Posts Tagged Alzheimer’s Disease

Mind Matters: Distinguishing Dementia from Alzheimer’s

On January 15, 2024   /   Blog  
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Mind Matters: Distinguishing Dementia from Alzheimer’s

In this blog, we will shed light on a topic that impacts numerous families – the distinction between dementia and Alzheimer’s. Developing a better understanding of these terms is essential, particularly when navigating legal matters associated with the well-being of loved ones. Dementia: The Broad Term Dementia is like an umbrella term that covers a range of cognitive issues affecting memory, reasoning, and daily activities. Think of it as a category that includes various conditions causing cognitive decline. Common symptoms include forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, and challenges in communication. Alzheimer’s: A Specific Type of Dementia Under the dementia umbrella, we can zoom in on Alzheimer’s. It’s a specific type of dementia, representing the most prevalent cause (accounting for 60-70% of all dementia cases as of 2022). Alzheimer’s is characterized by the build-up of abnormal protein deposits in the brain, leading to the death of brain cells over time. This progressive condition

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Can Lifestyle Changes Prevent Cognitive Decline?

On November 12, 2020   /   Blog  
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Can Lifestyle Changes Prevent Cognitive Decline?

According to a two-year study, healthy eating, brain training, exercise and sound medical management may prevent age-related cognitive decline and, perhaps, dementia. The study sampled 1,260 people, aged 60-77, randomly assigning one group to receive some general health advice and another group to follow a special program. The advice and training given to participants in the special program included: Diet Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, wholegrain cereals, low-fat milk and meat products. Participants were also told to eat less than 50 grams of sugar a day and have at least two portions of fish a week. Cognitive training Participants received computer brain training sessions and were advised to improve mental acuity by doing puzzles, reading and other activities requiring cognition. Exercise Participants were told to do strength training one to three times a week and aerobic exercise two to five times a week. The exercise advice was tailored to

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A Designer Has Created Tableware To Help People With Dementia

On October 22, 2020   /   Blog  
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A Designer Has Created Tableware To Help People With Dementia

Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases can make even basic tasks extraordinarily difficult. Designer Sha Yao saw this firsthand when her grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In response, she created Eatwell, a seven-piece tableware set. It features bright, primary colors, which Yao chose based on a Boston University study that showed individuals with cognitive impairment consumed 84 percent more liquid and 24 percent more food when they were served in brightly-colored containers. Other features of the tableware set include cups and bowls with angled bases. This allows contents to shift naturally to one side and make them easier to drink or scoop up. The accompanying spoons are ergonomically designed to correspond to the contours of the bowls. In addition, the tableware set has holes with flaps at the edge of the tray where a napkin, bib or apron can be tucked to prevent spills. The set’s drink-ware features wide bases, reducing

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Brain Health, Myths Versus Reality, Continued

On July 30, 2020   /   Blog  
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Last time we discussed the myths, and the realities, of keeping your brain healthy and boosting memory. Now let’s look at some more examples. Myth: You can’t stop Alzheimer’s disease. While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, research suggests that eating well, staying engaged with others, reducing stress and stimulating your brain with new activities can slow the onset of symptoms by several years. In a study by Rush University in Chicago, making just one change—eating plenty of fruits and vegetables while consuming less meat and sweets—can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia by as much as 53 percent. Myth: Brain games make you smarter. 70 of the world’s leading brain scientists released a statement in 2014 rejecting the idea that computerized brain training can improve cognitive powers. Until we know more, you are better off using proven bran boosters such as meditation and

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Brain Health: Myths Versus Reality

On July 23, 2020   /   Blog  
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Brain Health: Myths Versus Reality

You’ve no doubt heard plenty of stories about how to keep your brain healthy and boost memory. A recent article on AARP’s website explored this subject and distinguished between myth and fact. Here are some the highlights. Myth: Brain aging is inevitable. Although the brain does shrink with age, exercise has been shown to increase brain mass. Researchers at the University of Pittsburg and the University of Illinois asked 120 older, relatively inactive people to either walk or stretch three times a week. The researchers then took MRIs of the subjects’ brains. It took one year for the walkers to increase the size of their hippocampus by two percent, in essence reversing the shrinkage associated with one to two years of aging. In addition, people who exercise regularly may also have less amyloid (plaques found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease). Myth: Supplements can boost your memory. Substances

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Estate Planning and Alzheimer’s Disease

On July 2, 2020   /   Blog  
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Estate Planning and Alzheimer’s Disease

While everyone should have an estate plan, it is especially important for families living with Alzheimer’s disease. If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and you do not have estate planning documents like a will, Power of Attorney, or advance directive, please contact our office as soon as possible. Estate planning documents require the person who signs them to have the legal capacity to understand the documents’ consequences. In most cases, someone who has just received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can understand the meaning and importance of a given document and therefore has the legal capacity to sign it. However, the ability to understand the implications of legal documents may decline as the disease progresses. We can guide you through all the legal ramifications surrounding an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, including medical and asset protection planning, advance directives and guardianship. We understand what you are going through

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Alzheimer’s Disease: Facts Versus Fiction, Continued

On June 25, 2020   /   Blog  
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In our last post, we discussed some of the myths surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Now, let’s dispel some other myths. You have to be old to get Alzheimer’s disease. People in their 50s, 40s and even 30s can get Alzheimer’s disease. This is known as younger-onset or early-onset Alzheimer’s. It is estimated that there are currently more than 200,000 people under the age of 65 with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Cooking with aluminum pots and pans or drinking from aluminum cans may lead to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. This myth began in the 1960s and is still widely held. However, studies have failed to show any connection between Alzheimer’s disease and commonly used items containing aluminum, such as cookware, cans, antiperspirants and antacids.  The artificial sweetener aspartame causes memory loss. Artificial sweeteners such as NutraSweet and Equal, which contain aspartame, were approved by the Food and Drug

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Alzheimer’s Disease: Facts Versus Fiction

On June 18, 2020   /   Blog  
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Alzheimer’s Disease: Facts Versus Fiction

The number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States is growing rapidly. So, too, are the number of myths surrounding the disease and other forms of dementia. Let’s begin by looking at what we do know about the prevalence of Alzheimer’s before investigating some of the more common myths. Approximately 5.5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease. Of these, some 5.3 million are 65 years of age or older. In addition: One in 10 people 65 and over has Alzheimer’s disease Nearly two out of three Americans with Alzheimer’s disease are women African-Americans are approximately twice as likely as older Caucasians to have Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia Hispanics are about one and one-half times as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias as older Caucasians As the population grows older, the number of new cases of Alzheimer’s disease is expected to soar Today,

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Are You Predisposed to Alzheimer’s Disease? What to Consider Before Taking A Genetic Test, Continued

On May 21, 2020   /   Blog  
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Are You Predisposed to Alzheimer’s Disease? What to Consider Before Taking A Genetic Test, Continued

It is important to note that if you take a genetic test and the results indicate you have APOE4, the genetic variant associated with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, you are not destined to develop Alzheimer’s. “It’s not a diagnosis,” said Ramos, “And it’s just one factor. Your chance of getting late-onset Alzheimer’s is a mix of your environment, family history and DNA. That can be a complicated message to tease out.” Even if you have one copy of the APOE4 variant, you are still unlikely to develop Alzheimer’s. For example, a woman with a single copy of APOE4 has a five to seven percent chance of getting Alzheimer’s by the age of 75. The rate increases to between 27 and 30 percent by age 85. (However, for women with two copies of the variant the risk increases to 60 percent by age 85.) In addition, there are a number of potential

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Are You Predisposed to Alzheimer’s Disease? What to Consider Before Taking a Genetic Test

On May 14, 2020   /   Blog  
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Are You Predisposed to Alzheimer’s Disease? What to Consider Before Taking a Genetic Test

It is now easy and relatively inexpensive for consumers to take tests that reveal basic information about their genetic health and ancestry. The market for such tests is booming, a trend that will likely continue following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recent streamlining of the approval process for bringing tests to market. One of the more popular tests, 23andMe, costs $199 and can reveal a number of genetic predispositions. For example, you can discover if you are predisposed to lactose intolerance or a tendency to drink a lot of coffee. It can also tell you whether or not you have one of the genetic markers that increase your chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The popularity of 23andMe and similar tests is understandable. If you know you have a risk for certain medical conditions, you can take steps to try and prevent them. You can avoid specific foods, take the

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