Living Well Blog » Alzheimer’s

Signs of Alzheimer’s may become evident during the holidays

Doris Bersing — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:33:14 +0000

Holidays such as Thanksgiving are a time when family and friends come together to spend time together and to share memories. However, the holiday season is also a time that can raise questions about whether aging family members are experiencing signs of Alzheimer’s disease. It’s important to know what is normal aging and what isn’t. The Alzheimer’s association emphasizes the difference between normal aging and early signs of Alzheimer’s. Read more.

Alzheimer’s Behavior Management: Tips for Managing Common Symptoms and Problems

Doris Bersing — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:03:45 +0000

Problem behavior is often a way the Alzheimer’s patient tries to communicate with others. As a caregiver for a loved one with dementia, it can be extremely worrying and upsetting to experience the behavior problems associated with mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Patients may exhibit a wide variety of behavioral problems that can threaten their own or other people’s safety, including wandering, aggressiveness, hallucinations, or sleeping and eating. Learn some tips.

Alzheimer’s: Early detection, risk factors are crucial

Doris Bersing — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 22:43:43 +0000

In an article for CNN, on July 25, 2011, Elizabeth Landau states “…With more than 5 million people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease in the United States, a number that’s expected to rise to 16 million by 2050, the pressure is on to find better methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention… The research that came out of the Alzheimer’s Association 2011 International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease, which took place in Paris last week, reflects a growing emphasis on early detection. Research suggests the best targets for exploring treatments are patients who do not have full-blown Alzheimer’s disease, but experience mild symptoms. Scientists have identified biological indicators called biomarkers that seem to be associated with Alzheimer’s, although they are not perfect predictors…”

Larry King Special Looks into Alzheimer’s Disease

Doris Bersing — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:54:33 +0000

Alzheimer's Association E News April 27, 2011

Alzheimer’s Association E News, April 27, 2011

Hosted by Larry King, “Unthinkable: the Alzheimer’s Epidemic,” airing Sunday, May 1, at 8 p.m. EDT, will discuss Alzheimer’s disease, who gets it and why, and the race to find effective treatments and a possible cure. King, in his first CNN special since ending his long-running interview show, will be joined by California’s former First Lady and Alzheimer’s activist Maria Shriver, Alzheimer’s Association Champions actor Seth Rogen and football star Terrell Owens and others touched by the disease. CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta will also explain how Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain.

Alzheimer’s in California: A 2-part package (with video) on Alzheimer’s in California

Doris Bersing — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:04:08 +0000

By Paul Kleyman (Director Ethnic Elders Newsbeat/New America Media)

ALZHEIMER’S SERIES PART 1 — “California Budget Cuts at Odds With State’s New Alzheimer’s Plan,” New America Media, News Report, Paul Kleyman, Posted: Mar 28, 2011
Some 1.1 million Californians serving as caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s face severe cuts in state assistance, even as the number of people with the disease is expected to explode. Read more

PART 2 — Latino Family Joins Forces in Alzheimer’s Care to Make Memories,” New America Media, Video, Story: Paul Kleyman // Video: Josue Rojas, Posted: Apr 11, 2011.
The Garcias, like many Latino families, initially hid their “Papa’s” Alzheimer’s, but they eventually got educated and stopped fearing the unknown. See the video.

From Norman McNamara: Alzheimer’s from inside!

Doris Bersing — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:26:39 +0000

Watch what Norm says about being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s He is now 53 yrs. old and he has every intention of beating it. His videos and interview try to help us understand what its like being an Alzheimer’s sufferer and how it feels to be diagnosed with such an awful disease.

This is another video he had made about his BBC radio interview:

If you have Alzheimer’s you can have wahtever you want: GIVING ALZHEIMER’S PATIENTS THEIR WAY, EVEN CHOCOLATE!

Doris Bersing — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 17:09:57 +0000

Even Chocolate

There are some caregivers -in family settings- or in nursing homes that have found that allowing people with dementia practically anything that brings comfort to them, improves the mood, decreases agitation, and soothes them in a higher rate that psychotropics medications that usually creates undesirable side effects in the elder. In a recent article by Pam Belluck for the New York Times, she interviewed Tina Alonzo, director of a nursing home, who states that “… Research suggests that creating positive emotional experiences for Alzheimer’s patients diminishes distress and behavior problems…” . The article also suggests that one-on-one activities instead of big “bingo-groups’ along with individualized menus help to improve people’s mood: “…Comforting food improves behavior and mood because it “sends messages they can still understand: ‘it feels good, therefore I must be in a place where I’m loved…”

Improving function and safety through Environmental Geriatrics

Doris Bersing — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:07:32 +0000

Environmental Geriatrics is the study and application of design principles to interiors and products to optimize the health, function, and well-being of older adults.
Cornell University’s Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology offers resources on Alzheimer’s friendly home, fall and fire prevention, hoarding and cluttering. Learn more.

The Aging Brain

Doris Bersing — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:41:02 +0000

Living Well with memory loss and Alzheimer's

On Episode Six of the Charlie Rose Brain Series, a discussion of the Aging Brain with Brenda Milner of McGill University, Larry Squire of the University of California San Diego, John Hardy of University College London, and Scott Small of Columbia University. Co-hosted by Eric Kandel of Columbia University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, we find easy information for the laymen about what occurs in the aging memory related to memory loss and the developing of Alzheimer’s

See the program

Brain Wellness À la Wii

Doris Bersing — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:24:38 +0000

The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As of August 2010, the Wii leads the generation over the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in worldwide sales and in December 2009 broke the record for best-selling console in a single month in the United States.

Nintendo hoped to target a wider demographic with its console. The productions are Nintendo’s first broad-based advertising strategy and include a two-minute video clip showing a varied assortment of people enjoying the Wii system, such as urban apartment-dwellers, country ranchers, grandparents, and parents with their children.The marketing campaign has proved to be successful: pensioners, as old as 103 have been reported to be playing the Wii in the United Kingdom.^. A report by the British newspaper The People also stated that Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain has played using the Wii console!

Now, we have data that the Wii games have brought back feelings of being young again as the participants flex their mental muscles and improve their physical fitness. The Wii is improving the quality of life of many aging seniors.

Diane Carbo, in an article written for Senior Advice, states that “…Healthy aging and a brain fitness program along with the Wii promotes the development of new skills, and helps aging seniors learn from their mistakes. The best part of using the Wii as part of a healthy aging program is the laughter and excitement you see in the faces of the participants. The environment is electric as the aging seniors enjoy familiar interests in a new format. For many seniors it feels like old times again…”