Where Words Fail Music Speaks
Nearly any of us can experience a strong emotional response upon hearing the first chords of a song from a long-ago time in our lives. While many of us don’t think about this response in detail, Stan Cohen, a former social worker and technology professional did. When he discovered that nursing homes didn’t appear to be using personalized music on iPods for their residents, he decided that something had to be done about the situation.... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - July 15, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Caregiver Questions for Neurologist Daniel C. Potts
Daniel C. Potts, M.D. is a neurologist, author, educator and champion of those with Alzheimer’s disease as well as their caregivers. Dr. Potts communicates this dedication by being accessible to those of us who represent family caregivers, so I took advantage of his willingness to help by asking him some common questions that many family caregivers face.
CBB: Dr. Potts, unfortunately, there’s still a stigma attached to... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - July 9, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Delay Alzheimer’s Symptoms by Life-long Learning
Nearly all of us know that if we don’t use our muscles as we age, we’ll lose muscle mass. The same theory seems to hold true when it comes to keeping our minds sharp. Computer games, word games, crossword puzzles, Sudoku and other challenging mental pursuits have been advised as methods of keeping the mind healthy as we age. Now, a recent study has shown that by pursuing life-long learning, even people who are genetically at risk for... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - July 1, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
A4 Study: Testing Solanezumab before Alzheimer’s Symptoms Appear
Healthy older adults with no symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are the focus of a large study involving 61 medical centers across the U.S., Canada and Australia. The Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer’s study aims to find out if Eli Lilly’s solanezumab, which failed in earlier studies to help people with Alzheimer’s symptoms, will help prevent Alzheimer’s if given long before symptoms appear. Solanezumab... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - June 26, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
“The Longest Day” Project June 21st Challenges People to Act
June 20-21 is the longest day of sunlight for places in the Northern Hemisphere. On this day, teams around the world will participate in The Longest Day event, a sunrise-to-sunset occasion to honor those facing Alzheimer’s – the person with the disease plus the family and caregivers. People living with Alzheimer’s, aware that their minds are betraying them, can suffer from unspeakable fear, agitation, paranoia and other issues... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - June 17, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Could a Vaccination Before Age 40 End Alzheimer’s?
We’re vaccinated throughout our lives for various diseases such as polio, measles, flu and even shingles. Will an Alzheimer’s vaccine one day be part of the growing list of vaccinations that most of us now take for granted? A researcher in the UK thinks that’s possible.
James Nicoll, professor of neuropathology at Southampton University, found that a vaccine can spur the immune system into wiping out beta-amyloid plaques... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - June 13, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Interview with Carol on Nursing Home Decision
Tomorrow, Tuesday June 10 at 9:35 am CT, Carol Bradley Bursack will be interviewed live on the Tommy Tucker Show which airs on wwl.com. Listen live on 870 AM and 105.3 FM. (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - June 9, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer's Affects Genders Differently For Several Reasons
While it’s been known for years that statistically more women than men develop Alzheimer’s disease, the reason was thought to be that, as a group, women have a longer life expectancy than men. Since age is the largest risk factor for Alzheimer’s, it would be expected that more women than men would live to develop the disease as they grow older. Some studies have pointed to hormonal differences as a risk factor, as well.... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - March 24, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Iron Levels May Affect Stroke and Dementia Risk
It’s long been accepted that iron is a necessary nutrient for the body though the amount needed can change with an individual’s age as well as gender. Now, there is evidence that iron can also have conflicting effects depending on whether a person is at risk for stroke and vascular dementia or for Alzheimer’s disease.
The journal PLOS ONE reported on a study by Imperial College London researchers who have found evidence that... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - March 15, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
National Healthcare Directives Day Reminder to Stop Procrastinating
If you are one of the millions of adult children who worry about your aging parents, National Healthcare Decisions Day, which is April 16th, 2014, could be a very important day for your family. National Healthcare Decisions Day is set aside to spread awareness about the need for everyone to appoint a healthcare representative.
According to Pew Research on end-of-life treatment, the growth in the number of people who say that... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - March 9, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Blood Pressure Medication May Have Application for Alzheimer’s
Angiotensin-converting enzyme, better known as a blood pressure lowering ACE inhibitor, is a naturally occurring protein found in tissues throughout the body. ACE inhibitors widen blood vessels by limiting activity of the AC enzyme. Recently, Cedars-Sinai scientists discovered that they could enhance immune response and attack beta-amyloid plaque in Alzheimer's by targeting this enzyme.
Multitudes of middle-aged and elderly people take ACE... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - March 4, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Shadowing in Alzheimer’s Sign of Fear, Anxiety
Fear and anxiety are two disturbing symptoms exhibited by many people with Alzheimer’s disease. These symptoms are completely understandable, considering the fact that people with dementia are often confused about their surroundings. Confusion that won’t go away leads to fear and fearful people tend to be anxious. This need to calm anxiety and feel safe can lead people with Alzheimer’s to a behavior called... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - February 26, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Virtual Dementia Sensitivity Training Program Receives Patent
We can’t truly understand what others go through unless we have been in their shoes. Fortunately for caregivers, the inventive Virtual Dementia Tour Program comes as close as anything can to helping caregivers – whether medical people, social workers or family members – understand what their patients or loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia are experiencing.
P.K. Beville, founder and CEO of Second... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - February 23, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Cholesterol Management May Help Prevent Brain Plaque
A recent study at the University of California, Davis found a distinct correlation between the development of amyloid plaque deposits associated with Alzheimer’s disease and serum cholesterol levels.
According to Bruce Reed, lead study author and associate director of the UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Center, “The relationship between elevated cholesterol and increased risk of Alzheimer's disease has been known for some time,... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - February 12, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Existing Drugs May Hasten Treatment Options for Alzheimer’s
Are there drugs already on the market that may prevent or reverse Alzheimer’s disease? Some scientists think so. The latest study, reported on by Alzheimer’s and Dementia Weekly, showed that the cancer drug Carmustine cuts Alzheimer’s plaque by 75 percent in mice. Carmustine is a drug that is used to treat some forms of brain cancer.
Another study led by King's College London has identified four existing drugs and one drug... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - February 5, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
