Is Alzheimer's Everywhere?

My name is Bob DeMarco, I am an Alzheimer's caregiver. My mother Dorothy, now 93 years old, suffers from Alzheimer's.

Is Alzheimer's everywhere?

I don't get out much these days. But, I make an effort to take my mother out every Friday night. We always go to a place where we can easily interact with people. This is part of the effort to keep my mother socialized and in the "world".

Last night, we went to Vic and Angelo's in downtown Delray Beach, Florida. A really fantastic venue. If you click on the image to the left, you'll hear a nice rendition of a song you might recognize.

Usually I stand and my mother sits. Since I always have a smile on my face, people find it easy to approach and talk with me.

Last night, I had a conversation with a woman and a man that were waiting to go inside (we were eating on the outside). Sure enough, the woman told me about her mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at 58. She was a little surprised to see me, and my 93 year old out and about.

Now to my point. We went to Vic and Angelo's three out of the last four Friday's. And, every time I met someone that was related to a sufferer of Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's seems to be everywhere.

Advice and Insight into Alzheimer's disease
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100 Million Adults Touched by Alzheimer's

Examining the Impact of Alzheimer's Disease in America

More than half of Americans report that they have been touched by someone (living or deceased) who has Alzheimer's disease, and roughly a third of Americans are worried about getting Alzheimer's. The majority of Americans have a poor understanding of the fatal and progressive brain disease and the extent of its impact on individuals and society.

These are among the key findings of the HBO ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT/HARRIS INTERACTIVE CENSUS, a new survey that reveals the impact of Alzheimer's, what Americans think about the disease, and how it has affected them, their relatives and friends.

The survey found that:

• 54% of the U.S. population, or more than 100 million people, has been touched in some way by Alzheimer's.
• More than half (52%) of those surveyed reported knowing someone living with the disease or someone who had it, but is now deceased.

Source HBO and Harris Interactive

Original content the Alzheimer's Reading Room

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• 2009 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
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Bob DeMarco is an Alzheimer's caregiver and editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one website on the Internet for advice and insight into Alzheimer's disease. Bob taught at the University of Georgia, was an executive at Bear Stearns, the CEO of IP Group, and is a mentor. He has written more than 700 articles with more than 18,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

Does the Combination of Aricept and Namenda Help Slow the Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Patients

My name is Bob DeMarco, I am an Alzheimer's caregiver. My mother Dorothy, now 93 years old, suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

A year ago, my mother's Alzheimer's disease started to worsen. As a result, I was both concerned and worried.

At the same time, I read a new research study about the combination of Aricept and Namenda as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

"The results of this study should change the way we treat patients with Alzheimer's disease. Cholinesterase inhibitors are approved for use in mild to moderate dementia, while memantine has been approved for advanced dementia. But it looks like there is an advantage in prescribing both drugs as initial treatment."--John Growdon, MD

The results of the research study indicated that the combination of Aricept and Namenda helped slow the rate of decline in Alzheimer's patients.

To continue reading go here.

Original content the Alzheimer's Reading Room.

The Complete Eldercare Planner, Revised and Updated Edition: Where to Start, Which Questions to Ask, and How to Find Help

What is a Mediterranean Style Diet?

More American's--especially the baby boom generation--are learning the importance of eating healthy. Research studies indicate that eating Mediterranean-style seems to reduces the risk of mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer's.

There are numerous studies that indicate this style of eating helps reduce cardiovascular risk factors like high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes.

All of the above are linked to Alzheimer's. I have wrote about about all these topics previously on this blog.

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The Mediterranean diet is a heart-healthy eating plan combining elements of Mediterranean-style cooking. Here are some good examples of foods on a Mediterranean-style diet?

• Whole-grain breads
  
• Pasta
• Whole fruits: baby carrots, apples and bananas
  
• Vegetables: spinach, eggplant, tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, garlic, capers
  
• Nuts: almonds, walnuts
  
• Fish: salmon, water-packed tuna, salmon, trout, mackerel
• Red wine or purple juice
• Natural peanut butter (no hydrogenated fat added)
  

Here are some additional tips:

• Use butter sparingly. "Low fat" or "cholesterol-free" on the label doesn't mean a product is necessarily good for you--think trans fats
  
• Substitute fish and poultry for red meat. Avoid sausage, bacon and other high-fat meats.
• Limit higher fat dairy products such as whole or 2 percent milk, cheese and ice cream. Switch to skim milk, fat-free yogurt and low-fat cheese.

I find myself rubbing olive oil on just about everything these days. I also give my mother two olives a day. Seems to work, so I am an advocate.

Bon Appetite.

Go here to read -- Mediterranean Diet and Exercise Cut the Risk of Alzheimer's Risk by 60 Percent

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• The Alzheimer's Reading Room--Press Release
• Test Your Memory (TYM) for Alzheimer's or Dementia in Five Minutes
• Questions About Test Your Memory (TYM) for Alzheimers and Dementia
• Dimebon Clinical Trial?
• The Thyroid and Alzheimer's
• Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?
• Flavanol-rich Cocoa Consumption Improves Blood Flow to the Brain
  
• A Simple Three Minute Test Can Detect the Earliest Stage of Alzheimer's Disease
• Eli Lilly Launches Two Late Stage Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's (LY2062430)
• Is it Really Alzheimer's or Something Else?
• Wii a Useful Tool for Alzheimer's Caregivers
• Five Ways to Keep Alzheimer's Away
• 2009 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
• The Mini-Cog Test for Alzheimer's and Dementia
• What is Dementia?
• A Real Solution to the Health Care Crisis
• 80 Percent of Medical Bills Contain Errors -- Fighting Mistakes

Bob DeMarco is an Alzheimer's caregiver and editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one website on the Internet for advice and insight into Alzheimer's disease. Bob taught at the University of Georgia, was an executive at Bear Stearns, the CEO of IP Group, and is a mentor. He has written more than 700 articles with more than 18,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

Original content the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Alzheimer's Reading Room Flashback

Americans Fear Alzheimer’s More Than Heart Disease, Diabetes or Stroke
A study by the MetLife Foundation found that Americans fear getting Alzheimer's disease more than heart disease, stroke, or diabetes. Alzheimer's ranks second in the minds of American's only to cancer.
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The Seven Stages of Alzheimer's
Experts have documented common patterns of symptom progression that occur in many individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and developed several methods of “staging” based on these patterns.
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James Smith: I'm 45 Years Old, I can't have Alzheimer's
My doctors initially diagnosed it as possible depression. I accepted the diagnosis, and started taking the medications they prescribed. The medications didn’t change the symptoms, even after taking them for several months. Also, the doctors noted that I didn’t seem to exhibit other signs of depression.
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Keeping time with Alzheimer's
"When guilt catches up with me, I am on the bike path above the creek, ducks swimming along beside me. Guilt rolls off our backs like you know what. Alone at last, I walk at my own pace. Fast. Fast is what Ben can no longer do -- and fast is slow compared with the woman coming toward me as I near the marsh. She is wearing shorts and earphones. She smiles and I smile back. What a good idea this is, walking out in the sun and cold. What could produce better clarity? I don't have to work it out the first day. I don't have to do it right the first time."
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The Alzheimer's Action Plan: The Experts' Guide to the Best Diagnosis and Treatment for Memory Problems

Meet Angil Tarach RN

Follow the link link in the clip to AnnArbor.com to continue reading.

clipped from www.annarbor.com Currently there are between 45 and 60 million people providing care for a loved one in the US. As 77 million Baby Boomers age that number is expected to more than double. I see families on a daily basis who have found themselves facing an unexpected illness or injury with a spouse, parent, or loved one, and are struggling to figure out the healthcare maze. I believe knowledge is power. The focus of my blogs will be to help people in our community by sharing 30+ years of my experience and education, so they are better equipped to handle and make decisions, and reduce their stress level, if or when they find themselves facing a crisis. I have spent time with thousands of seniors and their families. Every person and family is unique, and has their own unique set of circumstances, but the situations they face are common among our senior population. we as a nation need to provide better care and treatment of our older citizens.