Feb 1: NA
B. This is an article that is written directly to consumers who are over the age of 50 and are starting to notice changes in the ability to remember things. It addresses the fact that this wrongly causes fear in some people that they are prone toward Alzheimer's disease. Studies have shown that cognitive decline and the risk of dementia can be maintained with general health habits, such as staying physically active, getting enough sleep, not smoking, having good social connections, limiting alcohol to one drink a day, and eating a balanced diet low in saturated and trans fats. The article provides a number of different ways that people can improve their cognitive abilities, such as blocking: When someone is asked a question and the cannot immediately respond -- the answer is on the tip of his/her tongue -- this is the most familiar example of blocking, the temporary inability to retrieve a memory. Blocking does not occur because someone is not paying attention or because the memory has faded from the brain. In most cases, it is blocked by another, similar memory. For example, parents call their older son by their younger son's name. Memory blocks become more common with age and account for much of the trouble older people have in remembering names. The good news is that about half of the blocked memories can be retrieved within a minute.
C. This is an article that would be of interest to the general public, especially those who are over 50 or who have a family member who is this age. It would be helpful for healthcare providers to keep on hand for their patients.
D. Harvard Women's Health Watch is a monthly newsletter to keep women informed about the health issues.
A. Bruce, L.A. (2010) Drugs for Alzheimer's Disease. MedSurg Nursing 19(1): 51-54
B. Drug therapy for Alzheimer's disease is presently focused on slowing the progression of the disease and managing the symptoms of the cognitive decline. In this report, Bruce covers the two classes of drugs currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of the disease: the cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEls) and the single N-methyl-D-aspatate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, the drug memantine. The concern by the author is that patients with dementia may not be able to adhere to treatment plans and report adverse effects. This can create a burden on caregivers, because approximately 70% of persons with Alzheimer's disease live at home with a caregiver who is a family member or friend. Of patients still living in a home setting, 73% currently require assistance with managing and taking their medications.
Ongoing research in the pharmacologic treatment of Alzheimer's disease centers on drug delivery systems can improve adherence and minimize adverse effects. In addition, the nurse's role in drug therapy this illness is an important element. Drug efficacy is improved when the drug is taken on a regular and consistent basis. Treatment adherence and reporting of adverse effects can have a positive impact on the patient's...
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE Examining the potential use of beta secretase enzymes in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease Examining the potential use of beta secretase enzymes in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease Efforts to develop a drug for Alzheimer's disease, which mostly affect people in older age, have not been successful. Instead, most of the treatments offered often target the behavioral symptoms of the affected individual, but not the cause of the disease. The occurrence
Alzheimer Healthy Community PLANNED, PERSONALIZED CARE Alzheimer's Healthy Community Dog-Assisted Therapy for Older People with Dementia A review of nine studies on the subject produced loose conclusions on the value of this type of therapy (Perkins et al., 2008). They, however, established a trend, indicating increased social behavior and decreased agitation when dogs were in the company of the respondents. This improvement in social behavior was unrelated with the severity of the respondents' dementia.
What is worth noting here is the fact that behavior disturbances, ranging in severity from repeated questioning to physical violence, are common (National Institute of Mental Health, 1989). It is unclear whether Alzheimer's disease represents a single entity or several variants. Some experts believe that there are distinct subtypes of Alzheimer's disease, such as Lewy body disease (in which the signs of Parkinson's disease, visual hallucinations or alterations in alertness
Some treatments may actually help with the disease. Diets and dietary supplements Eating vegetables like broccoli and spinach may help older women [and probably men] retain some memory abilities later on, while avoiding obesity in middle age lowers the risk of later Alzheimer's disease in both sexes, new studies suggest." The effect of the vegetables probably comes from the antioxidants and B. vitamins they contain (Ritter, 2004). Herbal remedies and other dietary
Alzheimer's Disease currently affects more than four million Americans. Alzheimer's is a disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of areas within the brain, resulting in cognitive and physical decline that will eventually lead to death. It is important to emphasize that Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not a normal part of aging. Although AD typically appears in those over sixty-five, it is a neurodegenerative disease, quite distinct from any aging-related cognitive
Scientists are racing to find a cure as millions of people reach the age when Alzheimer's is most commonly manifested (Plontz). Experts are still trying to fully understand the cause or causes of Alzheimer's disease. In the meantime, it's helpful to understand the hallmarks of Alzheimer's -- plaques and tangles -- and the risk factors that affect a person's likelihood of developing the disease (Hill). Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a
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