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BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health
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Subject: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Aug 05 - 05:31 PM I posted this over in my "I Read it in the Newspaper" thread, but on second thought I decided that this is important enough to merit its own thread. Idle brain invites dementia Researchers say daydreaming may cause changes that lead to the onset of Alzheimer's disease link Scientists have scanned the brains of young people when they are doing, well, nothing, and they found that a region active during this daydreaming state is the one hard-hit by the scourge of old age: Alzheimer's. "We never expected to see this," said Randy L. Buckner, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at Washington University in St. Louis. He said he suspects these activity patterns may, over decades of daily use, wear down the brain, sparking a chemical cascade that results in the disease's classic deposits and tangles that damage the brain. The regions identified are active when people daydream or think to themselves, Buckner said. When these regions are damaged, an older person may not be able to access the thoughts to follow through on an action, or even make sense of a string of thoughts. The study appears this week in the Journal of Neuroscience. The scientists used a variety of brain-scanning devices in more than 760 adults of all ages. Usually, scanning is done when volunteers carry out a particular mental task, such as remembering a list of words. This time, they were scanned without anything to do. What emerged on the images was what Buckner and his colleagues call the brain's "default" state. The brain remains in this state when it's not concentrating on a task like reading or talking. It's the place where the mind wanders. This default region lines up perfectly with the regions that are initially damaged in Alzheimer's. "It may be the normal cognitive function of the brain that leads to Alzheimer's later in life," Buckner said. He suspects the brain's metabolic activity slows over time in this region, making it vulnerable to mind-robbing symptoms. The scientists say this finding could prove useful diagnostically - a way to identify the disease early, even before symptoms appear. "You have to get to this pathology before it has its biggest effect," said William Klunk, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh and a co-investigator in the current study. Klunk developed an imaging tool that tracks amyloid plaque deposited in the brains of living Alzheimer's patients. The next step will be to see whether the sticky amyloid-filled plaques are dependent on the brain's metabolism. If so, there could be novel ways to attack the disease. The latest thinking among Alzheimer's scientists is that the underpinnings of the disease may be decades in the making. About a decade ago, David Snowdon of the University of Kentucky Medical Center published what has become a classic study of health and aging. He followed 678 nuns, ranging in age from 75 to 107, and analyzed journal entries and essays written when they joined the order as young women. He identified an association between the writing and the risk for Alzheimer's far into the future. The richer the detail in the essays, the less likely the writers were to develop Alzheimer's. Others have confirmed these findings, including a study by Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine researchers. They recently published a study using high school records from the 1940s to identify nearly 400 graduates. They tracked their health status through adulthood into old age. A higher IQ in high school reduced the risk of Alzheimer's by about half. Copyright 2005 Newsday Inc. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: GUEST Date: 25 Aug 05 - 06:22 PM I've thought this for a long time. Keep the brain active. Read, discuss, argue whatever, but keep being interested in all aspects of life. I think Iris Murdoch was the exception that proves the rule. And please, no jokes about Reagan. This killer illness can never be funny. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Mary in Kentucky Date: 25 Aug 05 - 06:30 PM There was a wonderful longterm research project several years ago. A large group of nuns agreed to be interviewed throughout their lives, and then their brains autopsied after death. I think the conclusions were basically the same - stay active mentally - and the greater the brain power before Alzheimers, the slower the deterioration. But nothing was a foolproof method for prevention. One thing I learned recently is that loss of the sense of smell is one of the first noticeable signs - that plus loss of short term memory. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Jeri Date: 25 Aug 05 - 06:33 PM Maybe it's just me, but daydreaming and brain inactivity seem mutually exclusive! Creativity and those rich details in essays come from imagination, and imagination is what daydreaming's all about. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Mary in Kentucky Date: 25 Aug 05 - 06:34 PM Oh, I see you cited that study. The University of Kentucky received an endowment from Kentucky Fried Chicken to conduct diseases affecting the aging population. My doctor recently appealed to my fear of Alzheimers (as oppossed to heart disease) when she encouraged me to eat right and exercise, etc. (I have metabolic syndrome already, prediabetes, a predictor of heart disease and Alzheimers.) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: GUEST Date: 25 Aug 05 - 06:35 PM Mary, don't frighten people! Everyone I know over 60 has a certain loss of short term memory. We all make lists. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Mary in Kentucky Date: 25 Aug 05 - 06:40 PM LOL. I'm watching a person very close to me in the beginning stages of Alzheimers. There is a difference between not recalling info, and repeating the same question within 5 minutes. One of the screening tests asks a person to remember three items: 1. table 2. apple 3. pencil Then 5 minutes later, ask them what the three items were. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: John Hardly Date: 25 Aug 05 - 06:55 PM Daydreaming? I am dead meat. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Cluin Date: 25 Aug 05 - 07:03 PM Alzheimers is a mean, mean disease. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: bobad Date: 25 Aug 05 - 07:24 PM Participating in the Mudcat discussion forum is one good way to keep them synapses firing. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 25 Aug 05 - 07:51 PM Cryptic crosswords are said to be good for fending it off. They might drive you crazy, but they help you hold on to your marbles. (Incidentally, has anyone got any idea where that expressioin comes from?) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: curmudgeon Date: 25 Aug 05 - 08:54 PM If brain inactivity is a cause of Alzheimers, this explains a lot about GW. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Jeri Date: 25 Aug 05 - 10:02 PM But it doesn't explain about those people beloved by forum guests and members. What this study shows, that the daydreaming area is hardest hit, is not that daydreaming causes Alzheimer's. Not the way the above artical reads, anyway. According to that, the study indicates to me that people who suffer from Alzheimer's may have trouble daydreaming. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Janie Date: 25 Aug 05 - 11:12 PM Thanks SRS, for pointing this out. And thank you, Jeri. Interesting results, but doesn't appear, at least from this write up, to identify what the nature of the relationship may be. Re using the brain as a preventative measure for dementia of any type---It seems increasingly clear that the more you use your brain, and the more varied ways that you use your brain, the more neural pathways you develop, and the more available routes there are to and from any one destination in the brain. So if one or a few routes get blocked or shut-down, those messages can be rerouted. Janie |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 25 Aug 05 - 11:33 PM It has been a simple process over the past seven years to note several "caters" whose brillance of indeas with a refining of thought....once were top-of-the-edge.....cock-o-the-walk.
Do the little critters (and typwriter'ists) arrive at the MC forum already broken - and then we push them over the ledge....or does the MC take a perfectly sane-soul and transform them into a blasphomous, pare-legal, whore?
Sincerely, |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 Aug 05 - 10:16 AM Speak of the devil, Gargoyle. . . |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: GUEST,maire-aine Date: 26 Aug 05 - 10:58 AM The 'cat just gives a person's private demons a place to express themselves publicly. My mother lost the last 5 years of her life to Alzheimer's; she finally died 2 years ago. It's not something I would wish on my worst enemy. Great time for this thread though. Tomorrow is the Greater Michigan Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association MEMORY WALK, and I'll be walking for the third year. If anybody wishes to contribute, the website is MEMORY WALK Thanks, Maryanne |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: PoppaGator Date: 26 Aug 05 - 02:10 PM I would think that "daydreaming" for some people can be a highly active and creative mental activity, and thus something that should help hold off the onset of dementia, while for other folks it's just a matter of tuning out and shutting down, which is undoubtedly unhealthy. How can anyone judge the content and value of another's woolgathering? Another thing: Those cryptic puzzles are a bit beyond me, or at least they're too confusing to hold any attraction for me, but I do the two "regular" crossword puzzles in the daily newspaper pretty faithfully every Monday-though-Saturday morning, plus the big one every Sunday. My wife generally nags me to put the pencil down and get my ass off to work on time, but I can justify this particular little hobby as a necessary mental-health precaution. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: GUEST,Barrie Roberts Date: 26 Aug 05 - 04:11 PM Can some medical person who isn't an obsessive smokist tell us whether it is true that nicotine helps to prevent Alzheimer's? Or is that just 'folklore' promoted by the tobacco industry? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 26 Aug 05 - 08:31 PM Latest research seems to suggest that it's likely not true, though it's far from clear - Nicotine Won't Slow Alzheimer's But in any case, any reesearch the other way has been about nicotine, not smoking. Smoking is the most unsocial and unhealthy way of taking nicotine. Snuff is much better, and isn't affecteed by "no smoking" signs and so forth either. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: bobad Date: 26 Aug 05 - 08:34 PM McG of H Yer links have me going around in circles. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 26 Aug 05 - 09:28 PM I thought I had lost my marbles, but when emptying out my deceased mother's house a few years ago, I found a whole big bag of them. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Ed T Date: 03 Feb 09 - 08:50 PM An old thread, but some new research on Alzheimer's: http://www.montrealgazette.com/Health/Insulin+protects+brain+from+Alzheimer+study/1246306/story.html |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Ebbie Date: 04 Feb 09 - 03:05 AM I didn't see this thread before. Thanks, Ed T. I agree with Jeri when she said: "Maybe it's just me, but daydreaming and brain inactivity seem mutually exclusive! Creativity and those rich details in essays come from imagination, and imagination is what daydreaming's all about." Daydreaming? I think productive daydreaming is a demanding activity. How about people who make a career out of formulating a story? Authors are not notably prone to Alzheimers, so far as I know. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: freda underhill Date: 04 Feb 09 - 06:23 AM from world wide words .. re losing your marbles - The origin must surely come from the boys' game of marbles, which was very common at the time. To play was always to run the risk of losing all one's marbles and the result might easily be anger, frustration, and despair. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: bubblyrat Date: 04 Feb 09 - 06:26 AM Sir Terry Pratchett,internationally -known writer of children's books,is currently suffering from Alzheimer's Disease,and,I believe (I may be wrong) that even-more-famous Children's Books author Roald Dahl may have been similarly affected.There are doubtless other examples in the literary (and musical) fields, sadly. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: bubblyrat Date: 04 Feb 09 - 06:28 AM And the Greeks were VERY angry, frustrated,and despairing when Lord Elgin stole THEIR marbles !! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: wysiwyg Date: 04 Feb 09 - 06:43 AM Light therapy 'can slow dementia' Dementia could be slowed significantly by treatments which reset the body's natural clock, researchers have said. The Dutch team used brighter daytime lighting - with or without the drug melatonin - to improve patients' sleep, mood and cut aggressive behaviour. It concludes that these can slow deterioration by 5% - which a UK specialist said meant patients living in their own homes for months longer. The study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The disruption to the body's circadian rhythm - the natural cycle that governs sleep and wakefulness - can be one of the most difficult of dementia symptoms for carers to cope with. It can mean that people with the illness can be asleep during the day, but fully awake for periods during the night. Other studies have suggested that the use of bright room lighting and melatonin can help adjust the "clock", and the researchers from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in Amsterdam managed to recruit 189 care home residents to take part in an unique trial. Six of the care homes taking part had lighting installed, and this was turned on between 9am and 6pm every day. Some of the patients, most of whom had some form of dementia, received melatonin, a naturally-occurring hormone, and their progress was then monitored for at least the next year. Those who had melatonin, but no extra lighting, had better sleep patterns, but tended to be more withdrawn and have a worse mood. However, patients having melatonin and bright light together managed to avoid these mood problems. Even having the light without melatonin slowed "cognitive deterioration" by 5% compared with those homes which did not install brighter lighting, and depressive symptoms fell by 19%. 'Spectacular' The study authors said that care homes should consider introducing the lights for their residents with dementia. Dr Michael Hastings, from the Medical Research Council Laboratory for Molecular Biology in Cambridge, and himself a researcher into circadian rhythms and Alzheimer's disease, said the study results were "spectacular". "Although 5% may not sound like a huge amount, it compares well with treatments such as Aricept designed to slow the progression of the illness. "Over the course of Alzheimer's, it could represent six months, and you have to remember that the light therapy is completely non-invasive, and melatonin is a very gentle drug." He said that sleep disturbances were often the "final straw" for relatives trying to cope for people with dementia. "You can have a situation where someone is asleep for part of the day, then at 3am will be awake, wandering around the house, turning the gas on. Relatives can manage quite a few of the symptoms of mild or moderate dementia, but this can be too much. "It's a crunch issue, and if someone could be kept at home for an extra six months, rather than placed in a care home, there are huge personal and social benefits." He added that since circadian rhythm disruption was a feature of other neurological diseases, such as Huntington's and Parkinson's, there might also be an application for the therapy elsewhere. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/7445606.stm Published: 2008/06/10 23:05:35 GMT © BBC MMIX |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Trevor Date: 04 Feb 09 - 09:30 AM My Dad has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. He has always been active, fit, strong, funny, intelligent, full of ideas, enthusiastic, he always sleeps like a log and eats well. Over the last couple of years his memory has deteriorated, and in the last six months his speech has become unintelligible, he chokes on his food and he's lost the use of his right hand. This vile misfire in his brain circuits has changed him, almost beyond recognition and the relationship between him and my Mom has completely reversed in terms of who looks after who. I don't even know why I'm writing all of this down other than the fact that this si the first time I've really been able to articulate what I'm seeing. I suppose I'm thinking that, whilst all of the above is useful information and may help some people, I guess if it's going to get you, it will. Incidentally, I'm hoping to go on a trek later this year to try and raise funds for the Alzheimer's Society. Anybody interested in supporting, please p-mail me. Sorry for being a bit self-indulgent. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Ebbie Date: 04 Feb 09 - 09:56 AM Nothing self-indulgent about it, Trevor. Good god. It must be a most painful process to be involved in. A week or two ago I watched a documentary from the daughters who are going through the same thing with their mother. One of the daughters said, We never got to say goodbye. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: maire-aine Date: 04 Feb 09 - 09:59 AM So sorry to hear about you Dad's situation, Trevor. My Mother suffered from Alz. for the last 5 years of her life, although she was 87 by the time symptoms started. I found that the more I talked openly about it, the more I found that other folks were going through the same thing. Don't hold it in. And don't try to "do it all". Make sure that your Mother gets plenty of help, and see that she maintains her own interests and identity. Example: if she plays cards every Tuesday night, make sure somebody is available to stay with Dad, so she gets out with her pals. Maryanne |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: VirginiaTam Date: 05 Feb 09 - 07:51 AM Sir Terry Pratchett,internationally -known writer of children's books Children's books????? Maybe so... All I know is they get me off safely to sleep nearly every night since my daughter passed away. Thank you Mr. Pratchett. I watched the show last night. The Greek chorus was inspired. The idea that he is going to make the disease regret catching him, wonderful. And that he would gnaw at a dead mole's arse if he thought it would help shows what lengths he is willing go to stop/slow the progression of the disease. More power to him. My Dad's sister died in her late 40's after couple of years struggle of Alzheimer. My maternal grandmother diagnosed in her mid 80's. She died 9complications from broken hip) at 88, not knowing who some of her children were, but still able to feed and toilet herself. I have a colleague/friend who has serious autoimmune conditions who was (until very recently) the carer for her partner. He had a very rapidly advancing variant of the disease. Within a year of his diagnoses he had to be placed in residential care. They are in their 50's. I agree with Jeri... daydreaming = active imagination = active brain. That fellow sufferer interviewed by Pratchett was a mathematician. Now he cannot read. Would he have ever had an idle brain? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: bobad Date: 05 Feb 09 - 08:28 AM A recent finding of a possible connection between Herpes Simlpex virus, which causes cold sores, if proven, would provide the hope for a possible treatment. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081207134109.htm |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: bobad Date: 24 May 14 - 08:42 PM Trial Drug Reverses Alzheimer's Disease in Mice |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: GUEST,Eliza Date: 25 May 14 - 04:42 AM My old dad suffered terribly from cold sores, but his mind was as sharp as a needle until he died. My mum on the other hand, never had a cold sore in her life but sadly suffered dementia during her last five years. Of the two, my mother had the more active mind. She was creative and witty. My father was much more prosaic. Regarding daylight hours, there are just as many dementia sufferers in Africa as elsewhere. Elderly African Alzheimer's victims however are cared for among their families devotedly and are never put in a 'care home'. I have no scientific basis for saying this, but I reckon it's got nothing to do with how you use your brain during your lifetime. I suspect it's biochemical or physical in origin. And that no amount of cryptic crosswords, activity physical or mental will make the slightest bit of difference to one's chances of developing it. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Musket Date: 25 May 14 - 06:16 AM Having a close relative in a nursing home with Alzheimer's, I do take an interest in this subject. Sadly, the more I try to learn, the less far I seem to be in understanding it. Eliza mentions an African model of family care, and most countries where social mobility isn't as apparent as many Western countries has a reputation for this care model. Sorry to disagree with Eliza, but I am a sponsor of a series of care homes for elderly people with dementia in Malawi. My son's in laws manage a series of care homes in South Africa. You see, Western communities found that pushing your relatives on the state or paying without having to provide started here years ago. The rest of the works is still catching up, but they are getting there. You can't point at a rather populous continent with much lower life expectancy than here and make sweeping comparisons. Dementia is an umbrella term and as the brain cells stop regenerating at the same rate, we all suffer from "what did I come into this room for?" Alzheimer's however is a rather specific disease that is recognisable from neuroscans as well as from psychiatric diagnosis, hence some of the medicines that slow it's progress having a medium term positive effect. The many studies concerning keeping your brain exercised and challenged cover many forms of organic dementia, including the rather common Alzheimer's. Whilst it is biological, the triggers can be delayed. However, it's delay is relative to your susceptibility. My in law relation has gone downhill fast yet she is only in her sixties and taught Latin and Ancient Greek, being a published scholar, so her mental stimulus over her life to date has been rather good. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: GUEST,Eliza Date: 25 May 14 - 06:33 AM Interesting, Musket. I wonder if the lack of family dementia care in Malawi and S Africa has anything to do with the deaths from AIDS of the younger family members, leaving the elderly 'Grandmothers' without support? In W Africa, I have seen in Senegal, Ghana, Gambia etc numerous elderly folk tenderly looked after by all the rest of the family, and indeed the whole village, as the elderly sit outside under a tree all day and are under the aegis of everyone. It's a sort of 'sacred duty' there. My husband confirms that in Ivory Coast and Mali (his ancestral region) too, no-one would dream of putting a dementia sufferer (or anyone for that matter) in a care home. First of all, they couldn't afford it if there were any available, and secondly even if it were possible, it would incur condemnation by the whole community for doing such a thing. Maybe in S Africa for example, as you suggest, modern ways and the White Man's Culture have influenced attitudes. I've often seriously considered selling up and moving out to Cote d'Ivoire, as old people there have such a lovely time, but my husband is horrified at the thought, as he loves UK. Also, the myriad nasty diseases available would probably kill me in a few weeks! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: GUEST,Musket Date: 26 May 14 - 04:02 AM I'm not defending Western methods of dealing with age. Having been involved in inspecting care and nursing homes in the past, it is no testament to our attitude to old age and infirmity. I was asked recently why so many dementia sufferers are sectioned under The Mental Health Act rather than the clinically more appropriate deprivation of liberty safeguards under The Mental Capacity Act. My answer was that it is wrong and needs addressing but at the same time, doctors apply it in response to relatives turning up getting their "loved ones" to sign legal documents. I personally have removed a person from a ward to the waiting police officers in the corridor. The overall answer regarding caring by family is, as I said earlier one of social mobility. Generations under the same roof just doesn't happen so much here as in some other cultures. My Malawi interest stems from a slightly different cultural issue. Yes, more old people are with their families but no, those with no families aren't invited in. It stems from Mrs Musket's sponsorship of medical students there and our finding a gap in care when we visited the medical school and went out seeing care delivered. The South African model is, of course, a British model. What I like about this organisation is black and white together in the same care environment. It still isn't widespread and takes time. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: GUEST,Eliza Date: 26 May 14 - 04:17 AM There's a wealthy quarter in Abidjan where many Europeans live, mostly French, working in administration of businesses etc. I must ask my husband if he knows whether they use care homes for their elderly. I should imagine though that they repatriate after retirement. It just isn't possible to care for one's elderly relative/s here in UK if the house is empty during the day. Most people would be at work, and an Alzheimer's sufferer would be unsafe and unhappy alone for 8 hours or more. It's all rather depressing. I must try to do my usual 4 pages of puzzles in the Daily Mail twice as fast, in order to stave off the inevitabe! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Ebbie Date: 26 May 14 - 02:02 PM Here in Juneau, Alaska, we have 'day care' for the elderly. I have no idea of how much it costs, how affordable it is. I have played music for them and it appears a pleasant place to be. I have a musician friend who suffered a brain aneurysm about 10 years ago in his middle 50s. He survived it but it did a number on his short term memory. Even today he not only can't tell you what he had for dinner but he can't be sure if he had dinner. Last week his wife was informed after tests that he appears to have the onset of dementia, probably Alzheimer's. Possibly he would have developed it anyway, but it feels likely his chronic condition has something to do with it. It is so sad. We are lucky to have had him this long- he is still the sweet guy he always was, he just kind of lost the wry edge he used to have - this diagnosis just adds insult to injury. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Janie Date: 26 May 14 - 05:35 PM It is generally not very affordable, Ebbie. Not covered by insurance or Medicare. There is nothing romantic about caring for people with dementia at home vs assisted living or a nursing home. Life circumstances, communities, social resources, families and locations of family members, family dynamics, etc, are more highly variable than one might imagine. Also more challenging when care occurs at home and within a "supportive" community than one might suppose. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Janie Date: 26 May 14 - 06:06 PM Please don't interpret the above as advocating nursing home or assisted living care over home care. Hard choices and limited resources, ( most of the time) regardless, and each family or individual situation is different. Family dynamics around such issues are often very complex and conflictual to boot. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: billybob Date: 26 May 14 - 06:13 PM Just posted to the Rainbow thread, maybe have a look? just saying? Wendy x |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: GUEST,Eliza Date: 27 May 14 - 03:27 AM The trouble with home care is that the sufferer may become violent. I know three elderly ladies, two in our village and one in my last village, who valiantly tried to look after their husbands (all with Alzheimer's) at home. All three were eventually attacked and in actual danger. One was thrown down the stairs and came to Bingo with two black eyes. There was of course no alternative to putting their menfolk in a care home, but all three were very sad about it and felt they'd failed in some way. So distressing. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Musket Date: 27 May 14 - 03:30 AM Absolutely Janie. The variables of appropriate care, care available and mix of care should be considered for each and every person. The relative I mentioned knew they were diagnosed, and they were diagnosed early. Whilst she still had capacity, she decided she was concerned about living alone and wished to move to a care home. She chose the care home herself , months before needing it, and to begin with had periods of short term living there, as when she was at home, she didn't remember to take her medication some days, the cat went from very thin to very fat and back again, (ask any community based health professional, it is a well known sign to look for,) and a period in care improved her general well being. Eventually, she decided to move in full time. Not every story is as easy as that one and my short but informative time regulating care and nursing homes gave me the impetus to shout very loudly about integrated care. The real person behind Musket is in a position to influence how we try to care for people within health and social care, and this is very much a "work" area for me. Highlighting the prevalence of dementia is an important step. Looking for ways of fending off the rate of decline is a priority, but we are where we are and we need to look after those suffering better than we do. All countries and all systems of delivering care. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: GUEST,Eliza Date: 27 May 14 - 03:40 AM A near neighbour is coping with a husband who at 58 has early-onset dementia. (Don't know if it's Alzheimer's or not) He's a big strapping chap and appears to be very difficult to handle. Luckily she's found daycare for him, so she can continue to go to work. Another neighbour, bless him, takes the man with him for an hour's walk every morning at 7am. This gives the wife time to get ready for work. But she told me recently he wanders about half the night and she doesn't sleep much. We're all worried about her as he shouts and pushes her around. I think it will end in a 24hr care home. He was once in the Army I believe, so perhaps they can offer care in one of their homes. Dementia (of various sorts) is so prevalent; lets hope something can be discovered that will either stave it off, or prevent it altogether. I certainly wouldn't want my husband to have to cope with me in that state. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: GUEST Date: 26 Oct 15 - 07:06 PM Different Brain Regions are Infected with Fungi in Alzheimer's Disease Abstract The possibility that Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a microbial aetiology has been proposed by several researchers. Here, we provide evidence that tissue from the central nervous system (CNS) of AD patients contain fungal cells and hyphae. Fungal material can be detected both intra- and extracellularly using specific antibodies against several fungi. Different brain regions including external frontal cortex, cerebellar hemisphere, entorhinal cortex/hippocampus and choroid plexus contain fungal material, which is absent in brain tissue from control individuals. Analysis of brain sections from ten additional AD patients reveals that all are infected with fungi. Fungal infection is also observed in blood vessels, which may explain the vascular pathology frequently detected in AD patients. Sequencing of fungal DNA extracted from frozen CNS samples identifies several fungal species. Collectively, our findings provide compelling evidence for the existence of fungal infection in the CNS from AD patients, but not in control individuals. Nature |
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Subject: RE: BS: Alzheimer's Information - brain health From: Mr Red Date: 26 Oct 15 - 08:00 PM Interesting. I read something alluding to bacon containing choline which reduced the probability of Altzheimers. The Wiki article hints to its roll in neurotransmitter development, and drinking a lot of alcohol can cause choline deficiency. Which reminds me, I have come across a condition that alcoholics suffer which was described as "Alcohol dementia" - and I have seen the results, almost certainly, in people. |
