Genetics of Alzheimer's Video

Dental Hygiene and Dementia

In the past 30 years the number of nursing-home residents who still have their own teeth has risen significantly. Many of these people need assistance with their dental hygiene, as well as with other hygiene.

Jablonski and her team conducted a pilot study with seven people who had either moderate or severe cases of dementia. The researchers used the MOUTh technique on the subjects for two weeks, recording the state of the patients' mouths and how the patients reacted throughout the study.

At the beginning of the study all seven subjects had poor oral health, as determined by the Oral Health Assessment Tool. Eight categories concerning oral health are scored between zero and two. The lower the score the healthier the mouth. The average score for the subjects at the start of the study was 7.29. By the end of the study the average score was 1.00.

"To my knowledge, we are the only nurses in the country who are looking at ways to improve the mouth care of persons with dementia, especially those who fight and bite during mouth care," said Jablonski. "Our approach is unique because we frame resistive behavior as a reaction to a perceived threat."

Read more about this new approach to oral hygiene at the Alzheimer's Reading Room.

New Department of Defense program to fund Alzheimer's research

As the leading voluntary health organization advocating for Alzheimer's care, support and research, the Alzheimer's Association is pleased that Congress has authorized a $15 million investment to be provided to the Department of Defense's Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) to create an Alzheimer's Research Grant Program. The program will provide grants for research that will explore the causes, complications and potential treatments associated with Alzheimer's disease, particularly among those in the military.

The funding will be used to create a peer-reviewed research grant program portfolio which will include traumatic brain injury (TBI), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other research areas. The Alzheimer's Association joined US Against Alzheimer's in support of the creation of this very important program which will make a significant contribution to greater understanding about Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's Genes

"Ultimately, the full list of Alzheimer’s genes emerging from the family-based genetic studies of the Alzheimer’s Genome Project and the population based studies of the International Genomics of Alzheimer's Project are getting us closer and closer to someday being able to eradicate Alzheimer’s disease using a strategy of early prediction and early intervention."
-- Dr. Rudolph Tanzi

What a happy day it will be when our hard working researchers are able to tag the cause or triggers for Alzheimer's! This article goes indepth about the genetic information we have to date.

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”.

Alzheimer's Study in Scotland

This study is looking at the possible impact of melatonin on sleep habits of people with dementia. The hopeful conclusion is that adding melatonin will improve the person with dementia's quality of sleep, thereby allowing them to function better during the day. This study is being done in Scotland.

"In our groundwork for this project we investigated a slow-release version of the natural compound melatonin. Our findings suggested that the participants functioned better during the day - possibly due to a better quality sleep pattern." Dr Crawford said that melatonin does not currently exist as a treatment for dementia but was registered in Europe and the UK for use with elderly patients with sleeping difficulties. He said: "It has proven to be remarkably safe and virtually free from side effects. We are exploring whether its use as an add-on treatment for dementia could transform the lives of patients and their carers. "With the help of volunteers from Scotland we aim to establish whether adding melatonin to current treatments could provide a major advance in dementia management."

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.

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.

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.

Medic Alert + Safe Return Special Price for January

Our gift to you comes AFTER the rush of the holiday season, in the form of offering $10 off (a 20% discount) on MedicAlert + Safe Return enrollment for individuals with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. Take this opportunity to try the program out and let us provide our lifesaving service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to you and your family.

Over the past year, we responded to thousands of calls and relayed vital medical information to emergency responders on behalf of our members, thereby helping responders to provide safe and effective care in a matter of seconds and ensuring the safe return of our members with their loved ones.

Please enroll your loved one today and enjoy the peace of mind associated with being with family and friends during this holiday season. During this special limited time offer, you can enroll your loved one for only $39.95, which includes a MedicAlert medical ID! (Regularly priced at $49.95.)

This special won’t last long, so enroll your loved one today!* Click here to sign up on-line.

What is the National Alzheimer's Project Act?

Here is the official summary:

National Alzheimer's Project Act - Establishes in the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) the Office of the National Alzheimer's Project to:

(1) accelerate the development of treatments that would prevent, halt, or reverse the course of Alzheimer's;
(2) create and maintain an integrated national plan to overcome Alzheimer's;
(3) help to coordinate the health care and treatment of citizens with Alzheimer's;
(4) ensure the inclusion of ethnic and racial populations that are at higher risk for Alzheimer's or that are least likely to receive care in clinical, research, and service efforts with the purpose of decreasing health disparities;
(5) coordinate with international bodies to integrate and inform the fight against Alzheimer's globally; and
(6) provide information and coordination of Alzheimer's research and services across all federal agencies. Sets forth the duties of the Director of the Office, including to use discretionary authority to evaluate all federal programs concerning Alzheimer's. Establishes in the Office an Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research and Treatment.

The National Alzheimer's Project Act (H.R. 4689 / S. 3036) now has 33 Senate co-sponsors and 106 House co-sponsors. Send your legislators a letter requesting that they push to enact NAPA when they return to Washington after the elections.

Senator Carl Levin
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Find your local Representative here.

Alzheimer's Association TrialMatch™

Doing something proactive is a great way to focus energy away from the despair that can come from living with a life changing disease. What can we, as family members, caregivers, and people in the early stages of Alzheimer's do to help make a difference? How can we advance the battle against this disease? What can one person do?

The Alzheimer’s Association has launched TrialMatch, which connects people with Alzheimer’s, caregivers, family members, doctors, and healthy volunteers with Alzheimer’s clinical trials nearby that are recruiting volunteers.

Find out more at alz.org/trialmatch. Get proactive and help us help others in the future.

Alzheimer's Disease - 6th Leading Cause of Death in the U.S.

According to a recently released CDC report, Alzheimer's Disease is now the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. The breakdown looks like this:

1) Heart Disease - 616,067
2) Cancer (all types) - 562,875
3) Stroke - 135,952
4) Lung Diseases (all types) - 127,924
5) Accidental Deaths - 123,706
6) Alzheimer's Disease - 74,632
7) Diabetes - 71,382
8) Flu & Pneumonia - 52,717
9) Kidney Disease - 46,448
10) Septicemia - 34,828
11) Suicide - 34,598
12) Liver Disease (all types) - 29,165
13) High Blood Pressure - 23,965
14) Parkinson's Disease - 20,058
15) Homicide - 18,361

The need for funding and research has never been greater. The expected rise in the incidence of Alzheimer's with the aging of the Baby Boomers is a true health crisis. Contacting our representatives in Washington is a great way to help.

Senator Carl Levin
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Find your local Representative here.

Risk Factors For Alzheimer's - What YOU Can Do

Age, family history and heredity are all risk factors we can’t change. Now, research is beginning to reveal clues about other risk factors we may be able to influence.

Head injury: There appears to be a strong link between serious head injury and future risk of Alzheimer’s. Protect your head by buckling your seat belt, wearing your helmet when participating in sports, and “fall-proofing” your home.

Heart-head connection: Some of the strongest evidence links brain health to heart health. Your brain is nourished by one of your body’s richest networks of blood vessels. Every heartbeat pumps about 20 to 25 percent of your blood to your head, where brain cells use at least 20 percent of the food and oxygen your blood carries.

The risk of developing Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia appears to be increased by many conditions that damage the heart or blood vessels. These include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and high cholesterol. Work with your doctor to monitor your heart health and treat any problems that arise.

General healthy aging: Other lines of evidence suggest that strategies for overall healthy aging may help keep the brain healthy and may even offer some protection against developing Alzheimer’s or related diseases. Try to keep your weight within recommended guidelines, avoid tobacco and excess alcohol, stay socially connected, and exercise both your body and mind.

Visit www.alz.org for more information.

Treatments for Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's Disease has two distinct parts that can be treated. There are treatments available for the cognitive symptoms which include:

memory
language
judgment
planning
ability to pay attention
other thought processes

There are also treatments available for the behavioral and psychiatric symptoms. These include the ways we feel and act.

Talk to your doctor about what treatment may be right for you or the person in your care. A medication's effectiveness, and the side effects it may cause,,can vary from one person to the next. For one individual, one drug may be more effective but have greater side effects. For another person, the same drug may be less effective but have no side effects.

Ask the doctor the following questions when you discuss any treatments. They will not address all treatment needs, but the answers to these questions will help you understand the options and make informed decisions.

• What kind of assessment will you use to determine if the drug is effective?
• How much time will pass before you will be able to assess the drug's effectiveness?
• How will you monitor for possible side effects?
• What effects should we watch for at home?
• When should we call you?
• Is one treatment option more likely than another to interfere with medications for other conditions?
• What are the concerns with stopping one drug treatment and beginning another?
• At what stage of the disease would you consider it appropriate to stop using the drug?

Learn more at www.alz.org.

Depression and Alzheimer's

Men and women with Alzheimer’s experience depression with about equal frequency. But identifying depression in someone with Alzheimer’s can be difficult. There is no single test or questionnaire to detect the condition, and diagnosis requires careful evaluation of a variety of symptoms. Dementia itself can lead to certain symptoms commonly associated with depression, including:

• apathy
• loss of interest in activities and hobbies
• social withdrawal
• isolation

The cognitive impairment experienced by people with Alzheimer’s often makes it difficult for them to articulate their sadness, hopelessness, guilt and other feelings associated with depression.

Depression in Alzheimer’s doesn’t always look like depression in people without the disorder. For example, depression in Alzheimer’s is sometimes less severe and may not last as long or recur as often.

Learn more at www.alz.org.