Dementia

The word 'Dementia' comes from the Latin 'de' meaning 'apart' and 'men'
from the genitive mentis meaning 'mind'. Dementia is the progressive deterioration in cognitive function-the ability to process thought (intelligence). Progressive means the symptoms will gradually get worse.     

Most of us start worrying about dementia after retirement - and that may be too little, too late. Experts say that if you really want to ward off dementia, you need to start taking care of your brain in your 30s and 40s - or even earlier.
  "More and more research is suggesting that lifestyle is very important to your brain's health," says Dr. Paul Nussbaum, a neuropsychologist and an adjunct associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "If you want to live a long, healthy life, then many of us need to start as early as we can." 
  So what can you do to beef up your brain - and possibly ward off dementia?  Nussbaum, who recently gave a speech on the topic for the Winter Park (Fla.) Health Foundation, offers 20 tips that may help. 

1)     Join clubs or organizations that need volunteers.  If you start volunteering now, you won't feel lost and unneeded after you retire. 

2)      Develop a hobby or two.  Hobbies help you develop a robust brain because you're trying something new and complex. 

3) Practise writing with your non-dominant hand several minutes everyday.  This will exercise the opposite side of your brain and fire up those neurons.

 4) Take dance lessons. In a study of nearly 500 people, dancing was the only regular physical activity associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.  The people who danced three or four times a week showed 76 percent less incidence of dementia than those who danced only once a week or not at all.


5) Need a hobby? Start gardening.  Researchers in New Zealand found that, of 1,000 people, those who gardened regularly were less likely to suffer from dementia!  Not only does gardening reduce stress, but gardeners use their brains to plan gardens; they use visual and spatial reasoning to lay out a garden.


6) Walking daily can reduce the risk of dementia because cardiovascular health is important to maintain blood flow to the brain.  or...Buy a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day.


 7) Read and write daily. Reading stimulates a wide variety of brain areas that process and store information.  Likewise, writing (not copying) stimulates many areas of the brain as well.


8) Start knitting. Using both hands works both sides of your brain.  And it's a stress reducer.


9) Learn a new language. Whether it's a foreign language or sign language,you are working your brain by making it go back and forth between one language and the other.  A researcher in England found that being bilingual seemed to delay symptoms of Alzheimer's disease for four years.  And some research suggests that the earlier a child learns sign language, the higher his IQ - and people with high IQs are less likely to have dementia. So start them early.


10) Play board games such as Scrabble and Monopoly.  Not only are you taxing your brain, you're socializing too.  Playing solo games, such as solitaire or online computer brain games can be helpful, but Nussbaum prefers games that encourage you to socialize too. 


11) Take classes throughout your lifetime.  Learning produces structural and chemical changes in the brain, and education appears to help people live longer.  Brain researchers have found that people with advanced degrees live longer - and if they do have Alzheimer's, it often becomes apparent only in the very later stages of the disease.


12) Listen to classical music.  A growing volume of research suggests that music may hard wire the brain, building links between the two hemispheres. Any kind of music may work, but there's some research that shows positive effects for classical music, though researchers don't understand why


13) Learn a musical instrument. It may be harder than it was when you were a kid, but you'll be developing a dormant part of your brain.


14) Travel. When you travel (whether it's to a distant vacation spot or on a different route across town), you're forcing your brain to navigate a new and complex environment.  A study of London taxi drivers found experienced drivers had larger brains because they have to store lots of information about locations and how to navigate there.


15) Pray. Daily prayer appears to help your immune system.  And people who attend a formal worship service regularly live longer and report happier, healthier lives.


16) Learn to meditate.  It's important for your brain that you learn to shut out the stresses of everyday life. 


17) Get enough sleep. Studies have shown a link between interrupted sleep and dementia.


18) Eat more foods containing Omega-3 fatty acids: Salmon, sardines, tuna, ocean trout, mackerel or herring, plus walnuts (which are higher in omega 3s than salmon) and flaxseed. Flaxseed oil, cod liver oil and walnut oil are good sources too.


19) Eat more fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables mop up some of the damage caused by free radicals, one of the leading killers of brain cells.        

How To Ward Off Dementia

Most of us start worrying about dementia after retirement - and that may be too little, too late. Experts say that if you really want to ward off dementia, you need to start taking care of your brain in your 30s and 40s - or even earlier.


"More and more research is suggesting that lifestyle is very important to your brain's health," says Dr. Paul Nussbaum, a neuropsychologist and an a djunct associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "If you want to live a long, healthy life, then many of us need to start as early as we can."


So what can you do to beef up your brain - and possibly ward off dementia? Nussbaum, who recently gave a speech on the topic for the Winter Park ( Fla. ) Health Foundation, offers 20 tips that may help.


1) Join clubs or organizations that need volunteers. If you start volunteering now, you won't feel lost and unneeded after you retire.


2) Develop a hobby or two. Hobbies help you develop a robust brain because you're trying something new and complex.


3) Practise writing with your non-dominant hand several minutes everyday. This will exercise the opposite side of your brain and fire up those neurons.


4) Take dance lessons. In a study of nearly 500 people, dancing was the only regular physical activity associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. The people who danced three or four times a week showed 76 percent less incidence of dementia than those who danced only once a week or not at all.


5) Need a hobby? Start gardening. Researchers in New Zealand found that, of 1,000 people, those who gardened regularly were less likely to suffer from dementia! Not only does gardening reduce stress, but gardeners use their brains to plan gardens; they use visual and spatial reasoning to lay out a garden.


6) Walking daily can reduce the risk of dementia because cardiovascular health is important to maintain blood flow to the brain. or...Buy a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day.


7) Read and write daily. Reading stimulates a wide variety of brain areas that process and store information. Likewise, writing (not copying) stimulates many areas of the brain as well.


8) Start knitting. Using both hands works both sides of your brain. And it's a stress reducer.


9) Learn a new language. Whether it's a foreign language or sign language,you are working your brain by making it go back and forth between one language and the other. A researcher in England found that being bilingual seemed to delay symptoms of Alzheimer's disease for four years. And some research suggests that the earlier a child learns sign language, the higher his IQ - and people with high IQs are less likely to have dementia. So start them early.


10) Play board games such as Scrabble and Monopoly. Not only are you taxing your brain, you're socializing too. Playing solo games, such as solitaire or online computer brain games can be helpful, but Nussbaum prefers games that encourage you to socialize too.


11) Take classes throughout your lifetime. Learning produces structural and chemical changes in the brain, and education appears to help people live longer. Brain researchers have found that people with advanced degrees live longer - and if they do have Alzheimer's, it often becomes apparent only in the very later stages of the disease.


12) Listen to classical music. A growing volume of research suggests that music may hard wire the brain, building links between the two hemispheres. Any kind of music may work, but there's some research that shows positive effects for classical music, though researchers don't understand why.


13) Learn a musical instrument. It may be harder than it was when you were a kid, but you'll be developing a dormant part of your brain.


14) Travel. When you travel (whether it's to a distant vacation spot or on a different route across town), you're forcing your brain to navigate a new and complex environment. A study of London taxi drivers found experienced drivers had larger brains because they have to store lots of information about locations and how to navigate there.


15) Pray. Daily prayer appears to help your immune system. And people who attend a formal worship service regularly live longer and report happier, healthier lives.


16) Learn to meditate. It's important for your brain that you learn to shut out the stresses of everyday life.


17) Get enough sleep. Studies have shown a link between interrupted sleep and dementia.


18) Eat more foods containing Omega-3 fatty acids: Salmon, sardines, tuna, ocean trout, mackerel or herring, plus walnuts (which are higher in omega 3s than salmon) and flaxseed. Flaxseed oil, cod liver oil and walnut oil are good sources too.


19) Eat more fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables mop up some of the damage caused by free radicals, one of the leading killers of brain cells.


20) Eat at least one meal a day with family and friends. You'll slow down, socialize, and research shows you'll eat healthier food than if you ate alone or on the go.

Recognizing Alzheimer's Disease

As you are getting older and your body is changing in many ways, have you ever wondered if Alzheimer's disease is sneaking up on you? It is important to know at this time there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. Today's treatments require early detection to add greater control of Alzheimer's. Early detection allows the patient and family member's time to prepare for the future.

Alzheimer's is a very stressful disease not only for the caregiver but extremely worrisome to the patient. It begins to take their life, memories and comforts away little by little which can be extremely unnerving to the patient. They are simply losing control of their lives and minds one day at a time.

According to Alzheimer's Caregiver Resource.com there are seven different stages which have been noted by doctors. While some, the later stages, are very noticeable other stages can easily be overlooked. Here is a brief description of each stage.

1. Normal function is not actually a symptom but is the beginning of Alzheimer's and is often times missed due to the fact the disease has not developed into a "noticeable" problem. Patients, families as well as many general health providers miss these symptoms because the normal aging process mirrors the same small problems. It is important to realize just because you occasionally forget where you've put something or have occasionally forgotten an appointment, does not mean you have Alzheimer's. There are tests to help determine if Alzheimer's is really the problem. Tests for early detection of Alzheimer's may include, blood and urine tests, Neuropsychological testing, and a brain imaging scan (MRI) which can notably detect the problem of Alzheimer's.

2. Very mild cognitive decline appears with some mild memory loss which is noticeable but happens seldom and does not cause noticeable distress.

3. Mild cognitive decline is oftentimes the first actual diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is found with this stage because the patient is having noticeable problems with remembering what they have read, where they have put items and having the ability to remember names of people they should easily remember.
4. Moderate cognitive decline has obvious signs such as obvious loss of memory. Important events, remembering how to do simple tasks and the ability to use common sense is common. Often times at these stage patients have trouble remembering things which happened in their personal life and thus begin to become withdrawn even from those they are in contact with on a daily basis.

5. Moderately severe cognitive decline is very apparent. The patient may have trouble remembering their home address, the day of the week and even their maiden name yet they are still able to care for their personal needs such as feeding themselves and using the bathroom with little or no assistance.

6. Severe cognitive decline is often referred to as "mid-stage Alzheimer's". Restless sleep patterns occur often and even more noted memory loss is obvious. Family and friends see very obvious signs of Alzheimer's and often times feel helpless and at a loss as how to care for the patient because they feel they are "losing that person".

7. Very severe cognitive decline known as "late-stage Alzheimer's" makes the patient dependent on others for all their care. Patients experience incontinence of urine and bowels, lose the ability to speak and often even forget how to move. This stage of Alzheimer's is very devastating to family members due to the fact the patient often times does not recognize them and is unable to communicate.

In conclusion we are advised to see our Medical Doctor on a regular basis. If any of the above signs begin to appear talk to your doctor about them and try to get a diagnosis as early as possible. Hopefully someday soon Alzheimer's disease can be diagnosed and treated easily.

Jill Grant is a wife, mother and grandmother who dearly loves her family. She is a substitute teacher who loves and cares for each of the children who touch her life. She feels they teach her more about life each day she spends with them. Jill has been married to her husband 42 wonderful years and gives him credit for showing her the true meaning of love and respect. Jill has recently developed a web site dedicated to and providing products to home health caregivers and their loved ones.
Please visit her at http://www.diaperingneeds.com.