Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness

  Whether you have been directly affected by Alzheimer’s disease or not, no one is immune to developing it. Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia that causes progressive brain and memory impairment until a person loses all-important mental functions. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, and available treatments only temporarily slow the progression of the …

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When Alzheimer’s Disrupts a Marriage

Get new insights from a study on marital communication in dementia. When a spouse is cognitively impaired, marital communication is impaired. As Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progresses, language problems increase in frequency – such as searching for the right word, repeating the same word, asking the same question over and over, or substituting one word for …

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‘Still Alice’ and Alzheimer’s Research

Julianne Moore won an Oscar last night for her heartbreaking portrayal of a woman with early-onset Alzheimer’s in Still Alice. At Brain Matters, we hope the movie will raise awareness about Alzheimer’s research. In that spirit, here is an editorial by Alzheimer’s researcher Dr. Julie Harris, courtesy of the Huffington Post:     “While the …

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Four Tips for Alzheimer’s Caregivers

  Since Alzheimer’s impairs a person’s reasoning and communication abilities, caregivers need to think strategically to meet daily challenges. In conjunction with self-care techniques, these four practical tips can help make a caregiver’s burden a little lighter:     1.    Being logical won’t help:   As humans, we tend to rationalize things that don’t make …

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Alzheimer’s Caregivers: Beverly’s Story

Alzheimer’s caregivers take on a heavy burden. Courtesy of the Alzheimer’s Association, this is Beverly’s caregiver story: “Ironically, my mother’s Alzheimer’s is teaching me that I do not need to remember every little painful specific, not in the manner I once remembered them. What a relief to draw the honest conclusion that I’m no longer …

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Alzheimer’s Caregivers: Take Care of Yourself Too

Being an Alzheimer’s caregiver means taking on a lot of responsibilities. Sometimes you may be so preoccupied with caring for your loved one that you neglect your own health. Here are some tips to stay healthy as a caregiver:     Visit the doctor:   Visit the doctor at least once a year and report …

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Alzheimer’s Association President: We Need Research Now

Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, recently wrote an impassioned editorial trying to get people involved in the fight to cure Alzheimer’s. Here are excerpts from that article, courtesy of the Huffington Post:     “More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2014 Alzheimer’s Disease …

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Alzheimer’s Caregivers: Amy’s Story

Amy is a caregiver for her father, who has Alzheimer’s. Courtesy of the Alzheimer’s Association, here is Amy’s story:     In 2002, my dad was in a bad car accident with his uncle and two others in Florida. He ended up having eight broken ribs, and a broken collar bone. Not too long after the accident, I noticed …

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Early-Onset Alzheimer’s: What You Need to Know

Julianne Moore’s portrayal in Still Alice of a woman with early-onset Alzheimer’s has already won a Golden Globe and been nominated for an Oscar. Many now hope that the film will raise awareness of this rarer form of Alzheimer’s. In that spirit, here is what you need to know:     Alzheimer’s comes in middle-age, …

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MEMORY LOSS

For those who are struggling with memory loss, a memory screen is a step in the right direction to keeping their minds healthy. Apply for a FREE memory screen today!