Decade after menopause poses highest risk of Alzheimer's for women with ApoE4 gene

Recent research has challenged previously accepted notions that the gene variant ApoE4 gave its female carriers a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s than men. older woman thinking in a park

A team of researchers led by Dr. Scott Neu of the University of Southern California and supported in part by NIA found that gender differences in Alzheimer’s risk are not as clear as once thought, and that the decade or so after menopause poses the most significant risk for women. The scientists examined clinical and genetic data from nearly 58,000 study participants to provide a more detailed, nuanced picture of sex difference and the gene variant.

Communication Tips for Dementia Caregivers

As dementia progresses, the person affected may begin to have trouble communicating.

While the exact progression of the disease is different for each person, it is common for them to repeat stories or not be able to find the words they need to get their point across. Other communication issues may include disorganized speech, easily losing track of thoughts and speaking in tangents, inventing new words, speaking less or speaking in a native language.

Supporting America's modern heroes

Halima Amjad, MD, MPH, recalls a time when her father wandered into the kitchen as her mother prepared dinner, snatched a piece of raw chicken and put it in his mouth. Her mother, and his wife of 37 years, yelled and ran toward him, ignoring the pain in her arthritic knee, and quickly yanked the chicken out of his mouth. The now-retired dentist was living with frontotemporal dementia.

Reeling in the years: dementia-friendly screenings make cinema accessible to all

It’s a little after 1.30pm on a Wednesday and a crowd has gathered outside the Rio cinema in Dalston, east London. The first film of the day will not start for another hour, but regulars to the monthly classic matinee are eager to grab their favourite seats.

The matinee is aimed at the community’s senior citizens and all the screenings are dementia-friendly. Cinemagoers are greeted warmly by the familiar faces of the Rio’s staff, who take their orders for tea, coffee and cake – all free with the £2 ticket.

5 Self-Care Tips for Caregivers

aregivers are an important part of any care facility or at-home service. However, sometimes there’s such heavy focus on their duties that those providing care forget to also give adequate care to themselves.

In an effort to do the best they can for their senior counterparts, most caregivers skip meals, suffer sleep depravation, and much more. Even though we understand the drive behind their need to be there for their patients, you can help others best when you first help yourself.

Getting Your Siblings to Help With Caregiving

When an elderly parent’s health begins to fail, one adult child generally assumes the role of primary caregiver. While this arrangement may work well for a time, it can eventually lead to resentment when you find yourself shouldering most of the burden—especially if other siblings live nearby and still don’t help out.

Before you say or do something that you’ll regret later, it’s important to take a look at why you accepted this responsibility in the first place, says Lynne Coon, M.S., a licensed professional counselor in Portland, Oregon.

Tapping the Creative Brain for People With Alzheimer's and Related Diseases

his summer, a choir of nonprofessional singers with dementia performed its 23rd concert at Saint Peter’s Church in New York City. Founded in 2011, the Unforgettables learn new songs for each performance—even though many can’t remember what they ate for breakfast.

Simple Strategies for Caregivers to Practice Self-Care

Caregivers have a difficult time getting away from caregiving to take a vacation or even a spa day. However, it is critical to a caregiver’s well-being to take time for themselves and practice self-care. So, how can you work self-care into your life to preserve your well-being? I’ve rounded up 20 easy self-care activities you can do at home that take less than 20 minutes. 

Alzheimer's Caregiving: Caring for Yourself

Taking care of yourself—physically and mentally—is one of the most important things you can do as a caregiver. This could mean asking family members and friends to help out, doing things you enjoy, or getting help from a home health care service. Taking these actions can bring you some relief. It also may help keep you from getting ill or depressed.

Traveling with dementia: tips for family caregivers

Traveling with a loved one who has dementia requires special preparation. The Alzheimer's Foundation of America has some advice.

"Traveling is a fun and enjoyable way to reenergize your body and mind. It can be beneficial to people living with dementia and their family caregivers under the proper circumstances," said Charles Fuschillo Jr., foundation president and CEO.

Black Women Are Suffering From Alzheimer’s Disease And Nobody’s Talking About It

My grandmother had a morning ritual: She’d wake up around 6 a.m.; have some variation of coffee, crackers and sausage for breakfast; and then watch the Channel 4 news. Later, she would drive to the gas station for a few scratch-off tickets and to pick her lottery numbers. She’d always take the service road because she was afraid to drive the Dallas, Texas, freeways. 

Alzheimer's: Is Forgetfulness the First Sign?

Millions of aging boomers wonder if their memory lapses are the result of normal aging or a sign that they are developing Alzheimer’s. There’s some basis for the worry. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5 million people in the U.S. are living with it. One in three seniors will die with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia.

While these statistics are scary, you shouldn’t let them cloud the reality that many of us will age normally and will not develop AD, or any other type of dementia. Certainly, we will have some memory changes as we age. Improvements in our lifestyle may help mitigate some of those. Other changes we’ll just have to live with. So what is normal memory loss and when should we worry?