3 Questions Every Alzheimer’s Caregiver Should Ask About Palliative Care
We described palliative care as “aggressive symptom management for maximum quality of life at the present time.” The goal is to treat and remove, or reduce, symptoms that are bothering the person who is deeply forgetful. Symptoms such as pain, or problems like urinary tract infections, are handled in ways that make sense to the person living in Alzheimer’s World.Topic - Alzheimer’s WorldIn the beginning of the journey, when the person is only a little forgetful, diseases and health problems are managed so that the body and mind continue to support each other FOR MAXIMUM QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE NOW. How to Get Answer...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - June 20, 2016 Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimers care alzheimers caregiving dementia help for caregivers end of life care family caregiving help alzheimer's help with dementia help with dementia care palliative care Source Type: blogs
Coming Up Empty. Does The Government Look Before It Leaps?
A few months ago I assessed a patient with dementia. I dutifully ordered the appropriate blood testing and MRI. As I delved further into the history, I was concerned that there may be a component of depression. Pseudodementia (memory disturbance and dementia like symptoms caused by depression) can often mimic classic Alzheimer’s disease, but resolves with proper treatment. The best way to differentiate these two syndromes is neuropsychological testing. I decided to send my patient to a colleague whom I had been working with for years. He had recently joined a large multi...
Source: In My Humble Opinion - November 24, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: Jordan Grumet Source Type: blogs
Glen Campbell “I’ll Be Me” Movie Documents His Final Years With Alzheimer’s Disease
Country music legend Glen Campbell is dying of Alzheimer’s disease. In an effort to raise awareness of the illness he and his family made the brave decision to bare their lives by creating a documentary of Glen’s farewell tour. I highly recommend that you watch this film with your loved ones… and a box of Kleenex.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Glen’s disease was the preservation of his musical abilities despite severe cognitive impairment. Although he rarely knew where he was or even how to tie his shoes, he was able to perform songs in front of live audiences. With redirection and prompting...
Source: Better Health - October 27, 2014 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Announcements Medical Art Alzheimer's Alzheimer's Association Aricept Behavioral Problems Cognitive Impairment Country Music Dementia Documentary End Stage Alzheimer's Glen Campbell I'll Be Me Mayo Clinic Movie Movie Review Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer's Caregivers Answer the Calling
At the beginning of my travels with Alzheimer's disease, I had to get over the shock when the diagnosis of dementia came. That took what seemed like a minute, but it was over a year.By Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading Room It is not easy being an Alzheimer's caregiver. You have to evolve and learn new skills.. Pretty much every day. There aren't any shortcuts.Many of us know the feeling of abandonment that comes with Alzheimer's disease. Family, friends, sometimes they run away. Or, disappear. This is hard to accept.Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading RoomEmail: Don't take it personally.For a large fraction of Alzheimer's ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - August 16, 2014 Category: Dementia Tags: alzheimers advice alzheimers caregiver alzheimers tip answer the calling dementia care dementia news health Source Type: blogs
Dr Oz Eat Curry to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease
Dr.Oz's suggests eating curry once or twice a week to help prevent Alzheimer's disease.By Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomDr. OzFrom time to time, Dr Oz covers Alzheimer's disease on his television show. He usually devotes about one third of his show to Alzheimer's disease when he covers the topic. He always does a great job of framing the impending epidemic that is Alzheimer's. Dr Oz mentioned that every 68 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. By the time you finish reading this article several more people will be suffering from Alzheimer's. Another group of Alzheimer's caregivers will come into bein...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - August 14, 2014 Category: Dementia Tags: alzheimer alzheimer curry alzheimer's Alzheimers Dementia Alzheimers Prevention brain test Doraiswamy Alzheimer's Dr Oz Dr Oz alzheimer's memory memory test news Source Type: blogs
Dealing with Difficult Behavior Caused by Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia
I often get asked questions about how I dealt with my mother when she engaged in difficult to manage behaviors.By +Bob DeMarco +Alzheimer's Reading RoomI read these six coping strategies for dementia-related behavior problems some time ago.Dr. Peter Rabins is a Johns Hopkins neurologist. He touches on the following behaviors: outbursts, agitation, aggression, wandering, vocalizations, hoarding and hiding things, and inappropriate sexual behavior.The 36-Hour DayPeople living with dementia often exhibit aggression and behaviors that are frustrating, embarrassing, and sometimes even dangerous to the Alzheimer's car...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - July 19, 2014 Category: Dementia Tags: 36 hour day alzheimer's alzheimer's behavior Alzheimers aggression Alzheimers Dementia alzheimers dementia stages health life news Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer Disease: Targacept's Failed TC-1734 Phase 2b Trial
From a Targacept press release:Targacept Phase 2b Clinical Trial in Alzheimer’s Disease Does Not Show Superiority of TC-1734 Over Donepezil July 14, 2014 "Winston-Salem, NC – Targacept, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRGT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel NNR Therapeutics™, today announced top-line results from a Phase 2b monotherapy clinical trial of TC-1734 as a treatment for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. In the trial, TC-1734 did not meet the objective of showing superiority to donepezil, the marketed medication most often prescribed for Alzheimer’s disease, after 52 weeks of treatment. The ...
Source: BrainBlog - July 15, 2014 Category: Neurologists Source Type: blogs
Caregiver Alert - Important Update on Namenda (Memantine)
Forest Laboratories, Inc. has announced that it plans to discontinue the sale of NAMENDA® (memantine HCl) 5 mg and 10 mg tablets effective August 15, 2014. +Alzheimer's Reading Room As far as I can tell more than sixty percent (60 percent) of all Alzheimer's patients are currently being treated with the combination of Namenda and Aricept (Donepezil, or another acetylcholinesterase inhibitor).Beginning in August, Forest Laboratories plans to discontinue Namenda tablets, and instead will be offering a new formulation NAMENDA XR®.So the news that follows in the press release below should be read carefully and shared in s...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - March 19, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
Inability to Sleep Well Could Trigger Alzheimer’s Disease
People who experience chronic sleep disturbance, either through their work, insomnia or for other reasons, could face an earlier onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s.Alzheimer's Reading Room“The big biological question that we tried to address in this study is whether sleep disturbance is a risk factor to develop Alzheimer’s or is it something that manifests with the disease,” said Domenico Praticò, professor of pharmacology and microbiology/immunology in Temple’s School of MedicineInitially, the researchers looked at longitudinal studies which indicated that people who reported chronic sleep disturbances often dev...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - March 18, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
Why would you take namenda and aricept together
A reader searching Bing asked the following question - why would you take namenda and aricept together?Bing suggested the following article ranked in the number one spot.Does the Combination of Aricept and Namenda Slow the Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Patients"After reading a research study indicating that the combination of Aricept and Namenda might help slow the rate of decline in Alzheimer's patients, I immediately scheduled an appointment with our doctor to discuss this information.Our doctor was familiar with the research, and he agree to put my mother on Namenda in a combination with Aricept.It is my belief that th...
Source: CareGiver, The - February 25, 2014 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Alzheimer's Reading Room Source Type: blogs
Why would you take namenda and aricept together
A reader searching Bing asked the following question - why would you take namenda and aricept together?Bing suggested the following article ranked in the number one spot.Does the Combination of Aricept and Namenda Slow the Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Patients"After reading a research study indicating that the combination of Aricept and Namenda might help slow the rate of decline in Alzheimer's patients, I immediately scheduled an appointment with our doctor to discuss this information.Our doctor was familiar with the research, and he agree to put my mother on Namenda in a combination with Aricept.It is my belief that th...
Source: CareGiver, The - February 25, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
Dementia Care Problem - Husband Sleeps All Day, Stays Up at Night
A dementia care problem. How do I get my husband back to sleeping at night and up in day time.By Bob DeMarco +Alzheimer's Reading Room I received this email from a reader seeking a solution to a problem that is somewhat common among Alzheimer's Care Partners.Dear Bob,Thank you for so much insight and understanding. How do I get my husband back to sleeping at night and up in day time. He sleeps all day, gets up a few times for meal and bathroom , and other things, but then starts dozing in chair or wherever he is. Then by evening after dinner , I am exhausted and he is ready to go. I would appreciate any suggesti...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - January 2, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
Five Reasons to Keep Records on Your Loved One with Memory Issues
I can't stress enough the importance of keeping records in behalf of the ones you love.By Elaine C. Pereira+Alzheimer's Reading Room Most of us remember our high school or college days and the barrage of writing they required; taking endless notes, drafting essays and more. If we never saw another pencil, blue book or stack of sticky notes again, it would be great! Even computer technology doesn’t completely eliminate the need for the readily available, albeit old fashion pencil and paper.A Daughter's Story of Her Mother's Arduous and Humorous Journey Through DementiaAt a minimum, calendars help us organiz...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - January 1, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
Does Vitamin E Help Slow Functional Decline in Alzheimer's Patients ?
ConclusionsThe authors write that the current study is one of the largest and longest treatment trials in patients with mild to moderate AD, and that it provides information on reported safety issues of vitamin E, with results from previous trials resulting in decreased prescribing for patients with AD. “In contrast to the conclusion drawn from a 2005 meta-analysis of vitamin E, which showed that high-dose vitamin E (≥ 400 IU/d) may increase the risk of all-cause mortality, we found no significant increase in mortality with vitamin E.The annual mortality rate was 7.3 percent in the alpha tocopherol group vs. 9.4 percen...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - January 1, 2014 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
Happy New Year, Quote, Poem
Another fresh new year is here . . . Another year to live!By Bob DeMarco+Alzheimer's Reading Room ______________________Another fresh new year is here . . .Another year to live!To banish worry, doubt, and fear,To love and laugh and give!This bright new year is given meTo live each day with zest . . .To daily grow and try to beMy highest and my best!~ William Arthur Ward What is the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and DementiaTest Your Memory for Alzheimer's (5 Best Tests)Alzheimer's Communication Tip, No More Blah Blah BlahHow to Listen to an Alzheimer's PatientLearning How to Communicate with Someone Suffering From Alzh...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 31, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
