"What this research suggests is that we need to start setting a scientifically informed standard of care for patients with memory disorders. Here is clear evidence showing that the reasons for treating Alzheimer's patients with respect and dignity go beyond simple human morals.".....By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
White Oleander. Big and Beautiful.
I am not much of a joke teller, never have been. However, I put shows on the television like Everybody Loves Raymond and Two and a Half Men all the time. When Dotty starts laughing it makes me feel happy.
This study also reminded me of the first time Dr. Mark Brody of Brain Matters Research checked out my mother. As he was checking her out he was telling her jokes. Dotty didn't seem to be laughing but she didn't seem to be upset either. At the time I remember thinking, good technique. I saw it more as a way of distracting her though then making her feel happy. I'll have to ask him about it when I see him. I should also mention that Dr. Brody talks right to my mother when asking her questions. He engages her in the communication which I believe is important.
Feel happy. Those are the key words. If you can make the patient feel happy, then it is less likely that they are going to be mean. It is also harder to say no, and mean it, when you are in a good mood.
This study indicates that feelings of happiness linger. So even though a person suffering from Alzheimer's disease might not be evidencing a feeling of happiness on their face, they could still be feeling happy inside. I believe this.
This makes perfect good sense to me. I am always trying to engage Dotty in some conversation that puts her in a good mood.
Here is a simple example.
I say, Dotty look out the window at those trees with the flowers on them. Dotty looks and responds, wow, they are beautiful. We have these beautiful Oleander trees that are in full bloom right now. We have white and pink.
Dotty will usually go on to say that they bloomed out of nowhere and additional positive comments. They really do mesmerize her, and make her feel happy. Dotty, like most women, loves flowers.
The good news here is that every minute is a new day for Dotty so I can do this at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Pretty much the same conversation every time. If Dotty is happy, Bobby is happy. Pretty simple equation.
The point here, the study below indicates that feelings of happiness can linger inside a person suffering from Alzheimer's diesease. If so, the simple effort to point out the beautiful flowers on the trees might be setting up Dotty for a good day. A feeling of happiness inside.
For us, there is additional news. We have quite a few Oleander trees here. She can sit in the kitchen and see them. She can also sit in the living room and see them.
This study also indicates that a simple phone call can have a positive influence on the patients. For those of you that have been here for a while, you will recall that I wrote previously about how Dotty can go from being Zombie like to very happy and giddy when she receives a phone call. Many of you offered to call her and cheer her up.
This study indicates by fostering positive feelings and conversation you can change the attitude of someone suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Bu putting on television shows that make them laugh you might be able to cause lingering feelings of happiness. Even if it is not obvious to you.
I suggest, you go out of your way to create happiness with your loved one. If you do this over and over, day after day, the feelings of happiness might start to linger. I believe the cumulative effect is working for us. In others words, you need to be aware of this and be working on it every day.
I believe this is what I have been doing. After reading this studying about "the lingering effect" of happiness it only encourages me to do more. I did not know this previously, but not that I do, I'll put this information to good use.
Look at it this way. You make the effort over time to create feeling of happiness, and it is you the caregiver that benefits the most. A happy Alzheimer's sufferer is easier to deal with then one that is unhappy.
A happy Alzheimer's caregivers gives off happy vibes to the patient. Its like a great big circle of happiness.
The study also indicates that leaving the patient alone or neglecting them, can make them feel sad, lonely, and frustrated. If you do this, you are already paying a big price in terms of your own mental well being, and feelings of happiness and sadness.
It really is up to you -- the caregiver. You get to decide what a day is going to be like for you and the patient.
Patients with amnesia still feel emotions, despite memory loss
A new University of Iowa study offers some good news for caregivers and loved ones of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Patients might forget a joke or a meaningful conversation -- but even so, the warm feelings associated with the experience can stick around and boost their mood.
For the study, published this week in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers showed individuals with memory loss clips of happy and sad movies. Although the participants couldn't recall what they had watched, they retained the emotions elicited by the clips.
Justin Feinstein, lead study author and a UI doctoral student in clinical neuropsychology, says the discovery has direct implications for Alzheimer's disease.
"A simple visit or phone call from family members might have a lingering positive influence on a patient's happiness even though the patient may quickly forget the visit or phone call," Feinstein said. "On the other hand, routine neglect from staff at nursing homes may leave the patient feeling sad, frustrated and lonely even though the patient can't remember why."
Feinstein conducted the study with UI neuroscience faculty members Daniel Tranel, Ph.D., UI professor of neurology and psychology, and Melissa Duff, Ph.D., UI assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders.
The researchers studied five rare neurological patients with damage to their hippocampus, a part of the brain that's critical for transferring short-term memories into long-term storage. Damage to the hippocampus prevents new memories from being acquired.
This same type of amnesia is an early sign of Alzheimer's disease.
The experiment started with an emotion-induction technique using powerful film clips. Each amnesic patient viewed 20 minutes of either sad or happy movies on separate days. The movies triggered the appropriate emotion, ranging from intense bouts of laughter during happy films to tears of sorrow during sad ones.
About 10 minutes after the clip ended, researchers gave patients a memory test to see if they could recall what they had watched. As expected, the patients were extremely impaired. A healthy person recalls about 30 details from each clip, but one patient couldn't recall a single detail.
After the memory test, patients answered questions to gauge their emotions.
"Indeed, they still felt the emotion. Sadness tended to last a bit longer than happiness, but both emotions lasted well beyond their memory of the films," Feinstein said. "With healthy people, you see feelings decay as time goes on. In two patients, the feelings didn't decay; in fact, their sadness lingered."
These findings challenge the popular notion that erasing a painful memory can abolish psychological suffering. They also reinforce the importance of attending to the emotional needs of people with Alzheimer's, which is expected to affect as many as 100 million people worldwide by 2050.
"Age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's, and there's currently no cure," Feinstein said. "What we're about to face is an epidemic. We're going to have more and more baby
boomers getting older, and more and more people with Alzheimer's disease. The burden of care for these individuals is enormous.
"What this research suggests is that we need to start setting a scientifically informed standard of care for patients with memory disorders. Here is clear evidence showing that the reasons for treating Alzheimer's patients with respect and dignity go beyond simple human morals."
The study was funded by the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Kiwanis International Foundation.
STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa Graduate College Office of External Relations, 205 Gilmore Hall, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-2500
MEDIA CONTACT: John Riehl, 319-384-1309 (office) or 319-430-9419 (cell), john-riehl@ uiowa.edu
Here is the link to the study abstract -- Sustained experience of emotion after loss of memory in patients with amnesia
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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
