Sundowning is a big problem for Alzheimer's caregivers

The study helps explain "sundowning", an anxiety syndrome in dementia patients.

I found this research study interesting. I say this because I learned it is easier to deal with a problem and solve a problem if you first learn what is causing the problem. Understanding the cause of a problem provides a foundation on which a caregiver can build -- a necessary frame of reference.

To read the study and additional information in the Alzheimer's Reading Room go here.

Sundowning, an Anxiety Syndrome in Elderly Dementia Patients

Bing Keyword Search - do i leave an alzheimer's person alone

A reader searched Bing with the following keyword search

do i leave an alzheimer's person alone

They then selected this headline from Bing

You Can't Leave a Person with Alzheimer's Alone

It took me a while to understand how my mother might be feeling when I went out and left her alone at home.

AOL Keyword Search - dementia patient mean

How can you get a person living with dementia to stop saying mean and hurtful things to you?

It is not unusual for Alzheimer's dementia caregivers to search for information on meanness.

A reader searched AOL using these keywords

dementia patient mean.

As one of the alternatives AOL offered up this headline and the reader went to the Alzheimer's Reading Room to read,

When Dementia Patients Say Mean Things, What Can You Do?

Types of Dementia

Dementia is a an illness that usually occurs slowly over time, and usually includes a progressive state of deterioration. 

The earliest signs of dementia are usually memory problems, confusion, and changes in the way a person behaves and communicates.

Cognitive symptoms of dementia can include poor problem solving, difficulty learning new skills, and impaired decision making. Behavior changes can include fear, insecurity, anger, and often, depression like symptoms.

Dementia is caused by various diseases and conditions that result in damaged brain cells. Brain cells can be destroyed by brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, or strokes (called vascular or multi-infarct dementia), which decrease blood flow to the brain.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia.

Dementia and Eight Types of Dementia

To learn more about Alzheimer's and Dementia care visit the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Families Learn Alzheimer's May Not Be Alzheimer's Instead It's

Many will discover it’s not Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease at all that impairs function, instead its Lewy body dementia (LBD), the second most common form of progressive dementia after Alzheimer’s disease.

How to Express Sympathy to a Friend Grieving the Death of a Loved One

How can you comfort someone grieving the death of a loved one? What can you say that might adequately offer solace? "I'm sorry" doesn't seem to cut it.

URL:  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703555804...

Good list of Do's and Don't.

See this Amp at http://on.wsj.com/fOtK9j

Alzheimer's Quote, She Said, He Said

Its almost like you have leprosy, Jim Luckey on Alzheimer's.

Simple word games dementia

Activities as simple as structured discussion groups and word games can benefit memory and thinking for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

A Yahoo keyword search from a person looking for information on dementia and word games lead to the following article in the Alzheimer's Reading Room.

Yahoo Keywords - Simple word games dementia

Simple Structured Discussions and Word Games Beneficial for People with Dementia