Normal Memory Loss

Not all memory loss is Alzheimer's or a related dementia. Let's repeat that for emphasis. Not all memory loss is Alzheimer's or a related dementia. With aging comes a degree of memory loss that is a normal, natural consequence of growing older. A recent study done by Dr. Adam Gazzaley, a neurologist at the University of California at San Francisco, shows the differences in brain activity between people 20-30 years old vs people 60-80 years old.

Dr. Gazzaley’s study looked at a type of memory called working memory, which is considered a precious and finite resource that people tap into when they are engaged in a task, like doing a work project or having a conversation. The study did not look at the effects of multitasking on long-term memory. However, Dr. Gazzaley said there was a relationship between people’s ability to develop long-term memories and the amount of time they spend focused on a particular experience. In other words, if interruptions make it difficult for older people to remember what they were doing in the short run, it also could hurt their ability to record those experiences over the long run, he said.

But Dr. Gazzaley said the study sheds more light on the reasons that short-term memories seem suddenly to go empty, as when someone stands in front the refrigerator, forgetting what it is he went to get.

“Events such as these increase in frequency as we get older — the classic senior moment. We now understand that this is not necessarily a memory problem per se, but often the result of an interaction between attention and memory,” he said. “For example, a phone call or text that interrupts us on the way to the refrigerator will negatively impact our ability to remember what we were going to the refrigerator to get in the first place.”

So the next time you experience one of these "senior moments", relax and realize that it may very well be a normal, expected reaction to our hectic and cluttered lifestyle!

Overcoming Bathing Issues

Getting a dementia patent to bathe can be one of life's biggest challenges. This article by Carole Larkin gives a ton of helpful tips and techniques. This is a great one:

If there is no other way to get them to bathe. Ask their doctor to write on a prescription pad something like this: “Mr. So-and-so needs to bathe two times a week for infection control”. Make several copies of the prescription (in case they tear it up). Show the prescription to them and say “Doctor’s orders”.

Train Your Brain

The Alzheimer's Association has long endorsed our "Maintain Your Brain" program which stresses using your brain to keep it active and healthy. This study done by Institut Universitaire de Geriatrie de Montreal illustrates the reasons why.

The hypothesis behind the research was that certain cells traditionally involved in other brain processes could, through a simple memory-training programme, temporarily take over since they themselves are not yet affected.

The above has been accepted for many years, the exciting part of this study is seeing it displayed through Magnetic resonance imaging.Before the memory training, magnetic resonance imaging in both the healthy elderly subjects and those with MCI showed activation in areas of the brain traditionally associated with memory.

As expected, decreased activation was observed in subjects with MCI. After training, brain areas in elderly subjects with MCI showed increased activation in areas typically associated with memory, but also in new areas of the brain usually associated with language processing, spatial and object memory and skill learning. “Analysis of brain activity during encoding as measured before and after the training program, indicates that increased post-training activation in the right inferior parietal gyrus is associated with post-intervention improvement. The healthy area of the brain has taken over for the area that is compromised,” said Belleville.

Diane O'Connor and Lisa Teglas, both Program Coordindators for our Northern Region, are available to give the "Maintain Your Brain" presentation to groups upon request. Contact your closest office to schedule a date, phone numbers are below the header.

2011 Facts and Figures Video

Please share this video with your friends and family, re-post on Facebook, your personal blog, Twitter, wherever you can share. People need to know!

Senate Appropriation Subcommittee Meeting March 16

Pegg Thomas, from our Alpena office, will be testifying before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee in Lansing on Wednesday, March 16th. She will be appealing to the Senators for reinstatement of funding for the Greater Michigan Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

All state funding was cut in 2009. But today is a new day! Our new governor wants "value for dollar" spending and that's what we plan to demonstrate to the Senators on Wednesday. Here is a snippet from Pegg's testmony:

According to data release this year, in Michigan there are 180,000 people with dementia. If even 1% of them per year, 1,800 people, are able to live an extra 3 months at home due to our services, it will save the State of Michigan $8,497,764 in nursing home Medicaid payments alone. The state could reinstate our past support of $600,000 yearly and still save $7,897,764 per year.

You can help by contacting your local Senator and asking that he look at the facts and make the determination to support the Greater Michigan Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

District 35 - Darwin Booher
District 36 - John Moolenaar
District 37 - Howard Walker

We currently have no state or federal funding. Our offices survive on the generosity of the people of Northern Michigan, some grants and our fundraising events. Given the state of the economy here in Michigan, however, it hasn't been enough. We are facing a dire shortfall at the end of our fiscal year on June 30, 2011. Nobody wants to cut services, but we face that possibility without a change from Lansing. Please make that contact now.

Brain Awareness Week - March 14-20, 2011

What is Brain Awareness Week and why should we care about it? Started in 1996 by The Dana Alliance, Brain Awareness Week focuses international attention on the field of neuroscience and offers opportunities for teachers and students to engage in fun educational activities. The goals include:

* Inspire the next generation of scientists

* Contribute to general understanding of basic brain functions

* Improve public health by expanding awareness of neurological disorders

* Make the connection between increased support for biomedical research and benefits to public health

All of these goals fall in line with our vision for a world without Alzheimer's. Today's student may be tomorrow's scientist who unlocks the mystery of the disease.

Do something good for your brain during the week. Take a walk (exercise), visit with friends (be social), play a game (stimulate your mind), and try one of the healthy recipes (eat healthy foods) found here on our blog.

Aging Boomers

The Baby Boomers started turning 65 as of January 1st this year at the incredible rate of 10,000 per day. We know that 1 in 8 persons (roughly 13%) age 65 and older will develop Alzhimer's. Statistically, that means 1,300 of the 10,000 daily Boomers reaching 65 will develop the disease.


What can we do to be ready for the staggering numbers ahead? Personally we can take better care of our own overall health. Proper diet, exercise, and living a socially active life are proven methods to staying healthy longer


Locally we can support Walk to End Alzheimer's and keep our services available, most free of charge, to the people who need them. The more education, counseling, and support we provide to families, the longer they can care for their loved one at home. Nursing facilities are expensive and the decision to admit a loved one is gut-wrenching. Enabling and supporting home caregivers benefits the family as well as the person with dementia.


Nationally we can write to our senators and represenatives and demand that they take this crisis seriously. More money is needed for research. Alzheimer's research is tragically under-funded compared to other diseases.


The power of the Boomers has always been its numbers. It's time to use those numbers in another positive way, by supporting the Walks in Alpena and Traverse City, and by contacting our State Senators, State Representatives, U.S. Senator Carl Levin, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, and our U.S. Congress Representatives. Together we will make a difference.

Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit

Under the Affordable Care Act (the health care reform law), Medicare will now pay for an annual wellness visit, which will include the creation of a personalized prevention plan and detection of possible cognitive impairment. This new benefit began on January 1, 2011.

For more information about who is eligible, what to expect, and how to prepare, visit the Alzheimer's Webpage here.

Meeting with Senator John Moolenaar

Pegg Thomas, Alpena Office Coordinator, had an opportunity to speak with new State Senator John Moolenaar on January 31st while he was in Alpena. Senator Moolenaar represents the counties of Alcona, Alpena, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda and Otsego within our Northern Region. He is the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee.

Money is tight all across the state, including within the government, spending what we have wisely is more important than ever. One wise choice is to support an organization that helps people provide high quality care at home for their loved ones with dementia as long as possible. Senator Moolenaar is willing to listen and we need to reach out to him with our concerns and with our stories.

Please consider e-mailing Senator Moolenaar, or calling him at 517.373.7946, concerning support for the Alzheimer's Association here in Northern Michigan. We currently receive no funding or support from the state since the Healthy Michigan Fund monies were cancelled in 2009.

WVU finds promising treatment for Alzheimer's

There are studies going on in many countries to find better treatments and ultimately "the cure" for Alzheimer's. This one is looking at the disease in a different way. The article in interesting and worth reading. It's too soon to get excited about it, but it's good to know that researchers are thinking outside the box and working dilgently to end Alzheimer's.

Your contributions to the Alzheimer's Association help this work to continue!

New York Times Article

The New York Times published a very good article on keeping a person with dementia happy and content. The article showcases a nursing facility, but many of the suggestions made can easily be adopted for a home environment. A long article, three pages on-line, it's worth the time to read. Here is one excerpt:

For behavior management, Beatitudes plumbs residents’ biographies, soothing one woman, Ruth Ann Clapper, by dabbing on White Shoulders perfume, which her biographical survey indicated she had worn before becoming ill. Food became available constantly, a canny move, Ms. Dougherty said, because people with dementia might be “too distracted” to eat during group mealtimes, and later “be acting out when what they actually need is food.”

Realizing that nutritious, low-salt, low-fat, doctor-recommended foods might actually discourage people from eating, Ms. Alonzo began carrying chocolate in her pocket. “For God’s sake,” Ms. Mullan said, “if you like bacon, you can have bacon here.”

Comforting food improves behavior and mood because it “sends messages they can still understand: ‘it feels good, therefore I must be in a place where I’m loved,’ ” Ms. Dougherty said.

President Obama Signs NAPA

“The Alzheimer’s Association is pleased that a much needed plan will now be put into place to address the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease, currently the sixth-leading cause of death in this country. In fact, among the 10 leading causes of death, it is by far the fastest growing — increasing more than 50 percent from 2000 to 2007,” said Harry Johns, Alzheimer’s Association president and CEO. “Given the devastation experienced by millions of families because of this disease and the staggering economic costs, particularly to Medicare and Medicaid, we must have an effective strategy now. The fact that Alzheimer’s is the only one of the top 10 causes of death without a way to prevent, cure or even slow it underscores the critical need for the swift, aggressive implementation of this legislation."
Read more HERE.

Welcome 2011!

From the Staff and Volunteers

of the Northern Michigan Region
we want to wish you all a

May 2011 be the year we find the cure!

(offices will be closed on Dec 30 & 31)

From the Staff and Volunteers:

Merry Christmas

and Happy New Year

See you in 2011!

(Offices will be closed Dec 24, Dec 27, Dec 30, & Dec 31.)

National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) Update

On December 15, 2010, the National Alzheimer’s Project Act was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives. It is now on the way to the White House for the President’s signature. This is a major victory for the Alzheimer’s Association and, once enacted, NAPA will create a national strategic plan to address and overcome the rapidly escalating crisis of Alzheimer’s.

By 2050 nearly 16 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s, yet there is no national plan to deal with this looming crisis. The National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) would establish an inter-agency advisory council to address the government’s efforts on Alzheimer’s research, care, institutional services, and home- and community-based programs.

Many other countries have developed or are developing plans, the United States is lagging behind these nations: Australia, South Korea, Norway, France, England, Scotland, India, Malta, Cyprus, and Wales.

Fill out this form on-line to urge President Obama to sign this legislation!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The staff and volunteers of the
Northern Michigan Region
would like to wish you a


We are thankful for each and every one of you
who supports our association and enables us to
meet the needs of families in Northern Michigan.
We couldn't do it without YOU!

Welcome New Council Members

Welcome

our new

Northern
Michigan
Regional
Council
Members

Aaron Simon

and
Kelli Sefton

The Northern Michigan Region of the Alzheimer’s Association is pleased and honored to announce two new Regional Council members, Kelli Sefton and Aaron Simon.

Kelli and her family have lived in the Traverse City area for the last eight years; previously they lived in the Alpena area. Both she and her husband Rick own the Traverse City Wendy’s Restaurant on Division and the Wendy’s Restaurant in Petoskey. Kelli is currently serving on the Swingshift and the Stars committee for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Aaron Simon and his family also live in Traverse City. Aaron and his wife Erin are owners of Senior Helpers of Northern Michigan. He is a member of the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce, BASA, and the Traverse Area Association of Realtors Committee on aging in place.

Where Should I Give and Why?

It seems like everyone is asking for your donation dollars this year. And maybe everyone is! Times are hard in Northern Michigan and dollars are fewer and farther between than we've seen in a long time. The reasons for giving, however, have not changed. People are in need all across our great state, our nation, and our world.

We receive many calls at our offices in Alpena and Traverse City asking about how our donation dollars are spent. The short-hand way to describe it is this:

1) All money collected by the local offices is split 70/30 with the National Association. We keep 70% of each dollar right here in Northern Michigan. The remaining money is split 15% and 15% to research and awareness at the national level.

2) All money collected by the National Office is split 30/70 with Northern Michigan receiving 30% to further the work here in our area.

The best way to keep more of your donation dollars in Northern Michigan is to donate through one of our local offices. You can call either office to request a donation envelope at any time. The phone numbers are listed to the right. Thank you, your donations of any amount do make a difference!

A Profile of Older Americans: 2009

The older population (65+) numbered 38.9 million in 2008, an increase of 4.5 million or 13.0% since 1998.

Over one in every eight, or 12.8%, of the population is an older American.

Persons reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 18.6 years.

Older women outnumber older men.

The median income of older persons in 2008 was $25,503 for males and $14,559 for females.

Learn more facts HERE on the Administration on Aging website.

We're on Facebook Now!

Here's quick way to find out what's happening with the Northern Michigan Region. Become a fan of our Facebook page. It's quick, easy and will keep you "in the loop".