Alzheimer’s Biomarker Step Toward Early Treatment
Researchers at the CSIC Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona have discovered a biomarker that may provide a route to treatment for Alzheimer’s a full decade before symptoms appear. The biomarker, mtDNA, was found in the study participant’s spinal fluid. Dr. Ramon Trullas was the lead author of the study which was published in Annals of Neurology.
In the study, the CSIC researchers demonstrated that a decrease in the... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - August 21, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Early Detection of Alzheimer’s May Curtail Symptoms
Since there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease at this time, many people with some memory issues use that as an excuse to avoid seeing a diagnostician. They really don’t want to hear what they fear will be a diagnosis of AD. Given the stigma that still accompanies many brain diseases, that’s understandable. However, a new study has shown that early detection and treatment can be beneficial by curtailing symptoms, or at least... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - August 15, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Inability to Recognize Sarcasm Could Signal Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia is an umbrella term for a group of disorders that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These areas are generally associated with personality, behavior and language. A research team from the University of California, San Francisco, led by neuropsychologist Katherine Rankin, has shown that one sign people are developing frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is that they may have problems recognizing... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - August 7, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Back to School – or Work – to Prevent Alzheimer’s?
While a Mediterranean diet and consistent exercise may not guarantee a life free from Alzheimer’s disease, they are considered two components of a lifestyle that may be beneficial. Maintaining a healthy social life has also been shown to help keep our brains sharp. In the news now is yet another lifestyle component – that of challenging ourselves mentally. This could mean that we continue working later into our lives, return to... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - August 5, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Outside Activities Essential to Caregiver Mental Health
Can caregivers get so drawn into the world of the care receiver that their mental health is at risk? I received a private email from a reader that made me think more deeply about this possibility.
The reader said she’d been caring for her mother in her mother’s home for three years. The mother has middle stage Alzheimer’s and can be quite “creative” about reality. The caregiver told me that she does what... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - July 29, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer’s and Communication: Some Suggestions
Since communication is vital to quality of life, we who care for those with Alzheimer’s or other diseases that make understanding language difficult need to learn unique methods of coping with the challenge. It’s not easy. When your wife thinks you are her brother, when your dad thinks his best friend is robbing him, when your 75-year-old mom insists that her baby is in danger – it will be your challenge to try to... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - July 29, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Preventing Alzheimer’s Includes Oral Hygiene
Could getting your teeth cleaned regularly prevent Alzheimer’s disease? There are, of course, no guarantees, but there has been significant research concluding that healthy gums means less inflammation in the body, which in turn lowers our chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, it does seem wise to consider good oral hygiene part of your healthy lifestyle.
Recently, I happened upon an article by Jaklin Bezik,... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - July 18, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Find Clinical Trials through Alzheimer’s Association’s TrialMatch
People who’ve been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease don’t have decades to wait for a cure. They need help now. Many would be willing to use a drug that is still in clinical trials with the hope of experiencing positive results. There’s a second reason to enroll in clinical trials, however. Even if the results of a trial aren’t what they wished for, participants can feel satisfied that they’ve taken part in... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - July 12, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Brain Cleansing System Key to Future Alzheimer’s Drugs?
Could the key to conquering Alzheimer’s come through drugs that help the brain more efficiently cleanse itself? Researchers have recently discovered a new waste disposal system that they’ve named the glymphatic system. This system removes waste from the brain. Before now, waste removal in the rest of the body was well understood, but the brain remained a mystery. It’s believed that this self-cleaning mechanism may be a new... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - July 9, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Elders Hiding Dementia Symptoms from Their Doctor
Convincing some elders to see their doctors for any reason can be difficult. Convincing them to give honest answers to the doctor’s questions can be even more challenging. This is especially true when the elder gets into uncomfortable territory. Areas where they feel they will be judged.
The issues that are probably most often covered up are alcohol or drug abuse, but not far behind would be cognitive problems. It’s... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - July 2, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Summer Heat Can Be Deadly for Elders
Whether we are taking an elderly person to a family reunion or a backyard picnic this summer, we need to be aware that summer heat can become deadly as people age. From less efficient cooling systems to more illnesses and medications, elders have many issues that can make them vulnerable to extreme temperatures.
Don’t let the heat stop you from taking your elder out for some fun, but prevent problems by finding a shady place for... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - June 27, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
BACE Inhibitors Fail Safety Controls for Alzheimer’s Drugs
Clinical trials for BACE inhibitors, thought to be a possibility for Alzheimer’s treatment, were stopped last week because of potential toxicity problems. BACE inhibitors are a drug class known as beta secretase. This particular study was being conducted by Eli Lilly, though other companies have been testing similar drugs.
The need to stop the BACE study represents another significant blow to drug companies in their race to... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - June 17, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
June 15th, the day widely recognized as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, is fast approaching. If you work or live in any situation where elders are even peripherally involved, this is a good time to remind people that elders can be vulnerable to many types of abuse and we have a responsibility to protect them.
It’s natural to think that abuse is physical, and often it is. However, elder abuse can also be emotional or financial.... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - June 11, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Sleep Deprivation May Contribute to Alzheimer’s
A study published in JAMA Neurology reports that participants with evidence of preclinical Alzheimer's experienced worse sleep efficiency than those with no evidence of potential Alzheimer’s. One hundred forty five people between ages 45 and 75 took part in the study conducted by researchers at the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine.
While none of the study... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - June 6, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Agitation, Aggression in Alzheimer’s Challenge Caregivers
Caregivers to people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia often have the unsettling, frustrating challenge of trying to quiet an agitated and possibly aggressive elder who is unable to communicate the source of his or her distress. We know that the behavior is an expression of discomfort either of body or mind, yet we are left trying to comfort our loved ones with few clues as to the root problem. Even experienced... (Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts)
Source: Carol Bradley Bursack's SharePosts - June 1, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
