The medicine and healthcare regulatory agency (U.S.) has apparently received reports of multiple patches being applied to patients and patches not being removed in a timely manner.
The drug used in the Alzheimers patch is rivastigmine (Exelon) and is used to treat mild to moderate stages.
The overdose warning says that in all cases of suspected overdose, all patches should be immediately removed and none reapplied for 24 hours.
Bottom Line
As always follow the label on all medications.
Dr Sudha Seshadri – lead researcher on this study from Boston University School of Medicine measured body mass index, waist circumference, and scanning to evaluate the amount of belly fat.
The study showed (as has other studies) that as belly fat increased, brain volume decreased. But it also correlated with Alzheimers. Note the total body weight was correlated, just the amount of fat residing between internal organs (belly fat) so bigger is OK – fat is not.
So we all know that excess weight correlates highly to high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes; now we can add Alzheimers to that list.
One more reason to keep losing weight he says having dropped 20 pounds by exercise in the past year.
The quick version of this Alzheimers test is that it’s research.
But given that individuals with Down’s Disease (virtually all) get Alzheimers then looking at their characteristics may help researchers with new treatments.
Turns out the amyloid protein associated with Alzheimers is also found in the eyes of Down’s disease patients.
It is therefore possible according to lead researcher Dr. Lee Goldstein of Boston University School of Medicine that a test could be devised to measure the level of protein in eyes and correlate it to the existence of the protein in the brain. (note that now, the only test is post-mortem dissection/evaluation).
She reported a clinical review of 2 other studies found similar results – in the range of 4% to 2% in those using aspirin versus 0% in those not using aspirin.
This risk has been described as falling short of recommending against asprin but certainly suggesting caution, reduced use of aspirin and requiring further study.
19th European Stroke Conference (ESC) May 26/2010 Aspirin in Alzheimer’s Disease: Relatively High Risk of Intracerebral Haemorrhage. Abstract 695
The early Alzheimers patients recognized 40% of the sung words versus 28% of spoken words. The control group didn’t show that much of a difference recognizing 77% of sung versus 74% of spoken.
So the question posed by this study is whether music can help Alzheimer’s patients with memory retention?
In my mother’s case, one of the few things she still remembers are the words to songs. She doesn’t recognize the grandchildren, but she does remember the words to songs from 70 years ago with almost perfect recall. And she can be found in the front row of the sing-songs in the nursing home belting them out with her amazingly clear voice.
Nothing scientific (although a good question) here for you to do but something to keep in mind about making things rhyme or humming instructions in humorous ways if the information may be important. It may help ….
If you’re looking for the Alzheimer’s Association, then here are some useful links.
The US Alzheimer’s Assoc. You’ll be able to find state organizations from this point.
Alzheimer’s Resources in the United Kingdom
Each of these Associations provides a range of services (mostly information) that is quite useful and accurate as far as they know.
There are also individual Alzheimers Associations in individual states and provinces although the strength and usefullness of these would
appear to vary between jurisdictions.
These caregivers also reported a very high incidence of mood swings and disorientation and almost 23 percent said they had been scared or threatened by their patient’s behavior.The interesting part of the report suggested that those in caregiver roles were somewhat comfortable talking to others (outside the immediate family) about disorientation and mood swings but drew the line when it came to aggressive behavior – not wanting to talk about these with non-family members.
It is also reported that caregivers reported extra fatigue, difficulties with sleeping, head aches, and weight gain.
Bottom line:
It’s pretty tough to talk about one of your loved ones when their behavior is clearly aggressive or anti-social.
And this is the time caregivers really need support.It’s a tough role to be in for sure but understand that others are dealing with similar issues and are just as reticent to discuss it as you are.
Note this doesn’t repair brain cells after permanent damage has occurred. Researchers at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge researched the small axons that connect brain cells together. The found that these axons started swelling and are damaged and die before brain cells die. This process of axon death can take up to four months according to the researchers.
Publishing test results in the journal “Brain” Dr. Michael Coleman suggested that drugs could be developed that would repair or bring these axons back to life if caught early enough. There would appear to be a window of opportunity to repair preliminary damage or reconnect the brain cells that are not yet dead.
This is quite experimental work and no drugs or clinical trials are yet underway but it would seem to hold promise for future work in slowing, stopping or reversing Alzheimers disease. But at the present time, reversing Alzheimers isn’t possible.
A report in the Journal of the Geriatrics Society reports that a study being done on seniors with sleep apnea, improved the cognitive function of those with Alzheimers.
Sleep apne treatments involve opening up the airways into the lungs with positive air pressure during sleep. This forces extra oxygen into the lungs in a non-invasive way.
The sleeper simply wears a small oxygen mask while sleeping.
Sleep apnea happens when the airways become blocked during sleep periods, cutting off breathing and the major symptom is extremely loud snoring,
Seniors with sleep apnea should clearly be treated with positive air pressure systems and that improvements in the Alzheimer’s were seen after only 3 weeks of oxygen treatment.
No effect was seen on the placebo group in this treatment for Alzheimers Disease
Scientists now think there’s a correlation between having diabetes and getting Alzheimers. In fact, not only getting Alzheimer’s but a faster decline once you have it.
Diabetes apparently damages blood vessels leading to the brain and has been known to cause a vascular dementia where the brain slows down functioning because of a lack of blood flow.
Now apparently the distinction between this vascular dementia and full blown Alzheimer’s is diminishing.
Get your weight under control and watch the sugar intakes. Get that old regular checkup and let your doctor know what you’re trying to do.
Because the real bottom line here is that if the docs can’t tell the difference between the two problems – then neither can you or your family.