Loving Daughter Views Disease Through a Different Lens Than Nursing Home Staff
Dear Carol: I’m watching my mom decline from Parkinson’s disease complicated by Lewy body dementia (LBD). She has good medical care and lives in a nursing home that has been a blessing to us all. I try to imitate the way that the staff works with her because they seem well trained. The problem is Mom is not just another patient to me. She is my mother. I want to fight what this disease is doing, and sometimes that makes me forget how I should work with Mom’s disease, especially when it comes to her LBD. I just can’t accept what’s happening. I know that my feelings are irrational because her dise...
Source: Minding Our Elders - June 4, 2017 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Another Example of a Human Genetic Variant that Lowers Blood Lipids and thus Reduces Heart Disease Risk
In recent years researchers have discovered a couple of human gene variants that dramatically reduce blood lipid levels, in ANGPTL4 and ASGR1, which in turn reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by slowing the development of atherosclerosis. The atherosclerotic lesions that form in blood vessel walls are seeded by oxidatively damaged blood lipids, and so lower lipid levels mean less seeding, all other things being equal. The research here presents another such gene variant, though by the sound of it one that has a lesser effect and isn't as widespread across populations.
A genetic variant that protects the he...
Source: Fight Aging! - May 26, 2017 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Memory Books and Photos Great for Communication When Visiting Elders
Since elders by definition have many decades of life to their credit, they will likely enjoy looking back on the past. This is especially important when people have Alzheimer’s disease because their disease prevents them from forming new memories. Nearly everyone enjoys reminiscing to some degree. To help you kick off a nice visit with the elder you intend to spend time with try bringing some props. Physical reminders should help your visit go more smoothly.
Image: Thinkstock
Read full article on HealthCentral about how memories can aid in visiting elders:
Support a caregiver or jump start discussion in support gro...
Source: Minding Our Elders - May 23, 2017 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer ’s Risk Higher for Women: Why?
It’s been known for years that women are more at risk for Alzheimer’s disease than men. Now, there’s even more evidence of gender differences. A new study has found that among those who've been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), women show a much faster rate of memory loss than men. The 2015 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference took place recently in Washington, D.C. While many topics were covered, including some drugs that are showing promise, this study about women has attracted its share of attention. Earlier studies showing that more women developed Alzheimer’...
Source: Minding Our Elders - May 17, 2017 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
10 Alzheimer ’s Disease Facts to be Familiar With
Alzheimer’s disease is increasing at an alarming rate. There is currently no way to prevent or cure it, or even to slow its progression. Here are some important Alzheimer’s facts that everyone should know.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia. Dementia is a brain disorder that impacts the ability to carry out daily activities. It is a degenerative disease that affects memory, thought, and language. It eventually progresses to the point where patients require 24-hour care. The disease always leads to death.
The onset of Alzheimer’s disease usually happens after age 60. Some people...
Source: Shield My Senior - May 16, 2017 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Stevie Compango Tags: Senior Safety Source Type: blogs
Nighttime Snacks Stop Some Alzheimer's Wandering
Elderly people often eat more food when they are on a program of frequent, smaller meals than the standard three larger meals a day. Available snacks can also help people with Alzheimer’s who tend to wander. An informal experiment at the Parker Jewish Institute in New Hyde Park, N.Y. found that if they provided people with dementia who became anxious and agitated at night with a snack, they would often calm down and return to bed. Aura Gordon, an RN manager, told one story last month at the Aging in America conference in Chicago. “A patient, ‘a lovely man,’ got out of bed around 2 a.m., as was his custom, pic...
Source: Minding Our Elders - May 5, 2017 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer's: What Is Really in Your Control?
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, of the more than five million Americans with Alzheimer’s, approximately 200,000 individuals develop the disease before age 65 (younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease or YOAD). Additionally, barring a cure or some type of prevention, someone in the United States will develop the disease every 33 seconds. What do we do, just give up and give in? Or do we look for ways that may give us a better chance to get through our last years without signs and symptoms of this devastating disease? I say let’s fight.
Image: Thinkstock
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Source: Minding Our Elders - May 4, 2017 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
First Kicks by Dr. Greene: Track Your Baby ’ s Development During Pregnancy, by Week
Sign-up here for a set of week-by-week newsletters so you can follow your baby’s development from now until the beautiful moment of birth.
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Source: Conversations with Dr Greene - May 2, 2017 Category: Child Development Authors: DrGreene Team Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
First Kicks by Dr. Greene: Track Your Baby ’ s Development During Pregnancy, by Week
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Source: Conversations with Dr Greene - May 2, 2017 Category: Child Development Authors: DrGreene Team Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
All We Need is (Unconditional) Love
On March 24, 2017, Joe Gibes posted an entry on this blog, entitled “A ‘disabled’ person speaks out against a particular form of discrimination.”[1] That post featured links to several stories about Kathleen Humberstone, a young woman with Down Syndrome who spoke at a recent UN event commemorating World Down Syndrome Day, which was observed on March 21. After reading through Joe’s post and the... // Read More » (Source: blog.bioethics.net)
Source: blog.bioethics.net - April 26, 2017 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Chris Ralston Tags: Genetics Health Care abortion bioethics biotechnology Culture / Ethnicity / Gender / Disability Down syndrome eugenics Health Care Practice human dignity reproduction screening syndicated Source Type: blogs
The Children of Medicaid
This article was originally published on Complex Child.Â
Compiled by Susan Agrawal
I’ve been continually surprised by how many people think Medicaid is just for poor families on welfare. Those of us who parent children with complex medical needs know that Medicaid is so much more than that. After all, 72% of Medicaid enrollees are children, people with disabilities, and the elderly, and these groups account for 84% of spending.
Medicaid provides vital services for children, including home nursing care and therapies, that are not otherwise covered. In this article, we will share just a few of the children with medical co...
Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - April 10, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: dw at disruptivewomen.net Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Fight Aging! Newsletter, April 10th 2017
This study shows that lifespan-extending conditions can slow molecular changes associated with an epigenetic clock in mice livers.
Diverse interventions that extend mouse lifespan suppress shared age-associated epigenetic changes at critical gene regulatory regions
Age-associated epigenetic changes are implicated in aging. Notably, age-associated DNA methylation changes comprise a so-called aging "clock", a robust biomarker of aging. However, while genetic, dietary and drug interventions can extend lifespan, their impact on the epigenome is uncharacterised. To fill this knowledge gap, we defined age-assoc...
Source: Fight Aging! - April 9, 2017 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
Optimistic Thinking May Help Preserve Memory and Judgement
It should come as no surprise that optimistic thinking is, for the most part, better for one’s health than negative thinking. In fact, negative thinking has been connected to poor health for some time. A recent study confirms what was previously suspected, linking optimistic thinking to the preservation of memory and good judgement. Both of those traits bode well for staving off, if not preventing, Alzheimer’s disease. Research conducted by the University of Michigan has linked an optimistic outlook to taking better care of ourselves overall, which may explain the effect that optimism has on Alzheimer’s risk.
R...
Source: Minding Our Elders - April 9, 2017 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
