Alanna Shaikh: How I'm preparing to get Alzheimer's

When faced with a parent suffering from Alzheimer's, most of us respond with denial ("It won't happen to me") or extreme efforts at prevention. But global health expert and TED Fellow Alanna Shaikh sees it differently. She's taking three concrete steps to prepare for the moment.  Click here to view the video

"Alive Inside": Documentary examines music's positive effect on the elderly

Henry lives in a nursing home, and he sits hunched over in his wheelchair, every day, barely responding to his caretakers. But a new documentary, “Alive Inside,” captures the transformation that takes place when he and other patients are handed iPods loaded with music from their youth: They become animated
Click here to see the rest of the article

Did you remember that September is World Alzheimer’s Month?

September 11 was the ten-year anniversary of 9/11. Anniversaries are about remembering. There’s one anniversary on September 21 that’s all about forgetting. That one is World Alzheimer’s Day. A day to remember, a month to remember for the millions of people who can’t.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that damages and eventually destroys brain cells, leading to loss of memory, thinking and other brain functions. There are many stories about elderly parents getting lost on walks, forgetting simple things, faces and family members.

How do you properly diagnose Alzheimer’s disease? There are many signs in Alzheimer’s disease detection and proper diagnosis isn’t easy. There’s no definitive test for Alzheimer’s and other tests are usually performed to rule out other medical conditions. The first thing doctors do is ask patients questions and fill out questionnaires that are used to assess memory and thinking. This helps to see if signs of Alzheimer’s are present or if it flags another type of brain disease. Second, doctors order a variety of tests that evaluate mental functions.

This past April, the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association released revised guidelines for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease that divide it into three phases.
The preclinical stage: No symptoms yet, but changes have occurred in the brain that might result in symptoms later on.
Mild cognitive impairment stage: Detections in thinking start to surface, like difficulty learning new information. People live relatively normal lives.
The final stage: Dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

The new guidelines emphasize testing that measures changes in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. They include positron emission therapy (PET) scans of the brain. Most experts believe that accumulations of a protein called beta-amyloid in the brain indicate Alzheimer’s disease. The problem lies in the fact that 30% of people who test positive for beta-amyloid have no cognitive impairments, and additional factors may be needed for Alzheimer’s to develop. So, as I stated earlier, proper diagnosis isn’t easy.

The new guidelines might influence how doctors think about Alzheimer’s disease, but it’s not clear whether elaborate and expensive diagnosis would have a meaningful effect on Alzheimer’s treatment. The current drugs that are available to treat people with Alzheimer’s are modestly effective and simply put; the drugs don’t stop the disease process-taking place in the brain.

That’s not encouraging news for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s because none of the drugs aimed at slowing down this disease have worked. The good news is that the new guidelines could lead to earlier detection. And, experts hope that this will lead to clinical trials, involving people at earlier stages, when drugs and other interventions may be more effective.

So, what can you do? Get informed, get involved, and wear purple. Just like the color pink signifies breast cancer awareness, purple is the color to show support and awareness for Alzheimer’s disease. I’ve included a link for World Alzheimer’s Month so you can get more informed: http://www.alz.org/wam/wam.asp

My goal is to direct you to get the help you need with Alzheimer’s disease or any other acute or chronic illness with which your loved one may be coping. We offer you and your family peace of mind by offering you the best care there is. There is so much to gain and so much to lose by hiring the wrong people.

Did you know that Serving Seniors has been recognized as one of 30 Fellow Certified Geriatric Care Managers in the USA as recognized by the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. I welcome your comments to our posts. Let me know your thoughts and areas of interest and I’ll write on those topics.

Thanks,
Diane

A Squirt of Insulin May Delay Alzheimer’s

A small pilot study has found preliminary evidence that squirting insulin deep into the nose where it travels to the brain might hold early Alzheimer's disease at bay, researchers said on Monday.

Click here to read the entire article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/health/research/13alzheimers.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general

An Alzheimer's Disease Bill of Rights

Virginia Bell and David Troxel, authors and public speakers on AD and caregiving, have established a Best Friends Bill of Rights for the Alzheimer's victim and caregiver. I personally struggled and learned about caregiving for my mother who had Alzheimer's. These "rights" are excellent guides for caring for your loved ones.
Click on the link below to view an article on Alzheimer's Disease Bill of Rights.

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2010/07/01/Group-proposes-dementia-bill-of-ri%3Cbr%20/%3Eghts/UPI-59521277963541/

.

Alzheimer’s and the Brain

Just like the rest of our bodies, our brains change as we age. Most of us notice some slowed thinking and occasional problems with remembering certain things.
For more information on entire article, click on this link:

http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp#brain

.

Alzheimer's Overview

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906. Scientists have learned a great deal about Alzheimer’s disease in the century since Dr. Alzheimer first drew attention to it. Click on the link below to view the entire article.

http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp#Introduction

.

Earlier Diagnosis.

What if we could diagnose Alzheimer's before symptoms started? The hope is, future treatments could then target the disease in its earliest stages, before irreversible brain damage or mental decline has occurred.

To read the entire article, click on this link:

Click here to read entire article

10 Signs of Alzheimer’s:

Memory loss that disrupts daily life is not a typical part of aging. It may be a symptom of Alzheimer's, a fatal brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills.

To read the entire article, click on this link:

Click here to read the entire article

What is Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that damages and eventually destroys brain cells, leading to loss of memory, thinking and other brain functions. Alzheimer's is not a part of normal aging, but results from a complex pattern of abnormal changes.

To read the entire article, click on this link:

Click here to read the entire article