Mediterranean Diet Helps Prevent Cognitive Decline

May 22, 2013

A Mediterranean diet with added extra virgin olive oil or mixed nuts seems to improve the brain power of older people better than advising them to follow a low-fat diet, indicates research published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

The authors from the University of Navarra in Spain base their findings on 522 men and women aged between 55 and 80 without cardiovascular disease but at high vascular risk because of underlying disease/conditions.

These included either type 2 diabetes or three of the following: high blood pressure; an unfavourable blood fat profile; overweight; a family history of early cardiovascular disease; and being a smoker.

Participants, who were all taking part in the PREDIMED trial looking at how best to ward off cardiovascular disease, were randomly allocated to a Mediterranean diet with added olive oil or mixed nuts or a control group receiving advice to follow the low-fat diet typically recommended to prevent heart attack and stroke

A Mediterranean diet is characterised by the use of virgin olive oil as the main culinary fat; high consumption of fruits, nuts, vegetables and pulses; moderate to high consumption of fish and seafood; low consumption of dairy products and red meat; and moderate intake of red wine.

Participants had regular check-ups with their family doctor and quarterly checks on their compliance with their prescribed diet.

After an average of 6.5 years, they were tested for signs of cognitive decline using a Mini Mental State Exam and a clock drawing test, which assess higher brain functions, including orientation, memory, language, visuospatial and visuoconstrution abilities and executive functions such as working memory, attention span, and abstract thinking.

At the end of the study period, 60 participants had developed mild cognitive impairment: 18 on the olive oil supplemented Mediterranean diet; 19 on the diet with added mixed nuts; and 23 on the control group.

A further 35 people developed dementia: 12 on the added olive oil diet; six on the added nut diet; and 17 on the low fat diet.

The average scores on both tests were significantly higher for those following either of the Mediterranean diets compared with those on the low fat option.

These findings held true irrespective of other influential factors, including age, family history of cognitive impairment or dementia, the presence of ApoE protein–associated with Alzheimer’s disease–educational attainment, exercise levels, vascular risk factors; energy intake and depression.

The authors acknowledge that their sample size was relatively small, and that because the study involved a group at high vascular risk, it doesn’t necessarily follow that their findings are applicable to the general population.

But they say, theirs is the first long term trial to look at the impact of the Mediterranean diet on brain power, and that it adds to the increasing body of evidence suggesting that a high quality dietary pattern seems to protect cognitive function in the ageing brain.

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Celebrate Lewy Body Dementia Association’s 10th Anniversary by Creating LBD Awareness

May 20, 2013

awareness-monthThis year marks the tenth anniversary of the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA), the only nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting LBD families through outreach, education and research. Today LBDA launched its nationwide October Lewy body dementia (LBD) awareness movement, “A Month To Remember.” LBDA invites volunteers to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the organization by joining the movement and “Standing Strong with LBDA” to build awareness for LBD in their communities.

lbda-logo-10yearsThe LBD Awareness Movement is a national, grass roots effort to increase LBD awareness in the general public and medical profession. Participants in the movement can get involved with LBDA in several ways by selling flowers to benefit LBDA on LBD Flower Day, October 6th, distributing materials to local physicians’ offices, hosting a fundraising or outreach event or telling your story to the media.

Lewy body dementia (LBD) affects an estimated 1.3 million individuals and their families in the United States. It is currently widely underdiagnosed because LBD symptoms can closely resemble other more commonly known diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Many doctors or other medical professionals still are not familiar with LBD. Early diagnosis allows for important early treatment that may extend quality of life.

“Raising awareness of Lewy body dementia is vital to LBDA’s mission. Whether you create awareness and raise funds for LBDA on LBD Flower Day, distribute materials to physicians, organize fundraising or outreach events or tell your story to the media, you help make a positive difference in the lives of those touched by LBD. You are the heart of our service and the soul of our mission.” said Michael Koehler, President of LBDA’s Board of Directors.

To join LBDA’s awareness movement and for more information please visit: http://www.lbda.org/go/awareness.

The Lewy Body Dementia Association
The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the Lewy body dementias (LBD), supporting patients, their families and caregivers, and promoting scientific advances. Through outreach, education and research, LBDA supports those affected by Lewy body dementias. To learn more about LBD and LBDA please visit www.lbda.org.

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Forget Apples – Lift Weights and Do Cardio for Your Health

May 19, 2013

Forget apples – lifting weights and doing cardio can also keep the doctors away, according a new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute.

The study, published in the online journal PLOS ONE, followed 86 women, aged 70- to 80-years-old, who were randomly assigned to participate in weight training classes, outdoor walking classes, or balance and toning classes (such as yoga and pilates) for six months. All participants have mild cognitive impairment, a well-recognized risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

The researchers tabulated the total costs incurred by each participant in accessing a variety of health care resources.

“We found that those who participated in the cardio or weight training program incurred fewer health care resources – such as doctor visits and lab tests – compared to those in the balance and toning program,” says Jennifer Davis, a postdoctoral fellow and lead author of the study.

The study is the latest in a series of studies that assess the efficacy of different types of training programs on cognitive performance in elderly patients. An earlier study, published in February in the Journal of Aging Research, showed aerobic and weight training also improved cognitive performance in study participants. Those on balance and toning programs did not.

“While balance and toning exercises are good elements of an overall health improvement program, you can’t ‘down-dog’ your way to better brain health,” says Teresa Liu-Ambrose, an Associate Professor in the UBC Faculty of Medicine and a member of the Brain Research Centre at UBC and VCH Research Institute. “The new study also shows that cardio and weight training are more cost-effective for the health care system.”

Exercise benefits for the brain

The new studies build on previous research by Prof. Liu-Ambrose, Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity, Mobility, Cognitive Neuroscience and a member of the Centre for Hip Health & Mobility, where she found that once- or twice-weekly weight training may help minimize cognitive decline and impaired mobility in seniors.

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Research method

The weight training classes included weighted exercises targeting different muscle groups for a whole-body workout. The aerobic training classes were an outdoor walking program targeted to participants’ age-specific target heart rate. The balance and toning training classes were representative of exercise programs commonly available in the community such as Osteofit, yoga, or Tai Chi. 

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Alzheimer’s Myths

May 16, 2013

Myth 1: Memory loss is a natural part of aging.

Reality: In the past people believed memory loss was a normal part of aging, often regarding even Alzheimer’s as natural age-related decline. Experts now recognize severe memory loss as a symptom of serious illness.

Whether memory naturally declines to some extent remains an open question. Many people feel that their memory becomes less sharp as they grow older, but determining whether there is any scientific basis for this belief is a research challenge still being addressed.

myths

Myth 2: Alzheimer’s disease is not fatal.

Reality: Alzheimer’s disease has no survivors. It destroys brain cells and causes memory changes, erratic behaviors and loss of body functions. It slowly and painfully takes away a person’s identity, ability to connect with others, think, eat, talk, walk and find his or her way home.

Myth 3: Only older people can get Alzheimer’s.

Reality: Alzheimer’s can strike people in their 30s, 40s and even 50s. This is called younger-onset Alzheimer’s. It is estimated that there are as many as 5.4 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. This includes 5.2 million people age 65 and over and 200,000 people under age 65 with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Myth 4: Drinking out of aluminum cans or cooking in aluminum pots and pans can lead to Alzheimer’s disease.

Reality: During the 1960s and 1970s, aluminum emerged as a possible suspect in Alzheimer’s. This suspicion led to concern about exposure to aluminum through everyday sources such as pots and pans, beverage cans, antacids and antiperspirants. Since then, studies have failed to confirm any role for aluminum in causing Alzheimer’s. Experts today focus on other areas of research, and few believe that everyday sources of aluminum pose any threat.

Myth 5: Aspartame causes memory loss.

Reality: This artificial sweetener, marketed under such brand names as Nutrasweet and Equal, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in all foods and beverages in 1996. Since approval, concerns about aspartame’s health effects have been raised.

According to the FDA, as of May 2006, the agency had not been presented with any scientific evidence that would lead to change its conclusions on the safety of aspartame for most people. The agency says its conclusions are based on more than 100 laboratory and clinical studies. Read the May 2006 FDA statement about aspartame.

Myth 6: Flu shots increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Reality: A theory linking flu shots to a greatly increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease has been proposed by a U.S. doctor whose license was suspended by the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners. Several mainstream studies link flu shots and other vaccinations to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and overall better health.

Myth 7: Silver dental fillings increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Reality: According to the best available scientific evidence, there is no relationship between silver dental fillings and Alzheimer’s. The concern that there could be a link arose because “silver” fillings are made of an amalgam (mixture) that typically contains about 50 percent mercury, 35 percent silver and 15 percent tin. Mercury is a heavy metal that, in certain forms, is know to be toxic to the brain and other organs.

Many scientists consider the studies below compelling evidence that dental amalgam is not a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s. Public health agencies, including the FDA, the U.S. Public Health Service and the World Health Organization, endorse the continued use of amalgam as safe, strong, inexpensive material for dental restorations.

Myth 8: There are treatments available to stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Reality: At this time, there is no treatment to cure, delay or stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. FDA-approved drugs temporarily slow worsening of symptoms for about 6 to 12 months, on average, for about half of the individuals who take them.

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Alzheimer’s Markers Predict Start of Mental Decline

May 16, 2013

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have helped identify many of the biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease that could potentially predict which patients will develop the disorder later in life. Now, studying spinal fluid samples and health data from 201 research participants at the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, the researchers have shown the markers are accurate predictors of Alzheimer’s years before symptoms develop.

“We wanted to see if one marker was better than the other in predicting which of our participants would get cognitive impairment and when they would get it,” said Catherine Roe, PhD, research assistant professor of neurology. “We found no differences in the accuracy of the biomarkers.”

The study, supported in part by the National Institute on Aging, appears inNeurology.

The researchers evaluated markers such as the buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain, newly visible thanks to an imaging agent developed in the last decade; levels of various proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid, such as the amyloid fragments that are the principal ingredient of brain plaques; and the ratios of one protein to another in the cerebrospinal fluid, such as different forms of the brain cell structural protein tau.

The markers were studied in volunteers whose ages ranged from 45 to 88. On average, the data available on study participants spanned four years, with the longest recorded over 7.5 years.

The researchers found that all of the markers were equally good at identifying subjects who were likely to develop cognitive problems and at predicting how soon they would become noticeably impaired.

Next, the scientists paired the biomarkers data with demographic information, testing to see if sex, age, race, education and other factors could improve their predictions.

“Sex, age and race all helped to predict who would develop cognitive impairment,” Roe said. “Older participants, men and African Americans were more likely to become cognitively impaired than those who were younger, female and Caucasian.”

Roe described the findings as providing more evidence that scientists can detect Alzheimer’s disease years before memory loss and cognitive decline become apparent.

“We can better predict future cognitive impairment when we combine biomarkers with patient characteristics,” she said. “Knowing how accurate biomarkers are is important if we are going to some day be able to treat Alzheimer’s before symptoms and slow or prevent the disease.”

Clinical trials are already underway at Washington University and elsewhere to determine if treatments prior to symptoms can prevent or delay inherited forms of Alzheimer’s disease. Reliable biomarkers for Alzheimer’s should one day make it possible to test the most successful treatments in the much more common sporadic forms of Alzheimer’s.

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Caregivers: Check Out Your Community Care Options

May 15, 2013

As a caregiver, you may need to help your loved one with a broad range of activities, such as bathing, dressing, cooking and eating. In addition, you may have to take care of legal and financial matters, such as making medical decisions, paying bills, handling investments and budgeting accounts. Fortunately, a variety of community care services are available to assist you and your loved one. This fact sheet presents an overview of the different options available to caregivers and persons with cognitive disorders and other chronic health conditions. Organizations listed throughout the fact sheet can help you locate specific services. Contact information for these organizations is provided at the end of the fact sheet under “Resources.”

Assessing Your Needs

Defining your particular needs is the first step in determining what kind of help and support will best suit your circumstances. With so many services available to caregivers, you will need to first outline your specific concerns. You may find it useful to ask yourself the following questions and write out the answers on a sheet of paper:

  • What type of help does my loved one need to live as independently as possible? (Nutrition services? Health care? Supervision? Companionship? Housekeeping? Transportation?)
  • How much money is available to pay for outside resources? Will our insurance cover any of the services?
  • What days and times do I need help?
  • What assistance can I provide myself?
  • What types of help are my friends and family members willing to provide?

Community Care Options

Community care programs and services vary in different states, counties and communities. Most areas now have services specifically designed for persons with Alzheimer’s, stroke, Parkinson’s and many other chronic health conditions. Each community, however, differs in the services available and their eligibility requirements. This section outlines the main community care options for the care recipient and their caregivers.

Informal Care involves the help of friends, family, religious communities, neighbors and others who can share the responsibilities of caregiving. This “informal” support network can help with specific tasks (e.g., household chores), provide emotional support to you and your loved one, and help the care recipient maintain a healthy level of social and recreational activity. Making a list of your informal “helper” network and their phone numbers will be an invaluable source of support for routine assistance or in times of emergency.

Information and Referral (I & R) helps you identify your local resources. California’s Caregiver Resource Centers, national Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), senior centers or community mental health programs are good resources that can help you find potential services, such as housing, meals and adult day care programs.

Staff members have information about the availability and appropriateness of services, whom to contact, eligibility requirements and hours of operation. The Resources Organizations listed at the end of this Fact Sheet all provide I&R as part of their services.

Case Management Services can locate and provide hands-on management of services for your loved one. Professional case managers usually have a background in counseling, social work or a related healthcare field and are trained to assess your individual situation and to implement and monitor a care plan to meet the needs of your loved one. They work with you, the physician, therapist and patient to identify and arrange services such as transportation, home care, meals and day care. Additionally, case managers can help determine eligibility for entitlement programs, plan for long-term care and intervene in crisis situations.

If you meet eligibility requirements, it is possible to obtain free case management services through federal, state, or county programs such as Medicare or Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California). Free or low cost case management can be found through hospitals, mental health programs, home health agencies, social service agencies (e.g., Catholic Charities, Jewish Family Services, Adult Protective Services) and other healthcare-related programs. In addition, it is possible to hire a private case manager, often called a geriatric case manager, who will typically charge between $60 and $150 per hour.

Legal and Financial Counseling is often needed when your loved one cannot manage legal and/or financial affairs. Areas of concern to family caregivers include future healthcare decisions, management of assets, public benefits planning and, in some cases, litigation. For individuals aged 60 or over and their caregivers, legal referrals and advice may also be obtained from senior legal services provided by local Area Agencies on Aging. California residents may be eligible for a legal consultation through a California Caregiver Resource Center.

Another way to locate an attorney is through an attorney referral service. The Bar Association in your community may have a panel that refers callers to lawyers in various specializations. Initial consultations generally include a nominal fee.

Transportation Services. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires transit agencies to provide curb-to-curb paratransit service to those individuals who are unable to use regular public transportation. Paratransit generally consists of wheelchair-accessible vans or taxis for people with disabilities. Paratransit may be run by private, nonprofit, and/or public organizations and is usually free or low-cost. To find out about paratransit in your community, contact Project Action, which maintains a national paratransit database, or your local AAA.

Nutrition Programs provide meals—usually lunch—in a group setting. Many churches, synagogues, housing projects, senior centers, community centers, schools and day programs offer meals as a service to elders in the community for a minimal fee.

For homebound individuals who are unable to shop for or prepare their own meals, home-delivered meals may be an option. Programs such as “Meals-on-Wheels” are provided by various groups and may be funded partially through government monies or by charitable groups. In general, meals are delivered on weekdays so you will need to be sure there is an adequate supply of food for the weekends. Most groups providing home-delivered meals charge a nominal fee (determined by each individual’s ability to pay) to help cover costs.

Respite Care offers relief for family, partners and friends so they can take a break—a respite—from the demands of providing constant care. Respite care can be crucial in deterring premature institutionalization of the patient and reducing physical and emotional stress for the caregiver. Respite care includes adult day care and home care services (see below), as well as overnight stays in a facility, and can be provided a few hours a week or for a weekend. Many caregiver support programs offer respite assistance as part of their services. Some service organizations offer volunteer respite workers who provide companionship or protective supervision only. For information on respite care in your community, contact your AAA.

Adult Day Care offers participants the opportunity to socialize, enjoy peer support and receive health and social services in a safe, familiar environment.

It also provides a break for caregivers responsible for a person who can’t be left alone but who does not require 24-hour nursing care in a residential facility. Adult day care services may include: care and supervision; small group and individual activities; nutritious meals; transportation; case management; recreation and exercise; nursing care; education; family counseling; assistance with activities of daily living; and occupational, speech and physical therapies.

There are two types of adult day care: Adult socialday care provides social activities, meals, recreation and some health-related services. Adult day health care offers more intensive health, therapeutic and social services for individuals with severe medical problems and those at risk of requiring nursing home care. Adult day care works well for caregivers who cannot stay at home all day to provide care, supervision and companionship. Although programs vary, participants ordinarily attend several hours a day, up to five days a week. The National Adult Day Services Association and your local AAA can help you find adult day care services.

Home Care combines health care and supportive services to help homebound sick or disabled persons continue living at home as independently as possible. The hours, types of services, and level of care provided are determined by the health and needs of the care recipient and the caregiver; physician approval may be needed.

There are two types of home care available to you: home health care services and nonmedical home care services. Home health care services provide a wide range of medical services, including medication assistance, nursing services and physical therapy. Nonmedical home care services include companionship, housekeeping, cooking and many other household activities and chores.

The cost of home care depends on the level of care needed—a nonmedical home care attendant may charge a relatively low fee whereas a nurse who is monitoring the person’s condition and treatment will be more expensive. Fees vary so you may want to shop around. Medicare, Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) and some private insurance policies pay for limited home health care with certain restrictions. In other cases, you may have to pay out of pocket. Nonmedical home care aides can be located through personal referrals or at a private home care agency, hospital, social service agency, public health department or other community organizations. In some areas nursing schools may be of assistance. For information on home care in your community, contact a local AAA.

Hospice Care provides special services and therapies so individuals who are terminally ill can remain at home. Hospice attempts to improve the quality of life for terminally ill persons by controlling the symptoms of the illness and restoring dignity for the person until death. A hospice care team of professionals and volunteers tries to meet the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs by providing medical and nursing care, social services, dietary consultation, and emotional support to both the patient and the caregiver. Individuals receive ongoing scheduled visits as well as round-the-clock care when needed. Support to surviving loved ones usually continues during the bereavement period. Insurance coverage for hospice care is available through Medicare, Medicaid and some private insurance plans. For information on hospice care, contact Hospice Foundation of America.

Support Groups bring together friends and family members who meet regularly to share information and discuss practical solutions to common problems. They are a good source of information on available resources. Support groups also provide caregivers with the opportunity to give and receive encouragement, understanding and support from others who have similar concerns. Interacting with other caregivers can be a great help in reducing stress. Support groups can be found through hospitals, mental health programs and support organizations (e.g., your local Caregiver Resource Center or Alzheimer’s Association chapter). There are also online support groups available to caregivers with computer access. Family Caregiver Alliance offers three online groups for caregivers.

Employee Assistance Programs are an employment benefit that your workplace may or may not offer. Types of assistance vary widely, though programs generally provide employees with counseling for personal issues such as depression, stress, addiction, financial crisis, and illness or death in the family. Some programs may also assist with locating eldercare and childcare resources.

Contacting the Resources

Once you have assessed your needs and identified the types of resources available in your community, you can begin contacting community care services. Be aware that it can be a confusing and time consuming—although ultimately worthwhile—experience to locate, arrange and receive appropriate services. You may need to make a series of seemingly endless phone calls or go through a maze of referrals before you find the appropriate service or person to help you. If you have a case manager or other health care provider who helped assess your needs, he or she should be able to assist you in locating appropriate resources as well. It is a case manager’s job to help you find resources, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. The following is a list of suggestions to guide you through the process of locating and accessing appropriate services:

  • Begin looking for resources before your situation becomes overwhelming. By planning ahead and anticipating certain needs, you can avoid having to make important decisions during a time of crisis.
  • Write down all of the information you are given. Be sure to document the name of each agency you called, the phone number or website, the contact person(s) with whom you spoke, the date of your conversations, the services requested, the services promised and any agreed-upon decisions.
  • When you make your call, be prepared with specific information, such as physician’s name, diagnostic information, insurance coverage and Medicare, Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) and Social Security numbers. Be prepared to answer questions such as “What type of care is the patient currently receiving and who is providing it?” and “Is there any special equipment in the home to assist with patient care?”
  • When dealing with agencies, be assertive and specific about your needs.
  • Mornings are usually the best time to call.
  • Don’t hang up until you understand the follow-up procedures (i.e., who calls whom, what will be done next, what you need to do next).
  • Be aware that you might be placed on a waiting list. The demand for existing dementia-related services, in particular, has increased while the funding for some service programs has decreased. By anticipating your needs and the needs of your loved one, you minimize the length of this waiting period.
  • Don’t hesitate to ask for help. The purpose of most community agencies is to provide services to individuals who need help. You are entitled to these services since many of them are paid for by your taxes, contribu-tions, or fees for service.
  • Keep in mind that not everyone is familiar with the needs of caregivers. Therefore, many professionals remain uninformed about stresses on you and your loved one. You might find yourself in situations where you need to educate professionalsin the community before you can obtain services successfully.
  • Don’t give up!

Recommended Reading

Caregiver Guide: Tips for Caregivers of People with Alzheimer’s Disease, National Institute on Aging (2001), Gaithersburg, MD. Available by calling (800) 222-2225.

The Caregiver Helpbook: Powerful Tools for Caregiving, Vikki L. Schmall, Marilyn Cleland, and Marilynn Sturdevant (2000), Legacy Caregiver Services. Available by calling (503) 413-6578.

Consumer Reports Complete Guide to Health Services for Seniors 2000, Trudy Lieberman and the editors of Consumer Reports, Three River Press, A Division of Random House. Available by calling (800) 500-9760 or on the web at www.consumerreports.org.

Alzheimer’s Early Stages: First Steps in Caring and Treatment, Daniel Kuhn (1999), Hunter House Publishers, P.O. Box 2914, Alameda, CA 94501-0914, (800) 266-5592.

Caring for the Parkinson’s Patient: A Practical Guide (2nd Edition), J. Thomas Hutto, M.D., Ph.D. and Raye Lynne Dippel, Ph.D. (Eds.), (1999), Prometheus Books, 59 Glenn Dr., Amherst, NY 14228-2197, (800) 421-0351.

The 36 Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons With Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life, Nancy Mace and Peter Rabins, Revised Edition (April, 2001), The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4319, (800) 537-5487.

Because We Care: A Guide for People Who Care, Administration on Aging (2001), an online resource for caregivers of an older family member, adult child with disabilities, or older friend. Available free.

Credits

Lieberman, Trudy and the editors of Consumer Reports (2001). Is Assisted Living the Right Choice? Consumer Reports.

Mace, Nancy and Peter Rabbins (2001). The 36-Hour Day. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Hampden Station, Baltimore, MD 21211.

Schmall, Vikki L., Marilyn Cleland, and Marilynn Sturdevant (2000). The Caregiver Helpbook: Powerful Tools for Caregiving. Legacy Caregiver Services, Portland, OR 97210.

Resources

Family Caregiver Alliance
785 Market Street, Suite 750
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 434-3388
(800) 445-8106
Website: www.caregiver.org
E-mail: info@caregiver.org
Online support groups

Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) seeks to improve the quality of life for caregivers through education, services, research and advocacy.

FCA’s National Center on Caregiving offers advice and information on current social, public policy and caregiving issues and provides assistance in the development of public and private caregiver support programs.

For residents of the greater San Francisco Bay Area, FCA provides direct family support services for caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, ALS, brain injury, Parkinson’s and other chronic health conditions that strike adults.

Eldercare Locator
Phone: (800) 677-1116
The Eldercare Locator helps older adults and their caregivers find local services including health insurance counseling, free and low-cost legal services and contact information for Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs).

Medicare and Medicaid
Phone: (800) MEDICARE

Medi-Cal (California’s version of Medicaid)
Phone: (800) 952-5253

Alzheimer’s Association
225 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 1700
Chicago, IL 60601-7633
Phone: (800) 272-3900

The American Parkinson’s Disease Association
1250 Hylan Blvd., Ste. 4B
Staten Island, NY 10305-1946
Phone: (800) 223-2732

National Stroke Association
9707 East Easter Ln.
Englewood, CO 80112-3747
Phone: (800) 787-6537

National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers
1604 N. Country Club Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85716-3102
Phone: (520) 881-8008

National Association of Adult Day Services
c/o National Council on the Aging
409 Third St. SW, Ste. 200
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (202) 479-1200

Visiting Nurses Associations of America
11 Beacon St., Ste. 910
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (888) 866-8773

Hospice Foundation of America
2001 S. St. NW #300
Washington DC 20009
Phone: (800) 854-3402

Faith in Action Volunteers
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Medical Center Blvd.
Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1204
Phone: (877) 324-8411

Project ACTION
700 13th St., NW, Ste. 200
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 347-3066

Meals-on-Wheels Association of America
1414 Prince St., Ste. 302
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 548-5558

Prepared by Family Caregiver Alliance in cooperation with the State of California’s Caregiver Resource Centers, a statewide system of resource centers serving families and caregivers. Revised June 2002. Funded by the California Department of Mental Health. ©2002 All rights reserved.

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Brain Diseases Affecting More People and Starting Earlier Than Ever Before

May 11, 2013

Professor Colin Pritchard’s latest research published in journal Public Health has found that the sharp rise of dementia and other neurological deaths in people under 74 cannot be put down to the fact that we are living longer. The rise is because a higher proportion of old people are being affected by such conditions — and what is really alarming, it is starting earlier and affecting people under 55 years.

Of the 10 biggest Western countries the USA had the worst increase in all neurological deaths, men up 66% and women 92% between 1979-2010. The UK was 4th highest, men up 32% and women 48%. In terms of numbers of deaths, in the UK, it was 4,500 and now 6,500, in the USA it was 14,500 now more than 28,500 deaths.

Professor Pritchard of Bournemouth University says: “These statistics are about real people and families, and we need to recognise that there is an ‘epidemic’ that clearly is influenced by environmental and societal changes.”

Tessa Gutteridge, Director YoungDementia UK says that our society needs to learn that dementia is increasingly affecting people from an earlier age:

“The lives of an increasing number of families struggling with working-age dementia are made so much more challenging by services which fail to keep pace with their needs and a society which believes dementia to be an illness of old age.”

Bournemouth University researchers, Professor Colin Pritchard and Dr Andrew Mayers, along with the University of Southampton’s Professor David Baldwin show that there are rises in total neurological deaths, including the dementias, which are starting earlier, impacting upon patients, their families and health and social care services, exemplified by an 85% increase in UK Motor Neurone Disease deaths.

The research highlights that there is an alarming ‘hidden epidemic’ of rises in neurological deaths between 1979-2010 of adults (under 74) in Western countries, especially the UK.

Total neurological deaths in both men and women rose significantly in 16 of the countries covered by the research, which is in sharp contrast to the major reductions in deaths from all other causes.

Over the period the UK has the third biggest neurological increase, up 32% in men and 48% in women, whilst women’s neurological deaths rose faster than men’s in most countries.

Professor Pritchard said, “These rises in neurological deaths, with the earlier onset of the dementias, are devastating for families and pose a considerable public health problem. It is NOT that we have more old people but rather more old people have more brain disease than ever before, including Alzheimer’s. For example there are two new British charities, The Young Parkinson’s Society and Young Dementia UK, which are a grass-roots response to these rises. The need for such charities would have been inconceivable a little more than 30 years ago.”

When asked what he thought caused the increases he replied, “This has to be speculative but it cannot be genetic because the period is too short. Whilst there will be some influence of more elderly people, it does not account for the earlier onset; the differences between countries nor the fact that more women have been affected, as their lives have changed more than men’s over the period, all indicates multiple environmental factors.

Considering the changes over the last 30 years — the explosion in electronic devices, rises in background non-ionising radiation- PC’s, micro waves, TV’s, mobile phones; road and air transport up four-fold increasing background petro-chemical pollution; chemical additives to food etc. There is no one factor rather the likely interaction between all these environmental triggers, reflecting changes in other conditions.

For example, whilst cancer deaths are down substantially, cancer incidence continues to rise; levels of asthma are un-precedented; the fall in male sperm counts — the rise of auto-immune diseases — all point to life-style and environmental influences.

These `statistics’ are about real people and families, and we need to recognise that there is an `epidemic’ that clearly is influenced by environmental and societal changes.”

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High Blood Sugar May Add to Alzheimer’s Risk

May 9, 2013

Elevated blood sugar(glucose)  levels may increase a person’s risk for Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study.

Previous research has suggested that diabetes may be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s, but University of Arizona researchers wanted to examine if high blood sugar levels in people without diabetes may also increase the chances of developing Alzheimer’s.

The study included 124 people, aged 47 to 68, who were diabetes-free and had normal brain function, but did have a family history of Alzheimer’s. The participants underwent scans that revealed metabolic activity in the brain.

People with Alzheimer’s disease show reduced brain metabolism in certain brain regions. A similar pattern of lower metabolism in these same brain regions was seen in study participants with high blood sugar levels.

Study author Christine Burns, a pre-doctoral student in psychology, said she hopes the findings will be useful in ongoing work designed to develop early Alzheimer’s interventions.

“A lot of valuable research is focused on treatment and slowing decline in Alzheimer’s patients,” she said. “I’m interested in complementing this work with interventions that can be implemented earlier on, perhaps at middle age.”

The findings were published in the journal Neurology.

About 5 percent of Americans aged 65 to 74 have Alzheimer’s, and nearly half of those aged 85 and older may have the progressive brain disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Known factors that contribute to the disease include age and genetics, but it is also believed that high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes may increase risk.

The study found an association between Alzheimer’s disease and high blood sugar. It didn’t show a cause-and-effect relationship.

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