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
Tag: dementia
Intellectual, Social, Physical Activities Can Reduce Risk of Memory Loss Among Blacks
Blacks have nearly twice the rate of dementia as whites, putting them at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s. But a new study shows that blacks with mild cognitive impairment – often a precursor to dementia – can reduce the risk of memory loss through a “behavioral intervention” that involves increasing social, cognitive and/or physical activity.… Continue reading Intellectual, Social, Physical Activities Can Reduce Risk of Memory Loss Among Blacks
Study First to Report Sexual Behavior Norms for U.S. Adults with Dementia Living at Home
Most people with dementia who have partners and live at home are sexually active, according to new research. But people with cognitive impairment and dementia often have sexual function problems they don’t discuss with their doctor. The findings, from a University of Chicago Medicine study, were published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.… Continue reading Study First to Report Sexual Behavior Norms for U.S. Adults with Dementia Living at Home
New Evidence That Viruses May Play A Part in Alzheimer’s
Viral species, especially herpes viruses, may have a role in Alzheimer’s disease biology, according to a new analysis. Researchers funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), made the discovery by harnessing data from brain banks and cohort studies participating in the Accelerating Medicines Partnership – Alzheimer’s… Continue reading New Evidence That Viruses May Play A Part in Alzheimer’s
Lack of Sleep Impairs Brain Power, Promotes Disease
“To sleep, perchance to dream, ay, there’s the rub.” Unfortunately, the lament of Shakespeare’s Hamlet remains all too true for as many as 70 million Americans who experience some type of sleeping disorder. Getting a sufficient amount of sleep is closely associated with good physical and mental health and overall quality of life. Most adults… Continue reading Lack of Sleep Impairs Brain Power, Promotes Disease
Music Activates Regions of the Brain Spared by Alzheimer’s Disease
Ever get chills listening to a particularly moving piece of music? You can thank the salience network of the brain for that emotional joint. Surprisingly, this region also remains an island of remembrance that is spared from the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at the University of Utah Health are looking to this region of… Continue reading Music Activates Regions of the Brain Spared by Alzheimer’s Disease
New Report Reveals Sharp Increases in Alzheimer’s Prevalence, Deaths and Cost of Care
A new report from the Alzheimer’s Association reveals the staggering cost of that illness and other dementias, while an accompanying study emphasizes the personal benefits and long-term cost savings of an early diagnosis. The report also cited a sharp increase in Alzheimer’s deaths – 123 percent – even as deaths from other major causes decrease.… Continue reading New Report Reveals Sharp Increases in Alzheimer’s Prevalence, Deaths and Cost of Care
Marriage May Help Stave Off Dementia
Marriage may lower the risk of developing dementia, according to a new analysis. The synthesis of the available evidence was published online in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. Lifelong single people and widowers are at heightened risk of developing the disease, the findings indicate, although single status may no longer be quite the… Continue reading Marriage May Help Stave Off Dementia
The Aged Brain and Dementia
Researchers working with aged human brains have discovered details that will help experts better understand the biological bases for Alzheimer’s and other dementias. The analysis, from the Allen Institute for Brain Science, University of Washington Medicine and Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, was published in the journal eLife. The investigation also highlights surprising variability… Continue reading The Aged Brain and Dementia
Poor Sense of Smell May Be Linked to Dementia Risk
A poor sense of smell appears to be linked in elderly adults to the risk of dementia, new research shows. The long-term study of nearly 3,000 adults, aged 57 to 85, found that those who could not identify at least four out of five common odors were more than twice as likely as those with… Continue reading Poor Sense of Smell May Be Linked to Dementia Risk
Personality Changes Don’t Precede Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia
Researchers now say that there’s no evidence that personality changes begin before the onset of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. For years, scientists and physicians have been debating that question. A new and comprehensive study from Florida State University College of Medicine Associate Professor Antonio Terracciano and colleagues, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry,… Continue reading Personality Changes Don’t Precede Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia
Study: A Need to Rethink Hospice Admissions
Many older adults are admitted to hospice for only a short amount of time, even though they have been experiencing symptoms months before the end of life, researchers say. The Yale-led study highlights the need for earlier hospice admission or other strategies to address such cases. The study was published on September 12 in the… Continue reading Study: A Need to Rethink Hospice Admissions
Help for Caregivers of Dementia Patients
States could save tens of millions of dollars — and help more Americans with dementia remain in their communities — if their caregivers took part in a program designed to improve their emotional and physical well-being, according to new research published in The Gerontologist. Although estimates of the prevalence and incidence of dementia in the… Continue reading Help for Caregivers of Dementia Patients
At-Home Dementia Patients Can Face Risk in Using Antipsychotic Meds
“Off-label” use of antipsychotic medications to treat patients with dementia has been reduced dramatically in recent years due to education programs warning of increased risk of death. Bu those campaigns have not focused on care settings outside of nursing homes, leaving community-dwelling adults with dementia at risk of potentially fatal side effects, according to research… Continue reading At-Home Dementia Patients Can Face Risk in Using Antipsychotic Meds
Police Training Program in Age-Related Health Helps Older Adults
A study published in May 2017 the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reports that most police officers receive little to no training in aging-related health concerns. Yet for older adults with complex care needs, police officers are often the first people on the scene for a health issue or concern. Police officers frequently respond… Continue reading Police Training Program in Age-Related Health Helps Older Adults
6 Tips to Reduce Dementia Risk
Nearly 50 million people worldwide currently suffer from dementia, and this is set to almost double by 2030, and more than triple by 2050. Alzheimer’s is the best known, most common form of dementia, the 6th leading cause of death in America, and once diagnosed with it, the average remaining lifespan is only 8 years.… Continue reading 6 Tips to Reduce Dementia Risk
Caffeine and The Anti-Dementia Enzyme
Researchers have discovered that caffeine may have the potential to protect against dementia. The finding comes from Indiana University experts and was published in the journal Scientific Reports. The study identified 24 compounds, including caffeine, with the potential to boost an enzyme in the brain shown to protect against dementia. The protective effect of the… Continue reading Caffeine and The Anti-Dementia Enzyme
Caring for Elders with Dementia: Tips for Family Members
Someone in the United States develops dementia every 66 seconds, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2016 “Facts and Figures”. The diagnosis is devastating for those who have the disease and also imposes a crushing burden on their families. The decision regarding the best way to care for a loved one with dementia is dependent on… Continue reading Caring for Elders with Dementia: Tips for Family Members