Tag Archives: Alzheimer’s

Strategies to support a loved one with Alzheimer’s

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Senior Living, West Michigan, , ,
(Photo Courtesy, Care Resources/Adobe Stock)



By Care Resources



When it comes to coping and caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, it’s important at times to consider what you don’t say and do.

“People with Alzheimer’s live in a different reality once it advances,” says Paula Lett, social services manager at Care Resources, a Grand Rapids-based program for older adults that promotes healthy, independent living and helps prevent nursing home placement.

“In the beginning, they can be redirected, but as things progress, they’re stuck in a reality they’ve lived previously.”

The result can lead to extreme “agitation,” which can manifest itself in “getting upset, worked up and angry,” notes Ryanne Mondry, social services supervisor at Care Resources. 

“That leads to confusion, miscommunication and misunderstandings.”

Stress levels can accelerate for both patients and caregivers. With Alzheimer’s expected to afflict nearly 13 million Americans by 2050 – the number now stands at some 7 million – it’s more important than ever to lean on education and advocacy for a disease that, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, is the fifth-leading cause of death among Americans 65 and older.

There are numerous strategies recommended for caregivers, including what Mondry says are telling “therapeutic white lies” to reduce stress in patients. For example, if a widower asks about seeing his wife, he shouldn’t be told she’s been dead five years, but instead that “she’s going to try to visit tomorrow.”

If they ask about the automobile they haven’t driven in the last year, things are apt to go more smoothly if they’re told “it’s in the shop for some minor repairs.”

Telling harsh truths might seem like the moral thing to do, but doing so can challenge the reality the disease has caused, and lead to traumatic episodes.

“It is generally best to redirect them than trying to make them remember what’s really going on, as that can really escalate things,” Lett says.

Lett and Mondry offer these additional tips for coping:

  1. Ask the patient if they’re hungry, thirsty or tired. They might be unable to recognize basic needs.
  2. Be aware of their blood-sugar levels.
  3. Pay attention to their hygiene needs. Some with Alzheimer’s resist showering. Encourage a calming bath instead.
  4. Try a change of scenery. Bring them into a quiet space. Take them for a walk or a drive. Play some music.

Lett and Mondry agree that caregivers also must understand that patients aren’t intentionally trying to be difficult in moments of increased agitation. 

“Their brains have actually changed, and they sometimes become different people,” Lett says. 

Mondry adds, “They can become more impulsive, engage in colorful language, and say and do things that are totally out of character.”

Both professionals agree it’s critical for caregivers to take care of themselves, too. Mondry compares it to the instructions given on flights where if the masks drop from above, capable adults need to put theirs on before assisting others.

“It’s easy to become burned out, and that can lead to unintentional neglect toward the person you’re supposed to be caring for,” Lett says. “Go for a walk, get enough sleep or join a support group.”

Mondry and Lett also suggest visiting a place like Care Resources, where there are wraparound support services for adults 55 years and older to give caregivers respite. Several team members have gone through comprehensive dementia care training developed by renowned dementia educator Teepa Snow to achieve a range of Positive Approach to Care® dementia certifications. These certifications allow staff to provide quality direct dementia care to participants, as well as and conduct ongoing dementia care training for other team members.

The organization’s day center at 4150 Kalamazoo Ave. SE invites participants to visit, enjoy a meal and socialize. Individuals may also be eligible for medical care, prescription help, dietary advice, physical and occupational therapy, transportation and much more. For more information, call Care Resources at 616-913-2006 or visit CareResources.org

In Love and Health: If you have a brain, you’re at risk for Alzheimer’s

3-bottom, Health, ,
There are lots of purple ribbons as June is Alzheimer’s and Brian Awareness Month. (Alzheimer’s Association)

Dr. Erik Johnson DC
Love and Health Chiropractic

Are you seeing purple? If yes, that’s because June is designated as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Those purple ribbons remind us of the fight against Alzheimer’s dementia. Everyone is at risk for Alzheimer’s. However, you can take action to reduce that risk.

While there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s, physicians can prescribe medications that can address its symptoms. And, as a chiropractor, I can’t help but point out the value of chiropractic adjustments. The brain and the spine work together to message and manage the entire body. An aligned spine can better relay the messages that the brain sends to the various organs and body parts. Many of my colleagues have reported success in supporting the journeys of their patients with Alzheimer’s.

What else can you do? Diet has been shown to be a big factor in brain health. Some experts are even calling Alzheimer’s disease Type 3 diabetes. Studies have found that some cases of Alzheimer’s disease were triggered by a form of diabetes in the brain. An Alzheimer’s gene variant, APOE4, seems to interfere with brain cells’ ability to use insulin. As a result, those brain cells seem to eventually starve and die. Mayo Clinic researchers have even tested an insulin nasal spray that has been developed to improve Alzheimer’s symptoms.

Alzheimer’s Association’s Longest Day will be June 21. (Alzheimer’s Association)

While treatments like this are wonderful, wouldn’t it be even better to reduce risks for the disease? That’s where choosing foods that do not lead to insulin resistance, prediabetes, and diabetes come in to play. In addition to avoiding sweets and carbs that wreak havoc on blood sugar levels, choose fatty fish, leafy greens, eggs, and legumes. When you make your stop at the farmers market this summer, stock up on strawberries, broccoli, squash, and avocados. In between meals, snack on trail mixes that include chia and flax seeds. Cook with extra virgin olive oil and don’t be shy about using lots of fresh garlic.

When you eat healthier, you’ll not only reduce your risks for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, but you’ll also improve your overall health. These other suggestions for reducing risk of Alzheimer’s from the Alzheimer’s Association do the same: Physical and mental exercise, smoking cessation, getting plenty of sleep, enjoying the company of friends and family, and avoiding head injuries.

Back to the color purple. If you see an extra flourish of purple ribbons this month, they may also be promoting the Alzheimer’s Association’s Fight Alzheimer’s on The Longest Day® campaign, taking place on June 20, the summer solstice. “The day with the most light is the day we fight®.” For information, visit ALZ.org.

Dr. Erik Johnson DC is a chiropractor at Love and Health Chiropractic in Wyoming at 1586 44th Street SW.

Medical Moments: Knowing the signs of dementia

3-bottom, Health, , ,

By Dr. Afriyie Randle
WKTV Community Contributor

In past 100 years, the average life expectancy of a man in the United States has gone from 40 to 77 with women going from 40 to 88. With the average life expectancy continues to increase so does the likelihood of older adults suffering from four or more chronic diseases.

Amongst these chronic diseases, Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia reign supreme. Although both disorders are common, they are not a result of “just getting old”. In other words “getting old” doesn’t necessarily mean you will get dementia.

Mild dementia: In early stages of dementia your loved one may not experience any symptoms though changes in the brain are present. Family members or spouses may notice small abnormalities that are indeed so small that one may dismiss them as normal forgetfulness. This can include forgetting a meeting, loosing your keys, or misplacing an item.

Moderate dementia: In moderate dementia signs of memory changes are more evident. Ability to maintain ones household is more difficulty because bills aren’t being managed. Forgetfulness in regards to managing medication and eating is apparent. Next the individual requires more assistance with activities of daily living such as dressing, remembering addresses and hygiene.

Severe dementia: In severe dementia, constant supervision is required. Loosing control of bowel and bladder may be present. Personality changes are noticed. Speech starts to decrease and the ability to recognize loved ones wane. The individual is unaware of his/her surroundings and is unable to communicate their needs.

Dementia effects the patient and the family. The total lifetime cost of care for someone with dementia is estimated to be nearly $350,000. Learn to recognize early and late signs will allow for your love one to be cared for appropriately and always contact your health provider with questions. 

How resilient are your brain connections?

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Senior Living, , , , ,
Findings provide a target for drugs designed to support and maintain dendritic spine health. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay


The conclusion of a recent study suggests possible new ways to prevent or slow the memory-destroying disease, Alzheimer’s, researchers said.


For the study, the researchers analyzed brain samples from patients at memory clinics and found that the presence of healthy dendritic spines (connections between neurons) provide protection against Alzheimer’s in people whose brains have proteins associated with the disease.


The findings, published in the Annals of Neurology, are the first of their kind, the study authors said.


“One of the precursors of Alzheimer’s is the development in the brain of proteins called amyloid and tau, which we refer to as the pathology of Alzheimer’s,” said the study’s lead author, Jeremy Herskowitz.


He’s an assistant professor with the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine’s department of neurology.


“However, about 30 percent of the aging population have amyloid and tau buildup but never develop dementia. Our study showed that these individuals had larger, more numerous dendritic spines than those with dementia, indicating that spine health plays a major role in the onset of disease,” Herskowitz said in a university news release.


Neurons, which are brain cells, are constantly sending out dendritic spines in search of other neurons. When they connect, a synapse—an exchange of information—occurs between neurons. This is the basis for memory and learning, the researchers explained.


“One obvious culprit in Alzheimer’s disease is the loss of dendritic spines and thus the loss of synapses,” Herskowitz said.


“This would impair the ability to think, so the assumption has been that those without dementia had healthy (dendritic) spines and those with dementia did not. But no one had gone in to see if that was true,” he noted.


Healthy dendritic spines could be genetic, or the result of beneficial lifestyle habits—such as good diet and exercise—which are known to reduce the risk of dementia, Herskowitz said.


The findings provide “a target for drugs that would be designed to support and maintain dendritic spine health in an effort to rebuild neurons or prevent their loss,” he added.


“This data suggests that rebuilding neurons is possible. And as we are better able to identify the increase of amyloid and tau early in the progression of the disease, even before symptoms arise, we might be able to one day offer a medication that can contribute to maintaining healthy dendritic spines in those with the Alzheimer’s pathology,” he concluded.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Understanding dementia behavior

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, How-To's, Senior Living, , , ,
Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living


By Vista Springs Assisted Living


For people recently diagnosed with dementia, or caretakers, friends, and loved ones of someone with dementia, changes in behavior can be frightening and difficult to deal with. Yet it’s important to understand that the person with dementia is not any less themselves because of their condition. Being able to recognize responsive behaviors and realize what causes them to occur can help bridge the gap between someone with dementia and those around them.

What is Dementia?

Dementia refers to a number of different causes of loss of cognitive functioning, including Alzheimer’s, frontotemporal disorders, Lewy body dementia, and vascular dementia. It is characterized by loss of capacity to remember and reason such that it interferes with a person’s life. Functions such as memory, language skills, hearing, visual perception, focus, and problem solving may gradually become impaired. In some cases, people may lose control of their emotions or display seeming changes in personality.


Despite common perceptions, dementia is not a normal part of aging, and it can be managed with proper memory care. Part of this care is ensuring a secure, stable support network for the diagnosed person, but this can be hard when many dementia behaviors are misunderstood or misinterpreted.

Responsive Behaviors

People with dementia will often display responsive behaviors to stimuli — or lack thereof — for which they do not have a response that is considered “normal” or “acceptable” for others. Yet these behaviors are not intended to upset others, and may be the best way the diagnosed person can convey an idea, wish, or concern. Unfortunately, some common responsive behaviors are misread as rude or inappropriate, creating further communication barriers and potentially, more emotional distress for the person with dementia.


Some common responsive behaviors include screaming, babbling, making strange noises, restlessness, grabbing people, and aimless wandering. It’s important to note that some responsive behaviors, such as swearing, violent contact, and sexual impulses can be distressing to others, and should not be dismissed as normal behavior. However, you should always be mindful of the possible causes of such behavior, and attempt to reach a solution that prevents further harm to either party.


There are a number of factors that could contribute to causing responsive behavior. These include:

Physical:

Is the person hurt, sore, or uncomfortable? Is she hungry or thirsty? What visible changes can you see that could indicate physical distress? Someone who is physically uncomfortable may have less control over her reactions, and resolving the discomfort could help with addressing the behavior.

Emotional: 

Have you noticed the person becoming more anxious, teary, or melancholy? Does he seem to be lonely? Has he become suspicious of others, or fearful of something? While shifts in emotion are harder to address than physical needs, distracting the person with dementia could help them regulate negative emotions. Try reminiscing about happy times in earlier life, as long-term memories are more likely to remain readily accessible to those with dementia.

Intellectual:

Have you noticed that the person has had more trouble forming sentences, or loses her train of thought halfway through a conversation? Has she had recent issues with memory, or with performing activities of daily living? In many cases, the person with dementia may be aware of their loss of cognitive functioning, an experience that is frightening, frustrating, and embarrassing. Try not to point out areas of difficulty, and use clear instructions and visual cues to help them perform tasks.

Environment:

Environmental factors can play a large part in the comfort of a person with dementia. For example, if the lights are too bright or too dim, the person may be overwhelmed or unable to see clearly, causing distress. Is the area too noisy? Is there enough stimulation to give him something to focus on? Small changes in environment can ensure the person is comfortable with their surroundings.

Social:

Are there hints from the person’s background that may give insight into their responsive behaviors? Because long-term memories are often more accessible than short-term, people with dementia may draw upon scenarios and behaviors that they learned growing up, routines they learned at school or during their professional life, or cultural or religious practices.

Capabilities:

A natural reaction for caretakers of loved ones with dementia is to attempt to do everything for them, but loss of control and self-management can be distressing and even hurtful to the diagnosed person. As a result, responsive behaviors may be a reaction to underestimating (or overestimating) a person’s ability to perform certain activities of daily living. Enabling them to perform self-care tasks for themselves may help slow loss of function and manage responsive behaviors.

Actions of Others:

Is there anything that you or others are doing that could upset the person with dementia? While asking them to remember something or explaining why a behavior is inappropriate may seem harmless, and indeed necessary to a caregiver or friend, the person may interpret such statements as disappointment, anger, or frustration. Be understanding, offer an apology, and distract them with a new topic of conversation or something to do with their hands.


The most important thing to remember when working towards understanding dementia behaviors is that responsive behaviors are purposeful. While it may seem that the diagnosed person is lashing out or performing behaviors unconsciously, they are actually reacting to a circumstance in a way that seems natural to them. Part of providing memory care — whether formal or informal — is the ability to recognize and work through these responsive behaviors, creating better communication between the person with dementia and their caregivers.


Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.


Alzheimer’s research eyes rogue proteins

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Education, Health, Senior Living, ,
Researchers believe that Alzheimer’s disease may be a double-prion disorder in which two rogue proteins destroy the brain. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay


With findings that might alter the path of Alzheimer’s research, scientists say misfolded forms of two proteins appear to spread through patients’ brains similar to an infection.


The findings suggest that Alzheimer’s is a “double-prion” disorder. This discovery could help lead to new treatments that focus directly on prions, according to researchers from the University of California, San Francisco.


A prion is a misshapen protein that can force other copies of that protein into the same misfolded shape and spread in the brain.


It’s best known for its role in bovine spongiform encephalopathy—”mad cow” disease—and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a degenerative brain disorder.


In the new research, the university team analyzed the brains of 75 Alzheimer’s patients after death and found self-propagating prion forms of the proteins amyloid beta and tau. Higher amounts of these prions were associated with early-onset Alzheimer’s and younger age at death.


Alzheimer’s patients have amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, but efforts to treat the disease by clearing out these inactive proteins have failed.


These new findings suggest that active amyloid beta and tau prions could drive Alzheimer’s and offer targets for effective treatment, according to the researchers.


“I believe this shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that amyloid beta and tau are both prions and that Alzheimer’s disease is a double-prion disorder in which these two rogue proteins together destroy the brain,” said study senior author Dr. Stanley Prusiner, director of the UCSF Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases.


Prusiner won a Nobel Prize in 1997 for discovering that prions were responsible for mad cow disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.


Prion levels also appear linked to patient longevity, he noted.


“We need a sea change in Alzheimer’s disease research and that is what this paper does. This paper might catalyze a major change in AD research,” Prusiner said in a university news release.


For this study, the researchers used recently developed laboratory tests to rapidly measure prions in human tissue samples. They can reveal infectious prion levels in just days.


These tests “are a game-changer,” said study co-author William DeGrado, a UCSF professor of pharmaceutical chemistry.


In order to develop effective therapies and diagnostics, scientists must target the active prion forms, rather than the large amount of protein in plaques and tangles, DeGrado said.


The researchers hope that measuring the prion forms of amyloid beta and tau might lead to the development of drugs that either prevent them from forming or spreading, or help remove them before they cause damage.


The study was published recently in the journal Science Translational Medicine.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.


Brush teeth, save brain?

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Senior Living, , , ,
Researchers may one day add brain health to the list of reasons you should floss and brush regularly. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay


Regular brushing and flossing can save your teeth into old age.


Could it also save your brain?


The bacteria involved in gum disease might play a key role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, new research suggests.


DNA from the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis is more often found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, said lead researcher Jan Potempa, a professor at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry in Kentucky.


P. gingivalis is one of the causes of periodontitis, the most serious type of gum disease.


“The DNA can be found in the Alzheimer’s brain, but less frequently at a lower level in the brain of people who died at the same age from causes other than Alzheimer’s,” Potempa said.


Alzheimer’s-affected brains also contain higher levels of a toxin secreted by P. gingivalis called gingipain, he said.


Potempa and his colleagues think the bacteria and its toxins might be connected with Alzheimer’s disease, a suspicion supported by their research involving laboratory mice.


Researchers infected the mouths of mice with P. gingivalis and found that the bacteria did spread into the brain. The infection appeared to increase production of amyloid beta, a protein linked to Alzheimer’s, and also caused inflammation in the brain.


The researchers also found that a drug targeting gingipain blocked movement of the bacteria into the brains of the mice.


The experimental drug, known as COR388, reduced the amount of P. gingivalis in mouse brains, with an accompanying decrease in amyloid beta production and brain inflammation, researchers reported.


A phase 1 clinical trial is underway to see if COR388 can prevent Alzheimer’s, researchers said. The company Cortexyme Inc., based in San Francisco, developed the drug and is supporting the research.


There are several routes by which P. gingivalis could get into the brain, Potempa said. It could be carried through the bloodstream, by cell-to-cell infection, or through the nervous system.


“There a lot of nerves going into our mouth which have direct connection to the brain,” he added. “If the bacteria gets into these nerves, it can translocate directly into the brain.”


If this theory of Alzheimer’s disease proves true, then it could be that the amyloid plaques that are thought to disrupt brain function might actually be the brain defending itself against infection, Potempa said.


“Beta amyloid has an antibacterial function,” he said. “It’s not just there to form the plaques. It can kill the bacteria. These beta amyloid plaques may be essential for defending the brain against bacteria.”


About 46% of adults 30 and older have gum disease, with about 9% having very severe disease, Potempa said.


You can avoid gum disease by brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing regularly to remove plaque between teeth and visiting the dentist for regular checkups and cleanings, according to the U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.


This study is part of a growing field of research looking into whether viral or bacterial infections might be associated with Alzheimer’s, said Keith Fargo, director of scientific programs and outreach at the Alzheimer’s Association.


Another well-respected research team is investigating possible links between herpes virus and Alzheimer’s, he said.


“It’s actually receiving a lot of attention over the past couple of years. If you’d have asked me three years ago, I would have said it’s a fairly fringe idea,” Fargo said.


But a direct cause-and-effect relationship has yet to be established between any infectious agent and Alzheimer’s, Fargo said.


He said it’s possible that bacteria like P. gingivalis are found at higher levels in Alzheimer’s brains because those brains are weakened and less able to defend against infection.


“As the brain gets sick with Alzheimer’s disease or with something else, it becomes less able to fight off these things,” Fargo said.


Dr. Ronald Petersen, director of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Research Center, agreed that the link between bacterial infection and Alzheimer’s is still “quite speculative.”


“I certainly wouldn’t worry a group of readers that this is the cause of Alzheimer’s, or if you’ve got gum disease you’re more likely to develop dementia later in life,” he said.


Petersen said the mouse evidence is interesting, but still a step removed from Alzheimer’s in humans. Research on animals does not always produce the same results in humans.


“That would argue this is plausible but again, it’s genetically engineered mice and it’s kind of far from human reality at this point,” he said.


Potempa presented his research recently at the 2019 annual meeting of the American Association of Anatomists, in Orlando, Fla. Research presented at meetings is typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Unraveling Alzheimer’s

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Senior Living, , ,
Earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer’s means patients and families can plan for the future, including safety, care, legal and financial issues. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay


Brain scans can improve diagnosis and management of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study claims.


“The good news is that there are no side effects from any of these recommendations,” said Dr. Thoits, the division chief of neurology with Spectrum Health Medical Group.


Researchers assessed the use of PET scans to identify Alzheimer’s-related amyloid plaques in the brain. The study included more than 11,000 Medicare beneficiaries with mild thinking impairment or dementia of uncertain cause.


This scanning technique changed the diagnosis of the cause of mental impairment in more than one-third of the participants in the study.


The brain scan results also changed management—including the use of medications and counseling—in nearly two-thirds of cases, according to the study published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association.


“These results present highly credible, large-scale evidence that amyloid PET imaging can be a powerful tool to improve the accuracy of Alzheimer’s diagnosis and lead to better medical management, especially in difficult-to-diagnose cases,” said study co-author Maria Carrillo, chief science officer of the Alzheimer’s Association.


“It is important that amyloid PET imaging be more broadly accessible to those who need it,” she added in an association news release.


Funding for the study came from Avid Radiopharmaceuticals Inc., General Electric Healthcare and Life Molecular Imaging.


“We are impressed by the magnitude of these results, which make it clear that amyloid PET imaging can have a major impact on how we diagnose and care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of cognitive decline,” said lead author Dr. Gil Rabinovici. He’s a professor of neurology at the Memory and Aging Center at the University of California, San Francisco.

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but early diagnosis means that patients can receive treatment to manage symptoms and be directed to clinical trials for new drugs.


Early diagnosis also means that patients and families can plan for the future, including safety, care, legal and financial issues, and access resources and support programs, the researchers said.


In this study, the PET scans revealed that about one-third of patients previously diagnosed with Alzheimer’s had no significant amyloid buildup and their Alzheimer’s diagnosis was reversed.


But in nearly half of patients not previously diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the PET scans revealed significant amyloid plaque buildup, resulting in a new diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.


One-third of the study participants who had previously been referred to Alzheimer’s clinical trials showed no sign of amyloid buildup based on PET scans. Based on those results, doctors were able to ensure that nearly all (93%) of patients referred to Alzheimer’s trials were amyloid-positive, which is critical to these trials’ success.


“Accurate diagnoses are critical to ensure patients are receiving the most appropriate treatments. In particular, Alzheimer’s medications can worsen cognitive decline in people with other brain diseases,” Rabinovici said.


“But perhaps more fundamentally, people who come into the clinic with concerns about memory problems want answers. An early, definitive diagnosis may allow individuals to be part of planning for the next phase of their lives and to make decisions that otherwise would eventually need to be made by others,” he said.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Eyes could be the window to predicting Alzheimer’s

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Senior Living, ,

Eye tests could one day make it possible to screen people in their 40s or 50s for early signs of Alzheimer’s, and begin treatment to delay further progression of the disease. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

 

An eye exam might spot people with Alzheimer’s disease before they show any symptoms, researchers report.

 

“All of us have a small area devoid of blood vessels in the center of our retinas that is responsible for our most precise vision. We found that this zone lacking blood vessels was significantly enlarged in people with pre-clinical Alzheimer’s disease,” explained co-principal investigator Dr. Rajendra Apte. He is a professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

 

Previous studies have found that the eyes of people who had died from Alzheimer’s showed signs of thinning in the center of the retina and deterioration of the optic nerve.

 

In this new study, Apte’s team used a noninvasive technique called optical coherence tomography angiography to examine the thickness of the retinas and fibers in the optic nerves of 30 people, average age mid-70s, who had no symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

 

A form of the test is available at many eye doctors in the United States.

 

After the eye tests, PET scans and cerebrospinal fluid analyses revealed that about half of the study participants had elevated levels of the Alzheimer’s-related proteins amyloid or tau. So, even though they didn’t have any Alzheimer’s symptoms, these people were likely to develop the disease.

 

“In the patients with elevated levels of amyloid or tau, we detected significant thinning in the center of the retina,” Apte said in a university news release.

 

According to study first author Dr. Bliss O’Bryhim, “This technique has great potential to become a screening tool that helps decide who should undergo more expensive and invasive testing for Alzheimer’s disease prior to the appearance of clinical symptoms.” O’Bryhim is a resident physician in the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences.

 

“Our hope is to use this technique to understand who is accumulating abnormal proteins in the brain that may lead them to develop Alzheimer’s,” she added.

 

It’s believed that Alzheimer’s-related plaques can accumulate in the brain two decades before symptoms appear, so scientists are trying to find ways to detect the disease earlier.

 

Currently, PET scans and lumbar punctures are used to help diagnose Alzheimer’s, but these methods are invasive and expensive.

 

Further research is needed, but this eye test could one day make it possible to screen people in their 40s or 50s for early signs of Alzheimer’s, and begin treatment to delay further progression of the disease, the study authors suggested.

 

The study was published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology.

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum HealthBeat.

 

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease warning signs

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, How-To's, Senior Living, , ,

Photo courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Holly Tiret, Michigan State University Extension

 

Michigan State University Extension is committed to helping people improve their lives by extending research-based knowledge about a variety of topics. One issue of great concern is the increase of those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

 

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, dementia is not a specific disease, but is referred to as a group of symptoms which show up as a general decline in mental ability that interferes with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is a common form of dementia and is considered a degenerative brain disease.

 

Data from the 2018 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report states that in the United States, as of 2018, over 5 million people of all ages are living with Alzheimer’s dementia. Due to people living longer because of better health interventions and the aging baby boomer generation, the number of people age 65 and older is expected to increase to 22 percent in 2050. The number of people who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s will increase. In Michigan alone, the number of those aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s is expected to increase from 180,000 in 2018, to 220,000 in 2025, with additional projections of 13.8 million in 2050.

 

Dementia can also be a symptom of other underlying health issues and your doctor has the tools to help sort that out. The following is a list of the ten early warning signs. Each one of these can be explored more by visiting the Alzheimer’s Association website at www.alz.org.

 

Ten Early Signs of Alzheimer’s:

  1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life.
  2. Challenges in planning or solving problems.
  3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work or leisure.
  4. Confusion with time or place.
  5. Trouble with visual images and spatial relationships.
  6. New problems with words or writing.
  7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.
  8. Decreased or poor judgement.
  9. Withdrawal from work or social activities.
  10. Change in mood or personality.

Early warning signs listed above are different from the normal age-related memory changes. Typically as we age, we all misplace things, search for the right word to use and even forget what day it is. One way to explain it is if I just can’t find my keys, I may be experiencing a typical age-related memory issue, but if I don’t know what keys are for or what they are called, I may be experiencing an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

 

Early diagnosis and treatment are critical. One thing you can do is to know the ten early warning signs. If you think they apply to you or a loved one, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss further testing.

 

If you are a caregiver of someone who is living with dementia or Alzheimer’s consider signing up for a Powerful Tools for Caregivers series through Michigan State University Extension.

 

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news you need to know

3-bottom, Area Education, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Education, Health, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, ,

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

"It occurred to me at one point it was like I had two diseases — one was Alzheimer's, and the other was knowing I had Alzheimer's."
                                                 - Terry Pratchett

 

What’s next in battling Alzheimer’s?

 

“Alzheimer’s Disease: A Look into the Future” is set for Monday, November 12, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the L. William Seidman Center, 50 Front Ave. SW, on Grand Valley’s Pew Grand Rapids Campus. The event is free and open to the public.  For the complete story, click here.

 

What’s new (soon) at Ford Airport?

 

Construction on the second phase of the Gateway Transformation Project begins today at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA), and will continue through Summer 2020. For the complete story, click here.

 

What’s the deal with ‘Strive for Five’?

 

The straightforward message behind “Strive for Less than 5”, the countywide campaign to reduce absences: The more school a child misses, the further they fall behind and the more at risk they are of eventually dropping out. For the complete story, click here.

 

Fun Fact:

5.0 million vs. 5.5 million

In fall 2018, about 1.4 million children are expected to attend public prekindergarten and 3.6 million are expected to attend public kindergarten. (Source) In contrast, An estimated 5.7 million Americans of all ages are living with Alzheimer's dementia in 2018. This number includes an estimated 5.5 million people age 65 and older and approximately 200,000 individuals under age 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer's. (Source)

Got that foggy feelin’?

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Education, Health, Recreation, Senior Living, , , , ,

Is your memory failing you? Don’t assume the worst. You may have a reversible condition. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Diane Benson, Spectrum Health Beat

 

Brain fog … Can’t clear the cobwebs … I know I know this … Wait, wait, don’t tell me … Really, it’s on the tip of my tongue.

 

What did I do yesterday? (Hmmm. Good question).

 

If this sounds like your state of mind (or lack thereof), you may have dementia.

 

Hold on. Don’t panic.

 

Dementia, defined as problems with memory or thinking and changes in personality or behavior, can be reversible.

 

In fact, more than 50 conditions can cause or mimic the symptoms of dementia.

 

“Short-term memory loss, like difficulty remembering recent events, is often the most pronounced symptom of both reversible and non-reversible dementias,” said Maegan Hatfield-Eldred, Ph.D., a clinical neuropsychologist with Spectrum Health Medical Group.

 

Common causes of reversible dementia include depression, vitamin B12 deficiency, drug or alcohol abuse and under-active thyroid.

 

“We associate the word ‘dementia’ with permanence, something that’s going to get worse or is incurable,” Dr. Hatfield said. “But with these conditions, symptoms subside, or are reversed, when the underlying problem is treated.”

 

Many medications can also cause dementia-like symptoms.

 

As we age, the liver and kidneys don’t work as efficiently so drugs tend to accumulate in the body, become toxic and cause problems. Elderly people in poor health and those taking several different medications are especially vulnerable.

Stressed-out caregivers beware

Another increasingly common cause for scary dementia symptoms is stress. And those overwhelmed by caring for others are particularly at risk.

 

“So-called ‘caregiver dementia’—cognitive and memory issues brought on by the stress of caring for a loved one—is a very real phenomenon,” Dr. Hatfield said.

 

Fortunately, caregiver dementia is reversible. Symptoms go away when the stress and depression are resolved, which can be particularly reassuring for those immersed in primary caregiving for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.

 

“These folks start to notice similar symptoms in themselves and think, ‘I have this, too,’” Dr. Hatfield said. “But it’s because they see and experience (the dementia) day in and day out. And that’s extremely stressful. It’s tough managing their own lives and caring for someone else, too.”

 

What’s typically at work here is the stress hormone, cortisol, she said. Chronic stress can affect the ways in which our brains function in the present, and may seriously alter our brain health in the years to come.

 

Chronic anxiety and depression also affect brain function and behavior.

 

“It’s so important to get help, to be proactive in overcoming these feelings and address any issues,” Dr. Hatfield said. “Don’t let things go or build up. Stress reduction is something to take very seriously.”

 

Younger people are not immune either, she said. Pronounced and dramatic memory issues due to extreme stress can happen to people in their 20s and 30s.

Is it dementia or something else?

Some reversible dementias are easier to diagnose than irreversible dementias because they can be identified by medical tests. Others are more difficult to pin down.

 

To tell for certain, Dr. Hatfield advises seeing a neuropsychologist for testing. She suggests using age to help determine when, or if, testing is necessary.

 

“If you’re under age 50, we tend to be less concerned about a non-reversible dementia like Alzheimer’s disease because they’re incredibly uncommon in younger adults,” she said.  “Instead, we look at stress, depression or other medical conditions first.”

 

But if you’re over age 65 and notice memory problems it’s a good idea to get it checked out with a full neuropsychological evaluation.

 

“Everyone has challenges with memory and thinking at one time or another,” Dr. Hatfield said. “Neuropsychological assessment measures how your brain is functioning compared to others your same age. It’s also very good at differentiating cognitive problems caused by stress or depression from problems caused by a non-reversible dementia.”

 

If your test scores fall outside the normal range, she said, doctors have key information to help identify a cause.

 

To make an appointment with a neuropsychologist at the Spectrum Health Memory Disorders Clinic, call 616.267.7104.

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Tackling Alzheimer’s disease

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Education, Health, How-To's, Senior Living, , ,

By Diana Bitner, Spectrum Health Beat

 

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia—a condition that causes sufferers to forget short-term events and names. It also causes changes in behavior.

When talking about Alzheimer’s, it’s important to look at the risk factors:
  • Age—This is the strongest risk factor, with most people being diagnosed after age 65.
  • Genetics—There are genetic links associated with the disease, meaning it can run in families.
  • Environment—The most studied environmental factors include aluminum, zinc, food-borne poisons, and viruses, but there has been no clear evidence of cause and effect.
  • Related medical conditions—These include high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

It’s also important to note that having many family members with Alzheimer’s does increase an individual’s risk, but it’s not necessarily tied to genes per se. Instead, it can be tied to a genetic mutation or other medical conditions (such as diabetes and obesity) that may run in the family.

 

As doctors, we are learning more and more about how diabetes, heart disease, obesity and dementia are all tied together.

 

These medical conditions all involve blood vessels—specifically how healthy or unhealthy the vessels are.

 

A healthy blood vessel has a smooth inside lining, flexible walls and no plaque build-up. In contrast, an unhealthy blood vessel has a sticky lining, stiff walls and plaque build-up, possibly even buried in the vessel wall. This can result in decreased blood flow to important cells in brain tissue, impacting function and clearance of certain proteins.

 

This build-up is associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

 

We also know that Alzheimer’s disease is associated with certain acquired risk factors—especially when they start in midlife. The greatest risk factors include smoking, obesity, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Taking control of your future self

What’s the bottom line? Midlife is the time to consider life goals and make important choices.

 

When I talk about Alzheimer’s and risk factors, I think about a patient of mine I’ll call Tania who came into the menopause clinic with some serious concerns.

 

Tania, 53, complained of forgetting things, feeling anxious, having night sweats and simply not feeling like herself. She was worried she had dementia—and for good reason.

 

Tania’s grandmother moved from Mexico to live with Tania’s family when Tania was 12. By the time Tania entered high school, her grandmother suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Concerned she had the same thing, Tania needed answers.

 

We began by talking about her current stage in life—early perimenopause. This was clear because of her irregular periods, and symptoms of hot flashes and mood changes around the time of her period. Next, we went over her medical history, which included diabetes during pregnancy and lifelong issues with mild obesity.

 

Tania’s family history revealed some real concerns: Her mom, aunts and grandmother suffered from diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity; and her father had high blood pressure. When I took Tania’s vitals that day, her blood pressure was 150/75 and her BMI was 31. Both of those numbers were too high.

 

After gathering this information, I asked Tania what she wanted, and she said she wanted to be healthy—without diabetes or high blood pressure. She also wanted to maintain a healthy weight, be active, and not have to take all the meds her family did. And, most importantly, Tania did not want to get Alzheimer’s disease.

 

When I explained to her that diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity in midlife were all significant risk factors for Alzheimer’s, she wanted to know what she needed to do. We ran her labs, and the results showed she had pre-diabetes and mildly elevated cholesterol.

 

We then put together a plan. And our plan paid off.

 

After three months, Tania walked for 45 minutes every day and had changed her diet. She had lost 8 pounds and, even better, her blood pressure was down to 140/70 and her blood sugar was lower—almost in the normal range. Her periods were regular again and she slept better.

 

Tania felt great and addressed her health issues in time to meet her goals and make a difference.

Worried about your health or brain function? Make an appointment to specifically discuss your health concerns with your doctor. Need help choosing your physician? No worries. Call Spectrum Health at 877.362.8362 day or night to receive assistance and advice about selecting a physician who is right for you.

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Local nursing home helps in CMU research on Montessori program for dementia patients

3-bottom, Senior Living, , , , , ,

Delainey Smyth

By Gary H. Piatek

Central Michigan University

 

​After Delainey Smyth saw her beloved great-grandmother thrive in a nursing home, she decided she would do her best to ensure that all patients with dementia have a similar experience.

 

Now, an education method many associate with early childhood learning is giving her that opportunity.

 

The first year speech-language pathology master’s degree student is expanding on collaborative research that included Central Michigan University at a Grand Rapids’ Clark Retirement Community, a long-term care community. The study applied Montessori methods tailored to nursing home patient care, including meaningful interactions and greater communication.

 

Results showed that, after a year, residents were significantly more positive and had more feelings of self-esteem and belonging. Staff job satisfaction rose, too.

 

Natalie Douglas works with a resident from Clark Retirement Community

“If you can help someone communicate, you can help their overall well-being,” said Natalie Douglas, director of the division of speech-language pathology in The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions and Smyth’s mentor.

 

Douglas and her CMU team of two speech-language pathology master’s degree students presented their findings in July at an international Alzheimer’s conference in Chicago.

 

“If you can help someone communicate, you can help their overall well-being,” Natalie Douglas, director of the division of speech-language pathology.

Taking the next steps

 

Smyth plans a similar study this year at two Mount Pleasant-area nursing homes that will be the basis of her master’s thesis.

 

Before Montessori introduction at the Grand Rapids facility, residents typically spent their days eating, watching television and doing irregularly scheduled group activities that were not based on anybody’s particular interests or strengths, Douglas said.

 

A Clark Retirement Community resident works on sorting tools.

The team’s goals were to change the environment and practices to enable residents to be as independent as possible, make meaningful contributions to their community and to grow their self-esteem.

 

To achieve those goals, the teams helped rearrange the facility — creating spaces for more free movement and activity, making the environment visually organized, adding aspects of nature, and creating wayfinding cues and invitations for engagement. And they instituted Montessori for Aging and Dementia methods.

 

Those methods include enabling residents of mixed abilities to work together while encouraging them to do as much for themselves as possible. Residents are offered choices of activities that have meaning and purpose and are given uninterrupted blocks of activity time with specialized materials that they can freely choose. The staff also is trained in Montessori methods.

An experience of love and life

 

Learning from the Grand Rapids study and modifying some of those strategies, Smyth said she wants to add nursing home activities that residents normally would do in their own homes, such as cooking, gardening and laundry. Those tasks help the residents reconnect to their life experiences through all of their senses, she said.

 

Residents set a table.

Douglas said part of the cycle of dementia is that as people start to lose memory, they lose communication skills. As a result, they talk to fewer people and do fewer things, which leads to having fewer things to talk about.

 

When nursing home residents do familiar activities, Smyth explained, they are more joyful and freely talk to others about them. If you stop and listen to their stories and tailor care to each person’s experience, they will thrive.

 

“When my great-grandmother entered the nursing home, her experience was one of love and life, rather than sadness and death. I understand that many people don’t feel that way, and I’d like to change that,” she said. “It’s a challenging goal, but people in nursing homes are delightful if you just try to communicate with them.”

On the shelf: ‘The Alzheimer’s Family: Helping Caregivers Cope’ by Robert B. Santulli

Citizen Journalism, , , , ,
alzheimers-familyBy Lisa Boss, Main Library 
Many of us are close to a friend or relative with Alzheimer’s these days, and over the years, as my relative’s spouse has gone from “mild cognitive impairment”, to a more drastic descent through the middle stages of AD, I’ve become more concerned and worried. What exactly is happening, and why?

I liked the tone and the way Dr. Santulli presented the information in this book. It fel like a compassionate, wise friend/expert was there to help chart a course in frightening waters. A geriatric psychiatrist, and Director of the Dartmouth Memory Clinic, he’s distilled over 20 years of specialization in treating Alzheimer’s patients into his guide. He explains how the different symptoms are tied to physical pathology, and thus certain strategies will be more effective in each case.

The Forgetting: Alzheimer’s: Portrait of an Epidemic by David Shenk is another book I found helpful, as was The Last of His Mind: A Year in the Shadow of Alzheimer’s by John Thorndyke. Olivia Hoblitzelle’s memoir, Ten Thousand Joys and Ten Thousand Sorrows: A Couple’s Journey Tlast-of-his-mindhrough Alzheimer’s is one not to be missed, applying a culturally different understanding of illness, through Tibetan Buddhism. Each loved one, their support system and disease manifestation, will be unique, so it’s natural that some writers will resonate more, and a wide choice of knowledgeable authors is preferable.

ten-thousand-joys-sorrows-book-coverAs I often read, “when you’ve met one person with Alzheimer’s, you’ve met one person with Alzheimer’s”, and that is probably true for most medical and mental health conditions. With Grand Rapids Public Library’s large and in-depth medical and caregiver collections, there will be sure to be ones that speak to you, if or when needed.