Alzheimer's Aid Newsletter

ARF ALZHEIMER’S NEWSLETTER

January 25, 2008

Tragedy illustrates why caregivers should seek help

The deaths of Kay and Sarah Bowers illustrate a tragedy of epic proportions. Kay Bowers, the 63-year-old daughter of Sarah Bowers, died from a massive heart attack. Sarah, an 89-year-old with Alzheimer's disease, died shortly after her daughter because there was no one to care for her. There was also no one who touched base with the pair to check on them. Lee Roop, a writer for The Huntsville Times, wonders why the two women died alone and whether they fell though the cracks of any kind of system. There are probably many reasons why the daughter made the decision to reside in a state without any family nearby, but the lesson learned here is for caregivers to seek help. Roop honestly writes that caregiving isolates the loved one and the caregiver from the outside world. Some kind of safety net would have prevented this bad situation from becoming tragic. Participation in an adult day care center or a type of senior center can broaden a person's social circle, which can lead to more knowledge about the availability of local resources. The writer says the Madison County, Ala., population increased by 10,000 over the last seven years, and reminds readers about the impending shift of baby boomers to senior citizens. Roop wants to prevent this tragedy from happening again and suggests a few resources for caregivers to stay on someone’s radar screen. Caregivers should realize they cannot do it alone and should ask for some kind of assistance, even if they only need someone to do a periodic check to ensure things are OK. Along with local organizations, the writer recommends finding out what assistance caregivers could receive from churches, community groups and friends and neighbors.

To read the complete article, please click the link below:

http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/lroop.ssf?/base/news/1200651328286220.xml&coll=1

Taking charge when the adult child becomes the caretaker

What do you do and where do you turn when your parent refuses to accept your advice or help? One adult daughter turned to her friend Marsha Seff, a writer for The Union-Tribune, to seek assistance to deal with her stubborn mother. Eleanor Roth, the daughter, lives across the country from her mother, who is still in fine shape mentally, but physically it is a different story. Due to her mother’s physical condition, Roth wants to move her out of her home. Needless to say, her mother is having none of it. Seff suggests hiring a caregiver or at least getting her to wear a personal security bracelet. Roth refers to her mother as frugal and says she probably would not want the caregiver’s help. Seff also offers some satisfying recommendations about what to do with the mother’s car. Taking charge, that’s what the writer eventually told Roth to do in the situation. Seff also reassured Roth, telling her that she is a loving daughter, who needs to do what is right for her mother and stop letting the 74-year-old manipulate her.

To read the complete article, please click the link below:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/seff/20080119-9999-1c19seff.html

Financial advisers recommend planning to counteract ‘negative inheritance’

As our life expectancy increases, more adult children will face the prospect of caring for their aging parents. While some of the elderly seem to age gracefully, others are not so lucky. Some adult children soon discover their financial planning did not include scenarios to cover their parents’ health care, a full-time assistant, or a nursing facility. Furthermore, adult children who anticipate a large inheritance from their parents often wind up with a “negative inheritance” when all the checks and balances come due. Negative inheritance occurs when the costs of caring for an elderly parent outweighs any gift or bequest they might have received in return for caregiving. Laurence Kotlikoff, an economics professor at Boston University, coined the term. Today, most people still firmly believe that family takes care of family, but some financial advisers see that obligation as a risk to an individual’s financial planning. The first step to avoid any pitfalls involves discussion with siblings and your elderly parents. Talking about a future scenario can open a window to the thoughts of other family members and provide insight into your parents’ financial picture. Even if you or your parents do not have a portfolio on hand, the family discussion could still prove beneficial.

To read the complete article, please click the link below:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22711871/

New therapy could reverse the effects of Alzheimer's and memory loss

Imagine putting on a helmet for only 10 minutes a day to reverse the effects of Alzheimer's disease. Scientists from the University of Sunderland in England believe they have developed a method to stimulate the growth of brain cells using low levels of infra-red light. The researchers reconfigured a therapy designed to treat cold sores and adapted its technique. They modified the approach and created a helmet to allow the user to conduct the therapy at home. In a matter of a few weeks, wearing the helmet will repair and regenerate brain cells, helping stop the rate of decay of cells and lead to a reversal of dementia. While the first round of testing involved mice, trials will begin this summer with human participants to see whether the beneficial results experienced by mice transfers to people.

To read the complete article, please click the link below:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080124104917.htm

Less education could lead to a delay in learning of the onset of Alzheimer's

People with less than eight years of schooling learned that their cognitive impairment would lead to the onset of Alzheimer's much later than those with more schooling. Researchers at two facilities reviewed data found in the files of more than 23,000 patients with Alzheimer's disease. Scientists from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) examined the bulk of the files, while scientists at the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) reviewed the epidemiological data in nearly 1,500 files. Among the findings, the researchers noted that those with less schooling were more likely to be severely impaired on their first visit. While the lag of the notification may be slight, the researchers referred to it as a statistically significant delay. With the progressive advance of Alzheimer's, a delay of diagnosing a person allows the disease to progress unchecked while the symptoms magnify and become worse. In previous studies, scientists at the ADRC discovered that people with more years of schooling received Alzheimer's diagnoses at a younger age than individuals with less schooling. The researchers believe that comes about because people who purse higher education usually have careers or hobbies that could lead to questions about cognitive impairment. Generally, these people usually have better access to medical care, said the study’s lead author.

To read the complete article, please click the link below:

http://mednews.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/10876.html

The love of reading helps connect mother and daughter

A love of reading allows a daughter to connect with her mother and serves to anchor their daily communications. Writing for The Washington Post, Rosanne Skirble writes that reading to her 89-year-old mother, who suffers from macular degeneration, releases some of the tension of the situation. Macular degeneration is a condition that affects the center of the retina and is the leading cause of blindness for those over 50. Now, when her mother peppers their conversation with a repeat of the “same aches and pains,” Skirble interrupts the talk and says, “Let’s read.” The writer’s mother has a long history of reading and read just about anything. She usually read with scissors so she could cut out appropriate clippings, file them, and eventually send them to family members and friends. Skirble happened upon reading to her mother during a brief hospital stay for the 89-year-old. In the hospital she read a novel to her mother. She continues reading to her mom since they live in different cities. It helps that her mother hears better though the use of a telephone. Instead of dwelling on their mother’s medical condition, Skirble suggests a reading session and her mother smiles.

To read the complete article, please click the link below:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/13/AR2008011302379.html

To view this article, The Washington Post requires readers to register on its web site.

Registration is free.

Hazardous driving cited in vehicle operators with early-stage Alzheimer's

Patients with Alzheimer's who are in the early stages of the disease are not exempt from impaired driving. Compared to drivers with no cognitive impairment, people diagnosed with mild Alzheimer's had more accidents and performed poorly on standardize road tests. These findings stem from a study of 128 older drivers by researchers at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University. The drivers’ average age was 74 years old and 84 of them had symptoms of mild Alzheimer's disease. The findings include the statistic that drivers with mild Alzheimer's failed the road test about four times more than drivers with very mild Alzheimer's, said Dr. Brian Ott, the study’s principal investigator. Hopefully, this study will not cause caregivers to remove driving privileges without just cause. Caregivers should assess each person’s driving abilities and seek additional help if needed. During the study, drivers with Alzheimer's had fewer accidents, leading Ott to conclude that regular driving assessments increase the awareness of drivers and caregivers.

To read the complete article, please click the link below:

http://www.lifespan.org/news/2008/01/23/new-study-from-rhode-island-hospital-confirms-previous-reports-and-raises-new-questions/

Local Alabama organization educates and serves clients

An agency in Alabama is doing all it can to serve the needs of caregivers and patients with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's of Central Alabama (ACA) serves as a one-stop shop where clients receive services that vary from counseling to raising money to keep loved ones at home. The organization, which serves 21 counties, operates a web site and produces a newsletter along with holding bi-monthly support meetings. Since the ACA understands the loved one with Alzheimer's may suffer more with a sick caregiver, the organization focuses on the well-being of the caregiver. One way the ACA does this is by recommending someone else be the “bad guy” when decisions are made. So, instead of the caregiver telling mom she can no longer drive the car, work out a plan where her doctor or a policeman takes on the role of the heavy. According to its web site, the ACA’s goal is to educate the public about Alzheimer's and provide services to those in need. All in all, the ACA seems to serve as a good example of what is being done on the local level.

To read the complete article, please click the link below:

http://www.al.com/living/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/living/1200906945245290.xml&coll=2

NIHSeniorHealth aids seniors thinking about participating in a clinical trial

A new topic on the NIHSeniorHealth web site explains the essentials about clinical trials. NIHSeniorHealth is a web site developed to keep seniors informed on aging-related health information. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA), components under the National Institutes of Health umbrella, created the web site. Users of the web site will find the topic, Participating in Clinical Trials, located on the left-hand side of bottom third of the page. Once visitors to the site click the link, they will find six broad headings. These headings include a definition of a clinical trial, help users find a trial in their area, and also cover the informed consent process. Along with a Frequently Asked Questions section and a MedlinePlus link for more information, seniors should pay particular attention to the heading titled “Should I Join a Clinical Trial?” This heading addresses the issues of why some clinical trials do not include older adults, but still states that the need for participation by seniors is immeasurable. With a varied range of ages in a clinical trial, scientists learn how their drugs affect older adults. Finding a clinical trial in your area is another beneficial part of Participating in Clinical Trials. At the end of the day, only you can decide if participation is right for you, but the availability of the web site will help individuals make an informed decision and provide a medical benefit to society in the long run.

To read the complete article, please click the link below:

http://nihseniorhealth.gov/participatinginclinicaltrials/toc.html

Perispinal etanercept injection produces marked improvement in patient with moderate AD

A patient with moderate Alzheimer's disease received an immediate cognitive and behavioral improvement from a therapy that targets excess tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the brain. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is best known for its pro-inflammatory functions in rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, scientists have identified it as a gliotransmitter, chemicals released from glial cells, that regulates synaptic transmission in neural networks. Scientists at the Institute for Neurological Research injected perispinal etanercept, a TNF blocker, into the cerebrospinal venous system of an 81-year-old male with moderate AD. The researchers, lead by Dr. Edward Tobinick, the Institute’s director, reported that the patient’s cognitive abilities improved rapidly within 10 minutes of the injection. About two hours after the treatment, the patient’s cognition continued to improve to the point where he could identify 9 of 10 objects used in the Boston Naming Test. The patient gradually settled into a calmer state where his responses to questions came more rapidly and seemed to take less effort. In an initial study conducted in 2006, Tobinick and his colleagues noticed similar improvements in 15 patients who received the therapy on a weekly basis. However, the protocol of that study only allowed for monthly evaluation. The researchers’ positive response to the findings of the study will propel them to investigate further to determine whether perispinal etanercept injections will be of benefit to people with moderate AD.

To read the complete article, please click the link below:

http://www.hmetoday.com/reuters_article.asp?id=20080111clin007.html

In Other News

Brain changes make elderly susceptible to scams

Loneliness or less intelligence does not play a role when it comes to the elderly falling prey to conmen, according to a study by researchers at the University of Iowa. The researchers concluded that changes in the brain makes older adults poor decision makers. The study comprised a cohort of 80 subjects. All participants were healthy at the start of study and had no apparent neurological deficits. The scientists measured the decision-making ability of the cohort by using the Iowa Gambling Task, a computer-based test where the subjects try to maximize their winnings by drawing cards from different decks. Of the cohort, 35 to 40 percent exhibited poor decision-making skills. Subjects who performed poorly received additional testing, which involved viewing actual advertisements deemed deceptive by the Federal Trade Commission. These subjects failed to spot discrepancies or recognize deceptive messages, and indicated their willingness to buy the product, the researchers reported. From the study’s conclusions, the findings may help identify those who are at risk of becoming a target for scam artists.

To read the complete article, please click the link below:

http://www.news-releases.uiowa.edu/2008/January/011408decisionmaking.html

What? Did you say it’s too cold to exercise outside?

While there have been some remarkable shifts in the temperatures this winter, some may feel it is too cold to go out and exercise. Health experts constantly recommend exercising to ward off a variety of ailments and live healthier. While more and more people seem to be listening to this advice, the number of people exercising during the winter season declines, with most people citing the ‘cold’ as an excuse. Gina Kolata, a health and medicine reporter for The New York Times, counters the cold argument with some scientific facts. The writer’s article addresses the myths of exercising outdoors during the colder months. After reading it, you will gain knowledge about cold air and asthma, dressing appropriately, and speed of movement.

To read the complete article, please click the link below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/health/nutrition/17BEST.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=health

To view this article, The New York Times requires readers to register on its web site.

Registration is free.

To subscribe to the ARF ALZHEIMER’S NEWSLETTER, click here.

To cancel your subscription, please send an email to fhp2@verizon.net.

(Please add fhp2@verizon.net to your address book to ensure delivery of the A.R.F. Alzheimer’s newsletter)

Adding fhp2@verizon.net to your address book ensures delivery of the newsletter to your without any ending up in the trash or spam folders.

Visit our sister site The Funeral Help Program.