Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Diet, Exercise May Fend Off Dementia

Diet, Exercise May Fend Off Dementia, Study: Taking Care Of Your Body Can Help Preserve Your Brain - CBS News

Well I think we really already guessed that diet and exercise will improve our wellbeing and lives in numerous ways BUT now researchers have some proof.

This is a great article to catch up with whats going on at the current Confenxe on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders being held this week in Spain.

Sundowners Dementia -

Sundowner Dementia - Treatment of Sundown Syndrome

This article is great - it will explain exactly what Sundowner's Syndrome is and even has a great article on Treatments too.

I can vouch first hand that aromatherapy and massage are a brilliant treatment as it is used extensively at my Mum's Care Facility and the staff were amazed when they first began this process two years ago and how successful it was and still is.

Sundowner Syndrome - A story of Sundown Dementia and other disorders of Alzheimer's

Sundowner Syndrome - A story of Sundown Dementia and other disorders of Alzheimer's

I was looking for some information to share with you regarding Sundowners Sundrome and came across this beautifully moving story of Carol.

Gosh I've still got tears in my eyes, it's very moving stuff.

Please enjoy this, I just love sharing real people's experiences - it somehow brings me comfort on bad days to know that I'm not the only one going through this journey.

Monday, July 17, 2006

Fillings In Teeth & Dementia?

I had a light bulb moment! I really don't know whether there
is a connection or not but hindsight does have merit.

Anyway, what am I prattling on about - well I was reading an
article about the effect of mercury found in amalgan fillings in
our teeth and that there is some evidence to support that this
can affect memory.

Over the last few years my Mum's teeth had deteriorated to
a shocking state. Broken, chipped and badly decayed teeth.
It didn't help either that Mum wouldn't co-operate and open
her mouth long enough for somebody to clean her teeth
for her either.

A Dentist came to check Mum's teeth and concluded that they
were well past saving and that the best thing for Mum would
be to pull what was left of them out.

So about six weeks ago Mum had the first section of teeth
removed. It went really well. Mum was given a tablet just to
relax her and then whilst she lay in bed the Dentist went to
work removing her teeth.

To make a very long story short.

Mum is now eating so much better. Whereas before it was a
constant struggle to get Mum to open her mouth for food now
she eats easily.

It now very apparent that her teeth were giving her absolute
grief BUT it's so hard to tell isn't it - I mean Mum couldn't talk,
she showed no outward signs of pain or discomfort so it's
really difficult to tell - she was on pain killers just in case though.

The other morning when I went to visit Mum the staff greeted
me with excitement telling me that Mum had actually eaten her
lunch by herself - with utensils! Now that's something! Mum hasn't
feed herself for nearly a year.

Anyway the point of all this is Mum seems so much better in
so many ways lately and I just wondered to myself whether
having all that amalgum/mercury teeth fillings removed has
improved her overall.

Wouldn't that be a coincidence if it really did help Mum to remove
those nasty old fillings.

Americans Under 65 With Alzheimer's Disease

More Alzheimer's disease diagnosed in Americans under 65

Here is an interesting article for Carers of Alzheimer's sufferer's. You wouldn't want to be in this poor ladies shoes caring for a strong fit 57 year old with Alzheimer's disease - when he gets in a bad mood.

This raises the question though of the difficulties that carers have to face in this day and age as people become younger and younger as they are struck down with the Disease.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Vascular Dementia

Vascular Dementia: Symptoms, Prognosis, and Support

I just received a request from a subscriber to my Dementia Carers Support List. (You too can subscribe to my list by simply entering your name and email in the box where indicated on the right hand side of this page).

Anyway....the request was for more information regarding Vascular Dementia and I found this wonderful resource which outlines the symptoms, Prognosis and Support.

Now this link is fabulous because if you look where it says "On This Page" it has a link to "ebook contents" - by clicking on this link you find a complete ebook on Alzheimers, Dementia, Huntington's Disease, Lewy Body, Parkinson's, Pick's and so much more.

An excellent find, if I do say so myself.

Enjoy this resource. It has excellent tips for Caregivers too, which afterall is my purpose for helping you in the first place.

Cause of Frontotemporal Dementia

Mental Disorders > Cause of Frontotemporal Dementia

Well this is a very interesting article that I came across today.

It particularly interests me considering my mother suffers from FTP and it is a hereditary disease.

I'll have my fingers and toes crossed that scientists can determine the exact dosage of proganulin that our bodies need to prevent FTP and not create tumors.

Gosh it's such a fine line.

Beautiful Song by Kristine Theurer



Please do enjoy this beautiful song written specifically about an Alzheimer's sufferer.

A Checklist Of Symptoms To Look For

You should find this checklist of symptoms helpful:

Memory Loss
Lack of Concentration
Impaired reasoning and judgement skills
Confusion
Sleep patterns altered
Disorientation
Wandering
Impaired movement
Inability to dress appropriately
Inability to perform personal hygiene needs
Incontinence
Short term memory loss
Long term memory loss
Personality changes
Apathy
Eating problems
Misplacing items
Forgetting familiar people
Becoming lost in familiar places
Neglect of nutrition
Inability to drive
Repeating questions
Hallucinations
Disorganization
Paranoid
Indecision
Confusion

Whilst all of these symptoms may not present themselves, it's usually a combination of one, two or more that will bring rise for concern. Please consult a physician should you suspect that your loved one may be suffering from Dementia or Alzheimer's Disease.

Friday, July 14, 2006

Dementia Carers Need To Know This

Dementia

This wonderful article will give you seven great tips that you should implement if you are a carer of a Dementia or Alzhiemer's Sufferer.

Please also note the great list of fourteen points of what you may expect to deal with during the course of the Disease.

Moving Article On Dementia

A Mother's Love, Clarified

This moving article was in the Washington Post today and I just had to share it with you, I don't want you to miss the different aspects and view points of the effect of this Disease.

Dementia Defined By Wikipedia

Dementia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you love reading all the technical terminology then you will love this link to Dementia in Wikipedia.

It goes into extreme detail regarding symptoms, causes, treatment and diagnosis.

It's extremely helpful if you really need to get your mind around the whole subject to Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.

There are lots and lots of links in the article so that you can almost narrow down exactly what form of Dementia or Alzheimer's Disease you need to know about.

Early Planning Is Key To Success

Dementia - early planning will help
Early Planning really is imperative!

I'm so thankful that my mum had the foresight to prepare an Enduring Power of Attorney and have her Will upto date.

Even if you don't suffer from the debiliating disease it's a great tip to think ahead and be prepared.

Some excellent tips and on the link to this post.

Personal Care - Dressing

Dementia - how carers can help with dressing
Dressing can become more and more difficult for the sufferer. My mum would find it difficult to do up buttons and zips on skirts.

Mum would also start "layering" her clothing, which is quite a common practice for Dementia patients - Mum would put on maybe three different shirts and two skirts at once - getting completely confused as well.

What seems like a really simply task to us becomes incressingly difficult for them because they actually completely loose the ability to recognize and process what item of clothing goes on in what order and also how to put it on.

Patience and laying clothing out in the order it should be put on can assist in the early stages.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

You'll Need The Tissues To Watch This!

YouTube - Darkness




This is superb, so beautiful, so moving, so real and true.

Warning! You will need the tissues standing by to watch this.

You'll Need The Tissues To Watch This!

YouTube - Darkness
I Have Alzheimer Disease: Shared Experiences
Gosh this will be fabulous - what a great resource the Alzheimer's Association has put together here.

My clicking on the link you will be whisked away to a superb website where you can listen first hand to experiences of a real sufferer dealing with the journey.

Please do enjoy.

Frontotemporal Dementia Explained



Oh my goodness I've hit the jackpot!

I've found this wonderful 12 page Newsletter which will explain in detail what FTP is AND the difference between this form of Dementia (which my mother suffers from by the way) and Alzheimer's Disease (which my Aunt suffers from).

I haven't even had a chance to read the whole article yet, I was so anxious to post it for you to read first.

*Remember to access this great information you simply click on the link in the heading of this post*

Carer Support Is Here



This is an excellent read for Dementia/Alzheimer's Carers.

Really, if you have just be thrust into a caring situation and you are a bit lost, have a read of this excellent article.

Carers are no longer the forgotton patient.

Handy Dementia Factsheet



I know this will be usefull for you - it's a Dementia Factsheet which will outline various points including:

What Is Dementia?
Determining the Prescence of Dementia.
The causes of Dementia.

Very Good Information Sheet to keep.

Simply click the heading and you will be directed to the Factsheet.