Better drugs for Alzheimer's

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nepezil (Aricept)

MEDICATION: THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR DEMENTIA-DRUG IS DONEPEZIL. Donepezil (Brand-name: Aricept®) boosts memory & thinking in Alzheimer's. More donepezil means more boost - along with intensified side-effects. Learn how it can be safely boosted when combined with solifenacin.

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IRVINE, California -- Donepezil helps Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. Doctors often minimize its use because it can have a variety of side-effects. Progressive research shows that by adding solifenacin to each pill of donepezil, a patient could potentially boost the dosage by as much as 400% without added side-effects.

How It Works

Here's a simplified explanation of how it works.

Early-to-Midstage Alzheimer's
Brand Name	Generic Name
Aricept®	donepezil
Exelon®	rivastigmine
Remynil or Razadyne®	galantamine
Drugs for Moderate-to-Severe Stage
Namenda® or Ebixa®	memantine

1. Acetylecholine is used by the brain to send messages from cell to cell.
2. If there is not enough acetylecholine in the brain, memory and thinking start to fail.
3. Alzheimer's often experiences dangerous drops in acetylcholine.
4. Donepezil helps boost the level of acetylcholine throughout the body.
5. This can help an Alzheimer's brain get back to normal. However, it can also overload other systems in the body, causing nausea, weight-loss and other side-effects.
6. The brain is separated from the rest of the body by the "blood-brain barrier".
7. A pill of donepezil travels from the stomach to the entire body. It passes through the blood-brain barrier, boosting acetylcholine in the brain.
8. Solifenacin is another drug that blocks donepezil. However, it CANNOT pass through the blood-brain barrier.
9. Therefore, it seems that solifenacin cannot get to the brain and as a result, cannot block donepezil in the brain.
10. At the same time, solifenacin can block donepezil everywhere else in the body, stopping side-effects like nausea in the stomach.
11. The result is no nausea or other side-effects in the body. The patient just gets the good effect in the brain.

New Combination

For now, researchers call this combination of donepezil-plus-solifenacin by the name CPC-201. The new combination will mean that the brain can get the benefits of a lot more donepezil with fewer side-effects.

Chase Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Chase) announced its results from a Phase 2 study of CPC-201.

400%

What Do Aricept, Exelon & Razadyne Do?

Teepa Snow
MEDICATION VIDEO
See Teepa Snow talk about the top medications for Alzheimer's & dementia. In plain English, she explores what they do and how they work. Get clarity on Aricept, Exelon and Razadyne (generic donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine).

The CPC-201 Phase 2 results, presented by Thomas Chase, MD, chief scientific officer and co-founder of Chase, and the former Scientific Director and head of the Experimental Therapeutics Branch for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, confirmed that solifenacin attenuated donepezil adverse events, enabling the tolerable administration of doses of donepezil to as much as 400 percent of the current standard treatment of donepezil. Secondary endpoints provided signals of enhanced efficacy, as would be predicted from increased tolerable dosing of donepezil. The data were presented during an oral session at the 2016 Alzheimer’s Association Conference (AAIC) in Toronto, Canada (Abstract a12446).

The primary endpoint of this Phase 2 single-blind, crossover trial was to safely increase the tolerated dose of donepezil from 10 mg/day up to as much as 40 mg/day. This trial consisted of 41 moderate (MMSE 10-20) Alzheimer’s type subjects who were being successfully treated with 10 mg/day of donepezil. The anticholinergic solifenacin was first titrated to 15 mg/day and then donepezil escalated to each subject’s maximum tolerated dose or to the protocol limit of 40 mg/day. Subjects then continued for a three-month maintenance period. All subjects were able to tolerably maintain above the currently approved doses of donepezil and 85 percent of subjects reached and tolerated the maximum allowable donepezil dose of 40 mg/day. Moreover, in the maintenance phase of the trial, subjects experienced significantly less dose-limiting side effects than those that would be predicted for 10 mg/day of donepezil.

A Real Difference

Although this Phase 2 study was not designed nor powered to provide meaningful estimates of anti-dementia efficacy, both the ADAS-Cog and the CGI-I scales in the study yielded positive signals of enhanced efficacy.

During the dose maintenance phase, at a median donepezil dose of 40 mg/day, total gastrointestinal adverse events were greatly attenuated and about 80 percent below those predicted from trials of previously approved doses of 10 mg/day of donepezil. As would be expected with a cholinergic blocker that does not cross the blood-brain barrier, solifenacin had no effect on cognitive function and there were no drug-related serious adverse events (SAE) or clinically significant cardiovascular or laboratory abnormalities. There were no drug related drop­outs and no new AEs or evidence of solifenacin toxicity.

“Pre-clinical studies have repeatedly shown that there is a strong dose/efficacy relationship associated with AChEIs. Further, PET scan studies in humans show that at the typical dose of 10 mg/day of donepezil, the central enzymatic inhibition is no greater than about 30 percent, substantially lower than that which would be expected from optimal dosing. Yet, historically, it has not been possible to tolerably increase the dose of donepezil to meaningfully higher levels,” said Douglas Ingram, chief executive officer of Chase. “We believe we have the means to finally unlock the true potential of optimally dosed AChEIs. Moreover, we are employing an efficient development and regulatory pathway and plan to commence a superiority trial versus the current gold-standard treatment for Alzheimer’s, 10 mg/day of donepezil. If successful in Phase 3, CPC-201 could be the new standard for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease and benefit millions of suffering patients.”

Technical Talk

“We believe that adverse events have long limited AChEI dosing to suboptimal levels, in turn limiting the efficacy of donepezil and other AChEIs,” said Thomas Chase, M.D. “Our Phase 2 findings, together with those from our earlier Phase 1 studies, robustly support our hypothesis that the co-formulation of a peripheral anticholinergic with donepezil enables the safe and tolerable administration of multiples of the current standard of care doses of AChEI such as donepezil.”

The mean change in ADAS-Cog over the course of the study showed improvement versus subject baseline and, adjusted for underlying disease progression using a multi-study meta-analysis, subjects showed a mean (± SEM) benefit of 2.45 points over 10 mg/day donepezil or 5.4 ± .84 points compared to predicted untreated disease progression. Combined Clinical Global Impression (CGI-I) scores from investigators and caregivers at 26 weeks averaged 3.1 ± .20 points, thus improving by .94 ± .20 points (p < .001; n = 16). The responder rate (as measured by those who either did not worsen or improved over the course of the study) was over 90 percent.

MORE INFORMATION:

About CPC-201
Chase’s lead candidate, CPC-201, is a patent-protected combination of donepezil (an AChEI), one of the few pharmaceuticals proven to improve cognition in Alzheimer’s patients, and solifenacin, a peripherally acting cholinergic blocker.

SOURCE:

About Chase
Chase Pharmaceuticals Corporation is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of improved treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. Chase’s development program, if successful, will profoundly improve the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The company was co-founded by Thomas Chase, MD, the former Scientific Director and head of the Experimental Therapeutics Branch for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Kathleen Clarence-Smith, MD, PhD, the former head of CNS development at each of Sanofi, Hoffmann-La Roche and Otsuka. Chase is led by its chief executive officer and president, Douglas Ingram, formerly the president of Allergan, Inc.

Chase has closed over $24 million in funding to date, with approximately $22 million through a Series B financing led by New Rhein Healthcare Investors, LLC and including, among others, Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners, Cipla Ventures and Brain Trust Accelerator Fund.

EDITED BY:
Peter Berger

Honor Dementia Caregivers This Labor Day (part3)

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

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







How Extraordinary Americans Do Extraordinary Things
The fifth reason for honoring those caring for a dementia person is all the time they devote to this job. The caregiver is most likely responsible for everything from cleaning to cooking to shopping to yard work. The list seems endless. These tasks are even more difficult because while the caregiver is doing them, he must also keep the dementia person safe.

According to a report published by the national Alzheimer's Association, ten million caregivers provided 83 billion dollars worth of care in 2005.

So this Labor Day while you are relaxing or celebrating the end of summer, think about those 10 million dementia caregivers and all the under appreciated hard work they do, everyday, seven days a week, sometimes 24 hours a day. If you know someone with this challenging task, call them, thank them and offer a helping hand

Honor Dementia Caregivers This Labor Day (part 2)

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

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




The second reason to pay tribute to ones caring for someone with dementia is their resourcefulness. Caregivers are good at coming up with unique strategies for managing and paying for the supervision of their loved one. They may get help from attending a support group in person or online. However, they are the ones ultimately responsible for a workable plan of care.

Third is recognizing that many perform physically demanding aspects of a dementia persons' care. Many do the bathing, feeding and toileting of their family member with dementia. These tasks are difficult because many with dementia are confused and combative.

Next, these caregivers should be honored for all the time they devote to all aspects of a dementia persons' life. As just mentioned, most caregivers are responsible for the physical aspects of care. But they also must engage their loved ones in meaningful activities throughout the day and sometimes well into the night. Fortunately many take advantage of adult day care to ease the burden. Unfortunately, some dementia folks refuse to participate in or have behaviors that preclude them from attending these worthwhile programs.

Honor Dementia Caregivers This Labor Day

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







How Extraordinary Americans Do Extraordinary Things
According to the United States government Labor Day, celebrates the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of America. Dementia caregivers certainly meet these criteria. Because over 5 million Americans have been diagnosed with dementia, there are approximately 10 million caregivers attending to them. This is a hard job that they did not sign up for but was thrust upon them. Honor them this Labor Day for all the difficult work they do.

The first reason to honor a caregiver is for the financial burden they incur when caring for a person with dementia. First the family has consulted an Elder law attorney to get all the finances in order.

Most likely the caregiver had to cut back on the hours of paid employment. Despite using all the resources out there, all expenses for the care of a dementia person will not be covered. That means go without, or pay for necessary items out of pocket

come back soon for more on this

Why exercise to prevent Alzheimer's?

Caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

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

Follow alzheimersideas on twitter
The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition]

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

http://brainandmemoryfoundation.org. 

This is a great way to get a simple yet complete workout in just 5 minutes a day. 

Why use Workout Exercises for Fitness?

• This best fitness workout plan isn't strenuous
• You don't need special clothes
• The keep-fit exercises are a great wake-up for your brain
• And the fitness workout is suitable for all ages -- and fantastic for the over-50's!

This program seems simple -- and it is. But the series of fitness exercises is designed to get each of the major muscle groups engaged and active -- just what you need for a fitness workout that will keep you fit for life. It isn't a weight loss program but it will give you the energy to start on that if that is what you are looking for.

Try it even if you are not as active now as you once were. Life experiences differ and some folk can't do the standing parts anymore. Well, no worries -- just do the arm exercises and most of the leg exercises sitting down. You are still achieving a lot and you will feel much better for the few minutes spent on these exercises for fitness. You can even do the 'lying down' ones in bed!

You don't have to accept memory loss as a way of life! Exercise is a key factor in brain health. Want to see some solid research showing how exercise improves memory? Go to the "Pick a Topic" box in the right column and click on "Exercise". 

If you prefer a written copy of the Workout Exercises for Fitness, go to http://brainandmemoryfoundation.org. 

The Brain and Memory Foundation was established by Dr. Allison Lamont and Gillian Eadie to help the over-50 age group build more brain connections as a buffer against dementia and Alzheimer's disease. 

Alzheimer's persons need the right amount of coconut oil

Caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

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]

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


Dr. Newport's book on Alzheimer's, Coconut Oil & Ketones

MCT oil generates ketones, which can help dementia. Coconut oil is rich in MCT oil. What are healthier food sources? How much is a good daily amount to get the maximum benefit?

Use the following table to make practical conversions:

Tablespoons	Milliliters	Teaspoons
1 tablespoon =	15 milliters =	3 teaspoons
1/3 tablespoon =	5 milliters =	1 teaspoon

Dr. Newport's Treatment for Her Husband

The following is not medical advice. Be sure to consult your physician before trying this yourself. 

1. You may start with one teaspoon of coconut oil in each meal.
2. If available, use a mixture of 1/2 coconut oil and 1/2 MCT oil.
3. Increase the amount gradually, protecting against side effects.
4. Try to get as much as 3 tablespoons per meal and two tablespoons at bedtime.

For the full one-hour video that covers coconut oil and Alzheimer's in depth, check out Dr. Newport's full-length lecture at TheIHMC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feyydeMFWy4 

Dr. Newport's book on Alzheimer's, Coconut Oil & Ketones

Women Harder to Diagnose With Alzheimer's

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

If your memory starts slipping, your gender may play a role in whether or not you are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.
How?

Women excel in a skill called verbal memory -- the ability to learn and remember verbal information such as stories or grocery lists. At the moment, tests to detect Alzheimer's disease rely heavily on measuring this skill, the study authors explained, which means some women may appear normal when they already have the memory-draining disease.
"About 10 percent of women originally diagnosed as normal were shown to meet the criteria for Alzheimer's disease," said study author Pauline Maki, a professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

"Conversely, we found that there were about 10 percent of men who were reclassified as not having Alzheimer's disease. These findings suggest it's important to pay attention to sex differences to improve the diagnostic accuracy for women and for men," Maki said.

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that causes difficulties with memory, thinking and behavior. Right now, almost 6 million Americans have Alzheimer's. By 2050, that number is expected to hit 14 million, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
Maki said that women have a lifelong advantage in verbal memory, and that's due to the hormone estrogen. She said when younger women must have their ovaries removed, causing a sharp decline in estrogen, there's also a sharp decline in verbal memory.

Verbal memory is also affected during menopause, when estrogen levels drop naturally. Maki said the brain typically learns to compensate and actually produces its own estrogen, which helps to preserve verbal memory.

"That verbal memory reserve gives women an advantage in maintaining memory functioning despite having Alzheimer's pathology in the brain," she said, adding that the advantage can quickly turn into a disadvantage as the disease progresses.
"Women transition so much more quickly from preclinical Alzheimer's disease to the dementia stage because they're diagnosed later," Maki noted.


The new study included almost 800 women. Their average age was 73 years and their average education was 15 years. Almost 950 men were also part of the study. They were slightly older, with an average age of 74, and had an average education of 16 years.

The researchers looked at the standard cut-offs in tests to diagnose Alzheimer's disease, and compared those to gender-specific cut-offs to see if they could more accurately classify men and women with or without the disease.

And, in fact, the investigators found they did. About 1 in 10 women and 1 in 10 men were improperly diagnosed before the sex-specific test cut-offs were used.

Heather Snyder, senior director of medical and scientific operations for the Alzheimer's Association, said, "This research suggests that using these types of tests [verbal memory] for women can mask underlying changes in biology. This might mean that you don't detect changes as early as you might for a male."

Snyder noted that it's important to get the diagnosis as early as possible. It gives people a chance to think about the care they want and to take care of financial and family concerns.

She said an early diagnosis also allows people to take advantage of the medicines currently available, and to have a chance at participating in clinical trials.

The study is scheduled for presentation Monday at the Alzheimer's Association annual meeting, in Chicago. Findings presented at meetings are typically viewed as preliminary unless published in a peer-reviewed journal.

© HealthDay

Razadyne For 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

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

Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Razadyne (galantamine) is an FDA-Approved daffodil extract for Alzheimer's. Check out the results of this study in which it significantly lowered mortality & eased cognitive decline.

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An important study showed a significantly lower mortality rate in patients who were treated with galantamine, a prescription medicine for mild to moderately severe Alzheimer's disease, versus those who received placebo. Patients treated with galantamine also had significantly lesser decline in cognitive impairment after two years, compared to patients in the placebo group, according to investigators presenting the data at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology 51st Annual Meeting in Hollywood, Fla. Janssen Research & Development, LLC, sponsored the study.

Galantamine is the generic name for the brand-name drugs Reminyl (UK) and Razadyne (USA). It is also spelled, "Galanthamine." In treating Alzheimer's, it competes with two similar drugs used to control levels of brain acetylcholinesterase in dementia patients.

These drugs are:

Brand Name	Generic Name
Aricept®	donepezil
Exelon® or Ebixa®	rivastigmine
Reminyl® or Razadyne®	galantamine or galanthamine

Statistics Overview

At the study's final interim mortality analysis, an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board recommended early termination of the study due to an imbalance of deaths between the treatment group and the placebo group. Subsequent unblinding of the data indicated that mortality was statistically significantly lower in patients treated with galantamine, compared to patients who received placebo [3.1 percent versus 4.9 percent respectively; (P=0.021)]. In the final analysis, there was a total of 89 deaths; 33 (3.2 percent) in the galantamine group and 56 (5.5 percent) in the placebo group (P=0.011). 

The treatment group also had significantly lesser cognitive decline measured by the change from baseline in the Mini Mental Status Evaluation (MMSE) at month 24 of the study, compared to the group treated with placebo. The mean MMSE scores deteriorated from a baseline of 19 to 16.9 and 17.5 for the placebo and galantamine groups, respectively (P<0 .001="" a="" cognition.="" is="" measure="" mmse="" of="" span="" the="" validated="">

Additionally, there was a significantly greater decline from baseline in MMSE at month 6 in the placebo group compared with the galantamine group (P<0 .001="" 24="" activities="" as="" assessment="" baseline="" by="" change="" daily="" dementia="" disability="" from="" galantamine="" group="" in="" living="" measured="" month="" of="" placebo="" scores="" significantly="" span="" than="" the="" to="" was="" worse="">P=0.002). The DAD is a validated measure of activities of daily living.

About the Study

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of long-term (two-year) treatment with galantamine in patients with mild to moderately severe Alzheimer's disease. 

The primary safety endpoint was the rate of mortality or death over two years. The secondary safety endpoint was the incidence of treatment emergent adverse events, including serious adverse events, over two years.

Approximately 49 percent of the placebo group and 54 percent of the galantamine group reported at least one Treatment Emergent Adverse Event (TEAE). Approximately 12 percent of patients reported serious adverse events in both groups. Patients who were treated with galantamine reported numerically more TEAEs, most notably gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, vomiting). The incidence and types of serious AEs were similar in both groups, except for mortality, which was significantly higher in the group of patients that received placebo.

The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline in the MMSE score at month 24. Secondary efficacy endpoints included cognitive change from baseline to month 6 as measured by the MMSE, and change in function from baseline to month 24 as measured by the DAD.

The trial enrolled 2,051 people (1,023 to the placebo group, 1,028 to the galantamine group) and was conducted at 127 sites in 13 countries. Patients in the study were between the ages of 45 and 92; their mean age was approximately 73 years. The majority of patients was female (65 percent).

The galantamine group initially received 8 mg of drug daily, and the dose was increased to 16 to 24 mg daily during the first 12 weeks of the study. Thereafter, patients were maintained on 16 to 24 mg of galantamine daily

Does saffron improve 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

Follow alzheimersideas on twitter
The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition]

NutritionFacts.org

Can saffron really improve Alzheimer's? See the results of a full-blown double-blind randomized trial where saffron was added to a dementia diet. 

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Many of today's most powerful drugs are derived from plants and flowers. For example, Galantamine, FDA-Approved for Alzheimer's, is a daffodil extract. Can saffron be a helpful natural addition to the diet of people with memory loss? 

Saffron 

Why marijuana makes you more vulnerable to 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

Follow alzheimersideas on twitter
The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition]

• IOS Press

As the U.S. races to legalize marijuana for medicinal and recreational use, a new, large scale brain imaging study gives reason for caution. Published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, researchers using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), a sophisticated imaging study that evaluates blood flow and activity patterns, demonstrated abnormally low blood flow in virtually every area of the brain, in nearly 1,000 marijuana users compared to healthy controls. The marijuana users' low blood flow patterns included areas known to be affected by Alzheimer’s pathology such as the hippocampus. 

Continued below image...

IMAGE LEGEND: Example of a volume rendered brain SPECT image (top down view) of a healthy control compared to an 18-year old daily user of marijuana. While the control subject has symmetric activity, the marijuana user shows overall decreased perfusion. 

All data were obtained for analysis from a large multi-site database, involving 26,268 patients who came for evaluation of complex, treatment resistant issues to one of nine outpatient neuropsychiatric clinics across the United States (Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Fairfield, and Brisbane, CA, Tacoma and Bellevue, WA, Reston, VA, Atlanta, GA and New York, NY) between 1995-2015. Of these, 982 current or former marijuana users had brain SPECT at rest and during a mental concentration task compared to almost 100 healthy controls. Predictive analytics with discriminant analysis was done to determine if brain SPECT regions can distinguish marijuana user brains from controls brain. Low blood flow in the hippocampus in marijuana users reliably distinguished marijuana users from controls. The right hippocampus during a concentration task was the single most predictive region in distinguishing marijuana users from their normal counterparts. Marijuana use is thought to interfere with memory formation by inhibiting activity in this part of the brain. 

According to one of the co-authors on the study Elisabeth Jorandby, M.D., “As a physician who routinely sees marijuana users, what struck me was not only the global reduction in blood flow in the marijuana users brains, but that the hippocampus was the most affected region due to its role in memory and Alzheimer’s disease. Our research has proven that marijuana users have lower cerebral blood flow than non-users. Second, the most predictive region separating these two groups is low blood flow in the hippocampus on concentration brain SPECT imaging. This work suggests that marijuana use has damaging influences in the brain – particularly regions important in memory and learning and known to be affected by Alzheimer’s.” 

Dr. George Perry, Editor in Chief of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease said, “Open use of marijuana, through legalization, will reveal the wide range of marijuana’s benefits and threats to human health. This study indicates troubling effects on the hippocampus that may be the harbingers of brain damage.” 

Alzheimer's a cold-weather danger

Caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

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Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire

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

• Stay Safe in Cold Weather

WEATHER ALERT - 9 WAYS TO STAY SAFE WITH DEMENTIA: People can lose body heat fast. That's called hypothermia. Big chills and Alzheimer's are one dangerous combination. Learn 9 ways to stay safe in cold weather.

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Losing too much body heat is a serious problem called hypothermia (hi-po-ther-mee-uh).

Protect people with with dementia from hypothermia during those months when it's cold outside. Check out these tips on how to stay safe. Share it with your family and friends.

WHAT IS HYPOTHERMIA?

Hypothermia is what happens when your body temperature gets very low. For an older person, a body temperature colder than 95 degrees can cause many health problems, such as a heart attack, kidney problems, liver damage, or worse.

Being outside in the cold, or even being in a very cold house, can lead to hypothermia. You can take steps to lower your chance of getting hypothermia.

KEEP WARM INSIDE

Living in a cold house, apartment, or other building can cause hypothermia. People who are sick may have special problems keeping warm. Do not let it get too cold inside and dress warmly.

9 Tips for keeping warm inside:

1. Set your heat at 68 degrees or higher.
2. To save on heating bills, close off rooms you are not using.
3. To keep warm at home, wear long johns under your clothes.
4. Throw a blanket over your legs.
5. Wear socks and slippers.
6. When you go to sleep, wear long johns under your pajamas, and use extra covers.
7. Wear a cap or hat.
8. Ask family or friends to check on you during cold weather.
9. Bundle up on windy, cool days

STAY WARM OUTSIDE

A heavy wind can quickly lower your body temperature. Check the weather forecast for windy and cold days. On those days, try to stay inside or in a warm place. If you have to go out, wear warm clothes.

Tips for bundling up:

1. Dress for the weather if you have to go out on chilly, cold, or damp days.
2. Wear loose layers of clothing. The air between the layers helps to keep you warm.
3. Put on a hat and scarf. You lose a lot of body heat when your head and neck are uncovered.
4. Wear a waterproof coat or jacket if it's snowy.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR

Talk with your doctor about how to stay safe in cold weather. Some illnesses may make it harder for your body to stay warm. Taking some medicines and not being active also can affect body heat. Your doctor can help you find ways to prevent hypothermia.

Tips for talking with your doctor about hypothermia:

1. Ask your doctor about signs of hypothermia.
2. Talk to your doctor about any health problems (such as diabetes) and medicines that can make hypothermia a special problem for you.
3. Ask about safe ways to stay active even when it's cold outside.

WARNING SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA

Sometimes it is hard to tell if a person has hypothermia. Look for clues. 

• Is the house very cold?
• Is the person not dressed for cold weather?
• Is the person speaking slower than normal?
• Is the person having trouble keeping his or her balance?

Watch for the signs of hypothermia in yourself, too. You might become confused if your body temperature gets very low. Talk to your family and friends about the warning signs so they can look out for you. 

EARLY SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA:

• cold feet and hands
• puffy or swolen face
• pale skin
• shivering
• slower than normal speech or slurring of words
• acting sleepy
• being angry or confused

LATER SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA:

• moving slowly, trouble walking, or being clumsy
• stiff and jerky arm or leg movements
• slow heartbeat
• slow, shallow breathing
• blacking out or losing consciousness

CALLING 911

Call 911 right away if you think someone has warning signs of hypothermia.

Tips for what to do after you call 911

• Wrap the person in a warm blanket.
• Do not rub the person's legs or arms.
• Do not try to warm the person in a bath.
• Do not use a heating pad.

FAQS

Your questions answered:

Q. What health problems can make it hard for my body to stay warm?

A. Diabetes, thyroid problems, Parkinson's disease, and arthritis are common problems for older people. These health concerns can make it harder for your body to stay warm. Talk to your doctor about your health problems and hypothermia. Your doctor can tell you how to stay warm even when it's cold outside.

Q. Can medicines lower my body's temperature?

A. Yes. Some medicines used by older people can make it easy to get hypothermia. These include medicines you get
from your doctor and those you buy over-the-counter. Talk to your doctor before you stop taking any medicine.

Q. What can I do to stay warm at home?

A. Try closing off any room you are not using. Also:

• Close the vents and shut the doors in these rooms.
• Place a rolled towel in front of all doors to keep out drafts.
• Make sure your house isn't losing heat through windows.
• Keep your blinds and curtains closed.
• If you have gaps around the windows, try using weather stripping or caulk to keep the cold air out.
• And, it helps to wear warm clothes during the day and use extra blankets at night.

Q. Can I get any help with my heating bills?

A. You may be able to get help paying your heating bill. You can call the National Energy Assistance Referral service at 1-866-674-6327 to get information about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. It's a free call. If you have a computer with internet, you can also email them at:
energyassistance@ncat.org.

SUMMARY — WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT HYPOTHERMIA

1. Set your heat at 68 degrees or higher.
2. Dress warmly on cold days even if you are staying in the house.
3. Wear loose layers when you go outside on chilly days.
4. Wear a hat, scarf, and gloves.
5. Don't stay out in the cold and wind for a long time.
6. Talk to your doctor about health problems that may make it harder for you to keep warm.
7. Find safe ways to stay active even when it's cold outside.
8. Ask a neighbor or friend to check on you if you live alone.
9. If you think someone has hypothermia:
   • Call 911 right away.
   • Cover him or her with a blanket.
   • Don't rub his or her legs or arms.

WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

For information about help in your area, check with your local Area Agency on Aging. Look in your phone book or contact:
Eldercare Locator
Phone: 1-800-677-1116 (toll-free)
Website: www.eldercare.gov

For help with heating bills, contact the National Energy Assistance Referral service about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program:
National Energy Assistance Referral Hotline
Phone: 1-866-674-6327 (toll-free)
TTY: 1-866-367-6228 (toll-free)
Website: www.liheap.ncat.org/profiles/energyhelp.htm

For more about health and aging, contact:
National Institute on Aging Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
Phone: 1-800-222-2225 (toll-free)
TTY: 1-800-222-4225 (toll-free)
Website: www.nia.nih.gov/health
Spanish website: www.nia.nih.gov/Espanol

Visit NIHSeniorHealth.gov (www.nihseniorhealth.gov), a senior-friendly website from the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine. This website has health and wellness information for older adults. Special features make it simple to use. 

Share this with friends and family so they can learn the signs of hypothermia and how to prevent it.

This free booklet is provided by:

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• National Institutes of Health
• National Institute on Aging