BINGO is a fun activity for many people, but especially those in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.  Now, researchers have discovered that BINGO has benefits that go way beyond passing the time: Bingo seems to boost thinking and playing skills, especially among people with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

According to an article on ScienceDaily, as people age, they begin to lose sensitivity to perceive contrasts…and this problem is worse in people with dementia. The researchers tested different types of specially-made bingo cards, and discovered that improving contrast and increasing the size of the cards improved the players’ skills. In fact, increasing contrast in the environment made living easier for the seniors, too.

For example, putting a black sofa in a white room would improve the contrast of the room and make it easier for individuals to move about. Additionally, they found that individuals with dementia actually eat more if they use a white plate and tableware on a dark tablecloth or are served food that contrasts the color of the plate.

These types of simple interventions could help people with dementia remain independent longer, and give them greater enjoyment of life overall.

To read the full article on ScienceDaily, click here:  BINGO!

Alzheimer’s disease makes just about everyone’s short list of aging fears. The disorder robs individuals of their memories…their sense of self…their connection to friends and family. It’s hard on everyone who has to watch their loved one disappear before their eyes.

Now, scientific research published in The Archives of Neurology offers a small—but statistically significant—ray of hope for anyone hoping to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The answer:  Walking!

The scientists studied 201 healthy adults (ages 45 to 88). The participants were tested for genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease, and were given a brain scan to look for signs of amyloid plaques, the abnormal protein deposits that are a characteristic of the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Fifty-six participants tested positive for the APOE-e4 gene, a marker that increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by a factor of 15. None of the participants had signs of Alzheimer’s disease at the beginning of the study. Finally, everyone completed detailed questionnaires about their exercise habits.

According to an article in The New York Times:

The volunteers who reported walking or jogging often — meeting (or, in rare instances, exceeding) the American Heart Association’s exercise recommendation of 30 minutes of moderate or vigorous activity five times a week — had fewer amyloid plaques than the volunteers who reported almost never exercising….

The carriers of the gene who reported walking or jogging for at least 30 minutes five times a week had plaque accumulation similar to that of volunteers who were e4-negative. In essence, the APOE-e4 gene carriers mitigated their inherited risk for developing Alzheimer’s by working out.

So moderate exercise was protective against Alzheimer’s disease…even for people who have an extremely high genetic risk of developing the disease. The scientists have a lot more work to do to figure out why exercise is protective, but for the average person, the take-home lesson is that exercise should become a part of daily health habits for everyone—but especially for those with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease.

“There are so many benefits to exercise,” [Denise Head, an associate professor of psychology at Washington University who led the study] says, “and one may be that it helps the brain” to defend itself against the slow leaking away of memory.

Now that’s science we can get behind!

When an elderly loved one is dealing with Alzheimer’s disease, it’s easy to overlook a medical problem as minor as cataracts. But according to new research reported in ScienceDaily, having improved vision through cataract surgery is linked to improvement in cognitive ability, mood, sleep patterns, and other behaviors in people with mild Alzheimer’s disease.

A neuropsychologist measured mood, depression, behavior, and cognitive abilities one month before cataract surgery, and then again three months after. The results were impressive: Cognitive status–the ability to perceive, understand, and respond appropriately to one’s surroundings–improved in 25% of patients. Depression was also relieved in many patients, and sleep patterns improved. Perhaps best of all, night time behavior problems—the agitation and aggression common among Alzheimer’s patients, a pattern known as “sundowning”—decreased in most patients.

What’s also impressive is that these results were found in patients who had ad average age of 85…that means that these benefits were found even among people who might otherwise be considered “too old” for surgery. What this study suggests is that you are never too old to benefit from cataract surgery…and Alzheimer’s disease should not be considered a barrier.

To read the full article in ScienceDaily, click here:  Mood, Cognition and Sleep Patterns Improve

“]”]A fascinating article in the Montreal Gazette describes how people living in Health Central Park nursing home in Florida have had their brains, mobility, and social lives jump-started by a simple gadget: the iPad. The hope is that the iPad and other digital tablets could become a mainstream treatment device for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

“It came to us as a happy accident,” said Judy Skilton, Health Central Park’s director. “What started out as one resident’s curiosity about … an iPhone turned into something that is helping them spell, track items, make choices and read words. It’s amazing.”

How can the iPad help nursing home residents? Let me count the ways:

1. The iPad’s swipe and touch-screen capabilities makes it accessible to people whose hands have atrophied, or who have disorders such as arthritis or Parkinson’s disease, which can make it difficult or even impossible for the individual to type or even use a mouse.
2. It is small, lightweight, and looks like a piece of paper, which makes it nonthreatening for those who might be unwilling to use a computer.
3. It is small enough to be used by people with even severe mobility problems.
4. It has applications that allow individuals to communicate visually with family members who live far away.
5. It has game apps that test a person’s memory, cognitive skills, and hand-eye coordination.
6. It has iTunes capability, which allows an individual to play familiar music, or to watch television shows in the privacy of one’s room.
7. It has a camera and photo albums, which can allow a resident to take pictures to share with others…and to look at pictures of family functions that they may not be able to attend. In that way, nursing home residents can remain a part of family.
8. It has calendar and timer applications that can remind a person to take medication, or time a particular activity.
9. It can be used to test a person’s functioning and mobility, which help residents and their caregivers understand how they are progressing in terms of daily living skills and general movement abilities.

According to the article:

Recreation-therapy assistant Marian Yandle said the Talking Tom Cat app, which features an animated feline that repeats what it is told, encouraged a 99-year-old resident to drink her fluids.

“She watched the cat drink a cup of milk. Then she took her own cup and drank her fluids. We were very excited,” Yandle said. “She also likes the music app and sings to Shirley Temple’s ‘On the Good Ship Lollipop.’ She knows all the words.”

Something so simple…an animated cat helped an elderly nursing home resident drink her own fluids. That’s as close to a magic as we get in real life!

To read the full article in the Montreal Gazette, click here: iPad helps elderly remember, socialize

Today, September 21, 2011, is World Alzheimer’s Day. Every year on September 21st, Alzheimer associations across the globe unite to recognize World Alzheimer’s Day, and this year is no exception.

World Alzheimer’s Day is a day that unites opinion leaders, people with dementia, their carers and family, medical professionals, researchers and the media from all around the world.

Having a globally coordinated awareness day sends a strong message to governments and policy makers alerting them to the fact that dementia is a serious health issue that will have serious implications for services and health systems around the world as the world’s population grows older. In addition, by focusing on a different message each year, the day can be used to educate and challenge people’s misconceptions about dementia.

Plus, having a special day  provides an opportunity for Alzheimer associations around the world to gain recognition and credibility for the work they do, placing themselves in a stronger position to influence opinion leaders and governments.

The theme of World Alzheimer’s Day for 2011 is “Faces of Dementia.” People with Alzheimer’s disease don’t look “crazy” or “out of their minds.” They look like your next door neighbor…your grandmother…or someone at the grocery store.

Today is a day to pay tribute to those who represent the “Faces of Dementia” in all parts of the world.

For a larger version of the “Faces of Dementia” poster, click here: World Alzheimer’s Day 2011

In Part 1 of this blog, we told you about research that suggested that protective brain chemicals are generated by regular exercise. To read that blog, click here: Possible Alzheimer’s Prevention, Part 1.

Today’s blog is about a study originally published in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment which suggests another possible route to Alzheimer’s disease:  Alcohol.

According to a report in ScienceDaily, moderate social drinking may reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment.

Researchers from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine reviewed previous research dating back to 1977. Moderate drinkers were 23 percent less likely to develop cognitive impairment, dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease. But because of the large number of studies and participants involved (more than 365,000 total study subjects), the researchers were able to get even more specific: Wine is more beneficial than beer. But remember, these results were for moderate drinking.

There was some suggestion that heavy drinking (more than 3 to 5 drinks per day) was associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.

According to the report in ScienceDaily:

“We don’t recommend that nondrinkers start drinking,” [Edward J. Neafsey, PhD., professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics] said. “But moderate drinking — if it is truly moderate — can be beneficial.” Moderate drinking is defined as a maximum of two drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women….

For people who drink responsibly and in moderation, there’s probably no reason to quit. But because of the potential for alcohol to be abused, [the researchers] do not recommend that abstainers begin drinking.

Why does research seem to help prevent cognitive impairment? The researchers don’t really know, but they had a couple of hypotheses. First, it could be a side benefit of the well-know cardiovascular benefits of moderate social drinking–anything that improves blood flow will keep the brain well-fed with oxygen and nutrients. Second, moderate drinking may serve to somehow “toughen” brain cells, a form of “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

Again, the key word is moderation. No one wants injury due to alcohol abuse, but if a glass of wine with dinner improves both the meal and your brain, that sounds like the best of all worlds.

To read the full article in ScienceDaily, click here:  Moderate Drinking May Protect Against Alzheimer’s Disease

To read the abstract for the original journal article, click here:  Moderate Alcohol Consumption and Cognitive Risk

Two studies recently reported in ScienceDaily provide information for people who hope to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The good news:  You don’t need a prescription to take advantage of the two preventive “treatments.”

According to ScienceDaily, an article in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity reports that regular exercise could help prevent brain damage associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Previous research had already documented that exercise after brain injury can help the brain’s own repair mechanisms. This new study shows that exercise before the onset of damage modifies the brain’s chemical environment in such a way that the neurons are protected from severe insults or injury.

“Exercise allows the brain to rapidly produce chemicals that prevent damaging inflammation,” said Professor Jean Harry, who led the study at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the United States. “This could help us develop a therapeutic approach for early intervention in preventing damage to the brain.”

The researchers found that voluntary physical exercise protects neurons in a way that pharmaceutical therapies do not. Future research will try to figure out the exact way exercise is able to exert such an influence on the brain, and then to find a way to mimic that effect in a pill. But any pharmaceutical created from this research will be years or even decades aways.

According to ScienceDaily:

“This elegant series of experiments reveals an alternative pathway by which voluntary physical exercise may protect hippocampal neurons,” said Dr. Ruth Barrientos from the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado. “The study on the role of exercise as a therapeutic intervention will undoubtedly get a workout in the years to come. Perhaps the greatest challenge with this line of research will not be more discoveries of compelling evidence of the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of exercise, but instead, getting humans to exercise voluntarily and regularly.”

Now, you should know that this specific study was done using mice who exercised on a running wheel. I know, I know…some of you are probably asking why you should put on your running shoes based on mouse research. But the mechanisms of action that allowed mouse brains to generate brain-protecting chemicals are very similar to the mechanisms that occur in people. So yes, it is worth tying on your sneakers. Your future self will thank you!

To read the full article in ScienceDaily, click here:  Exercise May Help Prevent Brain Damage Caused by Alzheimer’s Disease

To read the abstract of the original journal article, click here:  Voluntary exercise protects hippocampal neurons from trimethyltin injury

NOTE: To read Part 2 of this article, click here:  Possible Alzheimer’s Prevention, Part 2

Receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease leaves the patient and families feeling helpless and hopeless in the face of a disorder that takes away memories. To many, it feels as though the disease slowly takes away lives. Depression and cognitive decline seem inevitable.

Now, new research by experts at the University of Missouri shows that people with Alzheimer’s who participate in a creative storytelling program have improved communication skills and more positive affect. Translating from medicalese:  Alzheimer’s patients feel happier and socialize more easily.

According to an article in ScienceDaily, the program (called TimeSlips) encourages participants to use their imaginations to create short stories in a group setting. The group is shown a humorous photograph, and they create a fiction about the image (the photo on this page is an example of an actual TimeSlips photograph). This way, the patients are engaged and challenged, but without having to recall facts, the very thing that is difficult (and frustrating) for people with Alzheimer’s.

“TimeSlips provides rich, engaging opportunities for persons with dementia to interact with others while exercising their individual strengths,” said Lorraine Phillips, assistant professor in the Sinclair School of Nursing. “It encourages participants to be actively involved and to experience moments of recognition, creation and celebration. Meaningful activities, such as TimeSlips, promote positive social environments that are central to person-centered care.”

After six weeks of the program, with two one-hour sessions per week, the participants showed better communication, demonstrated by initiating more social conversation and by expressing basic need. They also had more expressions of pleasure, which indicated that the individuals were genuinely happier. Better yet–these positive effects lasted for several weeks after the program ended.

TimeSlips has several qualities that make it an ideal program: It is very inexpensive…requires very little training and few staff members to implement it…and patients don’t need any skills other than the ability to speak, compared with art or music therapies, which require more physical and artistic skills.

Although it may take awhile for TimeSlips to reach every nursing home, this general storytelling idea can be done by any family member for just about any Alzheimer’s patient. All you need are a few funny pictures, a willingness to be creative, and a few spare hours to spend with the one you love.

To read more about the TimeSlips program, and to find a PDF file of sample images, click here: TimeSlips.org

To read the full article in ScienceDaily, click here:  Storytelling Program Improves Lives of People with Alzheimer’s

To read an abstract of the original journal article in Nursing Research, click here: Effects of a Creative Expression Intervention

Palliative care is treatment intended not to heal, but to relieve symptoms so that the patient feels better. Despite the fact that it is an important part of treatment, especially for people with incurable disorders, palliative care is not well understood by most people, including those who need it. For people with a terminal illness, palliative care is also known as “hospice care.” That’s one reason why some people don’t even want to talk about the possibility of palliative care, even though it doesn’t mean that a patient is “giving up” or resigning himself to terminal illness. So I repeat:  Palliative care is about helping people feel better and providing them a better quality of life. It can be provided throughout the course of the disease along with regular medical treatment.

What is even less well known is that palliative care is available for people with dementia. Currently, 72% of palliative care programs provide care to dementia patients; just 15 years ago only 21% provided care to dementia patients. These programs can help relieve pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, eating difficulties, sleep problems, and other symptoms. But according to a study published in the November 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, despite the availability of palliative care, dementia patients are not receiving the services that could help them out. The obstacles to receiving this type of care include inadequate insurance coverage, expired home health benefits, and lack of information about when palliative care is appropriate and how to access those services.

“While it is heartening to see that most of these [hospice and palliative care] programs provide care for patients with dementia, there are many, many more who need this care than are receiving it. Education and policy efforts should focus on communicating with families and providers about palliative care, supporting caregivers who often are frustrated in their efforts to improve quality of life for a loved one with dementia, and reforming reimbursement structures to provide coverage earlier in the disease when patients have high needs but are not hospice eligible,” said study author Alexia M. Torke, M.D., M.S., assistant professor of medicine and geriatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine. [as reported in ScienceDaily]

People with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia have a tough road ahead of them. So do their families. We love the idea that dementia patients are finally getting the kind of care that can make their lives a little easier, but we would like to see this become a standard part of dementia care. Why does it have to be so difficult to get palliative care? Isn’t it a basic human right to have the worst of our suffering relieved as much as possible? We fear that this is another case of agism. The elderly in America are generally treated as though they are disposable, so an elderly person with dementia really has no voice.

It’s sad. But it’s something we, as a society, can change. Studies like this are the first step.

To read the whole ScienceDaily article, click here: ScienceDaily

To read an abstract of the original article, click here: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

To read more about how HensonFuerst Attorneys work to protect the rights of people in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, visit our website: http://www.lawmed.com/

November is set aside to officially recognize a trio of related causes. It is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, National Family Caregiver Month, and Long-Term Care Awareness Month.

As many as 5 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. According to the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services, more than 1 million adults in North Carolina are caring for an older person. And more than 40 percent of NC family caregivers take care of someone with a memory disorder, such as Alzheimer’s disease, which is now the fifth leading cause of death in the United States.

This month, state leaders and communities are working to raise awareness of the tremendous burden the disease takes on the person suffering from the disease, as well as their friends and family members.

In addition, November is a time to recognize that about 70 percent of people over age 65 will require some long-term care services at some point in their lives. Because Medicare and private health insurance don’t pay for much of long-term care, it’s important to plan ahead for possible future care needs.

To find out more about these special November recognition topics, check out these resources:

North Carolina’s Project C.A.R.E. (Caregiver Alternatives to Running on Empty)

North Carolina Publications and Resources for Alzheimer’s Disease

North Carolina Family Caregiver Month Events

the Presidential Proclamation of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month

National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information