Prolonged Exposure to Cosmic Radiation Could Increase Risks of Alzheimer’s
In a good example of just how many environmental factors may influence the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) funded study suggests that prolonged...
View ArticleFlu Season Dangerous for Alzheimer’s
Winter is a dangerous time for elders. People over the age of 65 are at increased risk of flu. Older people with pre-existing chronic diseases such as heart failure, diabetes, or with chronic...
View ArticleDo I Have Alzheimer’s Disease?
How many times this week have you had problems with your memory? Most of us have occasional problems finding our car keys, remembering someone’s name, forgetting some items we came to the supermarket...
View Article10 Tips to Help Your Loved One Adjust to Nursing Home Move
Moving your loved one into a nursing home is a decision that most people find very difficult. The transition from living at home to requiring nursing home care has often been prompted by a...
View ArticleCaregiver Tips for Reducing Agitation in Dementia
Agitation can be one of the most difficult behaviors for caregivers to cope with. In this Sharepost I want to briefly look at possible causes of agitation and provide some links to more information, as...
View ArticleBrain Cell Projects Will Help in Development of Alzheimer’s Drugs
Researchers from Oxford University in the UK have, for the first time, explained why some brain cells seem to have the ability to protect themselves. It offers hope to stroke victims as well as to...
View ArticleUnderstanding Behavior for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
George used to stand in a corridor for hours - counting. "One, two, three, seven, one, ten". He was a resident in a nursing home and when he was doing his counting he would refuse to eat and it was...
View ArticleImprove Urinary Continence for People with Alzheimer’s
As Alzheimer’s diseases progresses urinary incontinence can be a common problem. People with these types of neurodegenerative diseases become more disoriented and confused. They may no longer recognize...
View ArticleThe Darker Side of Humor in Dementia Care
We use humor a lot in dementia care. It is a great caregiver coping tool when things get stressful. Provoking laughter and providing amusement helps us form relationships and bond with patients. Humor...
View ArticleLucid Moments, Fluctuating Awareness and Dementia
I recall a psychiatric nurse telling me about a patient with dementia who had not spoken for years and appeared to show little awareness of changing circumstances. They were on a trip out from the...
View ArticleThe Importance of Mealtimes for Alzheimer’s Patients
Finding purposeful activities and a focus for enjoyment in the lives of people with Alzheimer’s can be difficult. Most people with dementia continue to enjoy their food however. Mealtimes are also one...
View ArticleAnxiety in Caregivers
Anxiety is often automatically linked with stress. I suppose that is because those of us who have been, or are caregivers, know what a difficult job it can be at times. Although anxiety is different to...
View ArticleStudy Reports Dementia Reduction But Let's be Cautious
Dementia is not a disease but the term describes a set of symptoms. Alzheimer’s is one type. These symptoms can include memory loss, mood changes, problems with communication and reasoning and...
View ArticleCaregivers should be screened for depression
Caregivers are at risk of depression. The problem with being a caregiver to someone with Alzheimer’s is that it is unremitting. Day in, day out, and often for years, you are needed to provide support,...
View ArticlePsychosis in Alzheimer’s Disease
Psychosis is common in Alzheimer’s disease and affects between about 40 percent and 50 percent of people over the course of the disease. It causes significant distress to the patient and to families...
View ArticleKnow your Seven Signs of Stress
When we are stressed our bodies respond by releasing the stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones increase blood output and boost our energy levels. The problem is when we try to...
View ArticleSymptom Overlap: Alzheimer’s and/or Depression
There are some central symptoms that lead to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. These include memory loss, difficulty performing familiar tasks, confusion and poor judgement. But these symptoms may also be...
View ArticleSpecial Nursing Home Visitors-Animal Assisted Therapy
We have just got a dog. He is a two year old retired white and blue greyhound. He is very friendly! When I worked in nursing homes one of the few outside visitors that nearly always evoked smiles even...
View ArticleDifficult Caregivers?
In a very informative book about dementia Marc Agronin, MD., addresses one of the areas that causes problems for everyone, namely the 'difficult' caregiver. Dr. Agronin, a nationally known geriatric...
View ArticleKulver-Bucy Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease
Kulver-Bucy syndrome is a rare syndrome that can co-exist with Alzheimer's disease. Brain damage causes disinhibited behaviors such as inappropriate sexual behaviors including fondling, groping others,...
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