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Increased Risk
A twelve year study through John Hopkins University has concluded that wives or husbands who care for a spouse with dementia are approximately six times more likely to develop the disease themselves. This factor is said to be on par with the effect of having susceptible genes.
This increased risk is comparable to the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease associated with a well-studied gene variant known as APOE ?4, the researchers report. The findings held up even when the researchers accounted for other factors that might influence the risk of developing dementia, such as socioeconomic status.
Norton says the long-term nature of the new research makes the results different from earlier “snapshot” studies showing memory loss in spousal caregivers. “We know that the declines in memory we saw were real and persistent, not just a point in time where they weren’t performing well on tests,” she says.
A strength of the Cache County Study, Rabins notes, is the findings are highly representative of the community since the vast majority of residents age 65 or older are participating in ongoing research. Earlier studies have often relied on results from patients of memory centers and their caregivers, a sample that might not typify the community at large.
Rabins, Norton, and their colleagues speculate that the stress of caregiving might be responsible for the increased dementia risk for spouses, although more research is need to identify what that mechanism might be. If their hunch is correct, Rabins says, doctors who treat dementia patients should pay more attention to efforts to decrease stress for spousal caregivers.
“Caregiving has positive aspects, as well as negative ones. If we can boost the positive aspects and reduce the negative ones, we may be able to reduce a caregiver’s risk of developing dementia,” Rabins says.
Researchers have long been interested in how taking care of a spouse with dementia affects caregivers. Most previous studies have focused on the emotional distress caretakers often experience, rather than how their cognitive abilities might be affected.
Read more at Alzheimer’s Reading Room
Alzcare in Texas. Caring help for Alzheimer’s patients in home settings.
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The Mind Games of Alzheimer’s
A very familiar story, of a daughter and her Father’s struggle with Alzheimer’s. Kathy Tyrer writes about her experiences visiting her Father throughout the progression of his condition, and on saying goodbye. This story touches on the question, “Who are we without our memory?”.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked me. He was about 84 years old and interested in a date. Sitting before him with my young son on my lap, I gave him the bad news: "No, but I have a husband and two kids. And I am your daughter, Dad."
My father's confusion was the consequence of his battle with Alzheimer's disease. One day he recognized me, the next, maybe not. Though my brain could process that, my heart could not. No matter how realistic I tried to be about my father's decline and our awkward exchanges, I found it impossible to accept that he really didn't know me.
Admitting to myself that we had lost our father-daughter connection even though he would be physically in my life for years to come was playing tricks with my own, still-intact brain.
"Does he still know who you are?" was the first question friends asked when they inquired about Dad. I explained that some days he would proudly introduce me around the nursing home: "This is my daughter, Kathy." Other days it seemed I was just a familiar face that he couldn't quite place. "Don't you live near the ocean?" he would ask, struggling for the pieces of memory that still floated through his brain.
My husband tried to reason with me. "You know that's not your dad anymore," he would say. But there were comforting reminders of my old dad. There were his laugh and traces of his old sense of humor. There was the familiar, confiding tone to his voice, even when he could barely form words.
His spirit would come, then float away.
Read More at Los Angeles Times: Health
Alzcare in New Braunfels. Caring treatment for Alzheimer’s patients in Texas in comfortable, home settings.
| | | | | Rallying the Forces
Max Wallack writes on the tendency for Alzheimer’s patients to present a overtly “normal” social image towards those in contact with them. Often, patients work very hard to maintain a certain image, to hide the symptoms of the disease. Alzheimer’s is a memory problem, not necessarily a social problem until late stages, patients often realize that they are having serious problems, and put up a social front to hide this fact. This can be quite exhausting, and takes it’s toll.
Great Grams would be extremely paranoid when she knew she was going to her doctor. Of course, she was afraid we were going to "put her away" (nursing home), so her behavior would be horrible. Once at the doctor's office, she could hold an intelligent conversation. She appeared pleasant. If he asked questions she didn't know, she could even make excuses. For example, "I never really paid attention to the name of this hospital". Great Grams even tried to change the subject, like pointing out the doctor's pictures of his family and telling him how cute his kids were.
When my aunt and uncle called on the phone, Great Grams talked completely normally. Anyone who didn't understand her condition could easily conclude there was nothing wrong with her. Sometimes they assume all is going very well based on these conversations.
Often when we went to visit someone, Great Grams held normal conversations, way into her illness. I remember, on one of her later hospitalizations, hearing her tell an aide how beautiful she was and how pretty her sweater was -- then telling us that the aide was a horrible person plotting against her.
For much of her time in Alzheimer's, Great Grams could travel and be fine on a trip. However, total breakdowns seemed to happen when we returned home. You would think that returning to the familiar would have made things better, but they always made things worse. Understanding and accepting Alzheimer's behavior is very difficult. Even when you see it over and over.
I asked a doctor about this once, and he answered that sometimes Alzheimer's patients can "rally the forces", meaning they can work exhaustively at trying to "keep up" and interact. This can continue until late stages of the disease. Alzheimer's patients are somehow successful at continuing to do this. HOWEVER, this exertion of attention is SO EXHAUSTING to Alzheimer’s patients, that they basically are having a breakdown afterwards.
Read More at Alzheimer’s Reading Room
AlzCare in Texas. Quality Alzheimer’s treatment in a home setting. San Antonio, New Braunfels, San Marcos, Waco, Fredericksburg, Victoria.
| | | | | CNN on Supplements
CNN reports on the more widely acclaimed “mental supplements”. Including fish oil, gingko biloba, and vitamin e. All of these supplements are proven to be safe, but do they actually help delay or prevent cognitive decline? CNN publishes recent studies, professional opinion, and medicinal theory. The overall verdict is that there is no real evidence that any of these supplements/vitamins should be taken in order to prevent mental decline.
Gingko biloba is a popular botanical supplement that comes from one of the oldest living tree species. Its leaves are thought to have antioxidant properties. Research has suggested that this herbal medicine improves blood flow to the brain and protects nerve cells, and thus may be used to boost memory in people with dementia.
But a study of more than 3,000 people, followed for six years, could not find any effect of delaying or preventing Alzheimer's disease or improving memory. The latest published results were in the Journal of the American Medical Association in December.
"I do not believe that data suggest it has a role to play in prevention," senior author Dr. Steven DeKosky, dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, said in an e-mail.
The research did show, however, that the supplement is safe. It is also relatively inexpensive, "so if people insist on taking it, I do not object," DeKosky said.
The prevention trial has ended, but the group is still working on the mounds of data collected from participants, ages 72 to 96, DeKosky said.
They are also going to look at whether the presence or absence of amyloid plaques, a marker of Alzheimer's in the brain, predicts participants' cognitive status over the next five years. A smaller portion of people in the study will take part in a brain imaging study to examine what portion of normal 85-year-olds have these amyloid plaques.
Alzcare in New Braunfels. Quality Alzheimer's Care Facilities in Texas.
| | | | | The Diagnosis
The story of Carol and Bob Blackwell, and Mr. Blackwell’s sudden diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Their confusion, heartbreak, and coming to grips with reality is told from the perspective of Carol Blackwell and also written by her. Their story is very encouraging, as they have found themselves medical and emotional support in the Alzheimer’s community.
"Dr. Blackwell, the test results are back. You did very poorly on them—not at all what would be expected from someone with your education. You have dementia and it is probably Alzheimer’s, based on your family history. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s.
We will try some medicine, but it may or may not work. You won’t be able to work anymore…maybe you could volunteer somewhere. You should go home and put your affairs in order. Here is a sheet on the Alzheimer’s Association. You may want to call them. You might want to consider a clinical trial. We will see you in 6 months."Our world just ended. That was my first thought on hearing my husband’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.
It really wasn’t a surprise, as the Drs had ruled out everything else through a variety of tests. It was still a shock. How could he have Alzheimer’s? He was barely 64. His mother was 77 when she was diagnosed. How could this be happening?
We rode home in silence, both of us trying to decide how to tell our children and what to do next.
Read More at Alzheimer’s Reading Room
AlzCare in Texas. Compassionate treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease in comfortable, home settings. Alzcare facilities are located near San Antonio and in New Braunfels, Waco, Victoria, and San Marcos.
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