Click on the link to read an interesting article highlighting opposite study results from 2 groups of highly respected researchers. You decide-Alzheimer’s or longevity?
Blog Archives
Recognizing Signs of Alzheimer’s In Patients
Combination of two brain diagrams in one for comparison. In the left normal brain, in the right brain of a person with Alzheimer’s disease English: Diagram of the brain of a person with Alzheimer’s Disease English: Diagram of a normal brain Русский: Изображение нормального мозга и мозга при болезни Альцгеймера Nederlands: Vergelijking van normale hersenen (links) met die van een alzheimerpatiënt.(rechts) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Alzheimer’s disease is a common type of dementia that gradually gets worse over time. The main thing affected by Alzheimer’s is a person’s memory and cognitive abilities. There are 3 stages of Alzheimer’s disease: mild, moderate, and severe. Typically, a person will live 8-10 years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, but every case is different, and people can live much longer.
Here are some recognizing signs of Alzheimer’s in patients:
• Memory loss – Memory loss is the most common sign of Alzheimer’s disease, especially forgetting things that a person recently learned. If a person asks for the same information over and over, it is a sign of Alzheimer’s.
• Problem solving and concentration – If a person struggles with solving problems in his or her daily life or has problems concentrating with no prior history of such problems, this may be a sign of Alzheimer’s.If things take longer to do than they typically did before, this may be another sign.
• Hard time completing daily tasks – Frequently, a person with Alzheimer’s has a hard time completing daily tasks such as remembering a recipe that they have made many times before or balancing a checkbook.
• Vision problems – Vision problems can be one sign of Alzheimer’s disease in some people. Having a hard time reading or judging distances can be a sign.
• Time confusion – A person with Alzheimer’s disease may be confused about the time or the passage of time. Such a person may have a hard time determining when an event happened, whether it was immediately right before or a longer time in the past.
• Place confusion – One of the common signs of Alzheimer’s is if a person is confused where they are and how they got there.
• Lack of good judgment – One sign of Alzheimer’s in patients is lack of good judgment and a lack of good decision-making. Paying less attention to details such as personal grooming and eating right is a sign to look for.
• Speech problems – This is not having trouble speaking or not vocalizing. An Alzheimer’s patient may not be able to follow a conversation or may repeat something he or she has already said. Patients may also not be able to find the right word for something or may call things by the wrong name.
• Misplacing things – One sign of Alzheimer’s disease is misplacing things and being unable to find them or putting things in strange places where they do not typically belong.
• Mood changes – People with Alzheimer’s can experience mood changes from mild to severe. They can become more easily irritated because of what they are experiencing. Thus, they become frustrated and confused.
• Social withdrawal – Withdrawing from such things as hobbies, work, activities, and friends and family can be a sign of Alzheimer’s in patients.
It’s important to seek memory care right away when you see any warning signs.
New Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment Approach
This link will enable you to either listen to or read the transcript from the National Library of Medicine outlining a new possible treatment approach for Alzheimer’s Disease. Study results were recently published in Science. Very interesting!
Curcumin and Indian gooseberry to feature in new Alzheimer’s trials
Curcumin
Scientists researching the prevention Alzheimer’s Disease to release study results late 2012. This double-blind randomized study involves 150 human participants. Stay tuned!
Curcumin and Indian gooseberry to feature in new Alzheimer’s trials.
Do You Know Your Family Health History?
It is so vitally important to know and be familiar with your family health history. Not only should we all know our family health history, but it is crucial to share this information with your doctor and health care professionals. Think of it as filling in all the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. When the puzzle is complete, then you have the whole picture. The same applies to your health-if you have all the available
information, then it’s like having all the pieces of the puzzle! So, if you didn’t interview your relatives and obtain your family health history during 2010 then don’t panic-just DO IT NOW! While you are gathering all the health information, why not get a video camera and record an oral history with a family tree and lineage at the same time?
Can you believe that in only 11 days it is New Year’s Day 2011? With that in mind, I have an important task for all of you. Since we gather together with our families during the holiday season, now is an excellent time to get your family health history. Make it a fun family activity on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year‘s Eve, or New Year’s Day! That is 4 separate occasions to complete the assignment. I honestly can’t think of a more important New Year’s Resolution that can affect your new year and your life! We are all well aware that we should eat better, exercise more, exercise our brains, and make time just for us. But in order to maximize the benefits of all our good habits, we must know our family histories!
Do you have a family history of Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, heart disease, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, autoimmune disorders, cancer, thyroid disease, or any other chronic disease? Did you know that with many of these diseases you have an increased risk for developing memory problems, Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, and other cognitive deficits?
By doing a little research into your genetic heritage, you have the ability to map out a more healthy lifestyle and make positive changes. It’s never too late to begin positive lifestyle choices whether you’re a senior, a baby boomer, in your 40’s or 30’s, 20’s in college, or even in high school. Just for fun, find out the age of your oldest living blood relative. By the way, mine was either 114, 115, or 116. We can’t pin down her exact birth year but are within just a couple. I find that truly amazing! She was living during the Civil War and arrived in America a few years later with her husband. My great-great grandmother was still living and cognitively intact when I was born! My poor great-great grandfather unfortunately only lived to be 98! Definitely hope those genes are dominant for me! Anyway, try to brainstorm as a family as to what this relative did to achieve such healthy aging and longevity. Don’t be surprised to discover that these people probably have something in common. They were active and always moving and ate healthy foods-fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs and spices, and lots of tea. They didn’t consume fast food, processed foods, soda, or junk! Strive for that kind of senior aging, health, and fitness! Why not take advantage of every possibility to lessen your chances of developing a memory loss or suffering a cognitive decline? Remember, memory loss does not have to be a part of the normal aging process! Take charge of your health and your life!
Be the master of your health! Engage your brain with challenging brain fitness activities. Build your cognitive reserve through some mentally stimulating activities. Learn a new game, learn a new language, participate in a social group, and EXERCISE! Try our Brain Boosters! One of the secrets to longevity is to achieve a healthy balance between a healthy mind, body, and spirit!
Happy New Year, and make 2011 the year YOU commit to your health!
BrainMasters 