Causes of Memory Loss

Jan 17th, 11 / 0 Comments








When it comes to causes of memory loss, there are several things to consider.

The first is that it might not actually be “memory loss” but a lessening of concentration. So the “where did I leave my keys” problem we all have is not really a loss of memory but simply being distracted. And we do that from the time we’re walking until the time we stop walking. :-) The issue is (if you’re like me) you notice it more the older you get because you’re asking yourself the question, “Am I losing it?” And forgetting where you left your keys is normal. Now, if you forget where you left your keys and your car, we may need to chat.

Let’s deal with the big elephant in the room, Alzheimer’s. Memory loss is indeed one of the first symptoms of Alzheimers disease. No getting around this one, but the majority of your early concerns can’t be distinguished from normal “forgetting”.

Frontal Temporal Dementia is starting to hit the news and this may involve forgetting, it mostly involve a change in behavior in 45-65 year olds that may be mistaken for mid-life crisis or depression. There is a change in mood and behavior that may involve some forgetting of social matters. Talk to your doctor if your loved ones seem to be in this mode. It’s often misdiagnosed according to reports.

A big one for seniors is the interaction of different medications or medications all by themselves. A friend was diagnosed with a blood pressure issue and medications were prescribed. They then started to forget things and were not able to concentrate and family and friends were quite worried (it had followed a stroke). But a Net search of the mediation showed side effects similar to what they were experiencing and as soon as that medication was removed, the symptoms disappeared. Simply put the drug name (the complicated chemical name – not the sales name) into a Google search and read what pops up.

Can you rule out alcohol and drug abuse?

And when it comes to causes of memory loss, there are a wide range of physical diseases that create this condition. Unfortunately, none of them are particularly pleasant (brain tumors, fibromyalgia, meningitis, Parkinson’s, West Nile virus, thyroid problems, exposure to chemicals, and many, many more.)

The most important step is to insist on getting all the possible causes tested for if there is serious memory loss rather than accepting a quick diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

causes

New Avenues for Alzheimers Medication Research

Dec 15th, 10 / 0 Comments







When it comes to treating Alzheimer’s patients and developing Alzheimer’s medicines, Alzheimer’s experts have long believed that the brain of Alzheimers patients somehow were producing excess amounts of the beta amyloid plaque and this “gummed up” the brain causing cell death and brain deterioration.

Research just report in Science by Dr. Randall Bateman first has shown the opposite. While it is early days yet, this research shows that it’s not the production of the plaque that’s the problem, it’s the elimination of it.

Turns out that plaque is produced by all of us but healthy individuals eliminate the plaque. Those with Alzheimers do not eliminate it. And plaque is somehow necessary for normal brain functioning. Healthy people produce the beta amyloid and it disappears in 8 hours. Those with Alzheimer’s get rid of it 30% slower than the healthy person.

The beta amyloid is necessary for electric transmission of nerve impulses but too much of it acts like a brake on the system. The buildup creates a slowing down and eventual dying of the brain cells.

So now the research and Alzheimer’s medications can investigate the disposal system for plaque – how it gets eliminated from the brain and what medications we might use to speed this up.

Again – early days in the testing and findings but an entirely new approach has been announced.

medications, research, treatment

Tough Decisions with Alzheimers

Oct 15th, 10 / 10 Comments

Some days there isn’t enough coffee in the pot to make the morning right. And this is one of them.

Mom is in her nursing home now and well in the grips of the symptoms of later stage Alzheimers. And it’s time for tough decisions.

She watched her mother go through this and made me promise I’d never let her go through it – it was her worst nightmare. But she’s there.

The staff (who are being amazingly wonderful I note) are balancing on a thin rope here. Mom’s anxiety about not knowing where she is, or who she is or what’s happening leads to some physical behaviors – emesis, voiding etc – that are beyond her control. Scopolomine reduces the anxiety but leads to lowering her blood pressure so she passes out.

Reducing the medication leads to more aberrant behavior – the very ones that she made me promise to avoid – reducing her sense of human dignity to shreds.

There is no dose that provides both. It’s turning into a one or other decision over the last 6 months as her health declines further as the symptoms increase and the brain is shutting down.

Saying goodbye to a loved one – one week at a time – is tough for both of us. She responds to hugs now – but doesn’t know who’s giving them. All too brief sparks where her eyes light up as I show her – over and over on my laptop – the family pictures. Yesterday was the first day she didn’t want to be helped to the sunroom but wanted to stay in her bed while we talked.

So – for right or wrong – last night I told the nursing folks that it was more important to have human dignity for her than to live without it. To increase the medication to reduce her anxiety – to allow her whatever dignity she could salvage. Reducing the medication to prolong a life without dignity – without hope of a cure wasn’t what she wanted.

Increase the medication and allow her the dignity and lack of anxiety it could promise.

And yet, on this dull, rainy day, there is a hole in my soul.

support

Overdose warning on Alzheimers Patch

Jun 14th, 10 / 0 Comments







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.

medications

Alzheimers and Beer

Jun 7th, 10 / 1 Comment







So the amount of beer you drink – the amount of beer belly you carry – directly correlates to the size of your brain and is correlated with Alzheimers.

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.

causes, research

Eye Test for Alzheimers

Jun 7th, 10 / 0 Comments

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).







diagnosis

Aspirin and Alzheimers

May 31st, 10 / 0 Comments







Dr. Hanneke Thoonsen, MD, Department of Neurology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands has reported on a study that found a higher risk for inracerebral haemorrhages (bleeding in the brain associated with hemorrhagic stroke) with Alzheimer’s patients using aspirin versus those who did not.

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

medications, treatment

Music and Alzheimers

May 17th, 10 / 0 Comments







Boston University neuroscientist Brandon Ally reports that he and some colleagues tested a small group diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s and 14 healthy adults to compare how they recognized song lyrics. All participants were shown the lyrics on a computer screen but in half the group, a woman “sang” the words and in the other half, she “spoke” the words.

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.

Bottom Line

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 ….

lifestyle, research

Alzheimers Association

May 10th, 10 / 1 Comment

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.

The Canadian Organization

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.

support

Alzheimers Support Issues

May 10th, 10 / 0 Comments







In a poll in Toronto on Alzheimer’s support issues, just over 500 caregivers were asked about the level of aggression of their family members suffering from Alzheimer’s.The majority of those caregivers had observed agitation while approximately one-third had
seen aggression towards themselves.

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.

research, support