Is there a risk of dementia after surgery

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities



AC Content

It is recognized that there is difficulty with mental functioning after surgery in the elderly, according to an article in the June 2003 issue of Clinical Anesthesiology. It now has an official name, which is
post-operative cognitive dysfunction. It is sometimes called POCD. There is limited knowledge on how to predict it and reduce its risk. Local anesthesia can have the same or worse effects as general anesthesia. It has some similarities to other dementias. It has a number of differences as well.

Dementia is a chronic, progressive decrease in the functioning of the brain. The most evident feature is short-term memory loss. Dementia involves other cognitive function problems such as inappropriate behavior, poor judgment, and inability to learn and communicate, think clearly and keep safe. It may be the result of a number of medical conditions, the most common of which is Alzheimer's disease. The symptoms of dementia most often get worse over time, rather than coming on suddenly after an event such as surgery.

Post-operative cognitive dysfunction is a decline in cognitive function that lasts for weeks or months after surgery. It is important because those with it have an increased risk of disease or death. Patients with post-operative cognitive dysfunction at their hospital discharge have a better than average chance of dying in the first three months after surgery, and those with POCD at both discharge and three months are more likely to die in the first year after surgery than those with no POCD, according to an article in the January issue of the journal Anesthesiology. Most people recover from uncomplicated post-operative cognitive dysfunction. Persons do not recover from dementia unless...read all of Dementia risk after surgery

Will you be mentally sharp at the end of your life

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities



AC Content

Scientists think that people who can play bridge to a ripe old age may carry the secret because bridge provides two kinds of stimulation. It provides mental and social stimulation.

Scientists suspect that some people with deep experience in a game like bridge may be able to draw on reserves to buffer against memory lapses. But there is not enough evidence one way or the other to

The tragedy of dementia is in many cases, the condition quickly robs people of self-awareness. They will not voluntarily abandon the one thing that, perhaps more than any other, defines their daily existence.

Some researchers say that mental stimulation such as doing crossword puzzles, reading books and playing bridge, may delay the occurrence of symptoms. Socializing, including interaction with friends, may be very important, some say. When people are alone, a healthy human mind can go blank and quickly become disoriented, many psychologists have found.

There is quite a bit of evidence that suggests that the more people you have contact with, in your own home or outside, may be just as important as mental stimulation some studies say.

In recent years scientists have become intensely interested in people have lived past 90 without a trace dementia. It is a group that, for the first time, is large enough to provide a glimpse into the lucid brain at the furthest reach of human life, and to help researchers tease apart what, exactly, is essential in preserving mental sharpness to the end.

In studies of the very old, researchers in California, New York, Boston and elsewhere have found...read all of Will you be mentally sharp at the end of your life

Is your brain shrinking

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities



Reuters

If your brain is shrinking, you are probably three times as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease in the mext ten years.

This finding was published in the journal Neurology. Also this discovery may offer a new way to detect the disease early. This advance could help in the development of effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease which affects at least 26 million people world wide.

"The magnetic resonance measurements could be very important indicators to help identify who may be at risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia," Leyla deToledo-Morrell of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, who worked on the study, said in a statement.

"If a drug therapy or treatment is developed in the future, those who are still without symptoms but at great risk would benefit the most from treatment," deToledo-Morrell said.

The study involved two groups of healthy people in their 70s who had brain scans at Rush University in Chicago and at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston and were followed for an average of nine years.

During the study, 50 participants remained cognitively normal and 15 developed Alzheimer's disease.

At the end of the study, people who had the highest amount of shrinkage in specific areas of the cerebral cortex were three times more likely to develop the disease.

"We also found that those who express this MRI marker of the Alzheimer's disease in the brain were three times more likely to develop dementia over the following 10 years than those with higher measurements," Dr. Brad Dickerson of Massachusetts General, who led the study, said in a statement.

"These are preliminary results that are not ready to be applied outside of research studies right now, but we are optimistic that this marker will be useful in the future," he said.

Researchers in the study used magnetic resonance imaging or MRI, equipment that is already in wide use in most hospitals.

Eli Lilly and Co, General Electric and other companies are developing special imaging agents that can detect proteins in the brain that signal the presence of Alzheimer's disease-related proteins.

But these tests read all of Is your brain shrinking

Passover's Matzoh Ball Soup May Be Good For Your Health

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting Corrier-journal.comactivities

Here is a dementia music activity

AC Content

With the Jewish holiday of Passover beginning at sundown Monday, April 18 , a staple of the traditional dinner, chicken soup with matzoh balls, may take on medicinal importance based on findings published in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

The popular home remedy for the common cold sometimes known as "Grandma's Penicillin" may have a new role alongside medication and other medical measures in fighting high blood pressure, scientists in Japan are reporting.

Ai Saiga, Ph.D., and colleagues cite previous studies indicating ...read all of Passover's Matzoh Ball Soup May Be Good For Your Health

Recent New Discoveries in Alzheimer's Disease Research

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities



AC Content

A group at the Delaware Biotechnology Institute is now working on a diagnostic test that would be as simple as checking a blood sugar level. to see whether or not a person has Alzheimer's disease. The scientists are
working on new technological procedures to discover useful diagnostic tests for Alzheimer's disease. They are also working on methods to evaluate the usability of potential drug treatments.

Because of more diagnostic accuracy, there will be improved patient care and better research toward the discovery of new drugs. As a result, the research laboratory at the University of Deleware is working on the development of next-generation tools for protein profiling.

In 2006, the discovery of a...read all of Recent New Discoveries in Alzheimer's Disease Research

Incomplete Memories Formed with Dementia

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities



AC Content

Scientists found that the ability of the brain to maintain complete, detailed memories is disrupted with dementia.The scientists are hopeful that their research could lead to new treatments that should reduce the
confusion between memories,

"This study suggests that a major component of memory problems may actually be confusion between memories, rather than loss of memories per se," said Dr Lisa Saksida.

"This is consistent with reports of memory distortions in dementia - for example, patients may not switch off the cooker, or may fail to take their medication, not because they have forgotten that they should do these things, but because they think they have already done so," she added.
As part of the research, animals were shown an object and then, after an hour, were given a memory test in which they were either shown the same object again, or a new object.

Normal animals spent more time exploring the new object, indicating that they remembered the old object. Amnesic animals, performed poorly on the memory task, because they spent the same amount of time exploring the old and the new object.
Interestingly, some amnesic animals looked at the new object less than the normal animals did, showing false memory for the new object.

Saksida continued, "One thing that we found very surprising about our results was the extent of the memory recovery, achieved simply by reducing the incoming information prior to the memory test.
"Not only does this result confound our expectations, but it also gives us a ...read all of Incomplete Memories Formed with Dementia

What You Need to Know About Long Term Care

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities



AC Content

Long-term health care involves different services that include both medical and non-medical assistance to those who have chronic illnesses or disabilities. Long-term health care helps a disabled person to meet his
personal and health needs. Most long-term health care provides support services that assist people with daily living needs. People usually need long-term health care as they age, but people of any age can need long-term health care.

According Medicare.gov, by 2020, 12 million older Americans will need long-term health care. Family members may be able to help with some of the needs of a disabled loved one, but some care--such as nursing care or therapy--must be given by licensed health care workers.

Many people will need long term health care at sometime during their lives. Planning for it is important so you can decide which facility you would like to live at and prepare you and your family for the transition. Discussing your long-term health care wishes in advance will help you and your family if the time comes when you can no longer take care of yourself.

You can get long-term health care in your own home as long as caregivers or loved ones can manage your needs safely. Care can be given by paid professionals, volunteers, family members or friends, or a combination of several of these groups This type of care can include help with housework, shopping, cooking, daily care needs, nursing care or several of these services. Hospice care is available for those with a terminal illness. People being cared for in-home can participate in community care programs including adult daycare, meal delivery programs, or senior center activities.

If you cannot stay in your home if you become disabled, there are ....read all of What You Need to Know About Long Term Care

Letting Go: When Your Loved One Has Advanced Dementia

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities



AC Content

In the last stage of Alzheimer's disease, people lose the ability to react to their surroundings, the power to speak and, at the very end the ability to move. Often those affected are unable to understand the
AdChoices

meaning of words and the ability to speak except for occasional words that make no sense.

These folks need assistance with eating and may not have the ability to recognize or swallow food.

They cannot control their bowels or bladder

People with advanced Alzheimer's disease lose the ability to sit without support. They cannot smile or hold up their head. Their reflexes become abnormal and their muscles grow stiff.They may be in pain but cannot express it.

Hopefully you are not reading this when your loved one is the final stage of Alzheimer's disease. There are many things you can do to prepare for the time to stop treatment.

When your loved one still has the capacity to make his wishes know make sure he picks the person to make health care decisions when he can't .In other words execute a health care proxy.

Second be certain he makes known the kind of medical treatment he wants or does not want

Third get all finances in order .seeking financial and legal advice while your loved one is able to participate in the process. Doing these things makes everything easier.

If you are choosing to care for the person at home, understand that ...read all of Letting Go: When Your Loved One Has Advanced Dementia

Why HDL Cholesterol Prevents Alzheimer's Disease

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities



AC Content

HDL cholesterol is the cholesterol in high-density lipoproteins. It is said to be the good cholesterol because a high level of it in your blood is thought to lower your risk of many diseases including coronary artery
disease and dementia.

In a recent study people who had HDL cholesterol that was over 56 were sixty percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those who had a lower HDL.cholesterol.

HDL cholesterol is beneficial because it keeps your arteries free of LDL (low density lipoprotein) before it becomes plaque. Plaque buildup narrows your arteries and limits the amount of blood that flows through them in all the organs in your body including your brain's arteries. HDL also protects sensitive brain cells from inflammation which may damage them. By protecting your brain cells from damage, the HDL keeps your memory from declining.

There are many ways in which you can keep your HDL high

Read about them

Can an Asthma Drug Help Those with Alzheimer's Disease

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities



AC Content

There are several enzymes that researchers at Temple University's School of Medicine have found that indirectly or directly influence the production of amyloid beta a harmful protein that develops in Alzheimer's
AdChoices
disease.

A drug which is used to treat asthma can reduce the formation of amyloid beta, because it interferes with the production of these enzymes. The name of the drug is Zileuton,

Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that affects many functions of the brain. Most often short term memory is decreased. Other functions that are affected are speech, problem solving, ability to express yourself, ability to learn new things, and proper behavior.

Eventually a person with Alzheimer's disease cannot take care of himself. Even simple things like eating and going to the bathroom are affected. The final outcome of Alzheimer's disease is death.

It is thought that the formation of amyloid beta is one of the reasons that brain function is affected. Amyloid beta if left untreated forms harmful plaques. The plaque formation is bad because it interferes with the communication of one brain cell to another. Eventually brain cells die and affected parts of the brain no longer function.

In previous studies at Temple University, researchers have known about an enzyme called 5-lipoxygenase. This enzyme controls the activation of another enzyme called gamma secretase. Gamma secretase is another enzyme that is responsible for the final production of the protein amyloid beta.

Domenico Pratico, an associate professor of pharmacology in Temple's School of Medicine, is in charge of the current study. He and his team of researchers tested the drug called Zileuton. It is an inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase. Zileuton is a drug of choice in the treatment of asthma.

The researchers are using ...read all of Can an Asthma Drug Help Those with Alzheimer's Disease

Why do people get dementia

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities



AC Content

Information from the Alzheimer's Association states that there are around 5.4 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and over 27 million people with these conditions worldwide.This costs us about $315.4 billion dollars a year.

Dementia is not a specific disease, but a number of symptoms that cause changes in the the way the brain functions. Many symptoms are related to cognition. Cognition is the act of thinking, learning and perceiving. Cognitiion may affect memory decision making, judgment, reasoning spatial orientation, communication and thinking. Many people with dementia have behavior and personality changes. As you age, you are more likely to develop dementia.

Most people with dementia have Alzheimer's disease. About half of all persons have Alzheimer's disease. There is a genetic componant to it. Amyloid plaques and neurofibratory tangles are seen in the brains of those with Alzheimer's disease. These are abnormal proteins and as they become more prevalent in the brain, cells are rendered useless and can no longer function. Eventually these cells die. As the cells die, more and more brain function is lost.

Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia. Sometimes it is called mullti-infarct dementia. Vascular dementia is responsible for about 33 per cent of all dementias. The hallmark of this dementia is the hardening of the arteries in the brain This hardening is caused by fatty deposits which limits blood flow in the brain. The brain cells do not get the required oxygen to maintain function. Eventually these brain cells die. Conditions like....read all of Why do people get dementia

Is There a Better Drug to Combat Alzheimer's Disease?

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities




AC Content

Finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease still remains a major challenge. There are four drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat Alzheimer disease patients. However not a one of these drugs
halts the progression of the Alzheimer's. They also do little to help with the memory and thinking problems associated with the disease.

Besides that, most of the current drugs and those on clinical trial cannot be tolerated by many Alzheimer's disease patients. Some of the current drugs have severe side effects as well.

Researchers from Paul Greengard's Rockefeller University laboratory have found a ... read all of Is There a Better Drug to Combat Alzheimer's Disease?