Is there a cure in sight?

 

By Kevin Woo

Dr. Michael Devous believes that one day there will be a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

“I think we’re going to cure Alzheimer’s disease, and we’re not far away from it,” says Devous during an interview with the Dallas Morning News. Devous is a professor and director at the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

“Ten years ago I didn’t think so, but we’ve made tremendous progress,” he says. “We haven’t done it. We haven’t cured anyone from this disease yet, but I’m hopeful that the trials we’ve started will change the course of this disease in a positive way. There’s a mild cognitive impairment which precedes dementia. We are having clinical trials to see if removing plaque will keep (patients) from getting worse and maybe even allow them to get better.”

Researchers say that maintaining a healthy lifestyle; getting genetically tested if you’re at high risk for the disease; and removal of amyloid plaque all hold the key to finding a cure.

The study of plaque is key to Devous’ on-going research.

What also makes the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center unique is that it pools research efforts from other Texas institutions such as the Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium, UTSW in Dallas, the University of North Texas Health Science Center, and it takes part in collaborative work with UTD Center for BrainHealth and Center for Vital Longevity and the Cooper Clinic in Dallas.

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EVOO and its effects on Alzheimer’s

By Kevin Woo

Rachael Ray may be on to something. The Food Network star has promoted the health benefits of high-end extra virgin olive oil – or EVOO as she affectionately calls it – for years. But now, researchers from the University of Louisiana think there may also be a link between Mediterranean diets (which are high in EVOO) and protecting the brain from Alzheimer’s.

A new paper in the ACS Chemical Neuroscience states that oleocanthal, a compound found in EVOO, has been shown to decrease the levels of amyloid beta. In the study, Oleocanthal was extracted from EVOO and was injected into mice twice daily for two weeks. Researchers found that the compound increased the production of proteins and enzymes that are necessary to remove amyloid beta from the brain.

The Mediterranean diet is considered to be heart healthy because it consists of fish, produce and EVOO.

“The Mediterranean diet is among one of the healthiest diets in the world because it uses extra virgin olive oil in most of its recipes,” Natalie Sexenian, of Bellucci Premium, said during an April 19, 2013 interview with Science magazine. “The consumption of extra virgin olive oil can help prevent diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. These two health benefits have been known for years, but the fact that it can help protect against Alzheimer’s disease adds to the ever expanding list of reasons why extra virgin olive oil should be included in an individual’s diet.”

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Eight hours of sleep may be crucial to preventing Alzheimer’s

By Kevin Woo

What time are you going to bed tonight? The answer probably will depend on a number of things you have to do before bedtime: clean up around the house, answer some emails, or maybe prepare for that big meeting in the morning.

By the time you help the kids with their homework and get them settled for the evening, yours might just be getting started.

Researchers at the Washington School of Medicine say that lack of sleep might be tied to Alzheimer’s disease.

A recent study monitored 100 people, ages 45-80, and discovered that those who woke up several times through the night were more likely to have amyloid plaque accumulations on their brains.

Dr. Yo-El Ju, a Washington University neurologist, said,”We were initially looking at duration of sleep, but it seems the quality of sleep is more important to this association.  We don’t know if early Alzheimer’s is causing poor sleep or vice versa. It’s possible that there’s some change in brain activity going on during sleep that allows soluble amyloid to decrease overnight.”

Now, what time are you going to bed tonight?

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The importance of donating your brain to science

By Kevin Woo

Millions of people across the country have checked the “organ donor” box in their driver’s license. Although we don’t like to think about it, should something happen, our vital organs will be harvested and given to an organ recipient.  Some of the most commonly transplanted organs are the heart, kidney, liver, lungs and skin.

But since 1986 more than two thousand people have donated their brains to medical researchers and pathologists at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine and Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. The researchers say that studying brain tissue helps them learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological illnesses

“In the past 20 years we have learned more about the human brain than we have in human history,”says Deborah Mash, professor of neurology at the University of Miami  and director of the university’s Brain Endowment Bank.

Since 1986 the brain bank has received 2,066 donated brains and another 500 people have pledged to donate their brain after death.

Do you and your loved ones have plans to donate your brains to science? It might just make a difference.

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You are what you eat

 

By Kevin Woo

 

There’s an old saying, “You are what you eat.” Dr. Neal Barnard and his family grew up eating typical Midwestern fare – meat-and-potatoes. He says that not so coincidentally many members of his family got Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia at a young age.

Barnard recently released a book, Power Foods for the Brain.” In it he says that diets high in saturated fats can be linked to cognitive decline.

“Besides fats, researchers also (see) a link between a high intake of iron (which also has been linked with heart disease) and copper as contributing factors to cognitive decline,” he said in an interview with Cleveland Live.

Barnard says some foods are considered “brain protectors.” These foods include:

• Vitamin E-rich foods, such as almonds, cooked spinach and dried apricots.

• A diet rich in such foods as beans and chickpeas; blueberries and grapes; green leafy vegetables; and sweet potatoes.

• Vitamin B-fortified foods such as soy milk or nutritional yeast.

Foods that are a threat to the brain include:

• Saturated fats, mostly found in animal protein.

• Trans fats.

• Excess iron, copper and aluminum – perhaps ingested through multi-vitamins (read the label to find those that don’t contain these minerals), or by cooking with cast iron or aluminum pans. He suggests using stainless steel pots and pans for cooking.

Barnard concludes by saying people should increase their amount of exercise, get enough sleep and stimulate the brain by reading, doing puzzles or taking classes.

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The 2013 ALT Blog Awards Are Out

Once again we were honored to be acknowledged for our blog here at Alzheimer’s Speaks by Assisted Living Today.  This year the Alzheimer’s Reading Room was given the #1 spot.  Congratulations Bob DeMarco who does a fantastic job with his blog. If you aren’t familiar with Bob’s blog you should check it out.  Here at Alzheimer’s Speaks we place runner up. Below are some of the other finalists.

Nominated Article Descriptions

The following is a full list of all nominees for the 2013 ALTY Awards for the “Best Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Care Articles” category.

Alzheimer’s Communication — Touching Foreheads and Kindness — by Bob DeMarco, The Alzheimer’s Reading Room

The world needs more kindness, and Bob DeMarco, founder of the Alzheimer’s Reading Room shares a bit of his kindness in “Alzheimer’s Communication — Touching Foreheads and Kindness.” A learned technique from direct care of his mother with Alzheimer’s, he describes how he was able to combat the mean things his mother was saying with a positive and peaceful gesture.

The Best Gift of All! — by Lori La Bey, Alzheimer’s Speaks

To some people’s chagrin, Lori La Bey has revised her take on what constitutes a holiday gift. No longer a present-giver, she feels that gratitude is the biggest gift a person can both give and receive. Prompted to this decision through her mother’s dementia, La Bey shares ways and reasons to be a giver of gratitude.

Dementia in General… — by Judith Graham, The New Old Age on NYTimes.com

It’s a broad title, but the meat of the article narrows down some ideas of prevention when it comes to Alzheimer’s and dementia. Using a whole-body approach, Patricia Grace connects the mind to the heart, the liver, the entire vascular system and more to show the relationship between a healthy overall lifestyle and a healthy brain. Alzheimer’s remains scary, but she provides good insight to wellness and prevention.

United States Lags in Alzheimer’s Support — by Judith Graham, The New Old Age on NYTimes.com

Alzheimer’s is not only an individual’s concern, but as our population ages, it’s a national concern. Caregiving costs, research, public policy–there are a multitude of reasons why our government needs to factor Alzheimer’s into the national plan. Judith Graham compares the U.S. to other countries who are developing strategies for dealing with a growing population of elderly residents, including Japan, Australia, France and Britain.

How Books, Puzzles Might Help Ward Off Alzheimer’s – by MyHealthNewsDaily staff

Like brushing the plaque off your teeth, researchers say that reading a book, doing a puzzle or engaging in other mental activities actually reduces the plaque in your brain. Cognitive activity helps to scrub away the harmful protein scientists have identified at beta-amyloid, linked to memory Alzheimer’s patients. Studies show a lifelong pattern of engagement is the best defense, though there’s no downside to picking up the habit later in life.

Why Leave a 1400 Square-Foot House for a 40-Foot Sailboat? Read the Story, and You’ll Understand — by Erica, Walk To End Alzheimer’s

In a way, this is two blogs in one. Delivered with a very personal note, two sisters handle their mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s in different ways. They challenge their readers to think, “how do I want to live my life?” all the while advocating for Alzheimer’s support.

Check Out all Our Other Resources, Tools and Services

 

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Fourteen Million People Need Your Help

By Kevin Woo Special to Alzheimer’s Speaks | February 9, 2013

Did you hear the “big” news this week?  A “new” study published in the journal, Neurology, estimates that by the year 2050 nearly 14 million people will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and the costs associated with taking care of those patients will likely exceed $1 trillion (give or take a trillion or two, right?).

This is news?  Anyone who has studied the disease, at even the most elementary level, knows the numbers.  And they know the consequences.  Let’s get real, the “study” wasn’t news. The grim statistics have been around for years.

Fourteen million is a hard number to grasp so let’s put it into perspective.  Fourteen million people is roughly the combined population of Illinois and New Mexico.  Can you imagine every man, woman and child in Illinois and New Mexico having Alzheimer’s Disease or another form of dementia?

Think about it.

Want more perspective?  The federal government spends $6 billion on cancer research and $3 billion to research HIV. The government also spends $1.8 billion on drug and alcohol addiction, prevention, treatment, education and research programs.  And the amount of funding for Alzheimer’s research?  Approximately $500 million.

I’m not suggesting that cancer research, HIV or drug and alcohol prevention and treatment aren’t important.  They certainly are.  But $500 million for Alzheimer’s research is hardly sufficient when the consequences are so high.

Think about it – if the Federal government were able to somehow know thirty-seven years in advance that every man, woman and child in Illinois and New Mexico would have a horrible disease would it step up and provide more funding for research?

The trouble with that question is they do know.  They know it now, they’ll know it tomorrow and they’ll know it next year.  Will they do anything to boost spending for Alzheimer’s research?

Let’s hope they think about it.

You can contact your members of Congress with the help of USAgainstAlzheimer’s.

Ask your members of Congress to work out a deal that protects critical research funding. Keep the pressure on now, before any deal is made.

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Star Tribune Writes About The Beneifts Of J. Arthur’s Memory Cafe

Today, J. Arthur’s Memory Cafe had the Honor of Several Visitors.  

We had two new couple join our group.  Judy George of Mindful Movement taught us  some t’ai chi chih which is the meditative art of movement and healing,  John Bird and John Harrison of The Living Tree a new video legacy company with an amazing new tool to capture joy, history and the relationships we all cherish in life.  Gail Rosenblum, a reporter with the Star Tribune also came out and spent over two hours with us.

Please take the time to read the article Gail wrote as you will see the insights and the beauty these memory Cafes have to offer those dealing with Memory loss.  Click Here To Read The Article

Thanks Gail for helping us raise awareness and give hope to those in need!

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Why Wait Radio Interviews Alzheimer’s Speaks Founder

Carolyn A. Brent of Why Wait Radio Interviews

Alzheimer’s Speaks Founder Lori La Bey

Carolyn and Lori had a fantastic conversation about aging and illness and how we can shift caregiving for crisis to comfort.  Listen in and share you thoughts on the many topics we covered.  Your voice matters!

Here is a link to Alzheimer’s Speaks Resource Website. which houses the International Collaborative Resource Directory for Dementia.  If you are interested in learning more about hiring Lori La Bey for a Keynote, Training session or to discuss how to become a dementia friendly business or community please go to the Event Planners page

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Two New Interviews with Lori La Bey of Alzheimer’s Speaks

AgingCare.com interviewed Lori La Bey of Alzheimer’s Speaks, Jenn Chan of The Senior Shower Project and Cindy Laverty of The Care Company, for an article entitled “Trial By Fire: Caregiving Forges A New Breed of Entrepreneur.”  Check out the article here.  

Check out Alzheimer’s Speaks International Collaborative Resource Directory for Dementia

The Mike Bonacorsi Show interviews Lori La Bey of Alzheimer’s Speaks.  Click on the link to listen to the full interview

mike bonacorsi radio 091212 

Contact Mike:

Mike Bonacorsi, CFP®
Mike Bonacorsi, LLC
“Retirement Readiness”
5 Overlook Drive #3
Amherst, NH  03031
(603)769-3111
(603)769-3098

 

 

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