Alzheimer’s Disease and other Dementias

Stop Wondering if You Are a “Good Caregiver”

Loving and caring for someone with dementia can be challenging. Perhaps, it is one of the most challenging struggles one will ever encounter. No one can predict if or when their loved one, especially a parent, will be diagnosed with dementia. But, in a blink of an eye, it happens. Without much warning, our world… Continue reading Stop Wondering if You Are a “Good Caregiver”

Five Ways to Shift the Direction and Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease

It is estimated that 5.8 million Americans are living with the effects of Alzheimer’s dementia. With a new case developing every 65 seconds, that figure is expected to surge to 7.1 million people by 2025. People who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease experience a progressive escalation of symptoms that increase like the temperature of a pot… Continue reading Five Ways to Shift the Direction and Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease

U.S. Burden of Alzheimer’s to Double by 2060

The number of Alzheimer’s cases will more than double by 2060, new research shows. And Hispanic Americans have the largest projected increase. In 2014, the number of cases of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRC) in 2014 was 5 million people, which is 1.6 percent of the U.S. population in 2014 (total population is 319… Continue reading U.S. Burden of Alzheimer’s to Double by 2060

Measuring Memory

Researchers have come up with a simple test that can yield profound results. The word-recall quiz accurately predicted whether people had elevated brain levels of beta-amyloid, a protein that has been linked with the increased risk of mild cognitive impairment and the development of Alzheimer’s. The investigators say they hope the procedure, which puts pressure… Continue reading Measuring Memory

Modifiable Dementia Risk Factor in Older Adults

For older adults, it may seem as though the die is already cast regarding their odds of developing dementia, but 2018 research from the University of Pittsburgh has identified a dementia risk factor among older adults that should be modifiable even well into old age. The study, which draws on data collected from following hundreds… Continue reading Modifiable Dementia Risk Factor in Older Adults

New Research Focuses on Treating Non-Cognitive Symptoms of People with Dementia

New research presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2018 in Chicago focuses on the recent successes and ongoing challenges of drug and non-drug treatments for the non-cognitive symptoms experienced by people living with Alzheimer’s dementia. A release from the association states that while the memory and thinking symptoms associated with the disease are… Continue reading New Research Focuses on Treating Non-Cognitive Symptoms of People with Dementia

Here’s to a Valentine’s Day Toast to Your Brain Health with Wine in Moderation

Research done at the University of Rochester Medical Center and published in February 2018 in the journal Scientific Reports shows that low levels of alcohol consumption tamp down inflammation and help the brain clear away toxins, including those associated with Alzheimer’s disease. A release from the university quotes Maiken Nedergaard, M.D., D.M.Sc., co-director of the… Continue reading Here’s to a Valentine’s Day Toast to Your Brain Health with Wine in Moderation

Canola Oil Linked to Alzheimer’s

Canola oil is thought to be healthy, yet new research shows that its consumption is linked with worsened memory, worsened learning ability and weight gain – all of which model Alzheimer’s disease. However, in an earlier study by the same investigators, extra-virgin olive oil was shown to have the opposite effect. The study was published… Continue reading Canola Oil Linked to Alzheimer’s

Undiagnosed Dementia Puts Elders at Risk

According to the World Health Organization, 47.5 million people worldwide are living with dementia, a number that is expected to more than triple by 2050. A diagnosis of dementia is frightening and overwhelming for those who have it and for their families. Early detection is critical to ensure quality care and to enable patients and… Continue reading Undiagnosed Dementia Puts Elders at Risk

Dementia on the Downslide

In a hopeful sign for the health of the nation’s brains, the percentage of American seniors with dementia is dropping, according to a November 2016 study done at the University of Michigan and published in JAMA Internal Medicine. A release from the university reports that the downward trend has emerged despite something else the study… Continue reading Dementia on the Downslide

Can You Prevent or Halt the Onset of Alzheimer’s Disease?

An estimated 5.2 million Americans over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s disease, a number that may nearly triple in the next thirty years as the population of older Americans continues to grow dramatically. Growing older is the greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s; the disease currently affects 1 in 9 Americans over the age… Continue reading Can You Prevent or Halt the Onset of Alzheimer’s Disease?

Is It a Memory Lapse or Is It Dementia?

About 10% of all people over the age of 65 have some form of dementia, by the age of 85 that has increased to 30-50%. As the population aged 65 and older continues to increase, the number of people with dementia will increase as well. But millions more elders who forget a name or why… Continue reading Is It a Memory Lapse or Is It Dementia?

Unsafe Behaviors in Older Adults Who Likely Have Dementia

Older adults who likely have dementia but have not been given the diagnosis are more likely to engage in potentially unsafe activities, suggests research published in June 2016 inthe Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. A release from the publisher explains that among 7,609 Medicare beneficiaries, those with probable dementia were more likely to drive,… Continue reading Unsafe Behaviors in Older Adults Who Likely Have Dementia

Is Increased Dementia Risk in Women a Matter of Proteins?

Gender-specific differences between the levels and structures of proteins present in the white matter and the mitochondria of the brains of men and women suffering from dementia have been revealed for the first time in a study published in March 2016 in the open access journal Molecular Brain. A release from BioMed Central explains that… Continue reading Is Increased Dementia Risk in Women a Matter of Proteins?

How to Find the Best Alzheimer’s or Dementia Care For Your Loved One

If your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia and can’t live alone, finding the best long-term care for him or her may seem overwhelming. To make the most informed decision for your family member, read on for tips on touring facilities and questions to ask. Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia If your loved… Continue reading How to Find the Best Alzheimer’s or Dementia Care For Your Loved One

Hypertension and Dementia: A Frightening Connection

According to the National Institutes of Health, a growing body of scientific evidence indicates that uncontrolled high blood pressure is not only the leading cause of stroke but may also be linked to cognitive decline and dementia. As a result, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), one of the institutes of NIH,… Continue reading Hypertension and Dementia: A Frightening Connection

Hypertension Drug May Help Treat Alzheimer’s

An FDA-approved drug that’s used to treat hypertension also reduces cell damage that’s often linked to Alzheimer’s disease, a new study has found. Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) and the National Institutes of Health used laboratory neuronal cultures to reach that conclusion. They say their work, published in the journal Alzheimer’s Research and… Continue reading Hypertension Drug May Help Treat Alzheimer’s