Alzheimer's: Groundbreaking plan aims to target root cause

There are currently no treatments that cure or slow Alzheimer's. Now, for the first time since scientists recently agreed that the cause most likely lies in toxic clumps of oligomer protein, a strategy for creating drugs to target them has emerged.

Alzheimer's, which is a neurological condition, gradually kills brain cells.

This plan is the result of joint work between the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom and Lund University in Sweden.

A paper about the study is shortly to appear in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Intervention Reduces Chances of Falling Among Older Adults

A “fall plan of care” can help spare older adults from fall-related hospitalizations, researchers report.

A team at the State University of New York at Binghamton reported that older adults who were enrolled in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiative experienced better outcomes. The initiative aims for fall prevention by raising awareness and discussing strategies with potential victims.

The research, published in the September issue of the Gerontologist, showed that those deemed at risk for falls who had a “fall plan of care” were 40 percent less likely to experience a fall-related hospitalization than those who were at risk but did not have such a plan.

Fall and Fire Safety Measures for Seniors

According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), one in four Americans 65 years and older fall every year, and falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries among this population as well. Seniors at 65 years are also twice as likely to be injured or killed in a fire compared to the overall population (and three times as likely at 75 years; four times at 85 years). The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offers a program, Remembering When, that focuses on fire prevention and fall prevention for seniors.  Do you live in a high-risk fire state or in a state with the inclement weather where falls from icy conditions are common? The program is designed to be used by senior housing communities, local fire stations, various volunteer service organizations, etc. to present to local senior populations. 

5 Hospital Safety Hazards You Need to Know About

We go to hospitals are when we’re sick and in need of medical care. We expect that we’ll get better and then return to our lives. However, hospitals can also be very risky environments, exposing patients to dangerous pathogens and infections and potential medical errors. Knowledge is power and especially powerful when it comes to healthcare. Knowing what to look for and how to minimize the risk of a dangerous safety hazard, can help make your family member’s stay as safe and comfortable as possible.

When Is the Right Time for Hospice Care?

When my 91-year-old father returned from the hospital after a bout of pneumonia and was readmitted scarcely a week later, his doctor suggested that hospice care was probably a good idea. He was extremely frail and barely able to walk. His overall health wasn’t improving.

Like most people eyeing hospice care as the end stage of medical intervention, I was reluctant to make that decision. What if he could get better? Wasn’t hospice only for people with a few weeks — or days — to live? Was I being unrealistic about his condition?

The State of Caregiving for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia 2018

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. It progressively impacts a person’s memory, judgement, language, and independence. Once a family’s hidden burden, Alzheimer’s is now becoming a dominant public health concern. Its numbers have grown and will continue to at an alarming rate as millions more Americans age into the disease and a cure remains out of reach.

NCBAC™ Announces Two New Publications In Support of Elder Care

 One earmark of professional certifications is that individuals holding the certification need to commit to additional education annually. The continuing education (CEs) is aimed at helping individuals update their knowledge and stay current in their work.

In June, NCBAC will begin publication of two monthly newsletters aimed at helping professionals with key certifications stay current in their work.

Those holding Certified Alzheimer Educator (CAEd™) and Certified Alzheimer Caregiver (CAC™) will benefit from the new "Certified Caregiver Update". the first edition will be available in mid-June of this year. The Update will feature articles and professional tips from those working in the field. Quiz questions can count toward CE requirements.

National Certification Board for Alzheimer and Aging Care (NCBAC) Releases Enhanced Version of Certified Alzheimer Educator Course (CAEd™)

The National Certification Board for Alzheimer and Aging Care (NCBAC™) is releasing a newly enhanced version of its Certified Alzheimer Educator course. The course prepares the candidate to take the exam and upon successful completion, become certified and able to use the CAEd™ credential.

The NCBAC organization, which is dedicated to excellence in elder care, previously released a new revision of the Certified Alzheimer Caregiver course (CAC™) in early March.

7 Ways to Talk to Someone With Dementia

What’s worse than finding out your loved one has Alzheimer’s? Getting an Alzheimer’s diagnosis yourself. And the stigma and social isolation that comes with the disease is no help when the loneliness starts to set in, according to dementia patients.

“There is a big stigma. I think there’s a fear of, ‘How do I talk to that person?’,” said Pamela Roberts, 61, who has dementia. “But I’m still me, I can still hold a conversation, I can still recognize people and even when I can’t, I still want to be talked to the same.”

Brain Circuit Could be Key to Alzheimer's 'Sundowning'

New research uncovers a circuit in the brains of mice that links circadian rhythm and aggression. The researchers have developed special protein tools capable of turning off the cells in the brain causing the behavior.

The discovery is particularly relevant to Alzheimer’s patients who experience increased aggression at night.

Thought Leaders Want Alzheimer's At The Top Of G20 Agenda

Some of the leading experts on Alzheimer’s and dementia globally are asking the wealthiest countries in the world to put Alzheimer’s disease at the top of the 2019 G20 Osaka Summit Agenda.

Thought leaders, researchers and scientists from around the world last week released a Consensus Statement and Research Framework that outlines the urgent need to adopt Aging and Dementia as a theme of the G20 Summit next year, and puts forward recommendations on what exactly they want to see done about the disease that is fast becoming a global crisis.

Here's Exactly How Many Nights of Bad Sleep You Can Get Before Raising Your Alzheimer's Risk

Just about every professional--myself included--has lost sleep for work at some point. But as the number of people with Alzheimer's disease has climbed, scientists have grown increasingly suspicious that sleep deprivation plays a role in the development of the condition. But how many nights can you go before the creases in your pillow spell out brain trouble?

Apparently, just one.