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When his mother Lawanda was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Blane Wilson swore he would not put her in a nursing home.

"It's like adopting another child," Georgia Wilson, Blane's wife, says about Lawanda, 78.

44 million Americans provide unpaid care to a loved one, according to a study by the by the National Allegiance for Care Giving and the AARP. Of those, 23 percent are providing care for someone with Alzheimer's, dementia or other forms of mental confusion, according to the same report.

Blane Wilson says it's been rough dealing with a parent with a disease without obvious, physical symptoms.

Go here to continue reading...

Ultimate Love Triangle: Mother-in-Law's Alzheimer's Disease Strains Marriage

Lawanda Wilson was 72 when she decided to test her luck and drive from her home in Midland, Texas, to Las Vegas to visit one of her sons in the summer of 2003.

"I just thought, well, I'd just go and have a good time," said Wilson, now 79.

But she couldn't find her son's house.

Lost and disoriented, Wilson ended up sleeping in her car for days.
She got back to Midland in one piece, but it was clear she was no longer capable of taking good care of herself. She wasn't eating. She wasn't taking her pills.

Farmed Fish May Pose Risk For Mad Cow Disease

The number of articles about the safety of eating farmed fish and mad cow disease (Creutzfeldt Jakob disease) are growing fast on the Internet.

This was triggered by a recent study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease by University of Louisville neurologist Robert P. Friedland.

Creutzfeldt Jakob disease is commonly known as mad cow disease. Creutzfeldt Jakob is a disease for which there is no treatment and it is fatal. The diseases can be contracted by eating parts of an animal infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease).

You might recall that an outbreak of "mad cow" in England set off quite a reaction several years ago. There was a good result as many countries outlawed feeding rendered cow material to other cattle because the disease is so easily spread within the same species. There are only three known cases of mad cow in the U.S.

Here is one key quote from Dr. Friedland,

We have not proven that it’s possible for fish to transmit the disease to humans. Still, we believe that out of reasonable caution for public health, the practice of feeding rendered cows to fish should be prohibited...Fish do very well in the seas without eating cows.

A bigger issue might be the nutritional value of farmed fish and whether humans are getting what they are really after-- long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

These articles reminded me of the article I wrote about Boston Legal and Denny Crane (played by William Shatner). Denny who suffered from mad cow (Alzheimer's), went to the Supreme Court to get approval to take the drug Dimebon. The show ended its run on television with Denny winning his Supreme Court case, and winning the right to take Dimebon.

Americans are patiently waiting for the results of the ongoing clinical trials of Dimebon. Dimebon is a twenty five year old drug that is not currently available to U.S. citizens.

Dimebon is an orally-available, small molecule that has been shown to inhibit brain cell death in preclinical models relevant to Alzheimer’s. Medivation is currently conducting several phase three clincial trials with Dimebon.

See Dimebon Connection Study Complete, Additional Phase 3 Trials Still Open

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Bob DeMarco is an Alzheimer's caregiver and editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one website on the Internet for advice and insight into Alzheimer's disease. Bob taught at the University of Georgia, was an executive at Bear Stearns, the CEO of IP Group, and is a mentor. He has written more than 700 articles with more than 18,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

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The Alzheimer's Action Plan: The Experts' Guide to the Best Diagnosis and Treatment for Memory Problems

The Alzheimer's Action Plan

Most of us will either get Alzheimer’s or care for a loved one who has.....

The Alzheimer's Action Plan: The Experts' Guide to the Best Diagnosis and Treatment for Memory Problems

"This book is the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide for the diagnosis and management of Alzheimer's disease. Whether you are a health care professional or have Alzheimer's in your family or are simply interested to living to an old age, this book is a must read."
--Deepak Chopra, M.D., New York Times bestselling author
Perfect Health: The Complete Mind/Body Guide

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"Memory does matter. Adults across the life cycle are asking questions, many questions! The authors answer these questions for the educated public, family members who encounter memory loss in a loved one, and even adults who believe they are experiencing early memory loss. The answers are comprehensive and understandable, no small accomplishment given the plethora of new information available—information that at times is not only confusing but also conflicting."
--Dan G. Blazer, M.D., Ph.D., former Dean of Medical Education, Duke University School of Medicine; past President of the American Geriatrics Society

"Dr. Doraiswamy has done a masterful job of communicating what the layman should know on the treatment, the care giving and, most important, the prevention of Alzheimer's. It was gratifying to learn about the mountain of evidence that what is good for your heart is also good for your brain."
--Arthur Agatston, M.D., cardiologist and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The South Beach Diet

"I love this book! A powerful and vital resource for people who need it the most. Dr. Doraiswamy is that unique blend of medical expertise mixed in with warmth and compassion topped off with humility that makes him rare and wonderful."
--Leeza Gibbons, Emmy award-winning TV host and founder of Leeza's Place and the Memory Foundation

"Lisa Gwyther is a national treasure. She has been a pioneer in providing innovative care and education for Alzheimer’s patients and their families for many years. Lisa’s long experience helping families cope with the challenges of memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease makes her uniquely qualified to co-author this book. Families experiencing the new world of memory loss and Alzheimer’s couldn’t ask for a better companion for the journey. Her warmth, compassion, and wisdom shine through, and will help light the way."
--Pat Lynch, Director of Communications, Alzheimer’s Center Program, National Institute on Aging

"Most of us will either get Alzheimer's or care for a loved one who has. This action plan can empower you to make a difference."
--Mehmet C. Oz, M.D., co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, You: The Owner’s Manual

"Five million Americans have Alzheimer disease, and an even larger number with mild to moderate memory loss are at high risk of developing this illness. Murali Doraiswamy, a leading clinical researcher in Alzheimer disease, and Lisa Gwyther, a founder of the Alzheimer Association, have co-authored this timely, state-of-the-art book directed at patients with Alzheimer disease, their informants, and their primary care physicians....I fully predict that this exceptionally well-written, reader-friendly book will become the standard resource for patients with Alzheimer disease and their loved ones. Its up-to-date information, patient-centered approach, and focus on prevention and treatment directed at patients with incipient Alzheimer disease distinguish it from The 36 Hour Day by Nancy Mace and Peter Rabins, which is directed at caregivers of patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer disease."
--JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association)

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Bob DeMarco is the editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. Bob has written more than 1,050 articles with more than 8,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Alzheimer's Reading June 27

Answers About Long-Term Care Insurance

Like many people with elderly parents, I can’t help thinking there must be some way I can make sure my 8-year-old son doesn’t someday end up in the same situation when my husband and I need assistance. As one fellow boomer said recently, “I want someone to care about me when I’m older, but not necessarily care for me.”

Go here to read more.

This is part one of the transcript from a special round table discussion featuring Alzheimer's caregivers. In this section, the participants -- Alice, Maureen, Phyllis, and Joe -- talk about why they sought out a support group in their community.
Go here to read more.

Voices of Alzheimer's Caregivers: Part Two
What Alzheimer's Warning Signs Did You See in Your Loved One?
Go here to read more.

Medicaid patients face roadblock to getting Alzheimer's drug
Utahns who rely on Medicaid to pay for their prescription drugs may find it more difficult to get a popular medication used to treat Alzheimer's disease.
On July 1, the state will implement a drug list that gives preference to Namenda and Exelon, two other Alzheimer's disease medications. The drugs were judged as safe and effective as Aricept, but are less costly.

Tim Morley, Utah Medicaid director, said Medicaid clients who now use Aricept will need to go through an initial authorization process, but "if they have been stabilized on Aricept we are not interested in changing their therapy."
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• Dimebon Clinical Trial?
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• Five Ways to Keep Alzheimer's Away
• A Real Solution to the Health Care Crisis
• 80 Percent of Medical Bills Contain Errors -- Fighting Mistakes

Follow the Alzheimer's Reading Room on Twitter

Will Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease Benefit from Cataract Surgery?

This is an interesting social issue and I am happy to see it being addressed.

The issue: Are Alzheimer's patients entitled to the same medical care as persons without Alzheimer's?

“Ultimately, if you can't perceive something, it is hard to remember it,” says Alan Lerner, associate professor of neurology at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and director of the Memory and Cognition Center in University Hospital’s Neurological Institute. “If the vision is blurry, then your memory may be more faulty than necessary. The cataract removal may offer benefits of improved quality of life which is a major aim in AD therapeutics overall.”

As most of you know, I am a big believer in treating my mothers as I always have. This includes taking her out in public to eat and to movies. I cannot fathom what I would do, or how she would benefit from this social interaction, if she had cataracts or impaired vision. My guess is she would already have fallen deeper into the Alzheimer's black hole.

Thanks to Susan Griffith at Case Western Reserve for sending us this interesting press release.

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WILL INDIVIDUALS WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE BENEFIT FROM CATARACT SURGERY?

Case Western Reserve University leads University Hospitals and MetroHealth Medical Center in study to address disparity in vision care

A multi-institutional team of researchers, led by the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, will begin a five-year, $2.9 million National Institutes of Health-funded study. They will examine the lives of patients with both cataracts and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to document how restored vision improves everyday life for people with dementia.

“This project addresses a major social justice issue in the disparity in vision care of persons diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease,” said Grover “Cleve” Gilmore, dean of the Case Western Reserve Mandel School and principal investigator of the study.

Gilmore will lead faculty from the departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Neurology at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and physicians from the Eye Institute and Neurological Institute at University Hospitals and the Division of Ophthalmology at MetroHealth Medical Center.

In 20 years of research, Gilmore has found people with dementia lose their ability to see objects in medium- and low-contrast environments, but boosting the contrast of objects improves their ability to move around their homes; eat better; read; and do other simple, everyday tasks.

Cataracts cloud and blur the vision in the eye causing AD patients additional problems. If untreated, the cataracts lead to blindness, but sight can be restored with surgery to remove the cataract.

Co-investigator Jonathan Lass, M.D., the Charles I Thomas Professor and chair of the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and director of the Eye Institute at University Hospitals, says, surprisingly, a preliminary study has shown 10 percent of patients over 65 who have an eye exam have some memory impairment along with cataracts. Most people start to show signs of cataracts in their early 60s.

“This research is important because we are a visual world,” said Thomas Steinemann, M.D., professor of ophthalmology at the School of Medicine and ophthalmologist in the ophthalmology division at Metrohealth Medical Center.

Steinemann said he has observed improvements in AD patients following cataract surgery. Some who were combative before surgery are more cooperative following it. And even though they still are cognitively impaired to some degree, Steinemann said improved vision may even help AD patients recognize family members.

“Ultimately, if you can't perceive something, it is hard to remember it,” says Alan Lerner, associate professor of neurology at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and director of the Memory and Cognition Center in University Hospital’s Neurological Institute. “If the vision is blurry, then your memory may be more faulty than necessary. The cataract removal may offer benefits of improved quality of life which is a major aim in AD therapeutics overall.”
“This grant demonstrates that the NIH recognizes a major disparity in healthcare for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and cataracts,” said Gilmore. “We hope to provide evidence that AD patients also benefit from cataract surgery.”

In the randomized controlled NIH-funded study, half of the 210 patients will receive cataract surgery and the other half will have surgery delayed for six months. The researchers will follow the progress of the two groups. During this time, the primary caregivers associated with these patients also will supply information about the patient’s quality of life and activity levels by answering surveys and other measures.

In addition to finding scientific evidence that cataract surgery helps AD patients, the researchers hope to identify a warning sign of AD. They will test changes in the thickness of the retina, a part of the eye that is an extension of the brain. Using a technology called optical coherence tomography (OCT), they will track changes in the retinal thickness of these patients over six months to determine if there is a connection with AD.

By using the technology, Gilmore says they hope to find an indicator of the onset of AD and prompt referrals to neurologist for early interventions and medicines to delay memory loss.

In addition to Gilmore, Lass, Lerner and Steinemann, Julie Belkin, M.D., assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and of the Eye Institute at University Hospitals, will work with the co-investigators.

Case Western Reserve University is among the nation’s leading research institutions. Founded in 1826 and shaped by the unique merger of the Case Institute of Technology and Western Reserve University, Case Western Reserve is distinguished by its strengths in education, research, service, and experiential learning. Located in Cleveland, Case Western Reserve offers nationally recognized programs in the Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering, Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Work. http://www.case.edu.
--
Susan Griffith
Senior Media Relations Specialist
Office of Media Relations
Case Western Reserve University
10900 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106
216-368-1004 (phone)
216-368-3546 (fax)

Bob DeMarco is an Alzheimer's caregiver and editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one website on the Internet for advice and insight into Alzheimer's disease. Bob taught at the University of Georgia, was an executive at Bear Stearns, the CEO of IP Group, and is a mentor. He has written more than 700 articles with more than 18,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

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The Alzheimer's Action Plan: The Experts' Guide to the Best Diagnosis and Treatment for Memory Problems

Follow the Alzheimer's Reading Room on Twitter

Can Alzheimer's Be Cured?

P. Murali Doraiswamy is co-author of the Alzheimer's Action Plan.

If I was going to buy one book on Alzheimer's it would be the Alzheimer's Action Plan.

I refer to this book often. It sits right on top of my desk. It is an excellent resource. I also refer to the book when I get questions from readers via email.

The interview below is concise and answers several of the most frequently asked questions about Alzheimer's disease

For more Insight into Alzheimer's Disease
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Can Alzheimer's Be Cured?

P. Murali Doraiswamy is the head of biological psychiatry at Duke University and is a Senior Fellow at Duke’s Center for the Study of Aging. He’s also the co-author of The Alzheimer’s Action Plan, a guide for patients and family members struggling with the disease. Mind Matters editor Jonah Lehrer chats with Doraiswamy about recent advances in Alzheimer’s research and what people can do to prevent memory loss.

LEHRER: What do you think are the biggest public misconceptions of Alzheimer's Disease?

DORAISWAMY: The two biggest misconceptions are “It’s just aging” and “It’s untreatable, so we should just leave the person alone.” Both of these misconceptions are remnants of an outdated view that hinders families from getting the best diagnosis and best care. They were also one of the main reasons I wanted to write this book.

Although old age is the single biggest risk for dementia, Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. Just ask any family member who has cared for a loved one with Alzheimer’s and they will tell you how different the disease is from normal aging. Alzheimer’s can strike people as young as their forties; there are some half a million individuals in the United States with early-onset dementia. Recent research has pinpointed disruptions in specific memory networks in Alzheimer’s patients, such as those involving the posteromedial cortex and medial temporal lobe, that appear distinct from normal aging.

The larger point is that while Alzheimer’s is still incurable it’s not untreatable. There are four FDA-approved medications available for treating Alzheimer symptoms and many others in clinical trials. Strategies to enhance general brain and mental wellbeing can also help people with Alzheimer’s. That’s why early detection is so important.

LEHRER: Given the rapid aging of the American population - by 2050, the Alzheimer's Association estimates there will be a million new cases annually - what are the some preventative steps that people can take to prevent or delay the onset of the disease?

DORAISWAMY: Unfortunately, there isn’t yet a magic bullet for prevention. You can pop the most expensive anti-aging pills, drink the best red wine, and play all the brain games that money can buy, and you still might get Alzheimer’s. While higher education is clearly protective, even Nobel Laureates have been diagnosed with the disease, although it’s likely their education helped them stave off the symptoms for a little bit.

My approach is more pragmatic - it’s about recognizing risks and designing your own brain health action plan. The core of our program is to teach people about the growing links between cardiovascular markers (blood pressure, blood sugar, body weight and BMI, blood cholesterol, C-reactive protein) and brain health. A population study from Finland has developed a fascinating scale that can predict 20-year risk for dementia – sort of a brain aging speedometer. Obesity, smoking, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are some of the culprits this study identified. So keeping these under control is crucial.

Depression is another risk factor for memory loss, so managing stress and staying socially connected is also important. B vitamins may prevent dementia in those who are deficient and there are some simple blood tests that can detect this. For the vast majority of people, however, there are no prescription medications that have been proven to prevent dementia. This means that a brain-healthy lifestyle is really our best bet for delaying the onset of memory loss.

In the near future we will likely have prevention plans that are personalized based on genetic, metabolic and neurological information. In familial Alzheimer’s disease, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis has already been used to successfully deliver babies free of a deadly Alzheimer causing mutation – though only time will tell if deleting such dementia risk genes in humans has other consequences.

LEHRER: Your book talks about a new technique that allows doctors to image amyloid plaques in the brain. How will these change the diagnosis of the disease?

DORAISWAMY: Amyloid PET scans are in the late stages of validation testing to see if they can improve the accuracy of clinical diagnosis. The Alzheimer’s brain is defined by beta-amyloid plaques and tangles but, at present, these can only be definitively diagnosed with an autopsy. If an amyloid PET scan is “plaque negative” that will tell a doctor that Alzheimer’s is unlikely to be the diagnosis and help reassure the family. Early findings suggest that people who carry risk genes are more likely to have plaque positive scans even before they develop symptoms - suggesting that the scans could possibly be useful for predicting future risk. If true, this might eventually lead to a change in diagnostic terminology where “preclinical” Alzheimer’s is diagnosed purely based on biomarker and scan findings long before memory symptoms start. Therapies to treat Alzheimer’s by blocking amyloid plaques are already in trials but are currently given blindly to patients without knowing their brain plaque status – raising their risk for side effects and treatment failure. So this scan may also help drug development by helping select the most appropriate subjects for treatment and then monitoring treatment effects. Amyloid accumulation with aging is seen in many animal species and the scan offers us a tool to study what role plaque plays in normal brain aging. So this could do for the brain what colonoscopy did for the gut!

Bob DeMarco is an Alzheimer's caregiver and editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one website on the Internet for advice and insight into Alzheimer's disease. Bob taught at the University of Georgia, was an executive at Bear Stearns, the CEO of IP Group, and is a mentor. He has written more than 700 articles with more than 18,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

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Original content the Alzheimer's Reading Room

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What is Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is an abnormal increase of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain's ventricles, or cavities. It occurs if the normal flow of CSF throughout the brain and spinal cord is blocked in some way.....

By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room

Previously I wrote about Jimmy Nowells. Jimmy was first diagnosed with Parkinson's and then Alzheimer's. After ten long years, and thanks to the persistence of his daughter--the nurse--Jimmy was finally diagnosed correctly--he suffered from Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH).

See When Alzheimer's isn't Alzheimer's -- It's a Miracle.

Jimmy's case is not an isolated experience. I already received three emails describing similar circumstance.

You might want to share these two articles with others you know suffering from Alzheimer's. They might want to discuss this with their doctor.

The symptoms of NPH can occur in Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease. However, the combination of dementia-like symptoms, walking problems, and urinary problems should alert your health care provider to the possibility of NPH. Making the distinction is very important because the treatments for these conditions are quite different. Tests are available that can confirm the diagnosis. At any point in this process, your health care provider may refer you to a specialist in brain disorders (neurologist or neurosurgeon) to complete the evaluation and begin treatment.

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What is Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus?

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is an abnormal increase of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain's ventricles, or cavities. It occurs if the normal flow of CSF throughout the brain and spinal cord is blocked in some way.

This causes the ventricles to enlarge, putting pressure on the brain. Normal pressure hydrocephalus can occur in people of any age, but it is most common in the elderly population.

NPH may result from a subarachnoid hemorrhage, head trauma, infection, tumor, or complications of surgery. However, many people develop NPH even when none of these factors are present. In these cases the cause of the disorder is unknown.

Symptoms of NPH include:

• progressive mental impairment and dementia,
• problems with walking,
• and impaired bladder control leading to urinary frequency and/or incontinence.

The person also may have a general slowing of movements or may complain that his or her feet feel "stuck."

Because these symptoms are similar to those of other disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the disorder is often misdiagnosed. Many cases go unrecognized and are never properly treated.

Doctors may use a variety of tests, including brain scans (CT and/or MRI), a spinal tap or lumbar catheter, intracranial pressure monitoring, and neuropsychological tests, to help them diagnose NPH and rule out other conditions.

In September 2005 an international team of scientists developed clinical guidelines to help physicians diagnose NPH.

The guidelines were published as a supplement to the journal Neurosurgery ("Diagnosing Idiopathic Normal-pressure Hydrocephalus," Vol. 57(3), Supplement: S2-4--S2-16, 2005).

Is there any treatment?

Treatment for NPH involves surgical placement of a shunt in the brain to drain excess CSF into the abdomen where it can be absorbed. This allows the brain ventricles to return to their normal size. Regular follow-up care by a physician is important in order to identify subtle changes that might indicate problems with the shunt.

What is the prognosis?

The symptoms of NPH usually get worse over time if the condition is not treated, although some people may experience temporary improvements. While the success of treatment with shunts varies from person to person, some people recover almost completely after treatment and have a good quality of life.

Early diagnosis and treatment improves the chance of a good recovery.

What research is being done?

Research on disorders such as normal pressure hydrocephalus focuses on increasing knowledge and understanding of the disorder, improving diagnostic techniques, and finding improved treatments and preventions.

Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

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Bob DeMarco is the editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. Bob has written more than 1,300 articles with more than 9,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Alzheimer’s Information – Where Do You Ask Questions? What Questions Do You Ask?

Derrick Grant has an interesting site at ElderGuru.com. The website focus is information on aging. The sites has lots of information and links to useful resources.

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Alzheimer’s Information – Where Do You Ask Questions? What Questions Do You Ask?

A Guest Post by Derrick Grant of ElderGuru.com

Wham! You got the big news, a spouse, parent, loved one, friend, maybe even you – Alzheimer’s diagnosis. You were just going about your life, and now it’s taken a 180 degree turn.

To describe it as overwhelming would be an understatement. It’s easy to enter denial or become frozen with shock.

While there is little that can be done for that beyond a little time, there is some comfort knowing that you’re not alone, you’re not the first, and you won’t be the last.

Information! Where do you ask questions? What questions do you ask?

Where do you ask questions?

Where you turn for help largely depends on the help you need.

The initial problem may be you don’t know what help you’ll need.

Initially, you will probably want to know more about the disease, caregiving, financial implications, long-term care, etc. Those subjects are all daunting to the novice.

I could recommend specific resources for each, but for the person first learning of the diagnosis, general information on all subjects is most helpful. For this, it’s hard to beat your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA).

These agencies support elders within a set community. Their funds come largely from the federal government, authorized by the Older American’s Act (OAA).

The OAA funds go to promote healthy aging, help people understand and apply for programs, and other programs like family caregiver support

Your local Area Agency on Aging has people that are trained and ready to help you. They can asnwer your questions, assess your situation, and refer you to the right people/organizations in your community or state.

My next recommendation is the Alzheimer’s Association itself. Makes sense, doesn't it?

The Alzheimer's Association has an office in every state and they want to help you.

You can find both your Area Agency on Aging and your local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association by visiting the ElderGuru’s Resources by State page.

The financial implications may require the assistance of an attorney; however, this is impossible to advise without knowing an individual’s specific disease situation, care needs and financial situation. That being said, for people that can afford them, hiring a private care manager is an option, a Licensed Social Worker or Registered Nurse that helps individuals and families navigate the process.

What questions do you ask?

The only way to determine this is to talk with people, read, research and self-educate.

You’ll need to hear what other people are doing or have done. You should consider connecting with a support group, the Alzheimer’s Association will have a list.

There are a large selection of books available on the subject. You can also do what you’re doing now; visit web sites like Alzheimer’s Reading Room, ElderGuru and others. The best thing about this process is that you find the answer to the question before you knew you should ask it.

I highly recommend support groups. I’ve organized and led them. Many people are reluctant to discuss their personal thoughts and emotions with strangers. They miss out on a valuable exchange of thoughts and ideas. They miss the opportunity to make valuable and lasting friendships.

You'll find that an Alzheimer's or dementia diagnosis can be overwhelming. Don't try and go it alone.

Bob DeMarco is an Alzheimer's caregiver and editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one website on the Internet for insight into Alzheimer's disease. Bob taught at the University of Georgia, was an executive at Bear Stearns, the CEO of IP Group, and is a mentor. He has written more than 600 articles with more than 11,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

More from the Alzheimer's Reading Room

• The Thyroid and Alzheimer's
• Flavanol-rich Cocoa Consumption Improves Blood Flow to the Brain
  
• A Simple Three Minute Test Can Detect the Earliest Stage of Alzheimer's Disease
• Eli Lilly Launches Two Late Stage Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's (LY2062430)
• Dimebon Clinical Trial?
• Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?
• Is it Really Alzheimer's or Something Else?
• Wii a Useful Tool for Alzheimer's Caregivers
• Five Ways to Keep Alzheimer's Away
• 2009 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
• The Mini-Cog Test for Alzheimer's and Dementia
• What is Dementia?
• 80 Percent of Medical Bills Contain Errors -- Fighting Mistakes

The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease and Memory Loss in Later Life

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Editors

Bob DeMarco, Founder and Editor
MaxWallack, Science and Games
Carole B. Larkin, Geriatric Care Management

A Real Solution to the Health Care Crisis--Reduce Waste and Use Exisiting Technologies

Two independent studies contradict the notion that we cannot afford a national health care program.

The studies by PriceWaterhouseCoopers and the Dartmouth Atlas Project explain how to extend coverage to the country's uninsured without substantially increasing overall health care costs.

By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room

The real solution to the health care crisis is to reduce waste and use existing technologies to make the system more efficient.

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5 Health Tips for Alzheimer’s Caretakers

By Meredith Walker

Taking care of a relative suffering from Alzheimer’s can be trying, stressful and emotional as the disease progresses.

Yet many families want to keep their relative close, and provide the best care they can from home. It’s important to remember, however, that you can’t care for someone else if you get too run down yourself.

Early and Easy Detection Of Alzheimer's Disease?

Researchers at McGill University and the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research (LDI) at the Jewish General Hospital (Montreal, Canada), have shown that near-infrared (NIR) biospectroscopy can identify a chemical signature, or biomarker, in blood that distinguishes Alzheimer’s disease from normal aging and possibly other neurodegenerative conditions.

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NEW DATA DEMONSTRATE POTENTIAL FOR EARLY DETECTION OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Data published in the June issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease demonstrated that minimally-invasive biospectroscopy was able to identify changes in oxidative stress (OS) levels in blood plasma, which may prove to be a useful biomarker in the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. There is currently no accepted laboratory test for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers at McGill University and the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research (LDI) at the Jewish General Hospital (Montreal, Canada), have shown that near-infrared (NIR) biospectroscopy can identify a chemical signature, or biomarker, in blood that distinguishes Alzheimer’s disease from normal aging and possibly other neurodegenerative conditions. Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is currently based solely on a patient’s medical history and neurological examination, is labor-intensive and expensive, and often inconclusive in early stages of the illness. The availability of a biologic marker that reliably differentiates Alzheimer’s disease from normal aging and other dementing conditions would represent a major achievement in the management of this common neurodegenerative disorder.

“There is an urgent need for an accurate diagnostic test to aid in the early diagnosis and management of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Hyman M. Schipper, MD, PhD, FRCPC, lead author of the study and Professor of Neurology and Medicine at McGill University. Dr. Schipper is also Founding Director of the Centre for Neurotranslational Research and a member of the Bloomfield Centre for Research in Aging at the LDI. “Our observations give us hope that biospectroscopy will offer a new approach to the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.” Dr. Schipper is a noted expert in brain aging and neurodegeneration. Dr. David Burns of the Department of Chemistry at McGill University, an experienced biospectroscopist, was a co-investigator of the study.

In this study, an NIR biospectroscopy analysis was conducted on blood plasma samples from a total of 63 subjects, 19 with Alzheimer’s disease, 27 with mild cognitive impairment (a frequent indication of Alzheimer’s disease) and 17 normal elderly controls, to measure the degree of oxidative stress in plasma. OS is caused by a chemical imbalance that can damage critical components of cells and biofluids, including proteins, lipids and DNA. OS is known to be involved in many neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s disease.

In differentiating Alzheimer’s disease patients from the normal elderly control group, NIR achieved a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 77%. Fifteen and twelve patients with mild cognitive impairment were classified with the normal elderly control group and Alzheimer’s disease groups, respectively.

“These results demonstrate the potential for NIR biospectroscopy to differentiate mild, and possibly pre-clinical, Alzheimer’s disease from normal aging with high accuracy,” Dr. Schipper added. “We are very encouraged by these data and look forward to testing this potential diagnostic tool in larger-scale studies.”

“Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of Blood Plasma for Diagnosis of Sporadic Alzheimer Disease,” was published in Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 17:2 (June 2009).

Near-infrared spectroscopy is commonly used in medical diagnostics, food and agrochemical quality control, as well as combustion research.

This technology has been licensed to Molecular Biometrics, Inc., a metabolomics company specializing in the development of minimally-invasive biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and assisted reproduction.

Bob DeMarco is an Alzheimer's caregiver and editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one website on the Internet for insight into Alzheimer's disease. Bob taught at the University of Georgia, was an executive at Bear Stearns, the CEO of IP Group, and is a mentor. He has written more than 600 articles with more than 11,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

More from the Alzheimer's Reading Room

• The Thyroid and Alzheimer's
• Flavanol-rich Cocoa Consumption Improves Blood Flow to the Brain
  
• A Simple Three Minute Test Can Detect the Earliest Stage of Alzheimer's Disease
• Eli Lilly Launches Two Late Stage Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's (LY2062430)
• Dimebon Clinical Trial?
• Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?
• Is it Really Alzheimer's or Something Else?
• Wii a Useful Tool for Alzheimer's Caregivers
• Five Ways to Keep Alzheimer's Away
• 2009 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
• The Mini-Cog Test for Alzheimer's and Dementia
• What is Dementia?
• 80 Percent of Medical Bills Contain Errors -- Fighting Mistakes

The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease and Memory Loss in Later Life

Follow the Alzheimer's Reading Room on Twitter

Cleveland Clinic to Hold Online Chat about Alzheimer's and Dementia

Cleveland Clinic's Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, one of the nation’s top hospitals and home to our nationally ranked Neurological Institute, is hosting a free online health chat from noon to 1:00 PM EDT this Friday, June 19.

During this one hour chat Randolph Schiffer, MD, will answer questions regarding the diagnosis, management and treatment options for early stage Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other mild cognitive disorders.

For all the details go here.

The Chat will open on June 18, 2009 to allow you to submit questions.

Dr. Schiffer, a nationally recognized neurologist/psychiatrist, is the Director of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Dr. Schiffer's clinical interests include neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and neuropsychiatric disease. Prior to his tenure at Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Schiffer served for 10 years as Chair of the combined Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

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Urgent Medicare Question from a Reader

An 82 year old dementia patient who I assist with medical bills is going into the hospital (as opposed to Dentist's office) for oral surgery to extract multiple teeth.

Because of her dementia, general anesthesia is required.

However, Medicare apparently doesn't cover the cost for the hospital/anesthesia despite that the underlying condition.

Dementia is the reason it is required for these extractions.

The cost is over $10,000 for the hospital room and anesthesiologist at NYU Medical
Center.

The dentist's office manager has been trying to get them to reconsider
covering the cost but no success as yet.

Anyone out there have a similiar situation, and if so, any suggestions / tactics
you recommend?

Thanks in advance for you help.

Alzheimer's Reading June 16

Depression may increase Alzheimer's risk in people with memory problems
People with memory problems who are depressed are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those who aren't depressed, according to a new UCLA study.

Researchers also found, however, that the popular Alzheimer's drug donepezil may help delay the progression to Alzheimer's in depressed individuals who suffer from mild cognitive impairment or memory problems.

Snoezelen rooms enhance lives of dementia patients
Snoezelen is an alternative treatment approach in which people who have Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia are offered opportunities to become more aware of their surroundings. This allows them to react better to their environment and to the people who are part of it, and to experience inner peace and contentment.
The theory is that overstimulation of the senses can help people who find it difficult to connect with their world. Snoezelen is painless and, in many cases, has been getting positive results in people who have Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias...

Popular Alzheimer's theory may be false trail
"This paper potentially represents a paradigm shift in the way we look at Alzheimer's disease," said Mark A. Smith, a professor of pathology at Case Western Reserve University and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. "The study goes against the very popular idea of neuro-inflammation; instead, the idea that microglia are senescent is consistent with a number of features of the disease.

Advice and Insight into Alzheimer's Disease
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Bob DeMarco is an Alzheimer's caregiver and editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one website on the Internet for insight into Alzheimer's disease. Bob taught at the University of Georgia, was an executive at Bear Stearns, the CEO of IP Group, and is a mentor. He has written more than 600 articles with more than 11,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

More from the Alzheimer's Reading Room

• Test Your Memory (TYM) for Alzheimer's or Dementia in Five Minutes
• Questions About Test Your Memory (TYM) for Alzheimers and Dementia
• The Thyroid and Alzheimer's
• Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?
• Flavanol-rich Cocoa Consumption Improves Blood Flow to the Brain
  
• A Simple Three Minute Test Can Detect the Earliest Stage of Alzheimer's Disease
• Eli Lilly Launches Two Late Stage Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's (LY2062430)
• Dimebon Clinical Trial?
• Is it Really Alzheimer's or Something Else?
• Wii a Useful Tool for Alzheimer's Caregivers
• Five Ways to Keep Alzheimer's Away
• 2009 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
• The Mini-Cog Test for Alzheimer's and Dementia
• What is Dementia?
• 80 Percent of Medical Bills Contain Errors -- Fighting Mistakes

The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease and Memory Loss in Later Life

Follow the Alzheimer's Reading Room on Twitter

OT: Free Root Beer Float

I know this is off track (OT) but I couldn't resist.

Back in April, I took my mother to the free cone day at Ben and Jerry's. There were lots of kids and people, and my mother had a really wonderful time. She was smiling and we had a good day afterwards.

I noticed that A & W is giving away free root beer floats on Father's Day. If you don't have an A & W near you don't despair, there are lots of participating locations that are co-branded (like some KFCs).

To find out if there is a location near you check out the store locator.

A&W home page

Did you Hug Your Alzheimer's Caregiver Today?
Subscribe to The Alzheimer's Reading Room

Bob DeMarco is an Alzheimer's caregiver and editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one website on the Internet for insight into Alzheimer's disease. Bob taught at the University of Georgia, was an executive at Bear Stearns, the CEO of IP Group, and is a mentor. He has written more than 600 articles with more than 11,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

More from the Alzheimer's Reading Room

• The Thyroid and Alzheimer's
• Flavanol-rich Cocoa Consumption Improves Blood Flow to the Brain
  
• A Simple Three Minute Test Can Detect the Earliest Stage of Alzheimer's Disease
• Eli Lilly Launches Two Late Stage Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's (LY2062430)
• Dimebon Clinical Trial?
• Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?
• Is it Really Alzheimer's or Something Else?
• Wii a Useful Tool for Alzheimer's Caregivers
• Five Ways to Keep Alzheimer's Away
• 2009 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
• The Mini-Cog Test for Alzheimer's and Dementia
• What is Dementia?
• 80 Percent of Medical Bills Contain Errors -- Fighting Mistakes

The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease and Memory Loss in Later Life

Follow the Alzheimer's Reading Room on Twitter

Does Art Therapy Improve Memory in Alzheimer's and Dementia Patients?

Use it or lose it. I bet you heard that a few times in your life.

Dr. Arnold Bresky, who bills himself as a "preventive gerontologist," is using art therapy to help Alzheimer's and dementia patients improve their memory.

Dr. Bresky claims a 70 percent success rate in improving their memories.

All Night Care for Dementia and Alzheimer's Sufferers

As far as I can tell, ElderServe at Night is a one of a kind program. A program that is likely to serve as a model for communities around the world. Imagine being able to have the hours from 7 PM to 7 AM all to yourself. Imagine.

ElderServe at Night...was born in 1998, after Daniel A. Reingold, now president and chief executive of the Hebrew Home, began hearing horror stories from people who jury-rigged alarm systems or slept on mattresses pulled across thresholds to stop their sleepless parents from wandering at night. Sleep deprivation, he learned, was causing many guardians to put relatively high-functioning patients into nursing homes rather than day care programs.

For many Alzheimer's caregivers this might seem like a slice of heaven on earth.

Participants are fetched from their homes by vans and spend 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. painting, potting plants, dancing and talking — or, for those immobilized by their disease, relaxing amid music, massage and twinkling lights. The patients rest as they need, for a few minutes or a few hours, and return home the next morning fed, showered and, usually, tuckered out.

The only word that comes to mind is, WOW.

A tip of the hat to Carol Wright who alerted us to this article. A good example of the collective brain of the Alzheimer's Reading Room at work.

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A Caregiver’s Dilemma: “Until you walk in my shoes, you’ve never walked before.”

So my dilemma as a caregiver is how can you get these relatives to understand that until they walk in your shoes then they have never walked before?

By Deborah Ann Tornillo

I find myself once again taking care of my husband, who was diagnosed several months ago with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, a rare form of cancer. He is currently receiving radiation treatment, which is taking its toll on him. He is unable to eat solid food for it just comes right back up and has only just recently been able to tolerate a liquid diet.

He has lost 25 pounds in three weeks.

He has lost his hearing in his left ear since it is “ground zero” for the radiation.

Two weeks into his treatment he lost his taste buds. For the last seven days he has had a fever over 103 degrees, but yet the radiation oncologist does not know why.

My mother and father passed away two years ago with the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. I was their primary caregiver.

My world stopped around me, because my primary focus was to provide them with the best possible care during their last years of life. My agenda was their care and that meant being with them 24/7, providing whatever care possible to just make them feel comfortable, providing them with the kind of care to help them maintain their dignity as a human being.

After their death I wrote a book “36 Days Apart” to honor my parents.

It was also excellent therapy for me. I was asked by a reporter just the other day what sacrifices did I make as their caregiver. And, as I told the reporter

there were no sacrifices, because a caregiver doesn’t look at it that way. My focus was providing them with dignity, respect, compassion and the best possible care available.

I reflect on those times now that I’m taking care of my husband and I question only one thing and that is “the agenda of everyone else.” What true help and support as a primary caregiver do we get from our family and friends?

There are the relatives that are more interested in their inheritance, than they are about helping.

There are the relatives that tell you to “hang in there.”

There are the relatives that tell you that you need to walk away and take a break, but yet they don’t offer to come and sit next to their loved one and care for them day-in and day-out like you have been doing.

There are the relatives that are in denial and want them to hurry up and get better and give their advice about how they should do that, but not once offering to come and sit next to their loved one and care for them day-in and day-out.

So my dilemma as a caregiver is how can you get these relatives to understand that until they walk in your shoes then they have never walked before?

For more Insight into Alzheimer's Disease
Subscribe to The Alzheimer's Reading Room

Bob DeMarco is an Alzheimer's caregiver and editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one website on the Internet for insight into Alzheimer's disease. Bob taught at the University of Georgia, was an executive at Bear Stearns, the CEO of IP Group, and is a mentor. He has written more than 600 articles with more than 11,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

More from the Alzheimer's Reading Room

• The Thyroid and Alzheimer's
• Flavanol-rich Cocoa Consumption Improves Blood Flow to the Brain
  
• A Simple Three Minute Test Can Detect the Earliest Stage of Alzheimer's Disease
• Eli Lilly Launches Two Late Stage Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's (LY2062430)
• Dimebon Clinical Trial?
• Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?
• Is it Really Alzheimer's or Something Else?
• Wii a Useful Tool for Alzheimer's Caregivers
• Five Ways to Keep Alzheimer's Away
• 2009 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
• The Mini-Cog Test for Alzheimer's and Dementia
• What is Dementia?
• 80 Percent of Medical Bills Contain Errors -- Fighting Mistakes

Deborah Ann Tornillo chronicles the time spent taking care of her mother and father, both of whom were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in February 2006.



36 Days Apart: A memoir of a daughter, her parents and the Beast named – Alzheimer's