Why Women? Studying the Role of Gender in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease hits women harder than men. Nearly two-thirds of Americans who have Alzheimer’s are women, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Worldwide, 47 million people are living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias — including nearly 6 million in the United States — so the number of women affected is staggering.

The neurodegenerative disorder’s most common form, called late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, occurs after age 65.

“We know Alzheimer’s disease can start 10 to 20 years before diagnosis,” said Roberta Diaz Brinton, a leading expert in Alzheimer’s disease biology and therapeutic development and inaugural director of the Center for Innovation in Brain Science at the University of Arizona Health Sciences.

Conflicted caregiving: When anger, resentment get in the way

The issue: Overcoming past family difficulties when providing elder care can be challenging.

Why it matters: When people find themselves in the role of a long-term caregiver — and still carry burdens of the past — they need to work through their feelings so resentment, anger and guilt don’t consume them.

Federally Funded Companions Keep Seniors Connected To Their Neighbors

Isolation is an issue for many seniors, especially in rural places. It can lead to loneliness, which many experts consider a serious public health issue.

That's where Kitty Gee comes in.

Gee, a spry 87-year-old lives in western Maine, which is known for having picturesque rural mountain landscapes and an aging population. Five years ago, she decided to join a federal grant program that combats senior loneliness the old fashioned way: by sending visitors door to door.

Why Older Adults Should Eat More Protein (And Not Overdo Protein Shakes)

Older adults need to eat more protein-rich foods when losing weight, dealing with a chronic or acute illness, or facing a hospitalization, according to a growing consensus among scientists.

During these stressful periods, aging bodies process protein less efficiently and need more of it to maintain muscle mass and strength, bone health and other essential physiological functions.

10 Things People With Dementia Wish Their Caregivers Knew

People living with dementia are the only ones who really understand what it’s like to live with their form of the disease, whether it’s Alzheimer’s or another type such as frontotemporal (FTD) or Lewy body (LBD). Sadly, the ability to communicate becomes compromised by dementia. That being said, care partners can, if we take time to search out the meaning behind their words or actions, continue to improve the care provided. Here are some tips that can help you.

How caregivers handle the stress and find support

Sandra Dennis recalls moving into her father’s Englewood, Ill., home after he started showing signs of dementia in his late 70s. She recalls the mental and physical drain of caring for him, including a back injury requiring surgery.

Dennis, 65, lives in Richton Park, Ill., and tends to her daughter who suffers from health issues related to pulmonary hypertension. She tries to balance those duties with self-care, including keeping her shoulder healthy after a torn rotator cuff also required surgery.

Adapting Activities for People with Alzheimer's Disease

Doing things we enjoy gives us pleasure and adds meaning to our lives. People with Alzheimer's disease need to be active and do things they enjoy. However, don't expect too much. It's not easy for them to plan their days and do different tasks.

People with Alzheimer's may have trouble deciding what to do each day, which could make them fearful and worried or quiet and withdrawn, or they may have trouble starting tasks. Remember, the person is not being lazy. He or she might need help organizing the day or doing an activity.

Holiday Hints for Alzheimer's Caregivers

Holidays can be meaningful, enriching times for both the person with Alzheimer’s disease and his or her family. Maintaining or adapting family rituals and traditions helps all family members feel a sense of belonging and family identity. For a person with Alzheimer’s, this link with a familiar past is reassuring.

However, when celebrations, special events, or holidays include many people, this can cause confusion and anxiety for a person with Alzheimer’s. He or she may find some situations easier and more pleasurable than others. The tips below can help you and the person with Alzheimer’s visit and reconnect with family, friends, and neighbors during holidays. 

Alzheimer's Is Much More Than Just One Disease, Says New Research

Classifying diseases is much more than a label we slap onto a set of symptoms. It can also help shape the way we perceive and even treat certain conditions.

A new study has called for a new approach to classify patients with Alzheimer’s, arguing it’s not simply one disease and instead can be divided into at least six factions. By splitting up the condition into more subgroups, the researchers hope that medical professionals will be able to deliver better, more personalized treatments for people whose condition doesn't necessarily fit into a one-size-fits-all category.

Contrasting Approaches to Planning for Long-Term Care Needs

In last week’s post, I highlighted a recent article that discussed the advice that caregivers of a family member who has Alzheimer’s disease would share with others who are newly embarking on this labor of love. Much of the advice centered around the emotional and financial challenges that caregiving can present and the need to prioritize self-care.

Coincidentally, a family friend sent me an email last week updating me on her own family’s experiences with caring for her widowed mother-in-law (“Grandma,” as they call her), who suffers from dementia, and I asked her if I might share some of her insights with our blog readers.

Stop Competing for Caregiving Control

Laura had heard the cliché about the primary caregiver of an aging parent who is ignored by neglectful siblings. She just sometimes wished it were true for her. In the excitable and opinionated family of seven in which she grew up, everyone needed to have their say on everything. Little wonder, then, that her siblings now constantly questioned whatever decisions she made for their 88-year-old Italian American mother. Whether it was scheduling medical appointments or home health aides, no caregiving choice appeared too insignificant for them to debate with her and each other. She didn’t begrudge them the right to speak their minds; this was their mother, too. But she grew defensive and weary with the frequent arguments.

Alzheimer's Q&A: What are some gift suggestions for people with Alzheimer's or dementia and their caregivers?

The gift of time is always perfect for someone with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

People going through this journey appreciate companionship and socialization because they feel isolated most of the time. Some examples of activities include taking them on a car ride, giving a soothing hand massage with scented lotions, involving them in holiday decorating and cooking or looking at photo albums together.