Tag Archives: Alzheimers

5 Best Foods for your Brain

Posted by Brooke Phillips on March 20, 2013 under Resources | Read the First Comment

Looking to boost your brain power? The answer may be in your grocery cart. Studies show that some powerhouse foods may boost long term and short term memory, as well as stave off dementia and alzheimer’s disease. Here are our five favorites, and the reasons why:

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1. Walnuts

Rich in minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, b-complex vitamins and vitamin E, walnuts top our list of powerhouse brain foods. Vitamin E is a powerful brain booster, essential for maintaining the integrity of cell membranes. A recent Dutch study showed that people with the most vitamin E in their diets cut their risk of Alzheimer’s by 25 percent – and some of the best sources of vitamin E are nuts and seeds. Polyphenols in walnuts are also thought to improve communication between neurons. According to a Spanish study, People who ate a small handful of walnuts every day improved their working memory by 19 percent.

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2. Fish

Fish are filled with vitamin D and B2, rich in calcium and phosphorus, and most importantly — they’re packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which aid healthy brain function. Loss of fatty acids EPA and DHA are linked to depression, ADHD, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Researchers have found that a protein called beta-amyloid is associated with memory problems and Alzheimer’s disease – in fact, plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients are actually clumps of this substance. A study published in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology found that people who consume omega-3 have significantly lower levels of beta-amyloid in their blood! Omega-3 fatty acids also prevent inflammation and lower blood pressure, making them essential to heart health.

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3. Spinach

Packed with magnesium and folic acid (as well as vitamins E and K), these greens can help dilate blood vessels, boosting blood flow throughout the body and brain, according to Japanese researchers. Magnesium helps with cell repair, bone and teeth strength and muscle strength, while folic acid builds healthy red blood cells and fights heart disease. Folic Acid is also believed to protect the brain against Alzheimer’s disease and age-related memory loss. Broccoli and asparagus are also excellent sources of folic acid.

4. Blueberries

Antioxidant-rich and cholesterol-free, blueberries are tiny powerhouses of vitamin C, vitamin K and fiber. The color of blueberries is caused by a group of flavonoids called anthocyanins, which destroy free radicals – and studies indicate may help prevent cancer, heart disease, stroke and memory loss. Research suggests blueberries may also reduce the risk for Parkinson’s disease because of their anti-inflammatory powers. Red grapes, cherries and other dark berries are also great sources of anthocyanins.

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5. Apples

It’s true – an apple a day may keep the doctor away! Apples are rich in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants anthocyanin and quercetin. Quercetin helps prevent LDL cholesterol from oxidizing and inhibits inflammation. Over time, inflammation in the brain can cause cognitive decline. Quercetin also helps prevent dementia by protecting the brain against neurological disorders – as well as decreases cancer risk in your lungs, colon and prostate. The soluble fiber in apples also decreases cholesterol levels and contributes to keeping you feeling energized and full. Quercetin is primarily found in the apple peel, so be sure to eat the peel for maximum health benefit.

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Does Working Past Retirement Keep Us Sharp?

Posted by Brooke Phillips on February 15, 2013 under Resources | Be the First to Comment

We all know that mental and physical activity is good for our health, but did you know that the more active you are, the longer your life expectancy – and the sharper your mind?

Studies by the Archives of Internal Medicine have shown that sitting unstimulated for prolonged periods of time could reduce your life expectancy compared with your more physically and mentally active peers. In a study of 220,000 people, individuals who sat for more than 8 hours a day were 15% more likely to die within the next 3 years than those who only sat for 4 hours a day. Another study showed that moderate levels of physical activity increased life expectancy by up to two years – and that high levels of physical activity increased life expectancy by up to four years.

Maybe that’s why someone like Helen Deneka is as sharp and active today as she was 40 years ago. At 87, Helen Deneka could very well be the nation’s oldest working nurse. Now with over 7 decades of nursing experience, Helen works full-time at the Outpatient Surgical Center of Baptist Memorial Hospital in Covington, Tennessee. Born in 1925, she gained interest in the field while taking care of family members when they were sick, then enrolled in a nursing program at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, TN, in 1943 – at the ripe old age of 17.

70 years later, she has seen and worked through remarkable changes in professional medical care, including the introduction of penicillin; installation of air conditioners, patient telephones and bathrooms in hospitals; and impressive advancements in medical technology itself.

“Back then, we did everything by hand,” Deneka says. “Checking the pulse, taking blood pressure…We used to wash all the syringes and needles between patients and sharpen our needles with a whetstone. Now they throw everything away.”

The changes in technology haven’t slowed Helen Deneka down one bit.

“I do the paperwork, then start the patients’ IVs,” says Deneka, describing her daily routine at the outpatient surgical center. “Fortunately, I get them on the first stick 99 percent of the time.”

“She never sits!” says fellow nurse Margaret Green, 66. “She’s going all the time…She’s such a caring and conscientious person. I can’t imagine her retiring.”

Whether or not genetics play a role, there’s no question that the daily physical and mental stimulation help keep Helen Deneka’s mind sharp and her body fit. In an era where early retirement is a popular goal – yet health care costs keep going up – perhaps we’re approaching old age the wrong way. Maybe ceasing to work isn’t the ripe fruit we imagine it to be; maybe we should look at retirement as not so much “stopping working” as shifting to work that stimulates and enriches us, even if it doesn’t pay as well.

As for Helen, does she ever plan to retire?

“I’m thinking about it,” she says, returning to her charts. “But not today. We have a lot of patients coming in.”

Fearing the Onset of Genetic Alzheimer’s

Posted by Brooke Phillips on under Resources | Be the First to Comment

When we think about Alzheimer’s, we usually think about older adults. That’s because approximately 95% of the Alzheimer’s cases we hear about have developed later in life – after age 60. The causes of Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease are still not fully understood, though researchers suspect that a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors contribute to our likelihood of developing the disease.

For a small percentage of Alzheimer’s patients, however, there is very little question about the cause of their disease. Familial Alzheimer’s Disease (FAD) is a form of Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease that is caused by genetic mutations on any of three different chromosomes: 21, 14, and 1. A child whose parent developed Familial Alzheimer’s Disease has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the mutated gene, and if so, they will very likely develop FAD. FAD occurs in people between the ages of 30 and 60 years old.

The New York Times recently published a poignant article written by a woman whose grandfather and father both died of the disease. Her father – driven to a career in neurology by his own father’s onset of Alzheimer’s – taught his young daughter all about the disease he would later succumb to. With a 50/50 chance of developing FAD herself, she voices her own anxiety and fears.”

“I’m not losing track of my car keys, which is pretty standard in aging minds,” she writes. “ Nor have I ever forgotten to turn off the oven after use, common in menopausal women. I can always find my car in the parking lot, although lots of ‘normal’ folk can’t. Rather, I suddenly can’t remember the name of someone with whom I’ve worked for years…am I losing track of me?”

In her article, Nancy Stearns Bercaw voices the fears we all fight off watching the slow deterioration of the ones we love. You can read the entire article, “Waiting for the Forgetting to Begin” on the New York Times website.

For more information on the 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s, check out the Alzheimer’s Association web page.

Is it Alzheimer’s? 5 Treatable Conditions Mistaken for Alzheimer’s

Posted by Brooke Phillips on February 7, 2013 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Are you concerned about increasing forgetfulness? Is your loved one showing signs of Dementia? If you’re afraid you’re overreacting, you’re not alone: according to the Sun Herald, a recent report looked at nearly 1,000 people with Dementia and found that up to 30% didn’t have Alzheimer’s Disease. Instead, the true culprits were treatable medical conditions that caused Alzheimer’s-like symptoms, including negative reactions to medication.

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Some treatable medical conditions include:

Vitamin deficiencies. Extremely low levels of folic acid, niacin, or vitamins B-1, B-6 or B-12 can cause Alzheimer’s-like symptoms. Not sure what your vitamin levels are? Ask your doctor for a blood test to rule a vitamin deficiency out! According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, older people are at a higher risk for low levels of B-6 and B-12.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). A lesser-known culprit, bladder infections can cause delirium in the elderly. And when incontinence is part of the diagnosis, signs and symptoms of a bladder or urinary tract infection can be hard to spot. Need to check? Contact your doctor right away if you have any suspicions. Signs and symptoms in the elderly can include sudden onset confusion, loss of appetite, or incontinence. Untreated UTIs can lead to kidney damage or even life-threatening blood infections, so don’t hesitate to call your doctor if you’re concerned.
Underactive Thyroid. 20% of women and 5% of men over 60 suffer from an underactive thyroid gland, which slows down the metabolism to unhealthy levels. This condition, called hypothyroidism, can cause fatigue, weakness, depression and forgetfulness. A simple blood test to check hormone levels is all it takes to rule this condition out.
Depression. Depression in the elderly is a widespread problem, but it’s not normal. Many common symptoms of depression can be part of the aging process, making it difficult to detect and diagnose. Some of the most visible symptoms include fatigue, appetite loss, and trouble sleeping, all of which can increase confusion and forgetfulness. Fortunately, when diagnosed, depression is very treatable – just ask your doctor do a depression evaluation.
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). Another underdiagnosed condition, NPH may be difficult to pronounce, but thankfully it’s not as difficult to treat. NPH is an abnormal increase of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, which happens when the normal flow is blocked in some way. The elderly are a high-risk group for NPH, although it can happen at any age; causes include head trauma, infection, tumors or surgery, among others. The increased pressure on the brain causes symptoms that mimic Alzheimer’s, including mental impairment or dementia, difficulty walking or slower movements, and impaired bladder control. Once the extra fluid is shunted away, behavior usually return to normal. Only a medical professional can diagnose NPH.

In addition, some medications used to treat depression, anxiety, acid reflux, Parkinson’s disease, allergies and overactive bladder can trigger dementia-like side effects. These drugs block acetylcholine, which Alzheimer’s patients already have in reduced levels. Another medication that could be a culprit is digoxin – which is used to slow your heart rate if you have atrial fibrillation or heart failure. If you notice a change in behavior shortly after starting a new medicine regimen, call your doctor immediately.

For more information on Alzheimer’s signs and symptoms, visit the Alzheimer’s Association: http://www.alz.org/.