly also impact their cognitive function."

In the study, 24 people with early stage dementia participated in an intensive 40-week program. The intervention included biweekly sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy and support groups, along with...read the whole article

Have you ever said this?“I Love My Mother, But I Don’t Like Her”

Aging Care
by Jacqueline Marcell
Recently a caregiver named Karen told me she felt obligated to care for her cranky elderly mother (whom she loved but never really liked), because she suspected mild dementia and worried about leaving her alone. I told her how important it is to have her mother evaluated by a dementia specialist immediately because with early diagnosis and treatment the dementia can be masked/slowed down in most people.

By keeping her mom in the early and more cognitively aware stage longer, Karen’s caregiving journey will be much less stressful than if she waits and the dementia and behaviors get worse. And since many people with dementia are greatly helped with an anti-depressant, and bad moods are often smoothed out....read the whole story

Top ways to enjoy the holiday season with those who have dementia

Caregivers:
Learn what activities and gifts will make those with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia smile this holiday season. These activities and gifts ensure you and your loved one or client a delightful Christmas, this year

PRLog (Press Release) – Dec 02, 2008 – Over 5.2 million people in the US now have Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. We all benefit from sharing Christmas with someone we care about. The smells, the sounds, and the sights bring back happy memories. People with dementia should have this opportunity too. Following these tips will ensure you and your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia a pleasurable holiday season. Use these tips to help you choose a gift they will enjoy now and in days and months to come.
The gift of yourself is one of the best gifts you can give so do things together.
t
One thing you can do .....read the whole article

Diagnosis and treatment of severe Alzheimer's disease and dementia

CMAJ
Review
Many patients with severe Alzheimer disease require fulltime
institutional care.14–16 Discussing the advantages and disadvantages
of institutional care with caregivers is often challenging.
Considering the patient’s previously expressed.......read the whole review

Elderly Care - How to Recognize a Good Carer

Ezine
By Simona Rusnakova

Smiling? Helpful? Good looking? Nice and tidy? So what should a good carer be like?

Normally you get to meet them just once before you say: "Yes, we want to go ahead with this company, we would like this carer to look after our parents."

Then what is the best methodology to assess care givers so that you really get the best person who will look after your loved ones really well? How to spot whether there's that nice match of personalities between the two, which makes sure that they will understand each other?

Generally, there are three main criteria:

1. Passion & Love

Does the carer have the passion for his work? Will they be able to .......read the whole article

Caregiver Committed to Fighting Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's Weekly
WHEN SHIRLEY Leon Garrison says "Alzheimer's is a cruel disease," he speaks with the voice of grim experience.

He recalls noticing the first signs of the disease in his wife, Mildred, back in 1991 - their 50th wedding anniversary year - and he was by her side for the next 15 years, facing every stage of the disease with her until her death in May 2006.

Along the way, he became perhaps the most committed man in America to finding a way to stop Alzheimer's disease.

He and his wife donated $1 million....read the whole story

Research on mice links fast food to Alzheimer's

This should not be a surprize to anyone
Reuters
LONDON (Reuters) - Mice fed junk food for nine months showed signs of developing the abnormal brain tangles strongly associated with Alzheimer's disease, a Swedish researcher said on Friday.
The findings, which come from a series of published papers by a researcher at Sweden's Karolinska Institutet, show how a diet rich in fat, sugar and cholesterol could increase the risk of the most common type of dementia.
"On examining the brains of these mice, we found a chemical change not unlike that found in the Alzheimer brain," Susanne Akterin, a researcher at the Karolinska Institutet's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, who led the study, said in a statement.
"We now suspect that a high intake of........read the whole article

Caregiver Stress Check

Alzheimer's Association
Caregiving can be stressful. Get the help you need

Are you a caregiver for someone with a disabling condition such as Alzheimer's or a related dementia? Do you feel overwhelmed? You may be putting your own health at risk. Take our Caregiver Stress Check, and then get resources that can help.

Do you regularly . . .read the whole thing

Writely Applied at Thanksgiving(dementia information blog)

Today.com
I have to compliment Dr. Susan Berg at Dementia Today. She has been running a couple of post series at her site dedicated to dementia. The first was Top ways to enjoy Thanksgiving with those who have dementia (ten parts). The second has been Creativity and dementia which has covered a wide range of creative ideas to share with those close to you who suffer from dementia. This is such an important time for families and in many instances a difficult time to celebrate with those suffering from dementia. I want to bring Dr. Susan' Berg's work into the creative spotlight since her dedication to the topic of dementia should be commended. I hope all enjoy their time with friends and family this Thanksgiving, especially those dedicating a special amount of time to those in need. ........read the full article

Study confirms benefit of combination therapy for Alzheimer's disease

EureikAlert
Sue McGreevey
Massachusetts General Hospital
First long-term study finds that treatment slows symptom progression, benefits last for years
Extended treatment with Alzheimer's disease drugs can significantly slow the rate at which the disorder advances, and combination therapy with two different classes of drugs is even better at helping patients maintain their ability to perform daily activities. Results from the first long-term study of the real-world use of Alzheimer's drugs, published by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital in the July/September issue of Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders, support a level of effectiveness that may not be immediately apparent to patients or their family members.
"There has been the impression that these drugs only work for... read the whole article

Aging gracefully: Connection among caregiver, hospice, Alzheimer's big

News-press.com
Fort Meyers Florida
.............................Once a person is experiencing middle and then late stages of Alzheimer's disease, he will be dependent on a caregiver for daily care and assistance. In most cases, that caregiver is a family member.
Finally, the connection between the person with Alzheimer's, the family caregiver and hospice evolves as the person progresses to the late stage of the disease, which can last for several years during which the person requires total care.
In late, or end stage Alzheimer's, the person is not able to............................read the whole article

Doll Therapy Works Wonders For Some Women With Dementia

By LYN ROCHE Tribune correspondent
The Tampa Tribune
Published: November 22, 2008
Dear Lyn: My mother is 82 and was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2002. She lives with my husband and me. She currently believes she has two little children other than her five grown children. She has these spells in which she starts worrying about them and is afraid they are outside alone and can't get into the house. Sometimes she thinks they are ages 9 and 10. Other times she thinks they are about 2 years old.
Dear Upset: Talk with your mother's doctor about the possibility of drug interactions. Ask him to review her medications. She could be experiencing hallucinations and delusions. She may be "seeing" children outside the house. She believes they are hers and they can't get inside to be with her.
However, it could be as basic as her mind taking her back........read the whole thing

Clinical trials could help find a cure for Alzheimer's

The DenverChannel.com
Patients Enroll In Clinical Trials
By Christine Chang, 7NEWS Anchor
POSTED: 9:54 am MST November 21, 2008
UPDATED: 10:06 pm MST November 21, 2008

DENVER -- With close to five million people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in the United States, researchers continue to work hard to find treatment for those suffering from the brain disorder.
"You have people who get Alzheimer's disease and it's very severe and they can die in a few years. On the other hand, you can have people with Alzhimer's disease live 10 to 20 years," said Dr. Michael Wasserman of Senior Care of Colorado.
Wasserman said there are many different Alzheimer's medication out right now and the reaction
click here to read the whole story

Podcast: Caregiving tips for Alzheimer's disease and relaied dementias

MayoClinic,com
Medical expert: Glen Smith, Ph.D.Total time: 0:10:51 minutes

beginning of transcript
Welcome to Mayo Clinic podcast. Our topic today is tips about caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease. I'm your host, Rich Dietman.
In today's podcast we're talking about some things that you can do to be a more effective caregiver for someone with Alzheimer's disease. My guest is Dr. Glenn Smith. Dr. Smith is a Mayo Clinic neuropsychologist who specializes in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. He's also a consultant in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology at Mayo and a professor of psychology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. Dr. Smith, thanks for joining us.
....podcast

Forget it: Ginkgo found ineffective at helping memory, preventing dementia

USA Today

Ginkgo biloba did nothing to prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease in older Americans, according to the longest and largest test of the herbal supplement.
"We don't think it has a future as a powerful anti-dementia drug," said Dr. Steven DeKosky of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, who led the federally funded study. It appears in tomorrow's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The Los Angeles Times and WebMD Health News have details about the study.
Extracts from ginkgo tree leaves have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Earlier research showed mixed results.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the .....
read the whole post

Practical recommendations on preventing aggression in dementia patients by screening for and treating predictive factors.

Modern Medicine

Geriatrics
Persons with dementia often present with non-cognitive clinical symptoms, such as aggression, which can be distressing and dangerous to both caregiver and patient. Depression, pain, caregiver burden, and the quality of the caregiver-patient relationship can contribute to the onset of aggression. Given the risks involved with medication, there is a strong need for preventive and nonpharmacological interventions before such behaviors occur. This article gives practical recommendations for primary care physicians on how to prevent aggression in dementia patients by screening for and treating predictive factors. Clinically useful assessment instruments and treatment options are discussed, in addition to referral sources.
Nguyen VT, Love AR, Kunik ME. Preventing aggression in persons with dementia. Geriatrics. 2008;63(10)21-26.
Key words: aggression, dementia, geriatric assessment, pain, depression, caregiver, psychotherapy
Drugs discussed: acetaminophen, citralopram, sertraline
Dementia is a major public health concern, especially with the growing aging population. The incidence of dementia increases with age, and it was estimated to affect 24.3 million individuals worldwide in 2005 and predicted to rise to 81.1 million by 2040.1
Dementia is a multidimensional...read the whole article

Engage With Grace Provides Valuable Tool for End-of-Life Discussion with Dementia

Our Alzheimer's.com
by Carol Bradley Bursack

From there, I became an advocate for caregivers and seniors, beginning with a newspaper column and expanding with a book, then blogs and articles. I wrote often about the conversations adult children and their parents should have. It is important to discuss these issues when your loved one is in the early stages of dementia or other disease processes

I reviewed books about making good wills. I had an estate attorney be a guest columnist to explain to my column readers the need for a will and the Powers of Attorney for health and finances. I also wrote often about how people should discuss with their family anything in the news that brought up end-of-life issues. I've been very vocal on about this whole concept.

There was just one teeny little problem I kept hidden under the rug......read the whole article

Researchers Explore New Technologies, Treatments for Dementia Patients

Read about allthenew technologies on the horizon for dementia patients
PBS Online News Hour


RAY SUAREZ: Now, diagnosing and treating dementia. NewsHour correspondent Spencer Michels reports for our Health Unit, a partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
SPENCER MICHELS, NewsHour correspondent: Keith Jordan, an environmental activist and software innovator -- shown here several years ago -- suffered from an often misdiagnosed neurological condition that attacks the front part of the brain and produces very strange behavior. Doctors say the condition is more common than previously thought.
Eventually Jordan's brain atrophied....read all about it

Dementia Alzheimer's patients given brain implants

Barchester

Healthcare News
Scientists reveal details of ongoing research into potential new treatment.
Six people with Alzheimer's disease have had small capsules implanted into their brains as part of a radical new attempt at treating the condition.The impants contain cells which produce a protein known as nerve growth factor, which can stimulate the survival and growth of cholinergic nerve cells, according to the team based at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.Cholinergic nerve cells, which break down in Alzheimer's and other dementia patients, are said to play a vital role in memory, problem-solving and other cognitive functions."Although implantation of encapsulated cells is a new method for treating Alzheimer's disease, our extensive experience in stereotactic surgery at Karolinska University Hospital enables us to perform the procedure in a safe and controlled manner," said Professor Bengt Linderoth at the department of neurosurgery.No complications were reported during the implantation of the capsules.A team of American scientists reported that they had identified four genes which may be linked to a significantly.......read the whole story

Care for the Caregiver of those with Alzheimer's Disease:Managing Stress

Alzheimer's Disease Research
A program of the American Health
Assistance Foundation

The caregivers of Alzheimer’s
patients face unusual pressures
and shoulder an enormous amount
of responsibility. The job they do is
both physically and emotionally
exhausting. As the disease progresses,
caregivers are called upon to
adapt to constant change in both
the patient and in the range of skills
they need to care for them. Add to
that the need for endless vigilance
and 24-hour-a-day care, and it’s
no wonder that the caregivers of
Alzheimer’s patients suffer a high
level of stress.
Severe stress that is sustained over a
long period of time can take a major toll
on both mental and physical well-being.
If special steps are not taken to periodically
relieve the pressures of caregiving,
caregivers face a high risk of.....
read and download the whole book

Grape seeds could ward off Alzheimer's and other dementias

News-Medical.Net
Medical Research News
Australian scientists are suggesting that grape seeds may be a potential treatment in warding off Alzheimer's and other dementias
The scientists at Flinders University have found that adding grape seed extract to the diet prevented the formation of deposits of amyloid proteins in the brain.
The discovery was made by a team of medical scientists in the Department of Human Physiology, headed by Professor Xin-Fu Zhou, in trials with mice.
Professor Zhou says the over-production of amyloid-beta proteins, or the body's failure to degrade them, leads to the formation of clumps or snarls in the brain......read the whole story

Hormone shows promise in reversing Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, and stroke

EurekAlert
Contact: Nancy Solomon

SLU researchers find strategy to get it past vigilant blood-brain barrier

ST. LOUIS -- Saint Louis University researchers have identified a novel way of getting a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, and stroke into the brain where it can do its work.
"We found a unique approach for delivering drugs to the brain," says William A. Banks, M.D., professor of geriatrics and pharmacological and physiological science at Saint Louis University. "We're turning off the guardian that's keeping the drugs out of the brain."
The brain is protected by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a gate-keeping system of cells that lets in nutrients and keeps out foreign substances. The blood-brain barrier passes no judgment on which foreign substances are trying to get into the brain to treat diseases and which are trying to do harm, so it blocks them without discrimination.
"The problem in treating a lot of diseases

Win $2,000 of Free Housecleaning if you are an Alzheimer's or dementia caregiver

AgingCare.com
Editor
As a caregiver of someone with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, your loved one is your number one priority. At AgingCare.com you are our number one priority. In honor of National Family Caregivers Month, we want to make a deserving caregiver’s life a little easier.
So we’re holding a contest. The prize? $2,000 of free housecleaning! Just share your caregiving story for a chance to win. It could be a sweet moment you’ve shared with your loved one, some upbeat wisdom that might help others, or a funny story that takes the edge off.
Here’s your chance to take some of the burden off of your caregiving duties. The contest winner can use their Merry Maids gift card for housecleaning at their own home, their parents’ house…whatever they choose.
How to enter: Click Here

The use of "therapuetic fibs" and dementia

Alzheimer's Weekly
Secrets from a Caregiver's Support Group

ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA --

Sometimes there is great comfort in sharing a simple, little story. Especially when both the teller and the listener are caring for a parent with Alzheimer's disease.

"Before my mom had a stroke, she did a lot of hallucinating," Carlsbad resident Lynne Smith, 55, told a support group for adult children of an Alzheimer's patients at the Glenner Center in Encinitas last week. "She'd call me at 6 in the morning to tell me that her mom and sister had come by for a visit, but that they had left when she had gone to the bathroom."

But what really worried her mother, Smith said......read the whole post

Common vitamin may protect against Alzheimer's disease

3news.com.nz

Researchers in the US say a common vitamin found in meat, fish and potatoes may help protect your brain from Alzheimer's disease.

They found in tests on mice that vitamin B3 lowers the level of a protein which is linked to Alzheimer's damage and the animals also performed better in memory tests.

They say this indicates that.....read the whole story

Computerized carer lessens dementia load

Eureka Alert
Alex Mihailidis, Jennifer N Boger, Tammy Craig and Jesse Hoey
BMC Geriatrics
An artificial intelligence coaching system has been developed that will help carers of older adults with moderate dementia. The COACH system (Cognitive Orthosis for Assisting aCtivities in the Home), described in the open access journal BMC Geriatrics, uses a camera and computer to deliver interactive advice - lessening the workload on often-overburdened carers.

Alex Mihailidis led a team of researchers from the University of Toronto, Canada, who tested the COACH's ability to help a group of six older adults with dementia remember how to wash their hands. Mihailidis said, "COACH employs various computer vision and artificial intelligence techniques to autonomously provide the user with verbal and/or visual reminders as necessary during their activities of daily living".

When COACH was used, the participants with moderate dementia showed......read the whole story

New program aids dementia patients

Ventura County Stat
County News
Device emits signal to help locate person

By Kitty Dill
In the United States, most of those with dementia who wander are found within a mile and a half from their homes or care facilities, says Norma Featherston, area director for the Central Coast Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

But "about 40 percent are not found alive," she said.

That's one reason she is excited about a new tool available to help the estimated 12,400 people with dementia in Ventura County and their families.

On Tuesday, opening ceremonies will launch Project Life Saver, a safety program that will have its kickoff in Camarillo and is expected to expand.....read the whole story

Cure Alzheimer's Fund touts research

By Bill Zlatos
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, November 2, 2008

Research funded by a local foundation might hold promise toward new and better treatments of Alzheimer's disease, officials said.

The Cure Alzheimer's Fund, with offices Downtown and in Boston, gave $3 million to a team at Harvard Medical School in Boston, which combed the human gene map and found four more areas that affect the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Some of the genes, associated with the most common form of Alzheimer's, appear linked to.....read the whole story

Study says binge drinkers risk dementia

UPI.com
Health News
LONDON, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Binge drinkers of all ages face a greater risk of dementia in later life, say British psychiatrists who warn of damaged brain tissue.

The problem is so serious that bottles of alcohol should carry cigarette-style health warnings, Drs. Susham Gupta and James Warner write in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

Since the 1960s, alcohol consumption in Britain has doubled, Warner and Gupta said, warning British residents may become the highest alcohol consumers in Europe within the next decade, The Times of London reported Saturday.

The time lag between alcohol abuse and the onset...read the whole story

Forum helps people with dementia take back control and find hope

ExchangeMorningPost
WATERLOO - People living with early-stage dementia and their partners in care will share advice and tips next month in order to become stronger advocates and more in control of the disease.

A Changing Melody, held in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 15, is an annual forum, now in its fifth and final year, that focuses on the experiences of those living with dementia. The theme of this year's forum is Joining Forces: Building Supportive Dementia Communities.

The one-day event offers a learning and sharing forum designed specifically by and for persons with early-stage dementia and their partners in care. Key areas covered include discussion and sharing on topics such as living with and transforming grief after diagnosis, living in meaningful ways, and building stronger dementia communities.

"Together we can join forces to amplify the voices of persons with dementia and continue to change the perceptions and misunderstandings of living with dementia," said Sherry Dupuis, director of the Kenneth G. Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program (MAREP) at the University of Waterloo. "We can and should be working together to create communities that are better able to support....read the whole article

Fatty diet could increase progression of Alzheimer's: Study

Canada.com
Marianne White , Canwest News Service
Published: Tuesday, October 28, 2008
QUEBEC - Eating foods rich in saturated fat and poor in omega-3 fatty acids could contribute to the progression of Alzheimer's disease, a new Canadian study suggests.

The study, published in the latest online edition of Neurobiology of Aging, looked into the effects of a diet high in fat (60 per cent of calorie intake) on mouse brains.

The researchers from Laval University, in Quebec City, compared two neurological markers of the disease, the amyloid-beta and tau proteins found in the brain of Alzheimer's patients.

They found that mice whose diet was high in fat showed.....read the whole story

National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, 2008

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
During National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, we recognize the dignity and courage of the men and women living with Alzheimer's disease. We also honor the devoted family members and caretakers who bring them love and comfort, and we underscore our dedication to finding a cure for this tragic disease.

Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that seriously...read the whole proclamation

Alzheimer's day care: A home away from home for those with dementia

WALB
Channel 10

By Alicia Eakin

VALDOSTA, GA (WALB) - Alzheimer's disease is one of the fastest growing diseases of our time.

Right now, 15 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer's and other dementias. That number is expected to double by the year 2030.

Valdosta State University sponsors a unique center that offers support for everyone effected by the diseases.

To 92 year-old Elmira Wright, it's a place to sing.

For 80 year-old Bill Ervin, it's place to be among friends.

"What we do here is have good companionship, talk to each other and what I like, after talking--glory glory hallelujah--is singing songs and hymns of praise," Ervin says.

Each year nearly 100 people with Alzheimer's, like Bill and Elmira, are brought to My Friend's House in Valdosta....read the whole story

Getting a person with dementia to sleep at night

Alzheimer's weekly
Nurse Dina
One of the most difficult things to deal with when caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's or a related dementia, to understand why the person says and does the things they do. Its hard to know exactly what's going on, but you are seeing is most likely the encroaching of the plaques and tangles into the parts of the brain that control mood, impulsivity and the ability to reason. It is impossible to remain patient and be understanding when you are on call for 24 hours at a time without any sleep or respite.

Many people with Alzheimer's tend to sleep or doze during the day and then towards the late afternoon or evening, they start ...read it all

Smart pill: A natural way to stop dementia in its tracks

MarketWatch
'SmartPill' Uses Vitamin Formulation to Improve Brain Health, Memory
Researchers at UMass Lowell have demonstrated success in improving the memory and brain function of patients with Alzheimer's disease, findings that will be published in the December/January issue of the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Called the "SmartPill," the vitamin-based formulation has been shown to improve memory and recall speed in normal adults and Alzheimer's and other dementia patients, without side effects. On Monday, Oct. 20, the Alzheimer's Association presented a grant, awarded competitively at the national level, to support additional clinical trials to test whether the formulation can delay the onset of the disease.
James Wessler, president and CEO of the Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, presented a check for $240,000 for three years to UMass Lowell Prof. Thomas Shea, the lead researcher on the "SmartPill." A licensing agreement to bring the pill to the market under the name MemoryXL to be sold without a prescription is in negotiations.
"This formulation is the first, non-prescription, low-cost intervention for Alzheimer's disease," says Shea, a professor in UMass Lowell's Biological Sciences Department. "One can start this at the first indication of memory problems, or even before for general brain health, instead of waiting for the severe deterioration of advancing Alzheimer's."
Shea, representatives of the Alzheimer's Association's Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter and UMass Lowell, including Chancellor Marty Meehan, were among those who attended.....read the whole article

With Alzheimer's and other dementias, you can still have a good life

MayoClinic.com
Alzheimer's blog
By Angela Lunde
Here at the Mayo Clinic, I, along with my colleague from the Alzheimer's Association, facilitate "Memory Club," a group for persons with early Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, and their care partners. Here is what one of our former participants shared:

I worked as a computer engineer for 35 years. Several years ago I was having some problems. Things were not right. I had tests to see how my memory was. I was told I had Alzheimer's disease. I was 64 years old. I wondered if they could fix my Alzheimer's disease. I wondered how many others were like this. I wondered why me, I was too young.

Things have changed for me over the past couple of years. I spend more time looking for things. I get more frustrated. When I start to say something the words float away — that's the hardest.

I don't mind telling others about my disease. I want them to know why I am struggling. Telling others helps me cope.

I have 4 children and 6 grandchildren. I have 2 sisters. I have good friends. Being with others who accept my disease helps me cope.

When I am around people I usually have a good joke. I can't change the past, and I can't change what the future brings, so I choose not to worry about it. Humor helps that.

I participate in an early stage support group with others going through a similar situation. I find it helpful to be with others like me and see how they are handling it. Alzheimer's, from what I can tell, is not going away anytime soon. My support group helps me cope.

Most of all, my wife makes it possible......read it all

Anti-Alzheimer's recipe

Here is a good recipe for your brain. It will go a long way to help prevent Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
Brain Boosting Hummus with Walnuts
Chickpeas, walnuts, olive oil, lemon juice and turmeric make this delicious dip a brain-boosting bonanza. Great for a late afternoon snack or a light lunch. It’s quick to make and keeps in the fridge for several days.

Makes about 8 ¼ c. servings.

1 15 oz. can chickpeas, drained
¼ c. walnuts
3 T. lemon juice
3 T. olive oil
2 cloves garlic
click here for the whole recipe

We need you to become an Alzheimer's advocate

Alzheimer advocates made great strides in getting cosponsors for the Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act (S. 2102, H.R. 154). The bill lists 103 US House cosponsors and 23 US Senate cosponsors!

This bill would phase out the two-year waiting period for Medicare coverage for persons under age 65 diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease who may have lost a job and employer-based health insurance.

Unfortunately, the bill will not pass this year. We will ramp up our efforts again in early 2009 to ensure the bill is reintroduced and our race for cosponsors will resume.

We need your help

Click here to become an Alzheimer's advocate

Click here to read more

Ask A Doctor: There are ways to delay the onset of Alzheimer's and other dementias

htrnews.com
By Dr. Tresa Teehan • For the Herald Times Reporter

Question: Are there ways to slow down memory loss or dementia in the elderly?
Answer: Studies have shown that there are ways to slow the onset or progression of dementia, but no method is foolproof and individuals will respond differently.

Dementia is the progressive loss of memory and other mental functions. There is no cure for it, but medications are being studied in an attempt to discover the most effective treatment.

By the age of 65, nearly one in 10 people has some form of dementia, and by age 80, that number changes to nearly 1 in 5. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia.

Generally speaking, in order to delay the onset of dementia, keeping the mind active and vital is key. Doing so can involve several different strategies:...read the whole article

Good news about a vitamin cocktail for those with Alzheimer's and other dementias

Listen to the videos about special vitamins for people with Alzzheimer's disease and other denemtias courtesy of YouTube.com: patriotledger
click here
There is also other informative information about Alzheimer's disease and dementia, shared

For artist behind new stamp, story is personal

Chicago Tribune
Associated Press
U.S. Postal Service stamp designer Ethel Kessler, who has designed more than 200 stamps, had a special interest in taking on the job of planning the Alzheimer's commemorative, which goes on sale Friday. Her mother, Ruth, now in a nursing home, has suffered from the brain-wasting disease for years.

'Darkness to light'
The 42-cent Alzheimer's postage stamp shows a woman, head bent down, with a comforting hand resting on her shoulder. The image is slightly obscured, as if seen through mist. "It's symbolic of somebody from darkness to light," Kessler said. The image is not her mother or any specific person, she added.

A glimmer
Unlike some with Alzheimer's, Kessler's mom seems happy and enjoys visits from her children even though she doesn't recognize them. "I come in and touch her shoulder or knee and look at her for a minute, and there's a spark of recognition," said Kessler, of Bethesda, Md. "She hasn't said my name in a long time, and I don't ask her to say my name."
Read the whole article
comment

Thank you readers for making Alzheimer’s Disease: Early Detection Matters #1!

Because of the support of readers of this dementia blog and other concerned individuals, the Alzheimer's Association has earned first place in the American Express Members Project.

The Alzheimer's Asociation will get 1.5 million dollars to begin an education campaign highlighting the importance of early detection among physicians and the general public. This is a positive step toward helping those who go undiagnosed for many years, losing valuable time that could be spent planning for the future and starting treatment. read the whole story
Know the early warning signs of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Click here for more info

Click here to become an Alzheimer's advocate

Blood protein tied to Alzheimer's disease and other dementia, risk

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Low levels of cystatin C -- a blood protein commonly used as a measure of kidney function -- may be a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in elderly men, researchers report.

Cystatin C is produced by nearly all human cells and available in all body fluids. During the past decade, studies have suggested that cystatin C activity in the brain may protect against the development of Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting amyloid-beta -- a protein in the body that forms amyloid plaques in the brain, a key feature of Alzheimer's disease.

To further explore this idea, Dr. Johan Sundelof, of Uppsala University, Sweden, and colleagues examined the association between blood levels of cystatin C and the development....read the whole article

New study confirms that Alzheimer's and other dementias are helped with Ginko Biloba

Market Watch
KARLSRUHE, Germany, Oct 17, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- A new placebo-controlled study in 410 patients suffering from mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia has demonstrated the efficacy of EGb 761(R). Like the majority of dementia patients encountered in everyday clinical practice, the patients in the study suffered from both cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, irritability or aggression. During the observation period of 24 weeks, EGb 761(R) improved both cognitive functioning and neuropsychiatric symptoms of the patients significantly.
aEURThis study confirms that EGb 761(R) improves cognition as well as...to read the whole story click here

Can you help find this person?

I am taking a break from the activity and dementia focus to help because I just got a request to get the word about this young lady Her mother is very worried. Can you help?
My 13 year old girl, Ashley Flores, is missing.
She has been missing for now two weeks.
Maybe if everyone passes this on, someone will see this child.
That is how the girl from Stevens Point was found by circulation
of her picture on tv. The internet circulates even overseas,
South America, and Canada etc.
Please pass this to everyone in your address book.
With GOD on her side she will be found.
'I am asking you all, begging you to please
forward this email on to anyone and everyone
you know, PLEASE.
It is still not too late. Please help us. If anyone
knows anything, please contact me at:
HelpfindAshleyFlores@yahoo.com
I am including a picture of her.
All prayers are appreciated! ! '
It only takes 2 seconds to forward this.
If she were your child, you would want all the help you could get!

Does Vitamin B improve Alzheimer's?

There information out there about the effect of taking Vitamin B to improve Alzheimer's.

According to medpage Today in an article by By John Gever, Staff Writer, MedPage Today and reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
Published: October 14, 2008, Alzheimer's Disease Not Susceptible to B Vitamins and according to an article on WebMD
Alzheimer's Patients Decline Despite High-Dose Folate, Vitamin B6/B12
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MD
And according to an article WBZ news A new study released Tuesday finds that taking mega-doses of B vitamins does not appear to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. However, Boston area researchers are testing some promising new compounds which may do just that.

A trial at Neurocare Center for Research in Newton is testing an experimental antibody which attacks proteins linked to Alzheimer's
Read this article

What do you think?

Vitamin D: Dementia vs Parkinson's

Elderly people often have particularly low levels of Vitamin D. And new evidence suggests that those low levels could be linked to Parkinson's disease. It has also been shown that many with dementia also have low levels of Vitamin D

Researchers at the Emory University School of Medicine measured blood levels of the vitamin in 300 patients - a third each with either Parkinson's, Alzheimer's disease or neither.

As expected, insufficient levels of Vitamin D were common in each. But more of the Parkinson's patients (55 percent) had low levels than the Alzheimer's (41 percent) or the healthy controls (36 percent), they write in the current Archives of Neurology.

Moreover, all the participants lived in the South, most were white and most were tested in summer and fall - all factors known to help the skin produce Vitamin D from sunlight.

The findings, the researchers conclude, highlight the importance of...read this story

Thanks to By Don Sapatkin
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Philly.com

7 Tips To Help You Remain Healthy During Flu Season

As a caregiver of someone with dementia, your health is extremely important. The tips listed below will help to ensure that you stay healthy this winter. The tips are courtesy of OurAlzheimer's.com
by Dorian Martin
In a Health Magazine story, "How Some Women Never Get Sick," on CNN's website that described seven secrets that help women avoid becoming sick. These seven tips (which are greatly expanded on the CNN website) include:

Get a massage. Health reports that massage "can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and heart rate -- and lowering these is likely to cause your stress level to drop, one key to building immunity." Another way to get the benefits is to use a stiff, natural-bristle brush while showering.
Take a cold shower. Although there's little...read the whole story
comments
Link to CNN story
What do you do?

Is hearing loss an early sign of dementia?

Huliq
October 12, 2008
Is hearing loss an early sign of Alzheimer's disease or related dementias? Central auditory testing may act as an early screen for cognitive decline in the elderly, researchers have said:

In a study of 313 patients at least 71 years old, several measures of central auditory processing were impaired in those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and, to a lesser extent, those with memory impairment but not meeting criteria for Alzheimer's, reported George A. Gates, M.D., of the University of Washington, and colleagues in a recent issue of Archives of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery.

Central auditory processing is the brain function involved in interpreting complex sounds such as speech
"Hearing speech involves detection, recognition, and comprehension, the latter being clearly a cognitive task," said Dr. Gates.

Such hearing problems often show up as an inability to....read the whole story

Postal Service to Issue Alzheimer's Awareness Stamp

Maybe this will increase the public's awareness of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
Market Watch
The following was released by the U.S. Postal Service:
What: First-day-of-issue stamp dedication ceremony for the Alzheimer's Awareness 42-cent social awareness first-class stamp during the dedication of the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute's www.brni.org new research facility.
......read the wohle announcement

Central obesity and dementia

Mens News Daily
Mind
Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS
The information in this column is intended for informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice or recommendations by the author. Please consult with your physician before making any lifestyle or medication changes, or if you have any other concerns regarding your health.

More than 60% of adult Americans are overweight, and one-fourth of the U.S. population is frankly obese.

There is ample clinical evidence showing that obesity is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and premature death. Some cancers also appear to be more common among obese patents, including cancers of the breast, pancreas, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, uterus and kidney.

Although generalized obesity is a risk factor for all of the life-threatening diseases that I have described, the accumulation of excess body fat within and around the abdomen (central obesity) appears to be linked with an especially high risk of obesity-associated illnesses. Now, a new research study, just published in the journal Neurology, suggests that dementia....read the whole article

Fresh air a great medicine for Alzheimer's and other dementias

The Coppenhagen Post

A project at St. Kjeldsgården care centre in the Jutland town of Viborg has improved both the physical and mental welfare of its older dementia and Alzheimer’s patients through picnics, outings and garden work.

Inspired by the project’s results, Eva Kjer Hansen, the social affairs minister, has set aside DKK 7 million over the next two years to support.....read the whole story

Should you tell someone about their Alzheimer's diagnosis?

MayoClinic.com
October 3,2008
By Angela Lunde
In a recent posting, the question was asked about whether or not to tell someone with Alzheimer's disease about their diagnosis. This is a complex question and one that may surface for many families.

While most would not raise such a question about a diagnosis such as cancer, the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease seems to highlight a greater feeling of uncertainty in the context of offering what feels 'right' or is in the best interest of a loved one with this disease.

Brian D. Carpenter, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychology in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, stated that arguments in....read the whole article and a comment

Those with Alzheimer's could double over 20 years

ContraCostaTimes.com
Daily News Wire Services
Article Launched: 10/01/2008 06:44:51 AM PDT

With members of the baby boomer generation approaching their mid-60s, the number of Los Angeles County residents living with Alzheimer's disease could nearly double over the next 20 years, according to reports released today.

At least 147,000 Angelenos currently suffer from the chronic condition, which manifests itself as a loss or decline in memory and other thinking abilities, according to reports by the county Department of Public Health and the Southland chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

By 2030, that number is expected to swell to nearly 279,000 people, as the number of 65-and-older residents in Los Angeles County grows from 1 million to 2.4 million, the reports predicted.

More than 325,000 baby boomers living in the county today will likely develop the
....read a comment and the whole article

Rise in Alzheimer's cases a `time bomb'

ContraCosta Times
By Melissa Evans, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 10/01/2008 10:56:37 PM PDT
Because the Asian and Latino communities are younger now than whites and blacks, the numbers of people with Alzheimer's within these ethnic groups will increase far more rapidly over the next two decades, she said.

"We are now calling for development of more culturally appropriate outreach services for these families," she said. "In many cultures this is a stigmatized subject; people don't want to talk about it."

She added that the South Bay is somewhat unique in that people tend to be diagnosed at a younger age, possibly because of a more educated population, she said.

The cost of the increase in Alzheimer's cases is staggering.

click here to read a comment and the whole story

Diet and Nutrition for Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's Weekly
Nurse Dina
There is some research that shows that foods containing omega 3 fatty acids and foods high in antioxidants and vitamins may help increase brain function and might slow the progression of the disease. There is an article on our site entitled: The Alzheimer's Diet. (You can find it under NEWS>TREATMENT).

I'd like to stress that eating a well balanced diet that is high in nutrients and.....read the whole thing

click here for the Alzheimer's diet

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are hard on everyone

Clarion online
Amanda Newfield
This story is older, but it bears viewing because the subject matter is still relavent

She no longer remembers that she was married for many years. She doesn't even realize that she turned 85 this month.

During a special visit two weeks ago, my family and I walked into her room around 8 p.m. To our surprise, she was still awake. She looked up at us with a smile and when we said "Hi Grandma," and my father said "Hi, Mom" she merely laughed.

Somewhere in her heart I believe she knows us still, despite the struggle her mind is going through, despite the fact that she can no longer find the words to talk to us.

I remember learning about my grandmother's disease when I was in my early teens. I was confused. I thought, "How can my grandmother not know who I am?"

I suddenly understood why she carried around a piece of paper with our names on it.

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are hard on everyone in
read the whole article

Active Social Life May Reduce Men's Alzheimer's Risk

US News and World Report
(HealthDay News)

Home, family, club activities appear to enhance creation of new brain cells, study finds

-- Cognitive and social activity in midlife may significantly reduce men's risk of Alzheimer's and related dementias, says a U.S. study that followed 147 male twin pairs for 28 years.

Among the twins, higher cognitive activity scores predicted a 26 percent reduction in risk for developing dementia first. Twins who developed dementia first had significantly lower total cognitive activity scores than twins who didn't develop dementia....read the whole story

Alzheimer's - Still Searching for the Cure

BRADENTONHERALD.COM
Phyllis Johnson

Alzheimer's disease sufferers and their families and friends haven't had much to celebrate in terms of new treatments for the disease in recent years. No vaccine against the disease has been developed. No new drugs or treatments have been proven to reverse the progress of the disease as it marches inevitably toward death for its victims.

It was understandable, therefore, that there was excitement at the Alzheimer Association's International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Chicago last July, when some promising results from drug trials were reported that appeared to present a new understanding of how the neurological disease works.

Scientists are beginning to segregate out different therapeutic targets and develop drugs that have....read the whole article

Reversing Alzheimer's disease

KRGG mid Missouri
BACKGROUND: The possibility of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a scary thought for many. Alzheimer's sneaks up on patients and their families, destroying the memories of more than half of all people in the United States over age 85. There are currently two classes of medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat AD, including acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors and glutamate inhibitors, which may be used together or alone. The drugs are designed to treat the symptoms of AD and other factors that may be contributing to memory loss, but they cannot reverse the condition.

A NEW ALZHEIMER'S DRUG? A phase 3 trial of the drug bapineuzumab, a humanized, monoclonal antibody, is currently underway and is providing hope that AD can be not just slowed, but actually reversed. The therapeutic antibody works by binding to and clearing beta-amyloid, an abnormal protein in the brain associated with AD. Specifically, it targets amyloid-beta-42...read the whole article

Ending Alzheimer's One Step at a Time

redOrbit
by Kathy Tuckey
The number of people affected by Alzheimer's is growing at an alarming rate, and the increasing financial and personal costs will have a devastating effect on the world's economies, health-care systems and families. We must make the fight against Alzheimer's a global priority. It's up to every one of us to learn more about the disease and join the fight.

There are 26 million people in the world living with Alzheimer's, and that number will quadruple by 2050. This means by mid-century more than 100 million people will be living with this degenerative disease that kills brain cells and eventually the person.

Did you know Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States - and 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's? There are some 5.2 million Americans living with Alzheimer's today, and that number is expected to increase to as many as 16 million by 2050.

One out of eight people age 65 and older have Alzheimer's disease, and nearly one out of every two over age 85 has it. Every 71 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer's disease; by mid-century someone will develop Alzheimer's every 33 seconds. \

Alzheimer's is not a disease that affects only "old" people. People with young onset are being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in their 40s and 50s, and some as young as their 30s. Odds are you know or are caring for someone with Alzheimer's. There are almost 10 million caregivers in the United States. Initial symptoms include memory loss, but as the disease progresses and kills more of the brain, the brain is unable to tell the body how to move, swallow or....read the whole article

Alzheimer's Takes Its Toll on Caregivers

Liz Palka
WCAV TV
Charlottesville, Va

In many ways we lose our loved ones twice. Because as they're losing their memory, we're losing the connections we have with them," said Sue Friedman, President and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association.

What would it be like for a loved one to still be with you, but they can't remember you? When all you have are the old memories and you can't make any new ones.

"It is the burden of being apart. Being married, but yet separated. Unable to realize what's going on, what's happening or how long this could go on," said Ward Campbell, whose wife has Alzheimer's.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer's takes a tremendous toll on a person. Ward's wife Peggy was 65 when she was diagnosed with the disease. A year and a half ago, he made the difficult decision to place her in assisted living.

"I thought it was bad when I was taking care of her. It was tough, but she was....read the whole story

Living with Alzheimer's

By Gail Wood | The Olympian •
One family fights disease with patience, understanding and love
Wayne Donaldson fiddled with the domino in his hand, puzzling over his next move.

What is it?

Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906. It is:

• A progressive and fatal brain disease affecting about 5 million in the United States. It destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior. It is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.

• The most common form of dementia, a general term for the loss of memory and other intellectual abilities. Vascular dementia, another common type of dementia, is caused by reduced blood flow to parts of the brain. In mixed dementia, Alzheimer's and vascular dementia occur together.

• Not curable. Treatment for symptoms, combined with services and support, can make life better for patients and families.

Warning signs

•Memory loss and forgetting recently learned information

•Difficulty performing familiar tasks, such as preparing a meal, making a phone call or playing a game

•Trouble using language effectively

•Disorientation to time and place

•Poor or decreased judgment

•Problems with abstract thinking

•Misplacing things

•Rapid changes in mood or behavior

•Changes in personality

•Loss of initiative

Local resources

To learn more about Alzheimer's and related dementias, go to the Western and Central Washington Alzheimer's Association Web site at www.alzwa.org. Or call 866-ALZ-4199.

Lewis–Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging publishes a Senior Resource Directory that has resources for Alzheimer's patients and their loved ones. Go to www.limtaaa.org. Get a paper copy by calling 360-664-3162.

A dozen special care centers for dementia patients exist in South Sound, as well as several adult day care centers that take high-functioning Alzheimer's patients. Seniors age 60 or older who have questions about services for Alzheimer's patients can contact June Moore at 360-664-3162, ext. 133, or via e-mail at mooreje2@dshs.wa.gov.

If an unpaid family member is caring for an Alzheimer's patient, the agency's Family Caregiver Support Program can help the caregiver maintain his or her own mental, physical and emotional health. Contact John Rodgers at 360-664-3162, ext. 106, or via e-mail at rodgejh@dshs.wa.gov.

South Sound Alzheimer's Council provides support, education and advocacy for patients, their families and caregivers. It meets at 3:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of every month at the Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. N.W., Olympia. The council's annual fundraising walk is at 10 a.m. Sept. 20 at Marathon Park on Capitol Lake. Go to www.southsoundalzheimerscouncil.org or write to PMB 159, 3430 Pacific Ave. S.E., No. A-6, Olympia, WA 98506.

Eventually, he needed prompting, reminders on the rules of a children's game. Julie, Wayne's wife, grew increasingly frustrated....read the whole story
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Cognitive Rehabilitation for those with Alzheimer's and other dementias

Tangled Neuron
Preliminary results of a large trial of cognitive rehabilitation for people with Alzheimer's are encouraging. Cognitive rehabilitation could help keep people with mild Alzheimer's functioning in the community and at home.

Another great presentation in the "Psychosocial Issues and Neuropsychology" session at ICAD 2008 was Dr. David Loewenstein's update on a clinical trial of cognitive rehabilitation for people with Alzheimer's. Dr. Loewenstein is Director of Research and Neuropsychology at the Wien Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders, and professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine.

The value of cognitive rehabilitation is well-established for people with brain injuries and for older adults in general, he said. But for people with Alzheimer's, it's a bit more complicated. This is because rehabilitation.....read the whole post

Forgetting: Is It Aging or Alzheimer's?

usnews.com
Planning to Retire
Emily Brandon
Everyone forgets their keys occasionally, gets lost sometimes, or just can't quite remember the name of someone they were introduced to in the past. Young people usually shrug off these temporary bouts of memory loss. But older people may wonder if it could be the beginning of mild cognitive impairment or even Alzheimer's disease. U.S. News asked William Uffner, medical director of the Friends Hospital Older Adult Program in Philadelphia, how to tell when memory loss is a normal sign of aging or something more serious. Excerpts:

How do you know what's normal (like forgetting your keys) and when things are growing more serious?
The brain is unable to recognize when something is wrong with it. People generally are not aware when they have crossed over from a mild memory problem into dementia. More often, it is going to be a family member or an associate or someone else who makes the realization that a person isn't appropriately functioning and managing their affairs anymore. The individual themselves is likely to call the bank and say the bank made a mistake. That's a sign of true cognitive decline.

What signs should family members be on the lookout for?
Most people over the age of 55 will tell you that their memory is not as good as it used to be. Everyone has had the experience of going up the stairs to their bedroom and thinking, "What did I come up here for?" As you age, you may begin to worry more about that. But this does not represent a problem. It's when a person has memory problems that are very severe [that] you need to worry, when they can't make use of information and turn that information into a useful course of actions. Also, when they start to show problems with their judgment and when they repeatedly make mistakes. It's OK to...read the whole post

Patterns: Examining Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias and Weight Loss

New York Times
Health
Vital Signs
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR

Weight loss may be associated with the onset of Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia in women, but not in men, a new study suggests.

There have been conflicting studies on the association between body weight and the risk for dementia, with some suggesting that obesity in middle age is a risk factor and others showing that weight loss precedes dementia’s onset. This study, which appears in a recent issue of Neurology, examined 481 dementia patients, comparing them with a matched, healthy control group.

The researchers found that women....read the whole article

Is hearing loss an early sign of Alzheimers or another dementia?

lundi sept 2008 |Destination Santé
According to an American study, minor memory problems could be associated with an auditive deficit. Does this mean that hearing loss could be one of the first signs of dementia ? For the time being, the authors of the report can’t answer this. They simply state the facts, and recommend that healthcare professionals carry out hearing tests on the elderly as a matter of course.

The researchers studied 313 individuals over the age of 80, all of whom were taking part in a programme to monitor neuro-degenerative diseases, with Alzheimer’s disease at the forefront. Of those studied, 232 showed no memory problems (control group) ; 17 were diagnosed as suffering from dementia ; and 64 had slight memory loss. All participants underwent a hearing assessment. The patients with dementia and memory problems received the......read the whole story

JAMA study

and interscience said....

Click here for info on
deafness and dementia

What if you are deaf and are misdiagnosed with dementia?
Click here to find out

Preventing Alzheimer's by keeping the mind active

ILLINOIS STYLE: Will games help dementia?
By MIKE DANAHEY | The (Aurora) Beacon-News
2:31 AM CDT, September 17, 2008
GENEVA, Ill. - He would drive all the way from DeKalb to Peoria to visit his mother, but sometimes a heartfelt hello would take the back seat to a TV game show.

"If I arrived at the time of Jeopardy, I'd have to wait to talk to her. I figured there must be some strength in the game," said Alan Robinson....read the whole article

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What do do to keep your mind active?
What do you do to keep the mind of someone with Alzheimer's, active?

Elder Care & Elder Rage: Know the Warning Signs of Alzheimer's!

News Blaze
By Jacqueline Marcell
For eleven years I pleaded with my elderly father to allow a caregiver to help him with my ailing mother, but after 55 years of loving each other - he adamantly insisted on taking care of her himself. Every caregiver I hired to help him sighed in exasperation, "Jacqueline, I just can't work with your father-his temper is impossible to handle. I don't think you'll be able to get him to accept help until he's on his knees himself."

My father had always been 90% great, but boy-oh-boy that bad temper was a doozy. He'd never turned it on me before, but then again - I'd never gone against his wishes either. When my mother nearly died...read the whole story

Newsweek writer discuss dementia:My Mother’s Case of ‘Pleasant Dementia’

By Sara Davidson | NEWSWEEK
Published Sep 13, 2008
From the magazine issue dated Sep 22, 2008
She lost her memory but gained a kind of inner peace. And after years of worry and fear, so did I.
My mother, Alice, had always been strong-willed, opinionated and demanding, a fiery real-estate agent who was a life master in bridge and a maven of musical theater. She'd told my sister, Terry, and me never to put her in a care facility. But at 93, she had advancing dementia and was living in L.A., 1,200 miles from my home in Colorado and twice that distance from Terry's in Hawaii. For years we'd put off moving her, fearing she would yell and berate us for disobeying her wishes. I trembled when the day finally came to transport Alice to a home for the memory-impaired. What I hadn't reckoned on was the radical personality change that accompanied her dementia—a condition, I learned later, known as "pleasantly demented."

It had not been pleasant, though, when Alice, in her late 80s, started forgetting the.....read the whole story

Mysteries of Memory

New research explores how the brain records and then recalls events.
By Jeneen Interlandi | NEWSWEEK
Published Sep 13, 2008
From the magazine issue dated Sep 22, 2008

It's no trivial matter. One of the most devastating effects of dementia and Alzheimer's disease (expected to afflict 14 million Americans by 2040) is the loss of what's known as episodic memory—the capacity to remember experiences in detail. Despite years of research and some initial progress, the ability to restore this function to aging or diseased brains continues to elude doctors. But research published earlier this month in the journal Science has provided some important clues into how the brain builds memories......read the whole article

Pharmacist Selects Healthy Tips

By Luanne Austin

David Mattichak draws on 40 years of experience as a pharmacist to read and select the best tips from medical studies in his new book, "Please Help Me Stay Healthy.

PORT REPUBLIC - Did you know that eating raw honey made by bees from local plants (and therefore, local pollen) can help prevent allergies?

Did you know that, in addition to protecting your heart, taking aspirin can help prevent colon cancer?

Did you know that drinking one cup of coffee gives you the antioxidant power of three oranges?

Those are just a few of the tips David Mattichak offers in his book, "Please Help Me Stay Healthy."

For the book, he draws on his education and experience as a research pharmacist and then 40 years as a drugstore pharmacist. He also reads a number of medical studies.

"Most people don't have time to do all this research," says Mattichak, 80.

All of Mattichak's seven brothers died of heart attacks. He didn't want that to happen to him, so he started paying attention to his heart a long time ago.

As a pharmacist in the store, customers often talked to him about their health. Many people with high cholesterol never had a heart attack, while others with low cholesterol had suffered heart attacks. So he realized cholesterol was only part of the picture when it came to heart health.

Mattichak also discovered that blood cholesterol tests can vary widely from......read the whole story and a comment