AlzDigest » suffering from dementia

Sleep Disorder Might Predict Alzheimer’s Onset

paul — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:20:54 +0000

A recent study by Canadian researchers showed a better than 50 percent chance that people suffering from REM sleep disorder will develop a neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s.

“Doctors should pay close attention when following these patients, as their observations could help define the precursors of diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Lewy body dementia, or multiple system atrophy,” said Dr. Jacques Montplaisir of the University of Montreal and Montreal’s Sacre-Cour Hospital, who was the lead researcher on the study.

Montplaisir worked with Dr. Rondald Postuma from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center.

While strides are being made in diagnosing such ailments before their advanced stages, there is still insufficient data concerning early warning signs, the study’s proponents said. The study showed that patients included in the research who had REM, or Rapid Eye Movement, sleep disorders had a 52.4 percent chance of developing a neurodegenerative disease within 12 years.

Their findings have been published in the Neurology, which is the official publication of the American Academy of Neurology.

Other results of the study include that patients with REM sleep disorder have a 17.7 percent chance of developing a neurodegenerative disease within five years of diagnosis and a 40.6 per cent in 10 years.

“These results establish a clear link and indicate that these sleep disorders could be a predictor of neurodegenerative disease,” Postuma said.

The study included 93 subjects. And while treatments exist for REM sleep disorders, those medications don’t delay onset of neurodegenerative disease, the study said.

Image: Memorial Regional South Hospital

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Study Shows Benefit of Giving Care to Caregivers

paul — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:14:19 +0000

Those giving care to Alzheimer’s patients taking medication can themselves benefit from counseling and other support services, according to a groundbreaking study of caregivers in three countries.

“These findings show that counseling and support of family members can be of significant benefit to Alzheimer’s caregivers even when the patients are receiving medications for the disease,” said Dr. Mary Mittelman. “Caregivers who are less depressed are better able to take care of their ill family members. Social support and counseling for family members of people with Alzheimer’s disease should be considered essential components of optimal comprehensive care.”

Mittelman is the director of the Psychosocial Research and Support Program at the New York University School of Medicine Silberstein Institute and is on the editorial advisory board for the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.

The research into this issue concerned 158 older men and women providing home care for a spouse suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Each Alzheimer’s patient in the study was taking donepezil, which also is known as Aricept, and is used to treat the disease’s.

Scientists from institutions in three nations participated in the study, including: NYU Medical Center, the U.K.’s University of Manchester, and the Dementia Collaborative Research Centre at the University of New South Wales’s School of Psychiatry in Sydney, Australia. Under conditions of the study caregivers were split into two groups with one group receiving normal supportive care and education and the other getting enhanced counseling and support services that had been shown to be beneficial.

Those receiving the enhanced support program felt less isolated and depressed. The study could have far-reaching effects as almost 10 million people in the U.S. alone provide care for an Alzheimer’s disease patient. Estimates worldwide are that caregivers number 25 million.

The enhanced support developed at NYU covered:

Caregiver education about Alzheimer’s effects on the patient and strategies for managing care and responding to symptoms.
Continued support for the caregiver and family members including counseling and encouragement.
Working to reduce family conflicts

Resutls of the study were published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

“As we search for a cure or a way of preventing Alzheimer’s disease, we cannot forget about the millions of family members who are caring for relatives who are currently ill,” Mittelman said.

Image: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

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Wine, Chocolate, Tea May Help Cognition

paul — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:04:11 +0000

It’s a balancing act, researchers at England’s Oxford University say. Consumption of food or drink that contain flavonoids can increase cognitive ability in elderly people.

The good news is wine is among the most effective of those items. The bad news is too much of this good thing can have the opposite effect and impair cognitive ability.

“Those overdoing it at Christmas should note that while moderate alcohol consumption is associated with better cognitive function and reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, heavy alcohol intake could be one of many causes of dementia – as well as a host of other health problems,” researchers were quoted as saying in a recent Oxford release on the subject.

Researchers found that in addition to wine, chocolate and tea are among foods with flavonoids that can improve cognition.

Studies were conducted on 2,031 people between the ages of 70 and 74 with the subjects filling out a survey on their normal eating habits. They also took cognitive tests. The research was conducted by the Oxford Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics in cooperation with colleagues from Norway.

The study showed that those who ate or drank wine, tea or chocolate scored “significantly better” on the cognitive tests. Results were published in The Journal of Nutrition.

The research follows an increased interest in the effects of micronutrients in cognitive decline typically associated with advancing age. Scientists are examining the role played by foods and drinks that are sources micronutrients – called polyphenols – in plant-derived foods.

The most effective food or drink in this study was wine. But while the results above appear to support the effectiveness of wine and other foods in improving cognition, researchers said more study is required.

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Suspecting Dementia? Holidays Offer Time to Observe

paul — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:00:49 +0000

Holidays offer a time to enjoy being with our loved ones, but they also create an opportunity to connect with aging relatives and, perhaps, take note whether signs of physical or mental impairment are beginning to emerge.

Mild impairment such as memory loss was once regarded as simply a sign of advancing age, however, now such signs are seen as a possible early warning of a more serious problems such as Alzheimer’s-related dementia.

“Some change in memory is normal as we grow older, but the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease are more than simple lapses in memory,” according to the American Alzheimer’s Association.

For example:

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, it’s normal for someone to forget a particular part of a memory of an occasion, but forgetting everything concerning an event is one indication.
Anyone can forget where a car is parked in a crowded lot during the holidays. But watch for signs such as someone forgetting how to start their car or turn on devices in the car (radio, lights).
Similarly, anyone can forget a name of someone they’ve met. Cause for concern is when someone forgets the meeting ever having taken place.
Finally, forgetfully losing track of items such as car keys or glasses can happen to us all. What doesn’t happen to an unimpaired mind is to find the items in incorrect places such as the refridgerator of a cookie tin.

This is a sample of the signs available from the Alzheimer’s Association, for a complete list visit the organization’s web site.

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Planning Can Improve Holiday Travel Experience

paul — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:31:57 +0000

Alzdigest.com recently wrote of things to consider for the holidays with an Alzheimer’s patient in your home, but the season is also a big one for travel. Similarly, there are steps you can take – and pitfalls you can avoid – to make a road trip the best experience it can be.

Remember, just as at home, over-stimulation and new situations and people can be stressful for one experiencing Alzheimer’s-related dementia. As a result, take the time to carefully plan your trip with your loved one’s special needs in mind.
Here are a few points for consideration:

Keep it simple. Disorientation can be exacerbated by exhaustion. So don’t try to do more than one or two things a day.

Try to get ready for tomorrow tonight. Consider choosing and setting out the clothes both of you will need for the one or two events coming up, and that will give you needed extra time to get ready in the morning.

Bring along known, favorite possessions when going to a new place. This can be simple things such as a blanket or pillow.

If you’re in a new place, chances are good it won’t be secured as your home is. Check for latches.

As much as possible, stick to the schedule you have at home to create a sense of comforting continuity. This includes easy-to-plan activities such as meals and rest or sleep times.

Make sure your luggage has wheels, you’ll need the extra hand, and be certain you keep all vital documents and possessions for both of you.

If flying, advise the airline of your special needs. Their help will make the trip better for you and other passengers.

Finally, your trip can be a great experience and a needed change of pace, but you’ll be doing the work of two. Rest before you go and plan time in your travel schedule for rest to keep you fresh.

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Is Peter Falk Suffering from Alzheimers?

paul — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:15:55 +0000

The Internet Movie Database

Emmy-winning actor Peter Falk is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and needs protection from being defrauded, according to published reports of court papers filed by his daughter.
Falk, 81, is well-known for his long-running television series Columbo, for which he won TV’s top acting award. In that series, he played a rumpled and seemingly-bumbling police detective who would frustrate crime suspects with his rambling, forgetful persona, always asking, “Just one more thing . . .”

Documents filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior court by Catherine Falk, the actor’s daughter, said he needs “constant care” and is suffering from dementia, according to media reports. The documents also are reported to say Falk “requires full-time custodial care” for his safety and because he can no longer guard himself from “fraud or undue influence.”

Neither Falk nor any representatives have commented.Prior to his television success, Falk was twice nominated for the Academy Award in the films Pocket Full of Miracles and Murder, Inc.

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Holidays Pose Challenge for Alzheimer’s Care

paul — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:42:11 +0000

While the holiday season is most often associated with good times – friends, family, celebrations – it can be a time of challenge both for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.

Three points to consider can help make your holidays all they can be.

To enhance your experience and that of the Alzheimer’s patient, let them assist in some of the routines of the holidays, such as decorating a tree or setting out packages. (But be careful not to over-stimulate. Bright lights and large gatherings can add to an Alzheimer’s sufferer’s confusion. So keep things simple.)

Be sure to pay attention to your needs as well. Don’t be so consumed with your loved one that you don’t make time to enjoy the season as well. “Try asking friends or family members to help watch your loved one so you can run errands or take time for you,” said Vicky Abdella, an aging services professional in Ohio.

Finally, avoid dwelling on the past, on what was or what may have been lost because of Alzheimer’s-related dementia. “Don’t think about how much has changed,” Abdella told the Chillicothe Gazette.

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