We Rage We Weep Memory Blog

Know the Signs!

2012-01-03T12:06:00.000-08:00

It's new year. Time to know the signs of dementia. Dementia effects 1 in 11 over age 65 in Canada. It's vital to know what you're looking for as early diagnosis can make a difference for you and your loved one.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, early diagnosis enables people to:

*Plan ahead for the future.

*Potentially take part in a clinical drug trial.

*Start treatments that may help maintain independence for a longer time and possibly improve symptoms.

*Be involved in decisions about their care, living options, financial and legal matters.

*Cultivate relationships with doctors and care partners.

*Take advantage of care and support services that make it easier for patients and families to manage the disease.

The 10 Warning Signs typically associated with the dementia are as follows:
Memory loss that disrupts daily life. This includes forgetting recently learned information, forgetting important dates or events, repeatedly asking for the same information, and relying on memory aides or family members for things that used to be handled on one's own.

Challenges in planning or solving problems. For example, becoming unable to develop or follow a plan or work with numbers, having difficulty keeping track of monthly bills or following a recipe, difficulty concentrating, and taking much longer than normal to do things one has done before.

Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work or at leisure. This may include getting lost while driving in a familiar area or needing help using the microwave.

Confusion with time or place. People may forget where they are or how they got there.

Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships, such as judging distance.

New problems with spoken or written words. A typical example is calling things by the wrong name.

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps in order to find lost objects.

Declines in judgment or decision-making. For example, giving large amounts of money to telemarketers or paying less attention to grooming and keeping clean.

Withdrawal from work or social activities.

Changes in mood and personality. For example, becoming easily upset as well as confused, depressed, fearful, anxious or suspicious.

Keep vigilant it's the best defense against a devastating disease!

How Can You Help a Cargiver...

2011-12-20T12:08:00.000-08:00

This holiday season. Here are some tips to help ease a caregiver's burden.

· Call ahead to schedule a visit that is convenient for the caregiver. But if the caregiver routinely declines offers to visit, you may need to just show up … with special foods or an easy activity like a puzzle.
· Visit with at least one other person to give the caregiver a chance to go out with a friend, knowing that another trusted person is there for the person with dementia's needs but void bringing an entire crowd.
· Don't just ask, "What can I do?" Instead, offer to grocery shop, go to the post office, do laundry or cook a meal that you can bring over.
· Be a good listener. Whether in person or by phone, sometimes just having a contact to the outside world is all the caregiver needs to help cope with that day's burden.
· Be alert for signs of caregiver stress. These signs may include denial, social withdrawal, sleeplessness or lack of concentration.
· Offer to spend the night so the caregiver can get some rest. Lack of sleep can quickly lead to a deteriorating situation or a health crisis. Make sure the caregiver and the person with dementia are discussing any sleep issues with their primary care physician.
· Research adult medical day services in your community and share that information with the caregiver. These medically supervised programs can actually help extend the time that the patient can remain at home.
· Give the gift of time. Watch over the patient so the caregiver can get away for a few hours, or help arrange in-home care so the caregiver can take a mini-vacation.

Reprinted from http://ehstoday.com/health/news/Christmas-caregivers-1219/

Happy Holidays!

Caring for Alzheimer's Patients During the Holidays

2011-12-05T13:09:00.000-08:00

The holidays can be a trying time for families and those with dementia. This video shares some great ways to cope. Caring for Alzheimer's Patients During the Holidays

Time to Start Voting! Aviva Community Fund

2011-10-04T11:22:00.001-07:00

Aviva Community Fund Raiser Competition - Vote Now!

2011-09-27T10:47:00.001-07:00

Dementia, Divorce and Dementia as a Kind of Death

2011-09-19T12:55:00.000-07:00

A very controversial statement was made by televangelist, Pat Robertson, recently regarding dementia, divorce and dementia being "a kind of death". The following is a wonderful rebuttal by Dr. Ana Tuya Fulton, a geriatric specialist.

As for my own comments on this I share the following:
To think that dementia is a type of death shows that you have no real personal experience with the disease. A person with dementia is very much alive even though they may not be exactly the same as you remember them as your spouse, mother, father etc. which means we as caregivers and family members need to learn to honor, interact and get to know them in the present rather than clinging to who they were in the past.

On dementia & divorce I shall leave it to Dr. Fulton as her thoughts mirror my own in this matter.

Interview: Robertson Alzheimer's Comment

Brains Can Improve As We Age!

2011-09-06T13:07:00.000-07:00

Well, given the large doses of bad or depressing news we generally hear regarding our brains abilities as we age this is a welcome epiphany indeed! Imagine my surprise when I opened the paper to read about author, Barbara Strauch's book, The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain. Finally, something positive. It's a challenge when sharing information on dementia to find something up beat. So here it is.

Our middle-aged brains do something very interesting to cope with challenges like processing speed which begins to slow down after age 20 or the fact that we tend to get distracted more easily. It's not so much storage issues our brains struggle with but rather retrieval. It does something called bilateralization. A big word that essentially means some of us use more brain real estate, recruiting more areas of the brain to use in our thinking processes. This allows us to do several things:
- get to the point faster
- get the gist of things
- size up a situation
- act judiciously rather than rashly

Also, myelin, the fatty coating around brain cells can increase into middle age increasing the connectivity of the brain. Our sense of well-being grows as we age along with our reasoning skills and even the amygdala, the fight or flight part of the brain, reacts less to negative stimulus and more to positive.

So there you have it. This aging thing is not for sissies but it's not all bad either!

Dementia; What you need to know!

2011-07-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

Last week was the annual International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Paris. Some interesting things always emerge from this event. Here are two of the highlights.

1) Research presented during the conference strengthened the case that signs of dementia may begin in the brain 10 to 20 years before actual symptoms begin to show.

2) Other than cancer, Alzheimer Disease or related dementia is the most feared disease in the world.

Plus more important information you should know about this devastating disease.

* Alzheimer's is a fatal brain disease and a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, behavior and thinking that gradually worsen over time.

* Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, and is not a normal part of aging.

* A substance called beta-amyloid is the key ingredient in the plaque that builds in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. Signs of beta-amyloid can show up in PET scans 10 to 20 years before Alzheimer's symptoms appear.

* 50 percent of Alzheimer's cases could be prevented through lifestyle changes. Risk factors that can be eliminated or reduced include: obesity and sedentary behaviors, smoking, high blood pressure, and depression.

* Aluminum exposure does not cause Alzheimer's. It had been considered a suspect in the 1960s and '70s, but studies failed to confirm that it is linked to the disease.

* There are 10 important warning signs of Alzheimer's. These include memory loss that causes problems in daily life, difficulty developing plans or solving problems, difficulty in completing simple tasks, confusion as to the current date or time, trouble interpreting distances or problems with reading, communication difficulties, losing things, poor judgment or a decrease in judgment, withdrawing from involvement in social or work activities, and changes in mood.

* Early detection tests of beta-amyloids are not widely available, and current research is focused on early symptoms of mild cognitive impairment, which raises the risk of developing more severe symptoms.

* Diagnosing Alzheimer's requires a thorough medical evaluation, including a mental status history, physical and neurological exam and possibly blood tests and brain imaging scans to rule-out other causes of symptoms.

* There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's. Drugs and non-drug treatments are available to help alleviate the symptoms, but the best course of action is to be aware of the facts and take measures to prevent developing this destructive illness.

Sundowning

2011-07-11T12:19:00.000-07:00

Sundowning or Sundown Syndrome as it is also referred to describes the onset of increased confusion and intensified agitation that usually begins somewhere between late afternoon to dusk in those with dementia. However, these symptoms can occur at any point during the day in reality.

According to experts a contributing factor is a shift in the biological clock of persons with dementia which may be caused by the change from daylight to dark. Physical and mental exhaustion is one of the biggest reasons why this happens as the day wears on. Struggling all day with the basics of life that are now so elusive would be physically and mentally exhausting for any of us but it is especially so for someone with cognitive impairment.

Here are some tips that my help you and them get through this difficult period at the end of each day.

1) Keeping your home well lit during these hours can make a big difference.
2) Routine is essential for those with dementia.
3) Be prepared ahead of time.
4) Have the lights on before dusk starts to set in.
5) Have something for them to do as a distraction like a photo album to look at or maybe helping with dinner preparations as long as it's simple.
6) Maybe even a walk prior may help them release some energy or pent up frustrations from the day.

Evening hours can be busy, with people coming home from work, dinner being made, kids or visitors coming and going, phones ringing etc. The more prepared you are the easier the transition.

Turing a Blind Eye to a Growing Problem

2011-06-27T12:23:00.000-07:00

We've heard it all before, the enormity of the growing dementia issue, but maybe it's just too big a problem to face so we turn a blind eye. Unfortunately, that's going to cost us, in fact it already is as born out by the following statistics.

- 24-37 million people worldwide currently live with dementia
- It's projected to reach 115 million by 2050
- Women are bearing fewer children and the population is aging, making us ill-prepared to cope with large numbers of dependent elderly
- Russia, Europe, the US and parts of Asia have declining populations, meaning fewer workers and more people dependent upon public health systems for support
- According to the London-based Alzheimer's Disease International, the total estimated worldwide cost of the disease in 2010 was 604 billion dollars, or nearly one percent of global GDP
- If Alzheimer's were a country, it would be the 18th largest economy based on GDP

Making dementia the most important health and social crisis of our time!

With increasing numbers of famous people like musician Glen Campbell, actor Peter Falk and even US mathematician Daniel Quillen dying of dementia you would think by now notice would be taken but we are still in denial. Dementia is no longer a "old person's" disease and it does not care how intellectually gifted you are. We need to snap out of this denial phase and start planning for the future or it will be a bleak one indeed.

It's important to provide money, resources and research to cancer (6 billion), heart disease (4 billion) and AIDS (2 billion). It's important to support children and children's charities but if we continue to do these things at the expense of dementia (only 450 million spent) and strategies devoted to assisting the elderly we won't have anything left to give to these other very worthy causes in the future because the dementia epidemic will consume it all!

Disaster Preparedness and Dementia

2011-06-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

It has been a volatile spring and early summer in many parts of North America with floods, tornadoes and various natural disasters. These events are traumatic and leave many homeless and in very difficult positions those of us more fortunate can only imagine. It can be especially devastating and challenging to cope if you are responsible for someone with dementia. Here are a few tips from the Alzheimer Association that may help as we all need to be more aware and prepared for emergencies.

1) Ensure the person with dementia has a medic alert bracelet and is enrolled in a recovery program like Safe Return, Safely Home or Project Lifesaver.
2) Make sure your evacuation plans account for special needs like if the person requires a wheelchair.
3) If your loved one resides in a professional care residence be sure to know what there evacuation plan is, who is responsible and who to contact.
4) Have emergency contacts handy and keep in touch with them as your situation changes or you need to change locations.
5) Create an emergency kit.

Emergency Kits may contain the following:
1) Copies of important documents
2) Contact information for the person with dementia's doctor
3) Extra clothing
4) Water and favorite food item(s)
5) Incontinence products
6) ID items and a recent photo of the person with dementia
7) Any medications the person takes

You may come up with some addition items to add to your kit but the important thing is to be prepared.

For more visit http://www.alz.org/safetycenter/we_can_help_safety_disaster.asp

Thanking our Sponsors

2011-05-13T11:53:00.000-07:00

We are truly blessed to have such supportive donors and sponsors that believe in and stand behind our cause. We like to thank them in many ways and as often as possible since without these generous individuals, businesses, foundations and private trusts we would not be able to carry out our mandate of easing the financial burden of care giving - one family at a time.

A sincere thank you to you all especially Sunrise Senior Living of Victoria featured here!

Caring for Caregivers

2011-05-02T16:07:00.000-07:00

It's interesting that this topic keeps coming up in the media as this is exactly why We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation exists.

One in every 11 Canadians over 65 now have dementia. As of Jan 1, 2011 the first Baby Boomers began turning 65. The numbers with dementia are growing at an unprecedented rate meaning that all of us will be touched in some way by this disease creating 4 distinct groups of people:
1) those who have been caregivers,
2) those who are caregivers,
3) those who will be caregivers...and
4) those who need a caregiver.

These 4 caregiver groups can further be divided into those who:
1) have made care giving their full-time avocation
2) are juggling simultaneously the demands of unpaid care giving and paid employment, and
3) are juggling being caregivers to aging parents all while being parents to growing children.

Even through you may see yourself as just someone devoted to your family and loved ones have a close look at the lists above. Where do you fit in?

The Benefits of Art & Music

2011-04-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

Well, the studies are in, lots of them and they all say one thing - art and music is incredibly beneficial to those with dementia.

Here are just some of the benefits:
1) Deep relaxation
2) Distraction
3) Supporting pain management
4) Reduces stress
5) Reduces blood pressure
6) Increases the release of beta endorphins in the brain
7) Boosts the immune system

It has been wonderful to see these benefits in action through our Arts 4 Alzheimer's program. I've so enjoyed how engaged our clients become in their art work or how they sing along with the music even getting up to dance around. It's interesting to observe how this form of stimulation can take someone who has a limited attention span due to their disease and watch them concentrate, fully immersed, for up to an hour at a time sometimes not even noticing their caregiver has gone and returned again.

If you haven't considered art or music for your loved one before I strongly encourage you to do so even if they have never done it before. It can be amazing what comes out so give it a shot. It may even end up providing you with some much needed relief from your caring duties.

When to Enlist Greater Assistance for Those with Dementia

2011-03-31T12:12:00.000-07:00

To live alone or not to live alone? This is the question we need to be mindful of as a caregiver looking after someone with dementia who is fortunate enough to still be independent. With sufficient lifestyle supports and memory aids, some people with the disease live independently for years. The illness usually begins mildly, and it progresses at very different rates.

Here are some things to keep in mind to help you know when greater assistance is warranted.

1. Communication Changes
- Have letters and grand-children's birthday cards slowed or stopped?
- Do they seldom initiate calls anymore (you call first)?
- Do they seem in a rush to get off the phone, fail to ask you many questions, or seem unresponsive to your comments?
- Do you get non-emergency calls at unreasonable hours, or hear complaints from friends that they're receiving such calls?

2. Self Care Changes
- Are they gaining/losing weight inexplicably?
- Has their usual style (hair, makeup, clothing) become noticeably different?
- Do they dress appropriately for the occasion or weather?
- Have you detected the smell of urine on their clothes?
- Do they stay up later and later, and then not wake until practically midday?

3. Social Life Changes
- When you pick them up for an appointment, are they routinely not yet ready?
- Do they forget you said you'd be visiting and seem surprised to see you?
- Do they berate you for being late when you're not?
- Do they no longer mention old friends, or when you mention them, they are dismissive?
- Have they quit longstanding social engagements (clubs, card parties, religious committees)?
- Have they noticeably lost interest in younger grandchildren (no longer asking about them, wanting to spend time with them, or sending them notes or gifts)?

4. Household Changes
- Have you come to visit and found the temperature of the house inappropriate (much too hot or too cold)?
- Are cupboards full of multiple units of the same item, more than they could reasonably consume?
- Is the refrigerator full of expired or spoiled food or nearly empty?
- Do you see any melted pots or pans with burned bottoms?
- Do you see signs of spills that haven't been mopped?
- Are there piles of unopened mail or obviously unread newspapers?
- Can you smell urine/feces?

Other more obvious, ominous warning signs that someone may no longer be able to live alone include:
1)Having electricity or water shut off because bills have gone unpaid
2)Letters thanking them for their contribution to a charitable organization that you're not aware they have a history of supporting
3)Robbery (because they let someone in the house unsuspectingly or left a door unlocked)
4)Wandering from home or getting lost

All of these things are signs that the disease has progressed to a level where they are no longer able to care for themselves adequately and it is time to intervene. Addressing these issues and making a move whether it be to assisted living or living with you as a caregiver is essential for their own well being and potentially that of others.

Safety at Home

2011-03-21T16:21:00.000-07:00

Creating a safe home environment is important at any time but as the limitations and challenges of dementia set in it becomes even more urgent. Here are some tips that may help get you started.

1) Evaluate your environment

A person with dementia may be at greater risk in certain areas in and around your home. Pay special attention to garages, work rooms, basements and outside areas.

* Make sure the fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your home are all working and test them regularly to make sure they will operate in an emergency.

* Lock or disguise hazardous areas. Cover doors and locks with a painted mural or cloth. Use swinging or folding doors to hide entrances to the kitchen, stairwell or garage.

* Install locks out of sight. Place deadbolts either high or low on exterior doors to make it difficult for the person to wander out of the house.

* Remove locks in bathrooms or bedrooms so the person cannot get locked inside.

* Use childproof locks and door knob covers to limit access to places where knives, appliances and poisonous cleaning fluids are stored.

* Install a hidden gas valve or circuit breaker on the stove so a person with dementia cannot turn it on. Or, consider removing the knobs from the burners.

* Store grills, lawn mowers, power tools, knives and cleaning products in a secure place.

* Discard toxic plants and decorative fruits that may be mistaken for real food.

* Remove vitamins, prescription drugs, sugar substitutes and seasonings from the kitchen tables and counters. Medications should be kept in a locked area at all times.

2) Avoid injury during daily activities

Most accidents in the home occur during daily activities such as eating, bathing, and using the bathroom. Take special precautions at these times.

* Watch the temperature of water and food — it may be difficult to tell the difference between hot and cold.

* Install walk-in showers and grab bars in the shower or tub and at the edge of the vanity to allow for independent, safe movement.

* Add textured stickers to slippery surfaces. Apply adhesives to keep throw rugs and carpeting in place or remove rugs completely.

3) Adapt to vision limitations

Dementia sometimes makes it difficult for a person to distinguish colors and understand what he or she sees because of changes in vision.

* Use contrasting colored rugs in front of doors or steps to help the individual anticipate staircases and room entrances. Avoid using a dark-colored rug because it may appear to be a "hole."

* Remove throw rugs altogether to reduce the likelihood of tripping if the person has difficulty walking or uses a cane or walker.

* Create an even level of lighting by adding extra lights to entries, outside landings, areas between rooms, stairways and bathrooms.

* Use night lights in hallways, bedrooms and bathrooms.

When someone in the home has dementia you need to look at that home differently much like you would if you had small children. Safety is a priority and necessary for your peace of mind as a caregiver.

looking for my wallet and car keys

2011-03-07T10:31:00.000-08:00

Sometimes when the burden of memory loss and caregiving start to overwhelm we need to try to find the humour.

CarefulPullingout.wmv

2011-02-25T11:10:00.000-08:00

A graphic example of when it is no longer safe for your loved one to drive.

Caring for a Wanderer Takes Its Toll

2011-02-10T16:09:00.000-08:00

During the winter months here in Canada we often hear tragic stories of folks who go missing and freeze to death in our frigid temperatures. In the recent weeks, a number of residents diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease have wandered away from their homes igniting a surge of controversy throughout our national and local community as to how we, as a whole, might prevent these tragedies.

For most, the idea that memory impairment could affect a relative to such a degree is an unlikely concept. But for some members of the community, the possibility of a loved one going astray is a personal fear that is not so far fetched.

A lot of people don't understand what this disease takes out of the caregivers. They feel guilty because they can't do more for the person. You can take a family member to dialysis or chemo but for Alzheimer's, that's not an option.

Wandering is the most frightening and life-threatening activity those with dementia engage in. It is a constant, never-ending vigil for caregivers but sometimes you just need to go to the bathroom or have a nap for a few minutes and that's all the time it takes.

So, please for your own peace of mind and the safety of your loved one, talk to your neighbours, enlist their help and that of friends, family and community. Get support from local agencies, churches, non-profits or charities. Use every means at your disposal to keep those with dementia safe both human and technological. They are way past having good judgement so you will need to fill that need for them. And most of all, keep your own council. There are many out there that would have all the answers and be happy to tell you exactly what you should and shouldn't do (funny how those folks are rarely caregivers themselves) but you know your loved one and yourself best and if you have met one person with Alzheimer's, you have met one person with Alzheimer's!

Should You Inform Your Loved One They Have Dementia?

2011-01-03T16:18:00.000-08:00

Wow! Now this is a loaded question and a very personal one. When it came to determining whether my father should be told I stood up and said, "He has a right to know." That was years ago. Knowing what I know now about the disease I may have made a different suggestion. His reaction to being informed by his doctor was typical of my father. "I'm not crazy!" he stated. Needless to say he was very upset, angry and blamed the doctor's incompetance.

Reactions to the diagnosis can vary depending on the person and at what stage they are in their disease. Earlier on they can often comprehend and therefore have the opportunity to grieve what is to come as well as prepare for it. Informing them in a later stage may lead to a reaction similar to my father's or a lack of understanding and hence a constant need for you to explain repeatedly which will likely be hard on all involved.

In a nutshell it is a personal choice all caregivers will need to make. It's a judgement call. As I have recommended here before, enlist support. Hold counsel with family members and your healthcare provider and whatever your decision, stick by it and try not to beat yourself up about it. There is no instruction manual for this disease and as caregivers we all just do the very best we can with what we have to work with.

For more on this topic here is an excellent article that you may find helpful. http://www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2010/nov/18/301446/informing-loved-ones-they-have-alzheimers/

Until next time. Happy New Year! And all the best for 2011.

Surviving the Holidays

2010-12-08T11:50:00.000-08:00

Surviving the holidays can be a challenge even without the responsibility of looking after a loved one with dementia but if you are in the later group here are some tips to help you through.

- Family members must educate themselves about Alzheimer’s disease. Learning more about the disease will help family members understand the importance of keeping their loved one safe and surrounded by supportive people.

- Engaging people with Alzheimer’s in conversation and keeping them involved in activities is vital to their health. Conversation should be at the level of the loved one and it is ideal to let them lead. Fundamentally, although it may sometimes seem unusual, family members should know that it is okay to answer repeated questions with the same answers. What matters most is that you answer with interest and a positive tone and understand that it is not helpful to question the person about the memory problem or to challenge them to remember. Challenging the person with Alzheimer’s can lead to increased anxiety and may make memory, cognition, and behavior worse. Such challenging or “testing” of your family member will not help them to remember more.

- When speaking, family members should try to ask questions that rely on “old knowledge” and encourage reminiscing about holidays past. In general, people with memory problems have the best memory for distant events with more impairment as the people and events to be recalled become more recent. For instance, it may be easier for the person with memory problems to talk about the holidays when they were a child or young adult compared to a more recent holiday.

- Parents should prepare their children for conversations and can help by offering suggestions of things to ask their family member. Topics may include those that parents know are strong and positive and old memories such as hobbies, jobs, or family events.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Healthy Daily Activites to Protect the Brain

2010-11-30T11:29:00.000-08:00

There is an abundance of research into dementia going on out there on all fronts and about time too. For far too long this devastating disease has been denied the attention required to make any significant strides towards fighting it. Having said that here are a few tidbits to add to your knowledge base.

1) Walking May Cut Alzheimer's Risk
Walking 6 Miles a Week May Protect Against Dementia, say researchers. Walking a little over three-fourths of a mile a day may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Among people who already have mild cognitive impairment (MCI), walking a similar amount may slow the brain degeneration and memory loss associated with the condition. In cognitively normal adults, walking 6 miles a week instead of being sedentary was associated with a 50% reduction in Alzheimer's risk over 13 years. In people with MCI, walking just 5 miles a week reduced brain atrophy and cognitive decline -- by more than 50%. Any type of exercise that's equivalent to walking 5 or 6 miles a week will probably offer the same brain protection.

2) Aluminum vs. silica in water and its affect on Alzheimer's risk
Higher levels of aluminum in drinking water appear to increase people's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, whereas higher levels of silica appear to decrease the risk, according to French investigators. The results of some studies suggest that silica reduces the oral absorption of aluminum or increases the excretion of this metal. At the Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale in Bordeaux, they examined associations between exposure to aluminum or silica from drinking water and the risk of cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease among elderly subjects followed for 15 years. Daily aluminum intake of at least 0.1 milligram was associated with greater cognitive decline during the course of the study. Subjects with a high daily aluminum intake had a 2.26-fold increased risk of dementia, the researchers note. On the other hand, for every 10 milligram-per-day intake of silica, the odds of developing dementia dropped by 11 percent.

3) Cholesterol Levels In Middle Age Not Associated With Alzheimer's Risk
A middle aged woman's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later on in life does not appear to be affected by her levels of cholesterol, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Researchers are now questioning previous studies which did point towards a link. Significant drops on cholesterol levels during old age are much better predictors of Alzheimer's risk, say the researchers.

Three Dementia Myths Debunked

2010-11-19T16:17:00.000-08:00

There are many misconceptions out there regarding dementia. If you or someone you know is a caregiver for a person with Alzheimer’s or another related cognitive impairment, take the time to get informed. Here are a few misconceptions that you may have:

MYTH: Dementia or Alzheimer’s only afflicts the elderly.

FACT: It can affect people in their 30s and 40s, a condition called younger or early-onset Alzheimer’s. According to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, there are 70,000 Canadians who have younger/early-onset Alzheimer’s.

MYTH: Alzheimer’s in the elderly is natural.

FACT: Alzheimer’s is a brain disorder and is neither natural nor healthy. While some small degree of memory loss is inevitable as we age, healthy seniors who don’t have Alzheimer’s do not experience the steep decline in cognitive ability compared to those who have Alzheimer’s.

MYTH: Alzheimer’s can be treated.

FACT: Oh how I look forward to the day... There is no current cure for Alzheimer’s, nor are there any drugs that slow the progression of Alzheimer’s for a majority of patients. According to the Alzheimer’s Association in the USA, drugs approved by the FDA delay symptoms for only several months and work for only half of all Alzheimer’s patients.

Certain health factors have been linked to Alzheimer’s, such as head injury, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and blood pressure, according to a growing body of scientific research worldwide.

These are just a few examples of the many myths out there so please educate yourself and others about the facts of this disease and lets stop perpetuating these silly and inaccurate notions.

The Burden of Caregiver Stress

2010-11-01T13:51:00.000-07:00

Caring for a loved one who is ill can be stressful but when that loved one has Alzheimer's or related dementia, caregivers can feel an extra burden says new research from the Canadian Institute for Health Information of more than 130,000 seniors.

More than two million people in Canada are informal caregivers to people with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, and they are reporting siginficant levels of severe stress. People who care for someone with dementia often talk about feeling guilty, even when others reassure them that they are doing the best they can.

According to the study, difficulty with memory, understanding and decision-making cause the most severe hardships. Caregivers were three times more frustrated when the senior needing care had some form of dementia. The research shows that spouses were twice as likely to feel stress compared to other family members providing care. Compounding the problem is the social isolation caregivers often experience, due to the time they spend helping their loved ones at the expense of maintaining other relationships. That severe stress on caregivers has important implications. Too much stress could leave family members unable to continue to provide care, which could lead to institutionalization - for the person with dementia and even for the caregiver.

Personally I think the following advice is the best for reducing stress:
- If you're a caregiver, try not to be so hard on yourself
- To feel rage and fear over the hand you've been dealt in life is normal
- It's okay to feel guilty, too. This is also normal.
- Weep if you feel you need to. You need the release it will give you.
- Take care of yourself, because your loved one needs you
- To be there for him or her, you must have rest and good food
- Seek advice and guidance
- Take time for other interests
- Lastly, don't be afraid to ask for help. To seek help is not an admission of inadequacy, but merely an honest acceptance of human limitation.

God go with you, wherever you are.

Taken from Chapter 11 of We Rage, We Weep; A Rural Caregiver’s Experiences Coping with Alzheimer’s Disease by June Fuller Moulton.

The Shriver Report - A Woman's Nation Takes on Alzheimer's

2010-10-18T11:37:00.000-07:00

In collaboration with the Alzheimer Association of America the Shriver Report reveals some interesting insights into how the dementia epidemic is affecting women. Click on the link below to follow the story & see the interview.

http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/maria-shriver-discusses-alzheimers-america/story?id=11901785

New Criteria for Dementia Diagnosis

2010-10-12T11:10:00.000-07:00

With the advancement in detection techniques scientists are calling for an overhaul of dementia diagnosis criteria, as so they should. Like many diseases it is becoming increasingly clear that to have any hope of defeating the condition we must discover it early and take preventive measures to keep the full blown disease at bay.

Currently when doctors diagnose a person with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, they are using criteria adopted in 1984. Much has changed since then. After two and a half decades of research into the debilitating disease, the criteria is in need of an extreme makeover!

So what does the new criteria look like? The new definition includes recent breakthroughs in Alzheimer's research, for example, the detection of biomarkers which are fundamental to diagnosis. When diagnosing the clinician no longer has to wait for the presence of full-blown dementia. Nowadays, with the presence of at least one positive biomarker that shows up on MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), PET neuroimaging or CSF (cerebrospinal fluid), plus episodic memory impairment, the criteria for AD diagnosis may be met. This new approach to diagnosis means patients can be identified earlier and accurately, before clinical symptoms appear. With this new definition, dementia could be detected sooner, which would have many advantages, one of which would be the possibility of selecting patients for clinical trials of disease-modifying medications aimed at early stages of the disease. Another benefit would be to enable the disentanglement of Alzheimer's signs from those of other dementias, and create ways to recognize additional stages of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which can be an early sign of Alzheimer's, and other early stages of disease.

With little understanding still of what causes dementia in its many forms and how to treat it a glimmer of hope hangs on early detection as this point.

World Alzheimer Day

2010-09-23T12:04:00.000-07:00

Tuesday September 21 was World Alzheimer Day. The World Alzheimer Report 2010 -- issued on World Alzheimer's Day by Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) -- provides the most current and comprehensive global picture of the economic and social costs of the illness.

Report Findings

The worldwide costs of dementia will exceed 1% of global GDP in 2010, at US$604 billion.

* If dementia care were a country, it would be the world's 18th largest economy. If it were a company, it would be the world's largest by annual revenue exceeding Wal-Mart (US$414 billion) and Exxon Mobil (US$311 billion).
* The number of people with dementia will double by 2030, and more than triple by 2050.
* The costs of caring for people with dementia are likely to rise even faster than the prevalence -- especially in the developing world, as more formal social care systems emerge, and rising incomes lead to higher opportunity costs.
* Reports from individual countries such as the UK suggest that dementia is one of the costliest illnesses -- and yet research and investment is at a far lower level than for other major illnesses.

Recommended Actions

The Report urges the global community to take the following immediate actions:

* Governments worldwide should act urgently to make Alzheimer's disease a top priority and develop national plans to deal with the social and health consequences of dementia. Several countries have moved forward to develop national plans, including France, Australia and England. It is critical for other governments to follow suit.
* Governments and other major research funders must increase research funding to a level more proportionate to the economic burden of the condition. Recently published data from the UK suggests that a 15-fold increase is required to reach parity with research into heart disease, and a 30-fold increase to achieve parity with cancer research.
* Governments worldwide must develop policies and plans for long-term care that anticipate and address social and demographic trends and have an explicit focus on supporting family caregivers and ensuring social protection of vulnerable people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
* The scale of what is facing us elevates this to a global challenge, which must be addressed as a top WHO priority and on the G-20/G-8 agenda.

'This is a wake-up call that Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are the single most significant health and social crisis of the 21st century,' said Dr Daisy Acosta, Chairman of Alzheimer Disease International.

Nearly 5,000 Canadians Received Memory Screenings on National Memory Screening Day

2010-09-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

The Alzheimer Foundation for Care giving in Canada (AFCC) hosted their annual National Memory Screening Day June 15 at 550 site across the country. Of the nearly 5,000 Canadians who participated in the free screenings most of them had not discussed their concerns with their primary health care professional! In addition to the 5,000 that received a screening 10,000 more picked up informational and educational materials provided.

A voluntary survey was also conducted of 504 individuals screened, 71% of females & 70% of males said they were concerned about their memory. Of those 18.6% had not spoken to anyone of their concern, 33% had spoken to their spouse & only 17% had spoke with a health care professional. The survey findings were consistent with information gathered from participants in previous years. Nearly a third of those screened where looking for a baseline for future reference. Interestingly, the survey results also indicated the need for further education regarding risk factors for dementia as participants self-reported the following conditions - 16.3 % had diabetes, 24.9 % heart disease, 16.3 % depression & 15% obesity.

Sixteen percent of those screened scored below normal. They were referred to their health care professional as this service is meant to provide information only & not a diagnosis of any kind.

For more information on National Memory Screening Day or AFCC & its services visit http://www.alzfdn.ca/ or the prevention website at http://www.alzprevention.ca/

Don't Hide Yourself Away, Instead Know the 5 Signs of Dementia

2010-08-30T10:58:00.000-07:00

It's not uncommon for people who fear they may have dementia to want to hide out from the world, isolate themselves or cover up any indication they might be experiencing memory loss, confusion or disorientation. The good news is your forgetfulness may be totally treatable and ignoring the signs or putting off seeing your physician will only make things worse. Some of the common treatable causes of memory loss are medications, depression, sleep deprivation, fatigue or stress. Many people use more than one medication and they can interact with each other or the dosage of one or more of your medications may be too much for your age or size. Interactions with over the counter medications or alcohol use may also be a factor. Nutritional problems can likewise result in dementia. As well, liver or kidney problems and a variety of infections can impair brain functioning. The sooner you know for sure what's causing the problem the better equipped you are to take steps to address the issue.

Here are 5 signs to look for if you think it could be dementia.
1) Do you ask the same question over and over again? If people are noticing this behaviour and commenting on it it may be time to see your doctor.
2) Do you put things in unusual places? If you're forgetting everyday things you should be remembering or you find your keys in the refrigerator you better book that doctor appointment!
3) Do you struggle to remember the words you want to say? Not being able to remember the correct word or using improper wording can be a sign to watch for.
4) Does dementia run in your family? Genetics can increase your risk of dementia by 40-60% especially if a family member had early onset dementia.
5) Do you suffer from obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol? Any of these conditions can increase your potential for dementia. They have all been linked by recent and accumulating research data.

Finally, it's not just those who are concerned about memory loss who are suffering. Caregivers are also victims of this disease. Currently there are 2 million informal caregivers in Canada providing care to seniors. These caregiver are experiencing severe stress and feelings of anger, depression and anxiety especially when caring for someone with cognitive impairment. Those in a spousal care position experience greater stress than those adult children who provide care. The bottom line - take care of yourself whether you have concerns for your own memory or are looking after a loved one exhibiting impairment and get help sooner rather than later!

NPH or Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus - Not Dementia

2010-08-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

Well, now it seems I've gone from neglecting the blog to frequent postings but I believe this bares sharing. Apparently, there is a relatively common disease known as NPH or Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus that is being misdiagnosed in seniors as dementia. Thousands of aging Americans are suffering from this treatable condition that's often confused with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

So what is NPH? Well, essentially it's water on the brain. Over time, our body's ability to reabsorb the spinal fluid diminishes but we still make the same amount of spinal fluid everyday, approximately two cups, however; we absorb less of it. This excess fluid needs to be drained from the head allowing for proper physical and mental function to be regained. The procedure uses a tube that helps drain excess spinal fluid from the brain to the stomach, where it's absorbed back into the blood stream.

NPH symptoms include having difficulty walking, dementia or mild confusion, and urinary urgency or incontinence. If you or a loved one is having difficulty with these symptoms ensure you receive the appropriate diagnosis as your condition may be treatable if it is in fact NPH. This is where the new diagnostic ability gained by using sophisticated brain scans can be most effective.

Latest Dementia Research

2010-08-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been a real summer slacker when it comes to keeping up with this blog of late. I'll blame it on the sun which I hope you too are enjoying! To catch up a bit here are a few blurbs on the latest research etc. regarding dementia.

1. Scientists have learned that neuroglobin protects cells from stroke damage, amyloid toxicity and injury due to lack of oxygen. They have associated low levels of neuroglobin in brain neurons with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies have hinted that neuroglobin protects cells by maintaining the function of mitochondria and regulating the concentration of important chemicals in the cell. The scientists at the University of California, Davis and the University of Auckland think that the fundamental role of neuroglobin found in neurons is to prevent accidental cell death from occurring due to stress associated with normal cell functioning. Cells may protect themselves from triggering the chain of events leading to cell death by expressing a high level of neuroglobin.

2. NYU study offers fresh evidence gum inflammation may contribute to brain inflammation, neurodegeneration, and Alzheimer's disease. Twenty years of data supports the hypothesis of a possible causal link between periodontal disease and Alzheimer's. Research suggests that cognitively normal subjects with periodontal inflammation are at an increased risk of lower cognitive function compared to cognitively normal subjects with little or no periodontal inflammation. Subjects with Alzheimer's disease had a significantly higher level of antibodies and inflammatory molecules associated with periodontal disease in their plasma compared to healthy people.

3. Brain Cell Re-growth Demonstrated By Canadian Scientists. University of Lethbridge's Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCNB) has confirmed the first ever successful example of brain cell re-growth in an adult rat. This breakthrough may offer hope for effective treatments for dementia-related diseases and conditions, such as Alzheimer's. The scientists explained that current research focuses on the reliability of a precise method to re-grow damaged cells in the hippocampus -- and while successful in rats, requires significant further research to be useful to humans in the future.

4. Memory's Master Switch: Molecular Power Behind Memory Discovered. The key is GABA (γ-Aminobutyric acid), a natural molecule that occurs in the brain, which could be the main factor in regulating how many new memories we can generate, the new study has found. The understanding of these mechanisms might lead to the development of new memory enhancers and new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. As reported in Science Journal, Neuron, by Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University.

5. New Approach To Alzheimer's Therapy. Researchers from the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich have shown that the ADAM10 protein can inhibit the formation of beta-amyloid, which is responsible for Alzheimer's disease. ADAM10 acts like a pair of molecular scissors to cut the protein from which beta-amyloid is formed, effectively preventing the formation of beta-amyloid. This makes ADAM10 a key molecule in Alzheimer's therapy.

6. Gene Linked To Aging Also Linked To Alzheimer's. MIT biologists report that they have discovered the first link between the amyloid plaques that form in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and a gene previously implicated in the aging process, SIRT1. The researchers found that SIRT1 appears to control production of the devastating protein fragments, termed A-beta peptides, that make up amyloid plaques. They also showed that in mice engineered to develop Alzheimer's plaques and symptoms, learning and memory deficits were improved when SIRT1 was overproduced in the brain, and exacerbated when SIRT1 was deleted.

7. Novel radiotracer shines new light on the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. A trial of a novel radioactive compound readily and safely distinguished the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients from healthy volunteers on brain scans and opens the doors to making such imaging available beyond facilities that can manufacture their own radioactive compounds. The results, reported by a Johns Hopkins team in the June Journal of Nuclear Medicine, could lead to better ways to distinguish Alzheimer's from other types of dementia, track disease progression and develop new therapeutics to fight the memory-ravaging disease.

8. Test Of Spinal Fluid Could Mean Earlier Diagnosis Of Alzheimer's. An international team of scientists found that a unique "signature" of three proteins present in the spinal fluid of 90 per cent of people with Alzheimer's disease was 100 per cent successful in identifying which patients in another group with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) went on to develop Alzheimer's, opening the possibility that such a test could lead to earlier diagnosis of the disease. Results are published in the August issue of Archives of Neurology.

Blood Test for Dementia?

2010-07-12T11:53:00.000-07:00

Wow, now that would be an amazing discovery and it seems scientists have found the compound that will lead to a blood test to detect dementia or Alzheimer's. It's called clusterin. They found that levels of the protein clusterin rise in the human body "many years" (up to 10 years) before symptoms of Alzheimer's first appear. By identifying the level of clusterin in the bloodstream, doctors may in the future be able to accurately predict the likelihood of a patient to develop the disease. Early testing for the condition would allow patients to have treatment and adapt their lifestyle to minimise its impact. The study, conducted by the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, also found that very high levels of the protein may be linked to more rapid and severe memory loss.

Experiments on mice showed that production of the protein increased with age and was also linked to the development of plaques in the brain that interfered with cell communication systems. It is not known whether the plaques are the cause of Alzheimer's disease or merely a sign of it, but researchers suggested the body may produce greater quantities of clusterin in an attempt to protect the brain from the plaques. Therefore, high levels of clusterin, which can be detected in a blood sample, could be an early warning sign that the body was already fighting Alzheimer's disease.

Only time will tell if a blood test will actually become the diagnosis method of choice but it could empower individuals at risk to take the steps necessary to prevent of moderate the condition.

The Asian Dementia Epidemic

2010-06-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered if the ever growing numbers of those with dementia is an issue effecting only North America and Europe? I have. Mainly because you don't hear much about how this disease is evolving in Asia or if it is. As it turns out, they are in much the same boat as ourselves, possibly worse with their large population and little preparation for the age wave about to crash ashore. In 40 years Asia's aged will make up half the worlds dementia patients. Of those, most will be from China.

In Asia, 13.7 million people had Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia in 2005. That is expected to grow to 23.7 million by 2020 and 64.6 million by 2050. China alone will have 27 million sufferers by 2050 and India 16 million, according to Alzheimer Disease International(ADI). In Malaysia, an estimated 50,000 people suffer from dementia. Despite growing numbers of people needing special care for their disease there are few day cares and few dementia dedicated care facilities or trained care workers relatively speaking.

It does make one wonder what the future holds or what the solution might be? How will it reflect on our societies or our world economy? One thing is for sure, it will effect us all one way or another in the end whether this devastating disease hits your own family personally or not.

More News Bites on Dementia

2010-06-14T13:02:00.000-07:00

Last blog I wrote about dementia and driving. Interestingly here is some new research on a drug that may help those with the early stages of dementia stay behind the wheel a little longer providing it continues to be a safe activity for all. In addition I have included some other informative news bites.

1. A common Alzheimer's drug may bring improved driving skills in those with mild Alzheimer's disease, U.S. researchers found at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. Colleagues looked at driving-related effects of cholinesterase inhibitors on patients with mild Alzheimer's disease. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, reported patients taking the drug showed improvement in scores on computerized tests of cognitive skills necessary for driving -- including executive function, visual attention and a simulated driving task.

2. Faulty gene leads to protein build-up. Researchers at New York University's Langone Medical Center have discovered that the mutation of a gene associated with early onset Alzheimer's may block a key recycling process necessary for brain cell survival -- a finding that points the way to possible treatment for the disease. When it's working properly, presenilin 1 (PS1) performs a crucial house-cleaning service by helping brain cells digest unwanted, damaged and potentially toxic proteins. But in its mutated form, the gene fails to help cells recycle these potential toxins, suggesting an explanation for the damage to the brain characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.

3. Alzheimer's link in the eyes of children with Downs Syndrome. A team of researchers at Boston University School of Medicine and Alzheimer's Disease Center has discovered that the protein that forms plaques in the brain's of those with Alzheimer's disease also accumulates in the eyes of people with Down syndrome. The new findings in Down syndrome show that the toxic protein, known as amyloid-β, that causes Alzheimer's pathology in the brain also leads to distinctive cataracts in the eyes. The discovery is leading the researchers to develop an innovative eye test for early detection of Alzheimer's pathology in both disorders.

4. Potbelly linked to Alzheimer's. People who carry a lot of weight around their middle are at increased risk of developing dementia, say researchers. A US study of more than 700 adults showed that being overweight is associated with smaller brain volume, a factor linked with dementia. The finding was particularly strong in those with high levels of visceral fat - fatty tissue which sits around the organs, Annals of Neurology reported. They measured body mass index, waist circumference and used scans to look at the amount of abdominal fat. The results showed that as BMI increased, brain volume decreased - a finding that has been reported in other studies. But the findings also showed a closer connection between abdominal fat and the risk of dementia. The link between visceral fat around the central organs and smaller brain volume was independent of overall weight.

Driving Privileges and Dementia

2010-06-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

It is truly a sad and difficult day when a loved one can no longer drive due to their dementia. Taking away the car keys and cancelling a driver's license with the Motor Vehicle Branch can be very traumatic for caregivers as well. You really feel like the bad guy! However, this day is inevitable with dementia and the safety of your loved one and those they may be sharing the road with is paramount. Occasionally you get lucky (so to speak) and they have a scary enough experience to give up the privilege willingly. Often though it is seen as the last stand of independence and having that removed can lead to tyraids of anger and bouts of depression so be prepared. Enlist the help of your doctor, family and friends.

In the early stages of dementia driving may still be possible but as a caregiver you will need to be aware of when it is no longer safe or advisable. Some clues to tip you off that the time has come to put a stop to driving are:

- getting lost in familiar areas
- driving too fast or too slow
- ignoring traffic signs
- mishandling gears or other basic driving apparatus
- becoming easily upset or angry.

Remember once you determine driving is no longer an option there is no turning back. You need to stay resolute even on the days when your loved one seems perfectly cognisant. And do be prepared for the increased dependence they will have on you to assist them in getting where they need to go. You may even wish to enlist the help of other family members, friends, church associates, volunteer or paid companions who can help with outings such as grocery shopping and doctor's appointments.

Here are three things you can do to make the transition easier.

1. Check with your local senior support agencies for paid professional or volunteer companion services.
2. Get your doctor on board. He or she may even need to compose a medical note you can take to the Motor Vehicle Branch.
3. Contact your local Motor Vehicle Branch to determine what needs to be done to deactivate your loved ones license.

Stay strong and remember, your loved one needs you to make the tough decisions that will keep them safe.

Alzheimer News Bites

2010-05-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

Since I've been a bit neglectful of late to this blog the following are some news bites on recent finding into Alzheimer's.

1. New study characterizes cognitive and anatomic differences in Alzheimer's disease gene carriers. It seems that APOEe-4 gene carriers with Alzheimer's disease have more memory problems; non-carriers are troubled with attention, language and executive function. What this means is patients with mild AD who carry the ε4 form of the APOE gene perform more poorly on memory tests and have more prominent abnormalities in brain regions critical for memory, compared with patients without this gene variant. In contrast, patients with mild AD who do not have the APOE ε4 gene perform more poorly on tests of attention, language, and executive function and have more prominent abnormalities in brain regions critical for these abilities, compared to patients with APOE ε4. Such findings have important implications for diagnosis and treatment for those patients with Alzheimer's Disease. The study appears in the latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

2. Cardiac Procedure Reduces Risk Of Alzheimer's and Stroke. According to two new studies by the Intermountain Medical Center research team patients with atrial fibrillation treated with catheter ablation are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, and have a significantly reduced risk of stroke and death compared to A-fib patients with who are not treated with ablation. During atrial fibrillation, the heart's two small upper chambers quiver instead of beating effectively. Blood isn't pumped completely out of them, so it may pool and clot. If a piece of a blood clot in the atria leaves the heart and becomes lodged in an artery in the brain, a stroke results. A-fib is the most common heart disorder found in about 2.2 million Americans. Three to five percent of people over 65 have atrial fibrillation.

3. Music Helps People Remember New Info according to a study from the Boston University School of Medicine. In the study, people were presented with either spoken words or lyrics in a song, along with the text on a computer screen. They found that Alzheimer's patients were able to recall songs better when they were sung. But that was not the case for healthy people. People with Alzheimer's disease were better able to remember new information when it was provided as music. They even outperformed healthy adults.

4. The journal Science reports a memory 'masterswitch' has been identified in the brain's of mice, raising hopes of powerful new drugs to treat Alzheimer's and other diseases. When the switch is turned off by ageing and illness, memories fade. But when a drug is used to flick the switch back on, the brain's ability to store information dramatically improves. Triggering the switch in mice led to elderly creatures regaining the memory power of their youth. Researchers are confident that a similar switch exists in the human brain - and say that drugs that capitalise on their discovery could be in use in ten years.

5. Liver patients may have cognitive problems. A U.S. study suggests more than half of all liver patients experience neurocognitive impairments that are more severe than in early-stage Alzheimer's disease. Loyola University researchers said they found 54 percent of 301 cirrhosis patients tested in the study scored below the 10th percentile for their age and education on a test measuring neurocognitive abilities. In the general population, the average score on neurocognitive abilities tests is 100. Among the liver patients with neurocognitive impairments tested in the study, the average score was 74 - lower than the average score of patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease.

6. Spouses of Alzheimer's patients at higher dementia risk. People who nurse a spouse with dementia are at six times increased risk of developing the devastating condition themselves, says a new study. According to researchers, physical and mental stress of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's and other forms of the condition can do lasting damage to the brain's memory centre. Although all forms of caring are hard, watching the mental decline of dementia is particularly tough, with men feeling the effects particularly keenly. During the study, researchers from Utah State University tracked the health for 12 years, of more than 1,200 couples who had been married for an average of 49 years. None had dementia at the start of the study, but by the end 225 people were affected. In 125 of these, the husband was diagnosed and in 70 it was the wife. But in 30 couples, both spouses were affected. The study found husband caregivers to be three times more vulnerable than wives.

7. Alzheimer’s Vaccine Closer To Reality. The Austrian biotechnology firm Affiris announced that a new vaccine against Alzheimer's will soon be tested in six European countries. About 420 patients will be recruited to take part in clinical trials in Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany and Slovakia. British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline's AD02 vaccine was already tested for safety and tolerability over the past year. The company said that clinical trials will now test its efficacy and expect results as early as 2012. AD02 is meant to prevent the building up of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, which causes degradation of nerve cells and can be a crucial role in the cause of Alzheimer's disease. The vaccine works by causing the body to attack these plaques by producing more antibodies and are meant to attack only the part of the beta-amyloid protein that causes the plaques. The current vaccine is aimed at treating patents already affected by the disease but could be used to manufacture a preventative vaccine.

No Conclusive Evidence Preventive Measures Stave off Dementia

2010-04-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

It's disappointing news for those hoping that by eating their veggies, taking fish oil supplements or Ginkgo Biloba, doing brain exercises or crossword puzzles, staying socially active and even taking prescription drugs they could slow or even prevent cognitive decline. An independent panel convened this week by the National Institutes of Health determined that the value of these strategies for delaying the onset and/or reducing the severity of decline or disease hasn't been demonstrated in rigorous studies.

Now that doesn't mean we should all just give up. There is evidence showing that by enacting these health giving measures overall physical and mental wellness is benefited. More than anything it demonstrates that we still know very little about the aging process and how it effects cognition over time.

Dad has Left the Building!

2010-04-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

Understanding and Managing Wander Behaviour Due to Dementia.

For the past few months I have been working on a seminar that will benefit caregivers both personal and professional regarding wander behaviour due to dementia, Alzheimer's or other cognitive impairment. Being involved with Project Lifesaver of Greater Victoria for the past two years has brought to my attention the lack of information available on this very serious, life-threatening behaviour and the need to understand and mitigate the risk of severe injury or death related to it.

What will you learn?
- what is wandering
- who wanders and why
- the different types of wanders
- the prevalence of wandering
- how to recognize wandering about to take place
- how to minimize the risk of wandering and it's triggers
- comprehending the severity of the risk
- creating a safe environment
- wander prevention techniques
- what programs and services are available to help

If you or your group would like to schedule this interactive and informative presentation please contact Dr. Marjorie Moulton, Executive Director of We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation at drmmoulton@werageweweep.com or 250-920-9573.

5 Healthy Brain Stategies

2010-04-05T10:33:00.000-07:00

Take these steps to keep your brain healthy. You will reap additional health benefits as well like controling your weight, lowering your risk of heart disease and living a healthy, active life as you age.

1. Stay socially engaged. Interacting with other people stimulates the brain. Spend time with family and friends. It's also good to reach out to new people. Join a community group or volunteer at a library or senior center. Combining physical activity with socializing may have even more benefits. Join a walking group or square dance club.

2. Keep your mind sharp. Just like with muscle strength, when it comes to brain power it's "use it or lose it." Challenge yourself by doing puzzles, learning new card games or taking up a new sport. Don't do the same things the same way with the same people. Seek out new experiences. Take a class in something you've always been curious about, whether it's pottery, philosophy or welding. Join a book club or quilting group. When you walk or drive, take different routes.

3. Eat a heart-healthy diet. Studies suggest that a diet that's good for your heart is also good for your brain. A heart-healthy diet is low in saturated fat, cholesterol and salt and includes plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Choose colorful fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants, such as blueberries, strawberries, broccoli, spinach and red peppers. Add foods high in healthy omega-3 fatty acids, such as tuna and salmon.

4. Get regular exercise. Physical activity helps increase blood flow to the brain and can improve mood. It also lowers the risk of diseases that can lead to dementia, such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Pick an activity you enjoy and can stick with. Even better, find a partner to do it with you. Walking, swimming, biking and yoga are some good choices. Remember, always check with your doctor before you increase your physical activity.

5. Protect your brain. Take measures to prevent head injuries, which can jar and damage the brain. This means wearing helmets for bike riding, skiing and motorcycle riding. Also, wear seatbelts when driving.

Special thanks to myOptumHealth.com for these great tips.

Race and Alzheimer's

2010-03-23T12:18:00.000-07:00

There is some unsettling news coming out regarding Alzheimer's and race. Both the African-American and Hispanic population are experiencing increased incidence of dementia, more than two times that of other races. Why? Well it would seem that two diseases shown to increase risk occur in relatively higher numbers among African-Americans and Hispanics. Those diseases are diabetes and high blood pressure, which are common health issues in African-American and Hispanic communities.

Even with an increased incidence of dementia African-Americans and Hispanics are less likely to be diagnosed. It is, once again, a wake up call not only for those folks most at risk but for everyone concerned about their health and the growing prevalence of dementia. Watch your weight, eat healthy, get plenty of exercise and rest, keep your brain fit and keep your stress level in check.

Charity Fraud Awareness Quiz

2010-03-13T11:48:00.000-08:00

March is Fraud Awareness Month Win a $20,000 charitable donation!

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Capital One and CanadaHelps want to educate Canadians on how to identify false charities so their generous donations don't end up in fraudsters’ hands.

By being diligent and asking the right questions, Canadians can confidently support those causes that are near and dear to their hearts, while protecting themselves from fraud and ID theft.

Take the Charity Fraud Awareness Quiz to learn about charity fraud. If you complete the quiz, you will automatically be entered into a draw to win a weekly prize of $1,000 and a grand prize of $20,000, courtesy of Capital One, to be donated to a charity of your choice!

The contest starts on Monday, March 1, 2010 and ends on Wednesday, March 31, 2010.

Take the quiz http://www.canadahelps.org/FraudSurvey/FraudSurveyLanding.aspx

Interesting Drug Details

2010-03-08T16:44:00.000-08:00

Here are some interesting details released on four drugs currently on the market for Alzheimer's & dementia including their dosage forms, chemical name, manufacturer and 2009 sales.

1) Aricept: tablets; donepecil; Pfizer Inc.; $432 million (partner Esai Inc. $3.3 billion in revenue)

2) Exelon: patch, liquid or capsules; rivastigmine; Novartis AG; $954 million

3) Razadyne: tablets, capsules or liquid; galantamine; Johnson & Johnson; $415 million

4) Namenda: tablets or liquid; memantine; Forest Laboratories Inc.; $1.06 billion

The first three are part of a group called "cholinesterase inhibitors" which work on acetylcholine, a brain chemical believed to be important for learning & memory. The last one works independently of acetylcholine and acetylcholinesterase & instead focuses on glutimate.

For more information on any of these or other meds that may be beneficial contact your health care professional.

A Connection between Untreated Vision Issues in Elderly & Dementia?

2010-02-18T16:05:00.000-08:00

Hmm, there seems to be some interesting links going on between the eyes and dementia. A new study suggests that seniors with untreated vision problems may be increasing their risk of Alzheimer's or dementia. The research was published this week in the American Journal of Epidemiology. It would seem according to this new information that vision issues may be a contributor to dementia rather than one of its symptoms. If seniors went for an eye exam & the subsequent treatment just once their risk of dementia diminished by 64%. Having their glaucoma or cataracts corrected also made developing dementia less likely according to the study conducted by University of Michigan.

Vision problems can be a deterrent for seniors to engage in the very things that keep their brains healthy such as socializing, reading, playing games or doing physical activity. So if you haven't been to the eye doctor in a while or ever - get yourself down there! And be grateful they haven't found a link between dementia & the dentist.

In Honor of Valentine' s Day & A Lifetime fo Love

2010-02-04T12:20:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and although it is not a holiday embraced by all it can be an opportunity to take a moment and acknowledge our loved one with dementia. Often during the course of being a caregiver the demands are so grueling we forget to stop and honor the love we have for the person no matter how badly the disease has robbed them of who they once were.

Interestingly a company in Washington state is doing just that. Emeritus Senior Living, a national provider of assisted living and Alzheimer's and related dementia care services to seniors, has launched “Lifetime of Love”. It's an opportunity for facebook fans to share their own love stories, or family love stories that have been passed down from parents and grandparents. Fans are encouraged to post their love stories as comments to the “Valentines Day Contest” tab on the Facebook+page&index=1&md5=c79e9b420d992b8bf8c210cbb1cd148f">Emeritus Senior Living Facebook page. Unfortunately, you have to be a resident of the US to be eligible for the contest prizes but it has encouraged me to share a love story of my own.

When my father was dying of Alzheimer's I was living in Victoria, BC & he was in hospital in a little town west of Prince George, BC called Burns Lake. I received a call from my mother telling me if I wished to see my father one last time before he passed I had better come soon. I had finished work at 5pm, packed quickly & caught a 7pm ferry off Vancouver Island. It was 9pm before I got off the ferry onto the lower mainland. Now for those of you who are not familiar with the distances in BC I had a 10 hour drive ahead of me, at least. Several hours & many cups of coffee along the way at late night truck stops where long haul truckers stared strangely as I rushed in grabbed my coffee & left I began to feel drowsy & nearly fell asleep while driving. I pulled off at the very next rest stop to sleep a couple hours before carrying on. As I laid my seat back & closed my eyes my father's image appeared to me as if he was in the car with me, so clear! I was instantly fully awake alert & ready to continue. I didn't experience any more weariness for the rest of the trip. I arrived at my father's bedside in record time just 10 hours & 20 minutes after I had left the Vancouver ferry terminal, at 9:20am. My brother remarked if he hadn't known better that he would have never guessed I'd just driven all night. Apparently, I looked fresh as a daisy. My father passed away about 12pm that midday. If I had slept as I intended for a couple of hours at that rest stop I would have been too late to see my father one last time. To hold his had, assure him I was there, tell him I loved him & say goodbye.

I don't know if it was premonition, intuition, my connection to my father, a guardian angel or what that touched me that night & gave me the strength to push through the fatigue & carry on but somehow I did & I will forever be grateful.

If you have a story you wish to share please do so here in the comments or on our We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation facebook page (the link is on our website). Until next time...Happy Valentine's Day.

Early Detection of Dementia by Eye Exam?

2010-01-18T13:03:00.000-08:00

The up side of the growing dementia epidemic is the increase in research being devoted to finding new ways to detect the disease early. Finding out early enough to implement effective preventive measures can have a huge positive impact on our society and economy not to mention personally on those who might find themselves facing this devastating disease in future.

Recent research by British scientists indicates that in as little as 3 years time it may be possible to detect Alzheimer's and related dementia up to 20 years before symptoms begin to emerge with a routine eye exam. The procedure works on the premise that the light-sensitive cells in the retina at the back of the eye are a direct extension of the brain. Researchers showed for the first time in a living eye that the amount of damage to cells in the retina directly corresponds with brain cell death. The pattern of retinal cell death characteristic of Alzheimer's seen in this simple eye exam has been right every time. Even though the test is still experimental and not yet available to the public it shows a great deal of promise.

Alzheimer Awareness Month, The Cost of Dementia

2010-01-07T11:06:00.000-08:00

The Alzheimer Society has just released its two year study on dementia care in Canada entitled Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Canadian Society. Here is a brief look at the highlights.

Alzheimer Disease is the most common form of dementia, followed by vascular dementia and other conditions such as frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Health Burden of Dementia for Canada: 2008-2038

Prevalence of Alzheimer's
2008: 480,600
2038: 1,125,000

Incidence
2008: 103,700 new cases
2038: 257,800 new cases

Informal care
2008: 231 million hours
2038: 756 million hours

Economic burden
2008: $15-billion
2038: $153-billion

Economic Consequences of Dementia for Canada: 2008-2038

The Economic Burden of dementia doubles every decade, increasing from $15 billion in 2008 to a startling $153 billion in 2038.

Economic Burden of Dementia (in future dollars)
o 2008 - $15 billion
o 2018 - $37 billion
o 2028 - $75 billion
o 2038 - $153 billion

Recommendations

The Rising Tide report also makes five recommendations that would make up the components of a comprehensive National Dementia Strategy as follows:

1. An accelerated investment in all areas of dementia research.
2. A clear recognition of the important role played by informal caregivers (such as family members, friends and neighbours).
3. An increased recognition of the importance of prevention and early intervention (like eating healthy and getting appropriate exercise).
4. Greater integration of care and increased use of chronic disease prevention and management.
5. A strengthening of Canada's dementia workforce.

At We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation, we are most interested in recommendation 2 as an organization that provides financial assistance to informal caregivers to help them access necessary programs and services. The monetary support they receive from us may just be the difference between keeping their loved one at home with them or looking for a professional care setting. The Rising Tide report makes it very clear the extreme cost of professional care versus informal care on our society and economy.

Keep your eye on our blog every 2 weeks for more informative tidbits on dementia. And, of course, your comments and feedback are always welcome.

Care Tips for the Holidays

2009-12-16T12:31:00.000-08:00

Tips for Caregivers From Caregiver.com.

FIVE SEASONAL CARETIPS:
"1. Try to include your loved one in some holiday preparations. Give him or her something to do that is within their abilities and that will make them feel useful. Occupying their time will help you get other things done as well.

2. Maintain a sense of familiarity. Go easy on the decorations, and don't move too much furniture to accommodate trees or other objects. Changing familiar surroundings can lead to confusion, especially for someone with memory or physical challenges.

3. With all of the holiday hubbub, your loved one could become more confused and agitated. Try to limit the number of guests in your home at one time, and make sure that someone is always aware of the whereabouts of your loved one. If he or she tends to wander, there is a chance that this may happen when everyone thinks someone else is "on watch."

4. Ask for help! Don't try to take on all of the burdens of caring for your loved one and preparing for the holidays. Something as simple as asking a neighbor or other relative to stay with your loved one for a few hours while you get some shopping done can make all the difference.

5. Most importantly, take time for yourself. Spend an hour in a bubble bath, read a book, play in the snow. Do something that you enjoy, and have fun. The holidays are about fun and enjoyment, so make sure that you have some of both."

Merry Christmas & All the Best for the New Year!

from the We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation Team.

Great Canadian Giving Challenge

2009-11-30T11:54:00.000-08:00

We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation is competing in the Great Canadian Giving Challenge sponsored by Canadahelps.org. We are up against all the charities across Canada that use the valuable Canadahelps.org online donation service. By giving just $5.00 you can join in the fun and spirit of competition for a worthy cause! Click on the link below to join in, ask your friends to give $5.00 with you or set up your own Giving Page in support of WRWW.

It's fun!
It's easy!
And may the best charity win!

Great Canadian Giving Challenge

New Research into Prevention

2009-11-12T15:41:00.000-08:00

Most of us are aware of the need to eat healthy and get plenty of exercise to maintain our vitality and guard against disease. When it comes to dementia it is also essential whether you are hoping to prevent Alzheimer’s or even if mild cognitive impairment has already set in. So, what specifically, should we do?

Well, let’s talk about exercise to start. Recent research has indicated that a loss in muscle mass as we age can be an indicator of increased risk of developing dementia. In fact, in the November issue of Archives of Neurology an article published by Rush University Medical Center, Chicago discusses just this. "Because Alzheimer's disease develops slowly over many years and its hallmark is change in cognitive function, we examined the association of muscle strength with cognitive decline," the authors write. Individuals who were stronger at the beginning of the study experienced a slower rate of decline.

In case you needed it, this is one more reason to join your friends in a mall walk, or walk your dog, engage in some gentle weight training or sign up for that exercise, yoga or dance class you always wanted to try. We often hear about the necessity of brain fitness but this is further evidence to support physical activity as equally important.

Now what about diet? It seems there is always some new and possibly conflicting information coming out on the latest miracle diet. This or that item is bad, no wait, it’s good. No wonder many of us have issues with food. The good news it there seems to be some positive evidence stacking up for olive oil, extra virgin cold pressed to be precise. It’s been touted as neutralizing cancer-causing free radicals and preventing heart disease, to strengthening bones and reducing inflammation and healing wounds. And now, it may hold clues to finding treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, new research suggests.

The antioxidant compound found in olive oil known as oleocanthal was discovered to be preventative in the destruction of synapses in the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in learning and memory and the first area to be affected by dementia. "The findings may help identify effective measures that lead to improved therapeutics in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease," said Dr Paul Breslin, of the Monell Chemical Senses Centre in Philadelphia and lead author of the investigation.

So if you don’t have any olive oil in your cupboard I see a trip to the grocery or health food store in your future. We buy ours by the gallon from our local Mediterranean food store. A gallon you say, well, believe me it doesn’t last long in our house. We use it for everything – cooking, baking, garlic bread, toast you name it. If it calls for oil or butter or any other like substance we use olive oil. A good quality one is a yummy taste treat.

Until next time, here’s wishing you a strong body and a sharp mind.

Common Signs of Dementia

2009-10-26T18:03:00.000-07:00

Now... I came here for something... oh; yes - to write this blog!

Sound familiar? We are all prone to brief lapses in memory like forgetting what we came into a room to do or someone's name like my friend who was supposed to pass on a contact's name to a colleague in a meeting but forgot the name. He remembered at 3am the next morning and repeated the name out loud several times so as not to forget again. Unfortunately, he awoke his wife in the process - it was a woman's name - he'll have some explaining to do.

I often think thoughts are like keys, it's as if they fall from my mind like keys from the hand as I go about my business. To retrieve them I simply return along the same route until... ah, there they are. The problem for those with dementia is that they are unlikely to recognize the keys when they see them for what they are or even remember they had the thought and thus keep repeating themselves.

Memory issues, particularly short term, are the hallmark of dementia. Many worry when they find themselves being more forgetful than usual especially if there is a history of dementia in the family. It is helpful in reassuring oneself to know what signs to look for so here are the
Common Signs of Dementia:
- Short term memory loss as mentioned
- Misplacing items
- Difficulty with familiar tasks
- Mood swings
- Difficulty communicating
- Personality changes
- Time and place disorientation
- Lack of judgment
- Problems with abstract thinking

There are many reasons for a sketchy memory like having a lot on your mind, not enough rest, family or work stress. If you truly are concerned about yourself or a loved one then perhaps it’s time to consult a physician or look into memory screening such as the Alzheimer Foundation for Caregiving in Canada’s National Memory Screening Day*. If Applied NeuroSolutions, Inc.* had its way it may not be long before a simple blood test can be used to diagnosis dementia. Meanwhile, the local Alzheimer Society Resource Centre is an excellent source of educational material as is the library, internet and our very own We Rage We Weep website whether you choose to join our newsletter, buy a book or follow our links. Education is very empowering if in fact you are dealing with dementia.

The first step however is to understand the difference between normal memory lapse and early signs of dementia so as not to cause undue concern or, if need be, to get help.

Until next time… where did I put those keys?

*http://www.alzfdn.ca/NMSD/about.html
*http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166928.php#

Welcome to our Memory Blog

2009-10-08T15:57:00.000-07:00

Dementia – it’s a scary word. Some equate it with crazy. My father, who suffered with Alzheimer Disease for many years before he passed away in August 1995, certainly looked at it that way. No amount of convincing would sway him to see it for what it truly is – a vicious disease that robs us or our loved ones of much of who they once where.

It is not a normal part of aging! Although, if the questions I often receive from the many folks I meet at conferences, trade shows or out speaking in the community are any example, many seniors fear it is waiting around the corner for them as they get older. Unfortunately, the statistics lend some credibility to their concerns with the majority of people affected being over 65 and the incidence increasing dramatically over 80.

But then, no one really knows for certain what causes it, why you get it and not your neighbour or your spouse or the person who has not ‘taken good care of themselves’ when you have worked so hard to do just that, all your life. Sure, we know a lot about the disease. We know that there is a build up of plaques and tangles formed of proteins gone awry in the brain. We know the brain shrinks as the disease progresses. We know that heredity may play a factor for some. We know age is a component even though the numbers of early onset dementia are increasing alarmingly. The key to this puzzle, however; still frustratingly eludes us.

Thankfully it’s not all bad news. In fact, there is reason for greater hope all the time as scientists delve deeper and learn more with each passing day. New drugs are being developed that may help in the early stages to slow the progression of dementia. We now understand that there is a connection between dementias and diabetes and heart disease. This is good, because, it empowers us as individuals to look after these aspects of our health not only to ward off these unpleasant and life-threatening conditions but to help our minds as well. We know brain fitness like fitness of the body is important as is staying social, interactive and engaged in your community.

So you see dementia, through frightening, is not without hope. The more we acknowledge and understand that this is a disease the more control we have over it and the quality of our lives. It is my goal with this blog to explore the many facets of dementia:
· Personal Experiences
· New Research
· Prevention Methods
· Signs and Symptoms
· Coping Strategies.

Join me, won’t you? Every two weeks – let us take this journey together.