Thursday, January 31, 2013

Brain Pacemaker for Alzheimer's Disease

Caregivers and healthcare professionals, here is some great information

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


Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire


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


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The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition

WUSA 9

Last October, 57-year-old Kathy Sanford underwent groundbreaking surgery to have a pacemaker implanted in her brain to help with the effects of early onset Alzheimer's Disease. 

To see how well it's working, Sanford is given tests in which she's asked to highlight certain shapes. Her father Joe Jester says the first time she took the test she was barely able to identify any. 

Jester says, " Then they turned the machine on, and she got 30. So, it was a dramatic improvement right there. We knew right then we were on to something." 

The brain 'pacemaker' actually employs the use of deep brain stimulation, a technique that has already proven successful in treating thousands of people with movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease. With the touch of a button, doctors can adjust tiny rice-sized probes in Kathy Sanford's brain, placed in key locations during the delicate surgery. 

Dr. Ali Rezai is a neurosurgeon at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center who performed the deep brain stimulation procedure. 

He says, "For us to find the right spot in the brain, we do what we call brain mapping, where we put these tiny, hair-like microphones into the brain, and we're listening to the brain cells or the neurons talking to each other." 

After just a few months, Dr. Rezai is encouraged by the results he's seeing. 

Dr. Rezai says, "If the early finding that we're seeing continue to be robust and progressive, then I think that will be very promising and encouraging for us. But so far we are cautiously optimistic." 

As for Kathy Sanford, she didn't hesitate to volunteer to be the first with the implant. Not so much for her sake, but for others. 

She says, "I have kids, you know. And grandkids, so I'm like, yeah, I'm going to make the world better. I hope." 

For more information about the brain pacemaker for Alzheimer's Disease, click Brain Pacemaker

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Valentine Gifts for Those With Dementia

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

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Over 5.4 million Americans are living with dementia. Is one of them someone you know or work with? Get him/her or anyone with Alzheimer's disease a Valentine's Day gift that will keep on giving long after the holiday is gone.

First on the list of gifts is a book by Susan Berg called Adorable Photographs of Our Baby -- Meaningful, Mind-Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals, This book features baby photographs that seniors with dementia love. This book shares a plethora of ideas and resources for you.

Another gift dementia persons will fancy is a love classic musical video or DVD. They will enjoy watching something from the good old days and singing the songs played throughout the picture. Here are a few suggestions: Singin' in the Rain, Meet Me in St. Louis, or Shall We Dance

Next is a sing a long CD or audio cassette of their favorite love songs. There is a series of these called, Old Time Favorites by Nancy Pitkin

You may want to get a sing a long video where your loved one can see and hear performers singing songs they love and are about love. A good one is, Sing-Along with Phil Bernardi: Songs We Know and Love

Here is another idea. Give a friend with dementia some hand lotion. Any kind will do. Just be aware of any allergies or pain issues he/she might have. If he/she can tolerate it, those with a pleasant scent work well. Give him/her a relaxing hand massage talking about how good the hand massage feels, how much you love this person, and a Valentine's Day experience you both share from the past.

If you cannot afford or do not have time to get these gifts before Valentine's Day, give the gift of yourself. No matter how hard it is for you to visit a dementia person, he/she will appreciate your company even though he/she may not be able to express it. Take him/her for a walk, sing some of your favorite songs together, or share some messages of love. Just spend some quality time with a dementia person. Both of you will feel better. Do remember to be upbeat animated and excited about visiting.

A phone call or a Valentine's card will do if there is no way you can visit in person. At least they will know you are thinking of them. Then visit on another day.

So no matter what you do, do not forget the person with dementia this Valentine's Day because it will make you and him/her feel good. What could be better than that!

Order any of the products mentioned in the article at Amazon.com. Order the book, Adorable Photographs of Our Baby -- Meaningful, Mind-Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals, the audio CDs and cassettes and the videos and DVDs at seabaygame.com

These gifts are simple, inexpensive or free, and can be enjoyed by all.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Daily-stroll-protects-brain-against-Alzheimer's

Caregivers and healthcare professionals, here is some great information

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


Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire


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


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The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition

Medical Daily

A daily stroll around the park switches on a brain process that can help protect the brain against Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study.
The study found that a stress hormone produced during moderate exercise may protect the brain from memory changes linked to the mind-robbing disease.

Scientists say that the latest findings, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, could also explain why people susceptible to stress are at more risk of developing dementia.

Researchers from the University of Nottingham say that people who are more vulnerable to the disease may have abnormal functioning of the protective hormone and its related brain receptor.

Previous studies have found that physical and mental activity can cut the changes of developing Alzheimer's or slowing its progression.  However, researchers say that until now it has been unclear what mechanism is involved in protecting against the neurodegenerative disease.

Researchers decided to look at the stress hormone CRF (corticotrophin-releasing factor). The hormone is associated with producing stress and is found in high levels in people with anxiety and depressive diseases.
However, normal levels of the stress hormone benefit the brain by keeping the mental faculties sharp and aiding the survival of nerve cells. In the past researchers found that people with Alzheimer's disease have a significantly lower level of CRF.

Lead researcher Dr. Marie-Christine Pardon and her team wanted to see the role of CRF in the onset of the disease.  They used an experimental drug to block CRF in the brains of mice with Alzheimer's disease.  Researchers found that these mice had reduced anxiety but increased reaction when exposed to a stressful situation, like being placed in a new environment.

Researchers explained that the results were caused by the abnormal functioning of the brain receptor CRFR1 which is normally activated by CRF.  The team said that the findings explain why people susceptible to stress are more likely to develop Alzheimer's.

They found that stopping the hormone from binding to the CRFR1 receptor blocked the improvement of memory normally promoted by exercise. However, researchers found that in mice with Alzheimer's, a repeated regime of moderate exercise restored the normal function of the CRF system, therefore bringing back its memory enhancing effects.
Researchers concluded that the turning on of this particular brain receptor during exercise increased the density of synapses.  Researchers explained that these synapses make the connection between nerve cells, and the loss of them is thought to be responsible for the early memory loss seen in Alzheimer's patients.


"This is the first time that researchers have been able to identify a brain process directly responsible for the beneficial effects of exercise in slowing down the progression of the early memory decline characteristics of Alzheimer's disease," Pardon said in a statement.

"Overall, this research provides further evidence that a healthy lifestyle involving exercise slows down the risk of Alzheimer's disease and opens avenues for the new interventions targeting the altered CRFR1 function associated with the early stages of the disease," she concluded.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Secondhand smoke linked to dementia




Caregivers and healthcare professionals, here is some great information

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


Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire


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The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition

Nursing Times

“Passive smoking can dramatically increase the risk of developing severe dementia,” is the Daily Mail’s headline. The newspaper reports that a study has been the first to show a significant link between exposure to secondhand smoke and dementia.
This news is based on a large Chinese study that looked at the “mental state” of over-60s and their lifetime exposure to secondhand smoke.
Researchers used a computer program to see whether the participants had problems with memory, thinking and changes in personality that were consistent with “moderate or severe dementia syndromes”. They then looked to see whether there was a link between secondhand smoke exposure and dementia symptoms and found that people reporting any secondhand smoke exposure had a 29% increased risk of a “severe dementia syndrome” compared with those with no exposure to smoke.
The harms of passive smoking (such as increased risk of heart disease) are well-established and there could be a case to add dementia to the list in the future. However, this study cannot prove that this is the case, due to a number of limitations, including the uncertain reliability of both the dementia diagnoses and the recall of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Also, while the researchers accounted for various potential confounders such as age and socio-economic factors, there is the possibility that other unmeasured factors are influencing the association. The results in this Chinese population may also not be applicable to people in the UK.
A definite link between dementia as a whole (not a specific type such as Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia) and passive smoking cannot be reliably concluded from this study. Further research is required on this topic.

Where did the story come from?

The study was carried out by researchers from the University of Liverpool, the University of Oxford, the University of Wolverhampton, King’s College London and the University of Texas in the USA. The research was funded by the Alzheimer’s Research Trust and BUPA Foundation, and an individual researcher received support from the University of Wolverhampton Strategic Research Development Fund.
The study was published in the open access peer-reviewed medical journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Passive smoking is known to be bad for health in general, so the Mail can perhaps be forgiven for its sensationalist headlines. However, due to the numerous limitations of this study it does not prove that secondhand smoking directly, and dramatically, increases risk of severe dementia.

What kind of research was this?

This was a cohort study that assessed almost 6,000 older adults in China, examining their mental state to see if they had dementia and questioning their exposure to secondhand smoke during their lifetime.
Secondhand or passive smoking has been associated with increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
The researchers say that previous studies have also shown that smoking increases the risk of Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, leading to speculation that passive smoking may carry a similar risk. However, no studies have yet tried to see how the level of exposure to secondhand smoke (what researchers would call the dose) may be linked to risk of dementia, and this is what they aimed to investigate.
There are several different types of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common, followed by vascular dementia. While vascular dementia is associated with cardiovascular disease (and therefore links to smoke exposure are quite plausible), the causes of Alzheimer’s - aside from increased age and possible genetic links - remain largely unknown.

What did the research involve?

During 2007-9 the researchers chose one urban and one rural community from four different provinces in China and randomly selected roughly 500 individuals from each community.
Eligible adults had to be at least 60 years old and have lived in the area for five years.
Participants were interviewed at home using a general health and risk factors questionnaire and the Geriatric Mental State Examination (GMS). A computer program was used to identify the mental conditions affecting participants.
GMS symptoms were grouped into 150 “symptom components”, which helped the researchers group people into different diagnostic groups:
  • depression
  • schizophrenia
  • obsession
  • phobia
  • hypochondria
  • general anxiety
  • ‘organic’ disorders (organic generally means that there is a definite disease process going on in the brain which is responsible for symptoms - the most common type of organic brain disorder is dementia)
The program gives a number representing the level of confidence that a certain person has a particular diagnosis (0-5). They defined a person with 1-2 confidence level organic disorder as having a “moderate dementia syndrome” and levels 3-5 as “severe dementia syndromes”.
They used a questionnaire to assess the participants’ smoking history and secondhand smoke exposure. Current smokers were those who gave a positive answer to the question “Do you smoke cigarettes now?” and gave extra information about the duration of their habit and how many cigarettes they smoked each day. They also defined past smokers and those who had never smoked. All participants were also required to provide the answers “yes” or “no” relating to secondhand smoke exposure.
Respondents were asked about whether they experienced no, some or lots of secondhand exposure at home, in theworkplace and in other places. All participants were asked how many years they were exposed to each of three sources of secondhand smoke.
When looking at links between secondhand smoke and dementia syndromes researchers adjusted their analysis for various potential confounders, including:
  • age
  • sex
  • smoking status
  • urban or rural location
  • educational level
  • occupational class
  • annual income
  • marital status
  • religion
  • current alcohol drinking
  • visiting children or relatives - which would suggest a good level of social support
  • hypertension
  • stroke
  • depressive syndromes

What were the basic results?

The study included 5,921 participants, 36% of whom had been exposed to secondhand smoke at some time (31% of never smokers and 46% of ex- or current smokers). Those previously exposed to secondhand smoke tended to be younger, have previously smoked themselves, live in rural areas, be of lower education or occupational class and drink alcohol.
Moderate dementia syndromes (level 1-2) affected 14.1% of those with no secondhand smoke exposure and 15.7% with exposure. Severe dementia syndromes (level 3-5) affected 8.9% of those with no secondhand smoke exposure and 13.6% of those with exposure.
The researchers carried out numerous calculations according to location of exposure and duration of exposure. No significant associations were found for moderate dementia syndromes. For severe dementia syndromes they found that any secondhand smoke exposure increased the risk of severe dementia syndrome by 29% (relative risk 1.29, 95% confidence interval 1.05 to 1.59).
They found a general trend for a dose-dependent relationship, where increasing levels of exposure, ranging from 0-25 years to 100 or more years, increased the risk of severe dementia syndromes, though not all of these individual associations were significant.

How did the researchers interpret the results?

The researchers conclude that secondhand smoke exposure “should be considered an important risk factor for severe dementia syndromes”, and that avoidance of secondhand smoke “may reduce the rates of severe dementia syndromes worldwide”.

Conclusion

Secondhand or passive smoking is known to be detrimental to health and has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. However, it is not yet certain whether it is linked to dementia.
Though this large study finds a significant link between secondhand smoke exposure and severe dementia syndromes there are several important limitations to be aware of.

Problems with measuring dementia diagnoses

The method for diagnosis of dementia used by this study was unusual. Though the researchers assessed each individual using a mental state examination, they went on to diagnose them using a computer program which assigned symptoms into different diagnostic groups or “syndromes”. They then attached a level of confidence that this syndrome was the correct diagnosis, from 0-5. Those who fell into the syndrome of “organic disorders” where classed as having dementia. An organic brain disorder usually means a condition where there is a definite disease process going on in the brain which is responsible for symptoms.
While types of dementia are the most common and largest group of organic brain disorders, this group would normally be expected to include other conditions caused by brain disease, damage or dysfunction. Therefore, it is difficult to say how accurate it would be to categorise all people in this syndrome group as having dementia.
Also, how well the 1-2 level confidence can directly apply to moderate dementia, and 3-5 applies to severe dementia, is difficult to say. Mental state examination and cognitive tests often pick up more minor degrees of memory loss and it is not reasonable to assume that all memory changes are dementia or will inevitably lead to it. The most effective way to diagnose organic disorders would be to carry out a thorough clinical assessment, including the use of brain scans, but this option may not have been available to the researchers.
Overall, it is difficult to say whether the diagnoses of dementia made were entirely accurate.

Reliability of smoke exposure reporting

Similarly there may be questionable reliability over the responses on exposure to secondhand smoke, particularly when participants were being asked to specify where they had been exposed and for how long.

Unaccounted confounding factors

Though the researchers have adjusted their analyses for several potential confounders, it is still difficult to conclude for certain that smoke exposure is directly responsible for any link seen, and that other unmeasured factors are not involved.

Population demographics

The study has only assessed a Chinese population. It may be difficult to apply these results to people of different cultures and ethnicities who have different exposure to secondhand smoke, and who are affected by other factors that could influence the risk of dementia.
The harms of passive smoking are well-established. However, whether there is a definite link between dementia as a whole (rather than a specific type of dementia) and passive smoking cannot be reliably concluded from this study.
As the researchers point out, currently 93% of the world’s population live in countries that do not have public smoking bans. Further research highlighting the potential dangers of passive smoking would be useful.
  • Chen R, Wilson K, Chen Y, et al. Association between environmental tobacco smoke exposure and dementia syndromes. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Published online October 26 2012

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Caregivers' attitudes critical in Alzheimer's disease progression




Caregivers and healthcare professionals, here is some great information

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


Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire


Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be


Here is a way for nurses adm



inistrators, social workers and other health care  professionals to get an easyceu or two

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The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition

Deseret News

— Utah is making some headway in Alzheimer's research, finding that caregivers can do more to slow the progression of the disease than previously thought.
New results from Utah State University's Cache County Dementia Progression Study show that how constructively caregivers approach the problems generated by Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia can promote higher functioning among those who suffer.
"This study is a groundbreaking event in the fight against dementia, including Alzheimer's, which has been so pervasively devastating for individuals and families, especially given the limited treatment options for patients and their families," said JoAnn Tschanz, psychology professor at USU and lead author on the study.
"Except for psychiatric symptoms, few studies have examined how caregiver characteristics affect the rate of dementia progression, and our findings indicate significant associations between caregiver coping strategies and the rate of cognitive and functional decline in dementia," Tschanz said.
Coincidentally, University of Utah researchers are on the cusp of developing a smartphone and tablet computer application that will help caregivers know how to handle specific situations, perhaps lending a hand to better coping strategies.
Salt Lake City's Leonard Romney tries to stay busy with his wife, Kathryn, who, at 70, has dealt with an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis for 3½ years. Looking back, however, he said they can pinpoint signs of the disease as early as 2003.
Alzheimer's, as usual, has been a gradual intruder on the couple's lives, but they still are able to spend quite a bit of time together. He tries to make it as positive an experience as possible.
They read, paint, exercise, travel the world and attend ballroom dance sessions together, among other daily household tasks.
Leonard Romney, 73, said it keeps them both happy amid the challenges of a slowly debilitating disease.
"The way Alzheimer's destroys is that it just nibbles bit by bit by bit over a long period of time," he said. "Day to day, you don't see changes. It takes minor adjustments. Over a period of time, the caregiver has to take over virtually all of the necessary tasks of the home."
The biggest issue he's faced is sensing his own shortcomings in dealing with the pressures of being a caregiver. For help, he attends support groups and stays in contact with a number of people also dealing with Alzheimer's in their own families.
"You have to be patient and kind and careful in what you say," Leonard Romney said. "It is a high-pressure professional calling that has been good most of the time."
Alzheimer's disease and related dementia affect one in eight people over age 65 in the United States, according to the Alzheimer's Association. With a growing population, increasing life expectancy and an influx of people moving to Utah, a shortage of caregivers is a main concern for the coming years.
Utah has the highest prevalence of Alzheimer's in the nation, as well as a 127 percent projected growth rate for the next 12 years, according to the state action plan for the disease, which was published in 2012.
The plan states that families provide almost 80 percent of care for Utahns living with the disease, estimated to be worth $1.8 billion annually. The state also incurs huge costs in managing the complexities of dementia. With the proper support, families could help save the bottom line, as well as cope better with family members with the disease.
"The caregiver has a huge influence on the person with dementia," Tschanz said, adding that it is often the caregiver who plans out each day

Monday, January 21, 2013

Prazosin Treatment for Disruptive Agitation in Alzheimer's Disease




Caregivers and healthcare professionals, here is some great information

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


Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire


Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be


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The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition

ClinicalTrials.gov

This is a 24 week study with 14 visits to the research clinic. Approximately 6 of these visits may be done by phone. Additional phone checks are scheduled at the beginning of each 12 week part of the study. Participants will have a 50:50 chance of being on prazosin or placebo in the first 12 weeks of the study. For the second 12 weeks, all participants will take prazosin.
Study visits include a physical and neurological exam; memory testing; interviews with the caregiver about behaviors; and vital signs.
  Eligibility
Genders Eligible for Study:  Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:  No
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
  • No age limit
  • Probable or Possible Alzheimer's Disease
  • Disruptive agitated behaviors at least twice a week (overly anxious or excited, making offensive comments.....)
  • Stable medications for 2 weeks
  • Must have a caregiver who spends 10 hours per week caring for the participant and agrees to participate in all evaluation sessions
Exclusion Criteria:
  • Cardiovascular: unstable angina, recent myocardial infarction, preexisting hypotension (systolic BP less than 110) or orthostatic hypotension (≥20 mmHg drop in systolic BP following 2 minutes of standing posture)
  • Any unstable medical condition
  • Exclusionary medications: current treatment with prazosin, other alpha-1 blockers (trazodone, sildenafil, vardenafil or tadalafil)
  • Psychoactive medications: subjects may be psychoactive medication-free or be partial responders (by subjective assessment of referring health care professional) to one psychoactive medication from any of the following classes: antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, mood stabilizers, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, or buspirone. Partial response is defined as some improvement in agitated behavior but persistence of agitated behaviors severe enough to cause patient distress and/or difficulty with caregiving. Although not formally rated, this improvement is equivalent to a Clinical Global Impression of Change rating of no more than minimal improvement (improvement is noticed by not enough to improve patient function or caregiver's practical management of the patient).
  • Psychiatric/behavioral: lifetime schizophrenia; current delirium, mania, depression, or uncontrolled persistent distressing psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions), substance abuse, panic disorder, or any behavior which poses an immediate danger to patient or others or which results in the patient being too uncooperative to meet the requirements of study participation.
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01126099
Contacts
Contact: Lucy Wang, MD(206) 277-5089wanglucy@u.washington.edu
Contact: Kirsten Rohde, RN(206) 764-2713kirsten.rohde@va.gov

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Nutricia introduces OTC product for dietary management of Alzheimer's disease



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


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The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition

PR WIRE

Nutricia has launched an over the counter (OTC) product for the dietary management of early Alzheimer's disease.
Featuring vanilla and strawberry flavors, Souvenaid product is a 125ml once-a-day drink, which includes a combination of nutrients that are naturally present in food.
People living with Alzheimer's disease have been shown to have relatively low levels of combined nutrients in their bodies despite eating a normal diet, according to the company.
The nutrients, which are included in the product useful for maintaining dietary levels, include omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]), uridine (as uridine monophosphate [UMP]) and choline, together with phospholipids and B vitamins.
Before the use, people with early Alzheimer's disease must speak with a doctor, specialist nurse, dietician or pharmacist to see if Souvenaid is right for them.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Major Step Toward an Alzheimer's Vaccine



Caregivers and healthcare professionals, here is some great information

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


Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire


Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be


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The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition

Science News

A team of researchers from Université Laval, CHU de Québec, and pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has discovered a way to stimulate the brain's natural defense mechanisms in people with Alzheimer's disease. This major breakthrough, details of which are presented January 15 in an early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), opens the door to the development of a treatment for Alzheimer's disease and a vaccine to prevent the illness

One of the main characteristics of Alzheimer's disease is the production in the brain of a toxic molecule known as amyloid beta. Microglial cells, the nervous system's defenders, are unable to eliminate this substance, which forms deposits called senile plaques.
The team led by Dr. Serge Rivest, professor at Université Laval's Faculty of Medicine and researcher at the CHU de Québec research center, identified a molecule that stimulates the activity of the brain's immune cells. The molecule, known as MPL (monophosphoryl lipid A), has been used extensively as a vaccine adjuvant by GSK for many years, and its safety is well established.
In mice with Alzheimer's symptoms, weekly injections of MPL over a twelve-week period eliminated up to 80% of senile plaques. In addition, tests measuring the mice's ability to learn new tasks showed significant improvement in cognitive function over the same period.
The researchers see two potential uses for MPL. It could be administered by intramuscular injection to people with Alzheimer's disease to slow the progression of the illness. It could also be incorporated into a vaccine designed to stimulate the production of antibodies against amyloid beta. "The vaccine could be given to people who already have the disease to stimulate their natural immunity," said Serge Rivest. "It could also be administered as a preventive measure to people with risk factors for Alzheimer's disease."
"When our team started working on Alzheimer's disease a decade ago, our goal was to develop better treatment for Alzheimer's patients," explained Professor Rivest. "With the discovery announced today, I think we're close to  our objective."

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Train your caregivers faster, easier and more cost-effectively... online



Caregivers and healthcare professionals, here is some great information

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


Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire


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


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The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition

aQuire Training Specialist Brett Brokaw will show you how aQuire's online training can give you the comprehensive training your staff and caregivers will rave about. If you have compliance needs or just need consistent training, you won't want to miss this webinar.

Brett Brokaw
Training Specialist

Join us Tuesday, Jan 15, 2013 11:00 AM - 11:30 PM PST 
as Brett walks you through the aQuire library of courses, our automated management-level reports and our Training Tracker module that gives you instant feedback on your caregiver's training progress.

If you're looking for cost-effective, engaging training options that will meet all your compliance and caregiver training needs, then REGISTER NOW to participate in this important webinar.  

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Boost brain fitness to prevent dementia



Caregivers and healthcare professionals, here is some great information

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


Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire


Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be


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The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition

UPI.com

In January, many focus on physical fitness, but a U.S. aging expert says effort should be also made to boost mental fitness to prevent dementia.

Dr.Paul Nussbaum, director of brain health for Emeritus Senior Living and clinical neuropsychologist and adjunct professor of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, said statistics about Alzheimer's disease are alarming, but they demonstrated how crucial it is to adopt a brain fitness program.
"Walking daily, dancing and other forms of aerobic activity help blood flow to the brain," Nussbaum said in a statement. "Fruit and vegetables are beneficial for cognitive health. So are foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, such as certain fish and nuts, and antioxidants, which are foods containing vitamins A, C or E."

In addition to physical fitness and healthy diet, Nussbaum said three other practices could have a positive impact on the brain:
-- Socialization: Make an effort to connect and spend time with other people, in person rather than virtually. Research shows isolation and loneliness increase the risk of developing dementia.
-- Mental stimulation: Engage in mental activities that aren't initially easy for you, whether it's learning a new language, taking up Scrabble or other pastime not tried before. Doing so will stimulate the cortex and build brain reserve.
-- Spirituality: Research suggests stress, which has been shown to adversely affect animal brains, is also detrimental to humans. It's important to slow down and take the time to engage in spirituality in the way most comfortable, whether daily prayer, regular formal worship or by meditating and reflecting.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Detrimental Effect of Obesity On Lesions Associated With Alzheimer's Disease

Caregivers and healthcare professionals, here is some great information

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


Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire


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


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The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition

ScienceDaily

Science News
 
Researchers from Inserm and the Université Lille/Université Lille Nord de France have recently used a neurodegeneration model of Alzheimer's disease to provide experimental evidence of the relationship between obesity and disorders linked to the tau protein.


This research was conducted on mice and is published in theDiabetes review: it corroborates the theory that metabolic anomalies contribute massively to the development of dementia.
In France, more than 860,000 people suffer from Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, making them the largest cause of age-related loss of intellectual function. Cognitive impairments observed in Alzheimer's disease result from the accumulation of abnormal tau proteins in nerve cells undergoing degeneration (see the picture below). We know that obesity, a major risk factor in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, increases the risk of dementia during the aging process. However, the effects of obesity on 'Taupathies' (i.e. tau protein-related disorders), including Alzheimer's disease, were not clearly understood. In particular, researchers assumed that insulin resistance played a major role in terms of the effects of obesity.
The "" team from mixed research unit 837 (Inserm/Université Lille 2/Université Lille Nord de France) directed by Dr. Luc Buée, in collaboration with mixed research unit 1011 "Nuclear receptors, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes," have just demonstrated, in mice, that obese subjects develop aggravated disorders. To achieve this result, young transgenic mice, who develop tau-related neurodegeneration progressively with age, were put on a high-fat diet for five months, leading to progressive obesity.
"At the end of this diet, the obese mice had developed an aggravated disorder both from the point of view of memory and modifications to the Tau protein," explains David Blum, in charge of research at Inserm.
This study uses a neurodenegeneration model of Alzheimer's disease to provide experimental evidence of the relationship between obesity and disorders linked to the tau protein. Furthermore, it indicates that insulin resistance is not the aggravating factor, as was suggested in previous studies.
"Our research supports the theory that environmental factors contribute massively to the development of this neurodegenerative disorder" underlines the researcher. "Our work is now focussing on identifying the factors responsible for this aggravation" he adds.
This research was supported by LabEx DISTALZ (development of Innovative Strategies for a Transdisciplinary Approach to Alzheimer's Disease) within the framework of future investments.
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