Dementia + Original Articles
Nearly 4 percent of the 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer's have an early-onset form. What, if anything, can you do to stave it off?
If you thought only the elderly were at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease, consider that more than 200,000 individuals in the United States suffer from what is called early-onset, or younger-onset, Alzheimer's. In fact, nearly 4 percent of the 5.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of mental decline in older adults. But if caught early and with the right medications, its progression can be slowed. Here's a look at the disease by the numbers.
It's been more than 100 years (1906) since the German physician Alois Alzheimer first described the symptoms that have since become known as Alzheimer's disease.
Advancing age is the greatest risk factor for the disease for which there is no cure. Alzheimer's disease is the progressive loss of intellectual function.
This form of massage combines the relaxation of yoga and the muscular benefits of physical therapy.
Deep inside your muscles, wrapped around your nerves and nestled next to your bones is a protective layer of tissue called the fascia. Myo is a prefix that means, "related to muscle." Myofascia's job is to protect and help your muscles, nerves and bones to glide, move and function in harmony with each other.
A growing body of research suggests that antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent the onset of the disease.
There are still many questions surrounding Alzheimer's disease—a degenerative brain disorder and form of dementia that currently has no cure. Although the evidence is not conclusive, several studies, including one conducted by the Alzheimer's Association, suggest that foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent the onset of the disease.
Are you concerned that a loved one may be suffering from Alzheimer's disease? Read on to learn about the most common early symptoms.
For millions of Americans, it's an all-too-familiar scenario: Suddenly, a loved one will start asking the same question repeatedly, telling the same story continuously, or behaving inappropriately. His or her close friends, spouses, or children notice it but dismiss it simply as "getting old.
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease can be a challenge. Follow these tips to make it easier.
According to the National Alzheimer's Association, more than 10 million Americans are currently caring for a relative with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. Although the task can be challenging and even overwhelming at times, there are things you can do to ease the process.
It's common for seniors to experience sadness and grief, but when these feelings are persistent, they may be a sign of depression.
Although depression is common among older Americans, experts say it's not just a normal part of the aging process. Whenever feelings of sadness and grief are persistent and interfere with daily activities, they may be signs of major depression--a disease that affects 1 to 5 percent of senior citizens in the mainstream community, the National Institute of Mental Health reports.
Elderly patients often get confused or agitated toward the end of the day. Learn about the symptoms known as sundowning.
When the sun goes down, elderly patients can become irritated, irrational, even violent. The phenomenon, known as sundowning or sundowner's syndrome, refers to the extreme agitation and confusion elderly people may suddenly experience during the late afternoons or early evenings.
Caregiving expert Jackie Pinkowitz discusses the difference between age-related memory problems and Alzheimer's disease.
If you talked to as many caregivers as I have over the years, you'd know that it's not the least bit unusual for them to wonder, "Is it Alzheimer's or just aging?" This heart-wrenching question hangs over the heads of many, many families for many, many months without ever once being spoken out loud.
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease can be overwhelming. Follow these tips to help deal with the diagnosis and cope with the holidays and every day.
Caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease (AD) means that each new day brings a unique set of challenges. Coping with changing levels of ability and new patterns of behavior can become overwhelming at times.
Not surprisingly, research has shown that caregivers often are at increased risk for depression and illness, especially if they do not receive adequate support from family, friends, and the community.
12 Ways to Beat Exhaustion and Burnout
For caregivers, juggling the demands of work and family with parenting our own parents can be a struggle. Just listen to the emotional turmoil expressed by fellow caregivers attempting to manage a turbulent, uncharted course and fill a role they most definitely never wished for.
Study shows that preparedness makes all the difference when it comes to caregiving.
Findings from the CVS/pharmacy and Caring Today 2007 "Caregiver Insights Study: Well-Being and Care Management" indicate that family caregivers find the caregiving experience more enjoyable than expected. Findings further revealed that those caregivers who were better prepared to fill the caregiver role and responsibilities had more positive experiences than those who were unprepared.
What is the relationship between these two conditions? Could one contribute to or cause the other?
Scientists have discovered a possible link between two conditions that become more common as people age: hearing loss and dementia. And, apparently, the greater the hearing loss, the higher the likelihood of having dementia. But what is the exact relationship between these two conditions? Does hearing loss actually cause dementia? The reasons behind the link aren't clear just yet.
There are many reasons to take on this challenge, and mental acuity is probably at the bottom of the list. But that doesn't diminish the brain benefits it can confer.
It's no secret that knowing a second language brings multiple benefits. You're able to get around more easily if you visit a country in which that language is spoken, you can communicate with friends and family who speak that language, and you might even have an advantage in the job market.
The Web offers many options for staying connected and keeping loved ones updated on your or your family member's health issues. These methods are fast, easy, and efficient, and you'll know your support network is right there with you as a part of your journey.
When Jennifer Wilson Cooper learned she had ovarian cancer, she launched a blog as a way to share her story with others and to make it easy for friends and family to keep up with her progress. Little did she know she'd quickly-and dramatically-expand her circle of friends (you can follow Cooper's journey on her blog, Four Seeds, which is featured in Quality Health's free cancer newsletter and on the QualityHealth.
Middle-age adults with excess belly fat now have yet another reason to reduce their waist circumference. Research shows that abdominal obesity nearly triples their risk for dementia.
Middle-age adults with excess belly fat now have yet another reason to reduce their waist circumference. Research shows that abdominal obesity nearly triples their risk for dementia. Belly fat is already a known risk factor for diabetes, stroke, hypertension, hyperlipidemia (elevation of lipids such as cholesterol), and heart disease.
Learn more about the important role that glucose plays in brain function.
Scientists are only beginning to uncover the brain’s role in normal insulin and glucose control as it relates to diabetes. Likewise, the cognitive deficits associated with the disease are just recently being understood. So what has been discovered so far? Research has revealed that diabetes is associated with impaired cognitive function and an increased risk for dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
Follow these tips to keep your mind in tip-top shape.
Although we've all heard people joke about having a "senior moment" when they can't remember something simple, the truth is that getting older is in no way synonymous with losing our memories. While certain diseases may cause memory impairment and be out of our control, there's plenty we can do to keep our brains sharp and stave off forgetfulness—even if we're genetically programmed to be at higher risk for conditions such as Alzheimer's.
Certain foods really can enhance your memory and overall cognitive function. Are they part of your diet?
In general, any food that's good for you is good for your brain. That's because nutritious foods that lower your risk of diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes naturally encourage blood flow to the brain. Your brain, like the rest of your body, needs quality nutrients to work at its highest level.
Alzheimer's Foundation of America calls for national dementia screening.
As the nation faces an aging population and an escalating public health crisis related to Alzheimer's disease, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) released its new research report entitled "Memory Matters". This report shatters unsubstantiated criticism over the value and utilization of memory screenings; emphasizes the safety and cost effectiveness of these tools; and calls on Congress to develop a national dementia screening policy.
If you're leaving carbs out of your diet, you may be losing more than just a quick pound.
Few would argue the fact that no-carb diets work in the short run. What no-carb dieters may not realize are the effects on other parts of their body. A study conducted at Tufts University in Massachusetts found that diets that eliminate carbohydrates can have a negative effect on memory.
This decadent dessert does more than just please your taste buds; it could benefit your health as well.
It may be hard to believe that something as delicious as chocolate could actually be good for you, but it's true. According to a growing body of research, America's favorite sweet treat comes with a host of surprising health benefits: from regulating your blood pressure to reducing your risk of dementia.
As life expectancy increases, so, too, does the prevalence of dementia. Here, a look at the disorder, from symptoms to treatment.
For many patientsand the families who love thema diagnosis of dementia can be devastating. A degenerative disease, the condition causes a progressive decline in cognitive function, including memory, attention span, and problem-solving skills. In some cases, dementia patients may suffer from hallucinations or severe disorientation, failing to remember what decade it is, where they are, or even their own names.
Caregiving expert Jackie Pinkowitz explains what families need to know when a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
For many families, determining whether their loved on has age-related memory problems or Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be a challenge. And if their family member is diagnosed with AD, they then face a daunting, open-ended question: "Now what?" Most Alzheimer's caregivers wish that they had known early on what to expect in terms of the disease's progression and their loved one's behaviors.
