Minding Our Elders®

Leukemia Drug May Stop Dementia Related Plaque Buildup

An existing drug already used to treat leukemia has shown promise as a treatment for neurological diseases such as Lewy body dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Researchers from Georgetown University successfully used small doses of the drug nilotinibin in experiments using mice.  This drug, which is used to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), appears to eliminate abnormal protein build-up in the brain.

Read more about leukemia drug with promise to help people with dementia:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

 

Related articles

Different Dementia Types Can Co-Exist

Communicating With a Person Who Has Dementia Takes Skill, Heart

Alzheimer’s Treatment Fails in Wider Study

Less than a year ago, I wrote about the promising results in an Alzheimer’s trial of an infusion called Gammagard. A story on CBSNews.com then reported that the experimental drug had been shown to halt the mental decline in some patients. Admittedly, this was a small study, but the results were exciting.  

Unfortunately, an announcement this week has given us a very disappointing update. USAToday.com reports that a larger study shows “…Patients who received infusions with Gammagard fared no better than those given a dummy solution.”

Read more about how Gammagard failed:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

 

Related articles

Fighting Back: People with Alzheimer's and Their Caregivers Face a Battle

Infections May Speed the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

Green Tea, Grape Skin Extracts May Interrupt Alzheimer's Path

Green tea and red wine have both been shown in numerous studies to contain antioxidants thought to increase overall health and possibly prevent some diseases. Now, a recent study, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, has shown that purified extracts from green tea and red wine (specifically, the resveratrol in the red grape skins) have been shown in early animal studies to interrupt the pathway that may lead to Alzheimer’s disease.

Read more about how greet tea and grape skin extracts interrupt Alzheimer's disease progression:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

Related articles

Compound from Grapes Could Fight Alzheimer's

Fighting Back: People with Alzheimer's and Their Caregivers Face a Battle

Green Tea Molecules Interfere With Formation of Plaques That May Cause Alzheimer's

Exercise May Help Slow Physical Decline in Alzheimer’s

Like it or not, exercise is good for us. Exercise helps to speed up our metabolism and strengthen our bones. Also, we’ve known for decades that exercise is good for the heart, and lately there have been many studies that have shown it’s good for the brain. So good, as a matter of fact, that now, according to a recent paper published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Researchers at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan concluded exercise is something we can do right now to help prevent Alzheimer's disease.

Read more about exercise and how it slows physical decline in Alzheimer's:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

 

Related articles

Fighting Back: People with Alzheimer's and Their Caregivers Face a Battle

Infections May Speed the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

Green Tea Molecules Interfere With Formation of Plaques That May Cause Alzheimer's

Compound from Grapes Could Fight Alzheimer's

Going Public with an Alzheimer's Diagnosis

Infections May Speed the Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease

Last December, a team of scientists working collaboratively under the guidance of the University of Bonn and the University of Massachusetts discovered that there was an association between chronic inflammation and the death of brain nerve cells. This discovery led them to theorize that chronic inflammation could possibly lead to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. A different study now underway is focusing on a similar theory. The new study, initiated in January of this year, is led by Delphine Boche, Lecturer in Clinical Neurosciences at Southampton, England.

Read more about how infections speed progression of AD:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

Related articles

Delaying Alzheimer's with Mental Enrichment

Fighting Back: People with Alzheimer's and Their Caregivers Face a Battle

More Evidence Shows Chronic Stress Increases Risk for Alzheimer's Disease

HRT May Prevent Accelerated Biological Aging for Alzheimer’s Gene Carriers

A little more than a decade ago, most physicians considered hormone replacement therapy an important part of treating postmenopausal women because of its ability to help control hot flashes, maintain bone health and lower the risk of colorectal cancer. Their enthusiasm for this treatment came to a halt in July of 2002, when the same physicians took their patients off HRT nearly across the board.  An article in the New York Times explains what happened.  “A rigorous study found that the [HRT] drugs, a combination of estrogen and progestin, caused small increases in breast cancer, heart attacks, strokes and blood clots.”

Read more about Hormone Replacement Therapy and Alzheimer's gene carriers:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

 

Related articles

Cancer Drug May Help in Alzheimer's Fight

HRT May Prevent Accelerated Biological Aging for Alzheimer's Gene Carriers

Acceptance of Change Important in Alzheimer’s Caregiving

My dad went into surgery with a smile and hope. He came out with severe dementia. Something unexplainable at the time had happened and Dad became a statistic – one of those “poor outcomes” we hear about. My head knew this tragedy was permanent, but my heart wanted my “real” dad back. The kind, loving, intelligent man whose love for me was steadfast. I wanted him back. Unfortunately, my family and I had to learn to accept the fact that Dad would never be the same.

Read more about accepting change so we can help our loved ones:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

 

Related articles

Emotionally Descriptive Words Lost to Those With Semantic Dementia

Elders Covering for Each Other Can Hide Dementia Symptoms

Acceptance of Change Important in Alzheimer's Caregiving

Cataract Surgery Improves Mood, Cognition in People with Dementia

Bilingual people may be better protected against Alzheimer's

The first elder for whom I became a primary caregiver was my neighbor, Joe. He was born of Norwegian immigrant parents who spoke Norwegian at home. As a result, Joe needed to repeat first grade because he spent his first year in school learning English. While Joe went on to become a well educated engineer who spoke English with no Norwegian accent, in his later years he did occasionally talk about the challenges he faced as a Norwegian speaking child.

 Read more about speaking more than one language and its effect on Alzheimer's risk:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

Related articles

Cancer Drug May Help in Alzheimer's Fight

Green Tea Molecules Interfere With Formation of Plaques That May Cause Alzheimer's

Fighting Back: People with Alzheimer's and Their Caregivers Face a Battle

Researchers Isolate Olive Oil Component That Protects Against Alzheimer's

Existing Psoriasis Drug May Treat Alzheimer's

Serene Atmosphere Can Relax Care Receiver

Loneliness May Increase Dementia Risk, Heart Attacks and Stroke

A recent study published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry has found that people who feel lonely are significantly more at risk for developing dementia. The study, headed by Tjalling Jan Holwerda of the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, found that participants who reported feeling lonely, no matter how many friends and family surrounded them, were more likely to experience dementia than those who didn’t feel lonely. The team focused on approximately 2,200 older adults living in Amsterdam, ages 65 to 86. None of the participants exhibited signs of dementia and none of them lived in facilities such as nursing homes.

Read more about loneliness and dementia:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

Related articles

Cataract Surgery Improves Mood, Cognition in People with Dementia

Chronic Pain Management in People With Dementia Complicated

BRAIN Initiative Embraces More Than Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is not only devastating those who develop the disease. It affects the family and others who love the person who must live with the disease, and it affects our nation as a whole because of the high cost of care. 

According to research led by an economist at the RAND Corporation, expenses for dementia, including nursing home care, were $109 billion in 2010. To put that into perspective, heart disease costs totaled $102 billion and cancer totaled $77 billion. The amount of money spent on heart disease and cancer is enormous, however through preventive intervention, early diagnosis and better drugs, the number of people developing these diseases are holding steady or even decreasing. Not so with Alzheimer’s disease.

Read more about brain mapping and its potential:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

 

Related articles

Alzheimer's Disease Doesn't Just Affect the Aged

Fighting Back: People with Alzheimer's and Their Caregivers Face a Battle

Existing Psoriasis Drug May Treat Alzheimer’s

Researchers working in Switzerland and Germany have found evidence strengthening the concept that the immune system plays a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease. The study was done on mice using the drug ustekinumab, which is a biologic drug already approved by the Food & Drug Administration for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, an auto-immune disease.

Read more about psoriasis a drug that may treat Alzheimer's:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

Related articles

Fighting Back: People with Alzheimer's and Their Caregivers Face a Battle

Alzheimer's Disease Doesn't Just Affect the Aged

Existing Psoriasis Drug May Treat Alzheimer's

Cancer Drug May Help in Alzheimer's Fight

More Evidence Shows Chronic Stress Increases Risk for Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Can Dramatically Alter Financial Future

Alzheimer’s Symptoms Often Manageable without Drugs

Alzheimer’s disease cannot as yet be prevented or cured. While there are some medications that may help some people with the symptoms of the disease, they have drawbacks. With this in mind, some experts feel that many symptoms of the disease are better treated with behavior interventions.  An article on newswise.com reports on the work of Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (JHUSON) professor Laura N. Gitlin, PhD and her colleagues. These scientists are promoting the concept that if physicians integrate behavioral management strategies into early ongoing treatment, behavior changes can be controlled.

Read more about managing Alzheimer's symptoms without drugs:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

 

Related articles

Alzheimer's Disease Doesn't Just Affect the Aged

Infections May Speed the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Symptoms Often Manageable without Drugs

Fighting Back: People with Alzheimer's and Their Caregivers Face a Battle

Should You Get Genetic Testing for Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's Can Dramatically Alter Financial Future

Delaying Alzheimer's with Mental Enrichment

Compound from Grapes Could Fight Alzheimer's

Researchers Isolate Olive Oil Component That Protects Against Alzheimer’s

The Mediterranean diet is widely recommended by health professionals as a way to promote heart health as well as for possible Alzheimer’s protection. For most people, the fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and olive oil-based salad dressings that make up the bulk of a Mediterranean diet are excellent foods for general health. However, the liberal use of extra virgin olive oil used for cooking and as flavoring for bread and salads may be the real key to why the Mediterranean diet is considered protective against Alzheimer’s.

Read more about the isolated component of olive oil that may prevent Alzheimer's:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

 

Related articles

Vitamin D, Mediterranean Diet Help Lower Risk of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's Can Dramatically Alter Financial Future

Mayo Clinic Advice on Integrative Medicine

Dear Readers: While traditional health care saves lives and cures many illnesses, prescription drugs and many surgeries also have risks and limitations. Because of this knowledge, or simply out of the need to take a more active role in their healthcare and that of their elders, many people are using the Internet and other resources to research historic, alternative methods of preventing or controlling illness and pain. According to the National Institutes of Health, close to 40 percent of the adults in the U.S. use some form of alternative health care. Alternative health care includes herbs, massage, meditation, acupuncture and many other techniques that have been used for centuries by other cultures.

Read more about Mayo Clinic book on integrative medicine:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

Related articles

Alzheimer's Can Dramatically Change Financial Future

The Stubborn Stigma of Dementia: How to Cope

Cancer Drug May Help in Alzheimer's Fight

The anti-cancer drug Gleevec has been shown to disable a newly discovered key protein linked to the development of Alzheimer’s. The protein, gSAP, stimulates production of toxic beta-amyloid which is linked to the development of plaques in the brain typically associated with Alzheimer’s disease.  Dr. Gen He and Dr. Paul Greengard, both of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, have identified gamma secretase activating protein (gSAP).

Read more about Gleevec and how it may in the Alzheimer's fight:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

Related articles

Lewy Body Dementia Often Confused With Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's Disease Doesn't Just Affect the Aged

Should You Get Genetic Testing for Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer’s Development Predicted Through Gait

When you are stuck behind an older woman at the supermarket, do you get impatient at her slow pace? Maybe she simply has all the time in the world and no longer must rush through each day as though she needs to put out a fire. Or maybe she has arthritis or another physical illness that is slowing her down. There’s nothing wrong with being more cautious about movements and slowing a bit as we age. However, for some people, a slow gait, particularly an uneven gait, could be a sign of brain disease such as Alzheimer’s.

Read more about how Alzheimer's development can be predicted by changes in gait:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

 

Related articles

Positive Coping Strategies Help Slow Alzheimer's

Lewy Body Dementia Often Confused With Alzheimer's

Green Tea Molecules Interfere With Formation of Plaques That May Cause Alzheimer's

Compound from Grapes Could Fight Alzheimer’s

There’s no prevention or cure for Alzheimer’s disease at this point. The best many experts can do is to suggest that people adopt healthy habits such as reducing stress, exercising, weight control and a good diet including plenty of fruits and vegetables.  However, researchers are working hard to find an answer to the Alzheimer’s puzzle.

Read more about grapes and preventing Alzheimer's:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

 

Study Says Exercise Key to Preventing Alzheimer's

Lewy Body Dementia Often Confused With Alzheimer's

Should You Get Genetic Testing for Alzheimer's Disease?

Green Tea Molecules Interfere With Formation of Plaques That May Cause Alzheimer's

Infections May Speed the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

More Evidence Shows Chronic Stress Increases Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease

A new doctoral thesis by Sara K. Bengtsson, Department of Clinical Sciences, Umeå University, Sweden, examines the reason why chronic stress can increase one’s risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

Allopregnanolon,  one of the steroids produced by a body under stress, can inhibit general brain activity. The thesis shows that chronically elevated levels of allopregnanolone accelerated Alzheimer’s disease development in genetically altered mice models. The mice with Alzheimer’s disease showed impaired learning and memory. They had also increased brain levels of beta-amyloids, which are the proteins that form plaques in Alzheimer's disease.

Read more about how chronic stress increases your risk of Alzheimer's:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

 

Related articles

Alzheimer's Disease Doesn't Just Affect the Aged

Study Says Exercise Key to Preventing Alzheimer's

Lack of Oxygen to the Brain Could be Cause of Many Cases of Alzheimer's

Delaying Alzheimer's with Mental Enrichment

For years researchers have tried to understand the impact and significance of a person's education level on the development of Alzheimer's disease. Many studies have shown that people who often challenge themselves to learn complex tasks will show Alzheimer’s symptoms later than those who don’t. Scientists theorized that people who work to enrich their minds, whether through formal means or through a mentally challenging lifestyle, have more cognitive resources at their disposal to mask symptoms of AD.

Now, an article in the Harvard Gazette reports on a study showing evidence that continually challenging our minds may be an even more powerful ally against AD symptoms than previously thought.

Read more about mental exercise and Alzheimer's:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

 

Related articles

Lewy Body Dementia Often Confused With Alzheimer's

Positive Coping Strategies Help Slow Alzheimer's

Lack of Oxygen to the Brain Could be Cause of Many Cases of Alzheimer's

Should You Get Genetic Testing for Alzheimer's Disease?

Study Shows Stress Hormones Increase Alzheimer's Risk

Lack of Oxygen to the Brain Could be Cause of Many Cases of Alzheimer’s

Why some elders develop Alzheimer’s disease and others do not remains a medical puzzle, but researchers are coming closer to understanding the process. An article on The Alzheimer’s Forum website reports on the results of two new human studies connecting loss of oxygen to the brain with Alzheimer’s.

Recently, researchers led by Henrik Zetterberg at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden, reported that cardiac arrest, an extreme form of hypoxia (loss of oxygen to the brain), causes a massive surge in blood amyloid-b peptide levels which are thought to be central to the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Read more about lack of oxygen to the brain and Alzheimer's:

Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook

Related articles

Lewy Body Dementia Often Confused With Alzheimer's

Infections May Speed the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

Should You Get Genetic Testing for Alzheimer's Disease?

Nutrition One Weapon to Reduce Risk of Alzheimer's