The Latest Breakthrough in Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Care

While there is more work to be done in developing a medication for Alzheimer’s patients, scientists are now saying that a new medicine could be used to treat this condition, along with Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, and many more. Alzheimer’s currently affects more than five million Americans, and British scientists might be developing new hope for them in the laboratory. 

In their tests on mice, the Medical Research Council discovered that all cell death within the brain caused by prion disease (neurodegenerative disorders) could actually be prevented. This discovery is hailed as a turning point in the search for controlling and even preventing Alzheimer’s. While this discovery is not poised to change the world of medicine immediately, it appears to be a hopeful benchmark.

The Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit team, based out of the University of Leicester, honed in on brain cells’ natural defense mechanisms. When a virus affects the brain, it causes an accumulation of viral proteins. Cells respond to this build-up by stopping virtually all production of protein in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. 

However, a large number of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, involve the production of abnormal proteins. These can set off the same defenses, but often with more dangerous consequences. These proteins tend to stay put, and the brain cells stop production of protein for so long that the cells essentially starve to death. This process, which tends to repeat throughout the entire brain, can break down a person’s ability to move properly or recall memories, or lead to fatality. 

This whole process is suspected to happen in many different forms of neurodegeneration. In theory, safely disrupting the process could essentially treat countless neurodegenerative diseases with a single medication. The researchers who made the astounding discovery used a formula that prevented such defense mechanisms from starting. In turn, the compound stopped neurodegeneration altogether.

The study was published in Science Translational Medicine, and revealed that mice who had prion disease experienced severe movement and memory problems. They tended to die within just 12 weeks. But those who were treated with the compound showed no signs of withered brain tissue at all. 

The fact that this compound entirely prevented the breakdown of tissue is a first in the field. While this formula is not ready for human treatment, the results showed that stopping neurodegeneration is even a possibility. 

In addition, the compound did come with side effects for mice. The pancreas was affected, resulting in the development of mild diabetes and weight loss. Any drug used on humans would be required to only act on the brain, but this news gives scientists a strong starting point from which to work. 

The Alzheimer’s Research UK charity reports that targeting a single mechanism, related to many neurodegenerative diseases, could lead to the creation of just one drug that has wide-reaching benefits. However, this particular compound is still in its very early stages.

Despite this discovery, much more research needs to be done to see how these findings would directly apply to diseases. With continued studies and testing, these compounds may have the unmatched potential of improving dementia care and Alzheimer’s care for patients, or preventing the disease altogether.

What to Know About Sundowner’s Syndrome

While the sunset typically signals a time of relaxation for many people, for those with Alzheimer’s, quite the opposite is true. Dementia care professionals explain that it’s common for a senior with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia to become agitated, angry, or confused in the evening. Their memory may get worse, and they may become increasingly disoriented. This unique phenomenon can be devastating for the loved ones of these elderly individuals. 

The triggers of Sundowner’s Syndrome

There are many different triggers that can cause Sundowner’s Syndrome to kick into full effect. Common triggers include:

• Winter: The shorter days of winter can cause a senior to experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, or depression that sets in when a person doesn’t get enough natural sunlight. 

• Internal imbalances: Some scientists believe that this condition is a result of hormone issues or other disruptions to a senior’s biological clock that leave them struggling to get into natural rhythms between sleeping and waking.

• Low light: As the sun begins to set and darkness falls, elderly individuals with poor vision may have an even harder time seeing. This can cause them to feel agitated and fearful, explain Alzheimer’s care professionals. 

• Fatigue: Many elderly people get highly fatigued at the end of the day, often worsening their symptoms.

• End-of-day activities at a care facility: As the day comes to a close and shifts change at nursing homes or assisted living facilities, seniors may pick up on this energy and become disoriented and stressed. 

To overcome these struggles and keep seniors feeling safe and calm, the leading senior health professionals in Durham advise controlling noise. Keep televisions and radios to a minimum, and make sure that noise-generating activities are done as far from the elderly individual as possible. This helps to promote an atmosphere of peace and relaxation. 

Additionally, create a calming evening routine for your elderly loved one. This routine prevents surprises and can keep agitation levels to a minimum, as they know what to expect. Also discourage napping, as this can make it harder for your senior to fall asleep at night and can disturb the body’s natural rhythms. 

Helpful Books for Families Dealing with Alzheimer’s

Coping with Alzheimer’s can be a challenge for the whole family, so it’s important to rely on various forms of support. Though there is nothing anyone can do or say to fix the situation, many families find that reading books about the condition allow them to understand it better and realize that they’re not alone. Some useful titles on the topic include:

A Personal Guide to Living with Progressive Memory Loss by Sandy Burgener and Prudence Twigg

This book offers helpful advice for those living with family members with early stage dementia. It is highly insightful, and offers pertinent examples about others who have dealt with the challenges that memory loss creates. The book is both practical and comforting, making it a must-read for families of seniors with memory-related conditions.

A Return Journey; Hope and Strength in the Aftermath of Alzheimer’s by Sue Petrovski

In this book, Petrovski offers words of wisdom from a support group of caregivers who are dealing with Alzheimer’s. The emphasis is placed on the person providing the care, as opposed to the person dealing with the condition. Families of those with Alzheimer’s will find the tips useful and comforting.

Alzheimer’s: A Caregiver’s Guide and Sourcebook by Howard Gruetzner

This is a highly regarded book recommended by many elder care professionals. It offers a realistic portrayal of life with this devastating disease. It offers a look into symptoms, stages, treatments, and support services available to family members. It has a hopeful tone that makes a person feel optimistic about dealing with the disease. However, it also accurately puts into words the stress, grief, and depression that can come from the condition. 

Alzheimer’s Early Stages: First Steps for Family, Friends, and Caregivers

This book is another must-read, note dementia care professionals. It is highly useful for a family that has just received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. It provides insight into the kinds of symptoms and situations the disease brings with it, and also assists with long-term planning. 

Many families of seniors with a memory-related disease find reading books about the topic to be both useful and comforting. They can learn to cope with the disease in a productive way, while ensuring that their senior’s needs are met as time goes on. Take solace in reading the words of others who have been in a similar situation.

Online Alzheimer’s Resources You Should Know About

Caring for an elderly loved one with Alzheimer’s is no easy feat, particularly when a person is trying to juggle work responsibilities, young children, and other aspects of their life. For this reason, dementia care professionals encourage families dealing with Alzheimer’s to utilize the multitude of online resources available today for support and education. Some of these tools include:

Elder Care Locator

According to those who work in elder care, Chapel Hill families can use this online resource to help them find a variety of different kinds of assistance for their seniors. Narrow the search down by location, as well as by the kind of care that is needed. Additionally, the site helps put families in touch with other necessary professionals, like those who specialize in elder abuse prevention and home repair and modifications.

The Caregiver Action Network

For adult children who are trying to shoulder the burden of caregiving, this site can be a welcome place to visit online. It offers a range of resources and tools that a person who cares for an elderly parent with Alzheimer’s can use, including links to support groups, tips for caregivers, and agencies and organizations that may be of use. 

National Alliance for Caregiving

This group provides resources, important research information, and other materials that caregivers can draw upon. It even hosts a conference each year. This year’s conference is called “Aging in America: 2014 Annual Conference of the American Society on Aging.” Through information and understanding, the group helps to lighten an adult child’s burden.

Ethnic Elders Care Network

The Ethnic Elders Care Network is specifically targeted at caregivers to ethnic elderly individuals. The organization focuses on promoting research findings, prevention, and treatment methods of Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders. They also want to offer educational materials, support and assistance to ethnic minority elderly patients, as well as their families and caregivers.

Tackling caregiving duties can become overwhelming, making support an essential part of daily life. Whether this is in the form of an in-person support group or valuable educational tools available online, these materials can make a major difference in the life of a caregiver. 

Focusing on Common Senior Health Concerns

As your senior ages, their body will continuously go through changes and will become more vulnerable. In order to keep your elderly family member feeling well and healthy, it’s important to understand some of the most common health issues that impact older people. Some common health concerns for seniors include:

Appetite issues

Many seniors find that they simply aren’t as hungry as they used to be, particularly if they live alone. They may no longer get joy out of mealtime like they used to when they were cooking for a spouse and children. They may also have difficulty getting to the grocery store to buy fresh ingredients for meals. Good senior health is very much dependent on proper nutrition, so verify that your elderly family member is getting the essentials they need to stay well. If they struggle to get to the store and cook meals, consider hiring a home care professional to come in and assist several days per week.

Issues with balance

As your loved one ages, they may have a harder time controlling their body. Climbing stairs, moving from the bathroom to the bedroom, and getting up from a chair can become significantly more difficult. Consider installing grab bars in your senior’s bedroom, and placing benches throughout the house so that they can sit and take a rest should the need arise.

Alzheimer’s disease

Different from normal aging, Alzheimer’s disease has a devastating impact on the senior and the rest of the family. For elderly individuals struggling with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other memory-related conditions, proper dementia care is essential; this may be in an assisted living facility or at home. 

Depression

Those who are focused on the care of elderly family members should also understand that seniors could face a host of mental problems in addition to physical ailments. Depression is common in people over the age of 65, and requires proper treatment. If you suspect that your elderly loved one is dealing with depression, seek help from a medical professional. 

Understanding the issues that may impact your senior allows you to provide more effective care for this family member, thus preserving both their physical and mental wellbeing. If you’re in need of guidance about how to care for your elderly loved one most effectively, seek help from a medical professional. 

Understanding Home Care Options for Dementia Patients

If your elderly loved one is suffering from dementia, there are a number of different types of home care services that might benefit them. According to professionals who work in home care, Chapel Hill families should investigate these options in order to find the most effective way to keep their senior comfortable and safe. When it comes to dementia care choices, there are a few main types of services. They include:

• Companion services: Providing friendship during the day, accompanying that senior on recreational activities, and offering general supervision.
• Personal care services: Assists with bathing, dressing, using the restroom, eating, and other essential parts of a senior’s daily routine.
• Homemaker services: Takes care of housekeeping duties, as well as grocery shopping and meal preparation. 
• Skilled care: Offers wound care, administers shots, and takes care of other health needs. This individual is a licensed home health professional, and is useful if your senior requires more extensive medical treatment on a daily basis.

In order to determine which type of assistance is best for your elderly loved one, there are a number of different resources available to you. This includes:

Your senior’s healthcare provider

The physician who provides care for your senior is a great starting point. Based on their own analysis of the individual’s condition, they can explain which type of care would be most appropriate at this time. 

The local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association

There are chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association located throughout the country. The individuals with this group can help a family to determine how to care for their elderly loved one most effectively.

Asking friends and co-workers

Unfortunately, many people have had a firsthand experience with a loved one suffering from dementia. These individuals can become powerful resources as you get ready to make a decision about care for your senior. Consult with them and see what approach they have taken to care for their own family member in the past.  

As you go about seeking care for your elderly loved one, make sure to create a specific list of needs. The provider will need to know about your senior’s strengths and weaknesses, any medications they’re taking, dietary requirements, and other specifications. This enables them to provide the most comprehensive care possible as they tend to your family member’s health.  

The Signs of Dementia You Must Know About in 2014

Though a decline in memory is a regular part of the aging process, it’s also important that families understand the signs of dementia, as they are different from normal memory loss. If your senior forgets the day of the week or struggles to recall a person’s name, this doesn’t necessarily indicate that they are suffering from a memory related disease. However, it’s important to be aware of some of the hallmarks of dementia, and to seek guidance from a medical professional if these signs appear. 

Some of the common signs of dementia include:

• Memory loss
• Difficulty communicating
• Trouble with abstract thinking
• Poor reasoning skills
• Disorientation regarding place and time
• Poor hygiene
• Paranoia or hallucinations
• Issues with balance or fine motor skills

Those with dementia frequently ask the same questions over and over. They may have issues remembering where they are or how they got there, and they may have a hard time following simple directions or getting to places that they’ve visited many times. 

Additionally, seniors who are suffering from dementia may also deal with the results of poor nutrition. This is because they often forget to eat, or end up living off of unhealthy meals with no real nutritional value. You may find that the food in their refrigerator has gone bad, or that their cupboards are full of strictly junk food.

Elderly individuals who are dealing with dementia typically also show a shift in their personality. They may get agitated easily, or demonstrate erratic behavior. While this can be frustrating to family members and friends, it’s important to understand that this is a direct result of the disease, and is not happening because the person is trying to be spiteful. 

While there is, unfortunately, no vaccination or preventative treatment for dementia, studies show that mental stimulation and good health habits can help to slow or delay the onset of this devastating condition. Make sure that your elderly loved one gets plenty of sleep, eats nutritious food, and challenges their mind daily. This could be through stimulating conversation, reading, or doing crossword puzzles and other word games. 

Understand that some cognitive decline is normal as your elderly loved one ages, but regularly forgetting common words, losing items and finding them in strange places, or getting lost in a familiar area may indicate that something more serious is taking place. 

Recognizing the Warning Signs of Depression in the Elderly

Depression is an issue that eldercare professionals in Chapel Hill address regularly, as it is a condition that many seniors develop. Whether you are personally providing homecare to your loved one or you have called upon the services of an eldercare professional, it is crucial that you understand the warning signs associated with depression so that you can help your senior seek treatment if necessary. This is important, as it is essential that you take care of your elderly loved one's wellbeing—particularly if they have need for dementia care and other forms of specialized support. Below are some of the warning signs of depression, according to HelpGuide.org.1 

• Sadness
• Fatigue
• Lack of interest in previously loved hobbies and activities
• Social isolation
• Social withdrawal
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Sleep troubles, including insomnia, oversleeping, and difficulty staying awake during the day
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Surge in alcohol or drug use
• Suicidal thoughts

In addition to these symptoms, depression is also characterized by a few less common warning signs. These, HelpGuide.org explains, may include inexplicable aches, pain, hopelessness, helplessness, anxiety, memory loss, lack of motivation, slowed movement, slowed speech, irritability, and the tendency to skip meals, neglect personal hygiene, and overlook other self care activities.

The eldercare professionals in Chapel Hill know that it can be difficult to determine which changes in your senior are attributed to the natural aging process and which indicate a more serious concern, such as depression. To help you ensure that your loved one gets the care they need, the homecare professionals in the area encourage you to keep a close eye on their health and schedule an appointment with their doctor whenever you believe that they may need assistance.

If you are providing care for your senior, it is crucial that you are aware of the warning signs associated with depression so that you can best provide the support that your elderly loved one needs. If you believe that your senior may be suffering from depression, you are encouraged to schedule an appointment with their doctor as soon as possible.
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1 http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_elderly.htm