Diet and Mental Health
CNN Health publishes a piece on the benefits of a diet low in meat and dairy, and high in fruits, grains, fish, and vegetables. In addition to many physical benefits, a “Mediterranean” style diet can help prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Scarmeas' previous research has shown that the Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Looking at 2,250 individuals from the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project, researchers found a 40 percent lower risk among those who stuck to this diet, scientists reported in the Annals of Neurology in 2006. The people involved in the brain infarcts study are a subset of that original group.
As many as 2.4 million to 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, according to the National Institute on Aging. Between 1 and 4 percent of people over the age of 65 have vascular dementia, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Other studies have suggested that this food regimen may help in preventing second heart attacks, lowering cancer risk and stopping the need for diabetes drugs in patients with type 2 diabetes.
The new study "gives you better evidence than ever that this is actually protective, and protective against the development of dementia," Cole said.
The risk factors for vascular disease overlap with those of Alzheimer's disease, he said. These include high blood pressure, high-fat diets, type 2 diabetes and low folate intake. People who have both Alzheimer's and vascular disease -- a condition called mixed dementia -- have a more rapid progression of Alzheimer's disease, Cole said.
Alzcare in Texas. Caring help for Alzheimer’s patients in home settings.
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The Importance of Thyroid Testing
Bob DeMarco at “Alzheimer’s Reading Room” writes an article showing how important it is to get the thyroid tested. Many of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s are also symptoms of “Hypothyroidism”, a slow thyroid.
"Get your thyroid tested. Nearly one in five people over the age of sixty has some degree of hypothyroidism, meaning a sluggish thyroid. The symptoms include forgetfulness, weight gain, depression, dry skin, intolerance to cold, muscle aches, and fatigue. People who are hypothyroid feel as though they have mild Alzheimer's and depression all mixed into one bad day."
My mother had five of the seven symptoms listed above.
I took out my doctor's notebook. The notebook I use to keep track of everything that goes on with my mother from day to day. The headaches, her temperature, complaints, attitude -- I call this part the diary. I made a note in the doctor's section to bring up hypothyroidism to our personal care physician. I did just that at the end of our next doctor's appointment.
Dr. Chiriboga was wonderful. He didn't give me the doctor look and talk, "what you read a book and now you are a doctor." He didn't act like I was questioning his capability. He listened and said, "lets check her thyroid". Blood test.
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.
| | | | | Virtual Dementia Tour
Every wondered what it would be like to go through a day with significant dementia? Second Wind Dreams has created a virtual dementia tour that many health professionals and Alzheimer’s care givers are experiencing.
AlzCare – Alzheimer’s treatment in Texas in small, home environments.
| | | | | Exploitation in Adult Homes
There has been an explosion of adult care centers for various adult conditions including Alzheimer’s Disease. Many of these have sprung up without regulations and in areas that do not require careful monitoring. in Washington State, homeowners are able to let out bedrooms for the care of infirmed adults. This has led to numerous abuses.
Inside the state's 2,843 adult homes, thousands of vulnerable adults have been exploited by profiteers or harmed by amateur caregivers, an investigation by The Seattle Times has found.
The [Seattle] Times uncovered accounts of elderly victims who were imprisoned in their rooms, roped into their beds at night, strapped to chairs during the day so they wouldn't wander off, drugged into submission or left without proper medical treatment for weeks.
The lesson is obvious. When seeking care for adults with Alzheimer’s Disease, make sure you ONLY deal with licensed homes and facilities.
Read more at the Seattle Times.
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.
| | | | | Alzheimer's Pandemic Looming
Caroline Richter, a columnist for the Fort Worth Star Telegram asks if Alzheimer’s Disease might rightly be considered a pandemic.
A pandemic is defined by Webster's as "an epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region; for instance a continent, or even worldwide." H1N1 was described as a looming crisis of epic proportions that would forever alter life as we know it.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that of November 2009, 23,000 of the reported H1N1 cases that required hospitalization occurred in patients 65 or older.
The CDC count of H1N1-related deaths in the over-65 group for the same period was 1,360 for the entire year.
In comparison, every hour of every day brings a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, or dementia, to 40 U.S. citizens, 980 per day and 360,000 per year. I believe we are experiencing an Alzheimer's pandemic.
Read more at the Fort Worth Star Telegram
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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