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 …
Scientists at the University of Cambridge in the U.K. have found that a specific molecule could slow the development of Alzheimer’s disease. In their study, the Brichos molecule, which occurs in the body naturally, prevented the buildup of beta-amyloid plaque in mice. Researchers believe that the early stages of Alzheimer’s begin when beta-amyloid …
Alzheimer’s disease affects over 5 million Americans and is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. The National Institute on Aging characterizes the illness as an “irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks of daily living.” Most people …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
As Alzheimer’s progresses and a person’s abilities gradually dwindle, caregivers have the particularly difficult job of making sure the patient feels safe and valued. Here are some pragmatic tips which can help you provide the care your loved one needs: Simplicity As once-simple problems become increasingly difficult for the patient, he …
A new theory on where memory is stored in the brain suggests that lost memories could possibly be restored. If true, it could radically change almost everything that scientists know about memory loss and even lead to a better treatment to Alzheimer’s disease. The theory, proposed by Dr. David Glanzman of the University …
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