Folks

From Bwtm

(Difference between revisions)
Revision as of 03:11, 14 February 2020
Beachblogger (Talk | contribs)
Care Facilities in El Cajon
← Previous diff
Revision as of 00:02, 28 September 2022
Beachblogger (Talk | contribs)

Next diff →
Line 1: Line 1:
This page is about Home support for an Elderly Couple. This page is about Home support for an Elderly Couple.
 +
 +also see [[Exercise]]
==Healthcare== ==Healthcare==
 +
 +===Cancer===
 +
 +It was a small trial, just 18 rectal cancer patients, every one of whom took the same drug. But the results were astonishing. The cancer vanished in every single patient, undetectable by physical exam; endoscopy; positron emission tomography, or PET scans; or MRI scans. Dr. Luis A. Diaz Jr. of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, an author of a paper published Sunday in the New England Journal of Medicine describing the results, which were sponsored by drug company GlaxoSmithKline, said he knew of no other study in which a treatment completely obliterated a cancer in every patient. https://news.yahoo.com/cancer-trials-unexpected-result-remission-120646950.html
 +
 +New blood test can spot more than 50 types of cancer – many hard to detect early. a Menlo Park, California-based company called GRAIL that's introducing the blood test, called Galleri. She says can it catch hard-to-detect, aggressive and often deadly cancers like pancreatic, ovarian and esophageal. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cancer-blood-test-early-detection/
===Emergency Treatment=== ===Emergency Treatment===
Line 7: Line 15:
If I ask or tell you to leave me alone your first response should be to do as I ask. Retreat and leave me alone. Observe but allow me to calm down. Do not involve the police or emergency medical services. Woman Detained In Hospital For Weeks Joins Lawsuit Against New Hampshire https://n.pr/31A6lpy If I ask or tell you to leave me alone your first response should be to do as I ask. Retreat and leave me alone. Observe but allow me to calm down. Do not involve the police or emergency medical services. Woman Detained In Hospital For Weeks Joins Lawsuit Against New Hampshire https://n.pr/31A6lpy
-===News===+===Mask wearing, Pollen Allergy, “air pollution,” “low air quality,” “PM 2.5 pollution”===
 + 
 +Even low levels of air pollution can damage health, study finds. US researchers looked at Canada to see how people in cleanest areas were still experiencing ill health. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/12/even-low-levels-of-air-pollution-can-damage-health-study-finds
 + 
 +How humans could live two years longer. You can’t see particles smaller than 2.5 microns. But they kill 3.4 million people a year. https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/22691558/air-pollution-deaths-mortality-pm-25-soot-particulate
 + 
 +https://www.airnow.gov/?city=El%20Cajon&state=CA&country=USA
 + 
 +https://www.pollen.com/forecast/extended/pollen/92021
 + 
 +https://i.imgur.com/bzKl0NH.jpg
 + 
 +KN95 MASKS VS PM2.5 FILTERS. KN95 (N95) is the rating given to a mask that can filter out 95% of PM2.5 such as dust, pollen, pollution, viruses and particulates in the air. PM2.5 describes the size of the fine particulate matter that people are concerned about. These tiny particles could be pollution, smoke or airborne virals. SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped virus ≈0.1 μm in diameter, so N95 masks are capable of filtering most free virions, but they do more than that. A micrometer (also called a micron) is 1000 times smaller than a millimeter. ... Nanometer A nanometer is 1000 times smaller than a micrometer. 1 micrometer (μm) = 1000 nanometers. https://www.medicalmasksuperstore.com/kn95-masks-vs-pm2-5-filters/
 + 
 +===rosacea, industrial irritants===
 + 
 +In a fascinating story, Will Hayward explains his years-long effort to figure out what was causing constant skin rashes on his face, from the "false dawn" of rosacea to gruelling allergy strip tests that revealed the true culprit: methylisothiazolinone. Methylisothiazolinone is found in many consumer and industrial products and is controversial because of its allergenicity, which leads to stories like this (and maybe to the vast array of other names behind which its presence hides). But there was another clue: when he started working from home, it got better. https://boingboing.net/2022/04/18/mystery-workplace-allergy-cured-by-working-from-home.html https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/skin-irritated-red-blotchy-years-23682100 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylisothiazolinone
 + 
 +===Honey treatment for coughs===
 + 
 +Honey better treatment for coughs and colds than antibiotics, study claims. Research suggests honey also more effective than many over-the-counter medicines. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/aug/19/honey-better-treatment-for-coughs-and-colds-than-antibiotics-study-clams
 + 
 +Cough. Taking a small amount of honey at bedtime appears to reduce the number of coughing spells in children age 2 years and older. Honey appears to be at least as effective as the cough suppressant dextromethorphan in typical over-the-counter doses. Also, drinking water containing a small amount of a honey/coffee paste seems to reduce the frequency of coughing in adults that have a long-lasting cough after they have been ill. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-738/honey
 + 
 +While there are many over-the-counter cough medicines that include honey, you can also mix it with hot lemon yourself at home to obtain a similar effect:
 +# squeeze half a lemon into a mug of boiled water
 +# add 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey
 +# drink while still warm (don't give hot drinks to small children)
 +https://www.nhs.uk/news/heart-and-lungs/honey-not-antibiotics-recommended-coughs/
 + 
 +===Exploding Head Syndrome===
 + 
 +Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS) is an actual medical condition in which an individual sometimes experiences an explosive sound inside their head when drifting off to sleep or just waking up. The big boom may also be accompanied by a flash of light. Also called "episodic cranial sensory shock," cases have been reported in the medical literature since the 19th century although the phenomenon is not well studied. In 2017, the BBC's Science Focus magazine and academic collaborators launched a survey about EHS and the results have just been published in the scientific journal Sleep Medicine: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389945720302604
 + 
 +“Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS) is not discussed very much in the media or elsewhere. Consequently, people having this experience may have very little information about what is going on,” said [Goldsmiths psychology professor Alice] Gregory. “In our study, we found that those who had experienced EHS reported poorer sleep quality and less sleep than others. In future, we would like to understand more about these associations. For example, could disturbed sleep trigger this experience, or is it that someone who has experienced EHS finds it more difficult to fall asleep at night?” https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/exploding-head-syndrome-largest-ever-study-of-mysterious-condition/ https://boingboing.net/2020/07/15/do-you-suffer-from-exploding-h.html
 + 
 +===Healthcare Insurance cost and billing===
 + 
 +The Nation’s Largest Repository of Private Claims Data https://www.fairhealth.org
Caring for relative and fear you’ll make mistake? Millions do, AARP report says https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/health-and-medicine/article229435059.html Caring for relative and fear you’ll make mistake? Millions do, AARP report says https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/health-and-medicine/article229435059.html
Line 18: Line 64:
Country Hills is an employee owned and operated skilled nursing facility located in the East County of San Diego. We are proud to offer the combined skills of experienced health care professionals to provide a caring home for individuals that need twenty-four hour nursing care. https://www.countryhills.com/services/ Country Hills is an employee owned and operated skilled nursing facility located in the East County of San Diego. We are proud to offer the combined skills of experienced health care professionals to provide a caring home for individuals that need twenty-four hour nursing care. https://www.countryhills.com/services/
 +
 +===Tremor===
 +
 +The Steadi-One | All-in-one Assistive Glove for Essential Hand Tremor Relief https://steadiwear.com/products/steadi-one-glove
 +
 +===Ear blockage cleaning===
 +
 +Drain Sinus & Clogged Ears in 1 Move! Dr. Mandell https://youtube.com/shorts/CrKwVpmX4eg
 +
 +Drain Sinus & Clear Stuffy Nose in 1 Move | Created by Dr. Mandell This technique opens up the eustachian tubes, increases sinus drainage, and opens the nasal passages in seconds. I hope this works for you! Dr M https://youtu.be/I47xi2F3W9g?t=106
 +
 +ear flushing solution can be a mixture of:
 +* rubbing alcohol
 +* white vinegar
 +* boric acid
 +* hydrogen peroxide
 +
 +===COVID===
 +
 +Could microclots help explain the mystery of long Covid? Since early 2020, we and other researchers have pointed out that acute Covid-19 is not only a lung disease, but actually significantly affects the vascular (blood flow) and coagulation (blood clotting) systems. A recent study in my lab revealed that there is significant microclot formation in the blood of both acute Covid-19 and long Covid patients. With healthy physiology, clots may form (for instance, when you cut yourself). However, the body breaks down the clots efficiently by a process called fibrinolysis. In blood from patients with long Covid, persistent microclots are resistant to the body’s own fibrinolytic processes. We found high levels of various inflammatory molecules trapped in the persistent microclots, including clotting proteins like plasminogen, fibrinogen and Von Willebrand factor (VWF), and also Alpha-2 antiplasmin (a molecule that prevents the breakdown of microclots). The presence of persistent microclots and hyperactivated platelets (also involved in clotting) perpetuates coagulation and vascular pathology, resulting in cells not getting enough oxygen in the tissues to sustain bodily functions (known as cellular hypoxia). Widespread hypoxia may be central to the numerous reported debilitating symptoms. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/05/long-covid-research-microclots
 +
 +The role of tiny blood clots in long COVID https://www.npr.org/2022/01/09/1071706533/the-role-of-tiny-blood-clots-in-long-covid
 +
 +===Depression===
 +
 +@maggiekb1 Really interesting study out -- a review of reviews, so high quality shit -- finding that there's not much evidence to support the idea depression = low serotonin. There's an easy-to-read write up by the authors at The Conservation: https://twitter.com/maggiekb1/status/1550141388259459075
 +
 +Depression is probably not caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain – new study https://theconversation.com/depression-is-probably-not-caused-by-a-chemical-imbalance-in-the-brain-new-study-186672
==Aging== ==Aging==
 +
 +===Treatment===
 +
 +Drug reverses age-related cognitive decline within days. Just a few doses of an experimental drug can reverse age-related declines in memory and mental flexibility in mice, according to a new study by UC San Francisco scientists. The drug, called ISRIB, has already been shown in laboratory studies to restore memory function months after traumatic brain injury (TBI), reverse cognitive impairments in Down Syndrome , prevent noise-related hearing loss, fight certain types of prostate cancer , and even enhance cognition in healthy animals. "ISRIB's extremely rapid effects show for the first time that a significant component of age-related cognitive losses may be caused by a kind of reversible physiological "blockage" rather than more permanent degradation," said Susanna Rosi , Ph.D., Lewis and Ruth Cozen Chair II and professor in the departments of Neurological Surgery and of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-12-drug-reverses-age-related-cognitive-decline.html
Watch “Navigating the Long Term Care System” on #Vimeo. Kristin Rigsbee made this presentation at the 4th Annual Convention of the San Diego Chapter of the Huntington's Disease Society of America, San Diego, CA, July 13, 2019. Rigsbee is the Education and Outreach Specialist for the County of San Diego Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. https://vimeo.com/348534839 Watch “Navigating the Long Term Care System” on #Vimeo. Kristin Rigsbee made this presentation at the 4th Annual Convention of the San Diego Chapter of the Huntington's Disease Society of America, San Diego, CA, July 13, 2019. Rigsbee is the Education and Outreach Specialist for the County of San Diego Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. https://vimeo.com/348534839
 +
 +===Aging in place, Aging solo===
 +
 +An emerging technology allows relatives to keep an eye on elderly or vulnerable people living alone by monitoring their electricity usage - but as with all innovations, there is the potential for misuse. It is called Infocare, and it is offered by a company called Informetis. It uses a technology called non-intrusive load monitoring, or NILM. https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-57009375
In Helsinki about 4,000 frail people are equipped with various safety gadgets to help them stay living at home for longer https://t.co/pRtbNE635R — The Economist (@TheEconomist) https://twitter.com/TheEconomist/status/1215649530856775681 January 10, 2020 In Helsinki about 4,000 frail people are equipped with various safety gadgets to help them stay living at home for longer https://t.co/pRtbNE635R — The Economist (@TheEconomist) https://twitter.com/TheEconomist/status/1215649530856775681 January 10, 2020
Line 29: Line 111:
Happy ever after: 25 ways to live well into old age https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/may/26/happy-ever-after-25-ways-to-live-well-into-old-age Happy ever after: 25 ways to live well into old age https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/may/26/happy-ever-after-25-ways-to-live-well-into-old-age
-==Objective==+===Diet, eating===
 + 
 +Global spread of autoimmune disease blamed on western diet. New DNA research by London-based scientists hopes to find cure for rapidly spreading conditions. “Fast-food diets lack certain important ingredients, such as fibre, and evidence suggests this alteration affects a person’s microbiome – the collection of micro-organisms that we have in our gut and which play a key role in controlling various bodily functions,” Vinuesa said. “These changes in our microbiomes are then triggering autoimmune diseases, of which more than 100 types have now been discovered.” https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/08/global-spread-of-autoimmune-disease-blamed-on-western-diet
 + 
 +DASH diet: Healthy eating to lower your blood pressure. The DASH diet emphasizes the right portion sizes, variety of foods and nutrients. Discover how DASH can improve your health and lower your blood pressure. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/dash-diet/art-20048456
 + 
 +===Cancer===
 + 
 +Blood test that finds 50 types of cancer is accurate enough to be rolled out. Diagnostic tool being piloted by NHS England shows ‘impressive results’ in spotting tumours in early stages. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jun/25/blood-test-that-finds-50-types-of-cancer-is-accurate-enough-to-be-rolled-out
 + 
 +==Care Plan for folks==
 + 
 +===Objective===
#Provide basic hygiene care and grooming for Mom. Bathing and dressing. #Provide basic hygiene care and grooming for Mom. Bathing and dressing.
Line 41: Line 135:
#Provide afternoon activity to promote regular sleep patterns. #Provide afternoon activity to promote regular sleep patterns.
-==Services Required==+===Services Required===
#In home Aid service from 8:00am to 11:00am seven days a week. #In home Aid service from 8:00am to 11:00am seven days a week.
Line 54: Line 148:
## Dad must be left alone undisturbed by Mom or Aid for 2-3hours. ## Dad must be left alone undisturbed by Mom or Aid for 2-3hours.
-==Desires==+===Desires===
#Have a writen plan. Provide consistent service day to day. Periodic review and revise if required. #Have a writen plan. Provide consistent service day to day. Periodic review and revise if required.
Line 61: Line 155:
##Phone contact to avoid "I will call the Police" threats. ##Phone contact to avoid "I will call the Police" threats.
-==misc==+===misc===
#clear out clutter in kitchen cabinets. #clear out clutter in kitchen cabinets.
Line 68: Line 162:
#organize collections and package in display boxes. #organize collections and package in display boxes.
-==Sources==+===Sources===
#Fox Run Home Support Services #Fox Run Home Support Services
Line 94: Line 188:
==Delirium== ==Delirium==
 +
 +===manifestation===
Delirium Isn't 'Just Part of Getting Older'. Delirium refers to a change in the brain’s neurochemistry that causes a person to become highly confused and unable to think clearly. People with delirium often can’t remember recent events or where they are. The condition usually comes on quickly, but the symptoms can come and go. https://nexav.org/2HD0j0y via @nextavenue Delirium Isn't 'Just Part of Getting Older'. Delirium refers to a change in the brain’s neurochemistry that causes a person to become highly confused and unable to think clearly. People with delirium often can’t remember recent events or where they are. The condition usually comes on quickly, but the symptoms can come and go. https://nexav.org/2HD0j0y via @nextavenue
Line 106: Line 202:
“It causes a lot of patient and family distress. There’s been reported cases of post-traumatic stress disorder after hospitalization,” Rogers says. “It increases the likelihood that you’re going to have to go into a nursing home after discharge rather than going home.” Delirium is also associated with patient falls in hospitals. “It causes a lot of patient and family distress. There’s been reported cases of post-traumatic stress disorder after hospitalization,” Rogers says. “It increases the likelihood that you’re going to have to go into a nursing home after discharge rather than going home.” Delirium is also associated with patient falls in hospitals.
 +
 +===links===
 +
 +It's Time to Take Delirium Seriously. Fortunately, basic steps can be taken to prevent delirium or shorten its course, such as making sure the patient is well hydrated, has access to eyeglasses and hearing aids if he or she uses them, gets out of bed and walks as soon as possible, has adequate sleep, and is socially engaged by hospital staff and loved ones. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/its-time-to-take-delirium-seriously/?amp via @sciam
==Dementia== ==Dementia==
Line 132: Line 232:
##Use gestures or visual aids. ##Use gestures or visual aids.
##Remember processing delays (ex: patient may take up to 90 seconds to process a simple verbal command). ##Remember processing delays (ex: patient may take up to 90 seconds to process a simple verbal command).
 +
 +===New drugs, treatments===
 +
 +We Just Got a Lot Closer to Finding a Cure for Alzheimer’s. New insights show how the disease progresses in the brain, setting up a new race for therapies. In 2020, 5.8 million Americans were suffering from Alzheimer’s. According to the CDC, that number is expected to balloon to 14 million by 2060. A cure for those people has long remained elusive, but that might change sooner than we think thanks to a new study illustrating how Alzheimer’s-associated proteins accumulate in the brain. The findings, published Friday in Science Advances, arm researchers with novel insights into how the disease progresses and could lead to new ideas for more effective treatments. Alzheimer’s is a disease defined by misbehaving proteins, according to Tuomas Knowles, a researcher at the University of Cambridge and a co-senior author of the new study. One of these proteins is called tau. In Alzheimer’s disease, tau starts to misbehave, forming clumps inside brain cells, interfering with their ability to communicate with one another. https://www.thedailybeast.com/scientists-saw-how-the-tau-protein-leads-to-alzheimers-progression-in-the-brain-and-are-now-closer-to-a-cure
 +
 +In vivo rate-determining steps of tau seed accumulation in Alzheimer’s disease https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abh1448
 +
 +So what is Huperzine A? It's a sesquiterpene alkaloid, derived from a kind of moss called Huperzia serrata. It's a stimulant without the negative side effects I've experienced from prescribed ADHD medications and has also been studied as a treatment for Alzheimer's. Although studies about this supplement are limited, it appears to be safe from what we know about it. That said, use it at your own risk if you decide to try it. This is my personal experience of course, and shouldn't be taken as medical advice. In fact, I forbid you from taking Huperzine A without the written approval of your medical doctor. https://boingboing.net/2021/08/20/i-use-huperzine-a-to-treat-my-adhd.html It is commonly available over the counter as a nutrient supplement, and is marketed as a cognitive enhancer for improving memory and concentration. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huperzine_A#Adverse_effects
 +
 +He Inherited A Devastating Disease. A CRISPR Gene-Editing Breakthrough Stopped It. Doherty found out he had a rare, but devastating inherited disease — known as transthyretin amyloidosis — that had killed his father. A misshapen protein was building up in his body, destroying important tissues, such as nerves in his hands and feet and his heart. So Doherty was thrilled when he found out that doctors were testing a new way to try to treat amyloidosis. The approach used a revolutionary gene-editing technique called CRISPR, which allows scientists to make very precise changes in DNA. "I thought: Fantastic. I jumped at the opportunity," Doherty says. On Saturday, researchers reported the first data indicating that the experimental treatment worked, causing levels of the destructive protein to plummet in Doherty's body and the bodies of five other patients treated with the approach. Moreover, the promising results potentially open the door for using the same approach to treatment of many other, more common diseases for which taking cells out of the body or directly injecting CRISPR isn't realistic, including heart disease, muscular dystrophy and brain diseases such as Alzheimer's. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/06/26/1009817539/he-inherited-a-devastating-disease-a-crispr-gene-editing-breakthrough-stopped-it
 +
 +Why the Approval of That Alzheimer’s Drug Is So Disturbing. Drugs that merely fiddle with the body’s physiology provide a false sense of control—at a cost. https://slate.com/technology/2021/06/alzheimers-drug-aduhelm-fda-outcomes-plaques.html
 +
 +Column: The FDA’s hasty approval of an unproven Alzheimer’s drug is bad news for everyone. Call it a landmark, call it a breakthrough: There’s no disputing that the Food and Drug Administration’s approval on Monday of a purported new Alzheimer’s treatment called Aduhelm marked a significant change in the process of bringing new drugs to market. But it’s a discouraging change. The FDA’s action points to a broken drug approval system. And the way Biogen, the Cambridge, Mass., company behind the drug, responded to the approval points to the immense flaws in America’s drug-pricing methods. Here are the problems in a nutshell: Medical experts’ doubts about whether Aduhelm works at all should have stayed the FDA’s hand in issuing its approval. Despite the experts’ doubts, however, the FDA went ahead, effectively giving Biogen the green light to set the drug’s price at $56,000 a year. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-06-10/fda-alzheimers-drug-aduhelm
 +
 +A flicker of light for the treatment of Alzheimer’s AFTER ALMOST two decades, the FDA has granted conditional approval to a drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, called aducanumab. But the new drug, and its approval, is surrounded by controversy. Will the gamble pay off? https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2021/06/08/a-flicker-of-light-for-the-treatment-of-alzheimers ?utm_campaign=editorial-social&utm_medium=social-organic&utm_source=twitter
 +
 +Researchers have identified gut bacteria species that appear to play a role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and motor neurone disease. Previous research has shown a link between the conditions and changes in the gut microbiome, but among the thousands of species that live there, it wasn’t easy to identify which ones have an effect. Now, a team based at the University of Florida, USA, have not only identified the harmful bacteria, but have also shown that certain other bacteria species can produce compounds that counteract the effect. https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/scientists-identify-gut-bacteria-linked-to-neurodegenerative-conditions/
 +
 +An experimental Alzheimer's drug from Eli Lilly showed significant slowing of decline in patients with early symptoms of the disease, the company said Monday. An experimental Alzheimer's drug from Eli Lilly showed significant slowing of decline in patients with early symptoms of the disease, the company said Monday. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/533712-experimental-alzheimers-drug-shows-promise-in-small-trial
===links, News=== ===links, News===
 +
 +Poor sleep linked to dementia and early death, study finds. Older adults who have significant difficulty falling asleep and who experience frequent night awakenings are at high risk for developing dementia or dying early from any cause, a new study finds. "These results contribute to existing knowledge that sleep plays a very important role, each and every night, for reducing our longer term risk for neural cognitive decline and all cause mortality," said study author Rebecca Robbins, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School who specializes in sleep research. The connection between sleep, dementia and early death from any cause is especially worrisome, experts say, due to the sleep habits of Americans and people around the world. According to the World Sleep Society, sleep deprivation is threatening the health of up to 45% of the world's population. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/18/health/sleep-dementia-early-death-wellness/index.html
 +
 +The coronavirus jab's most tantalising side effects? It may help fight cancer, chronic pain... and even Alzheimer's. Scientists have documented the unexpected benefits of vaccines for decades. Some experts suggest vaccines can 'train' the immune system, strengthening it. Others say increased stress hormones affect cells' ability to target infections. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9307203/Coronavirus-jab-help-fight-cancer-chronic-pain-Alzheimers.html
 +
 +As humanity ages the numbers of people with dementia will surge. The world is ill-prepared for the frightening human, economic and social implications. https://www.economist.com/special-report/2020/08/27/as-humanity-ages-the-numbers-of-people-with-dementia-will-surge
 +
 +21 ways to reduce your Alzheimer's risk, backed by research. https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/20/health/alzheimers-disease-prevention-wellness/index.html
 +
 +For men and women over 50, the dementia risk is 28% when taking body mass index and waist circumference into account together, the study said. Researchers measured participants' height, weight and waist circumference and followed up with them an average of 11 years later to see whether they'd been diagnosed with dementia. "As belly size gets larger, the memory center in the brain gets smaller, based on prior studies," said Dr. Richard Isaacson, who heads the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/23/health/belly-fat-dementia-link-wellness/index.html
Watch “Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter” on #Vimeo On Demand https://vimeo.com/ondemand/138538 Watch “Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter” on #Vimeo On Demand https://vimeo.com/ondemand/138538

Revision as of 00:02, 28 September 2022

This page is about Home support for an Elderly Couple.

also see Exercise

Contents

Healthcare

Cancer

It was a small trial, just 18 rectal cancer patients, every one of whom took the same drug. But the results were astonishing. The cancer vanished in every single patient, undetectable by physical exam; endoscopy; positron emission tomography, or PET scans; or MRI scans. Dr. Luis A. Diaz Jr. of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, an author of a paper published Sunday in the New England Journal of Medicine describing the results, which were sponsored by drug company GlaxoSmithKline, said he knew of no other study in which a treatment completely obliterated a cancer in every patient. https://news.yahoo.com/cancer-trials-unexpected-result-remission-120646950.html

New blood test can spot more than 50 types of cancer – many hard to detect early. a Menlo Park, California-based company called GRAIL that's introducing the blood test, called Galleri. She says can it catch hard-to-detect, aggressive and often deadly cancers like pancreatic, ovarian and esophageal. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cancer-blood-test-early-detection/

Emergency Treatment

If I ask or tell you to leave me alone your first response should be to do as I ask. Retreat and leave me alone. Observe but allow me to calm down. Do not involve the police or emergency medical services. Woman Detained In Hospital For Weeks Joins Lawsuit Against New Hampshire https://n.pr/31A6lpy

Mask wearing, Pollen Allergy, “air pollution,” “low air quality,” “PM 2.5 pollution”

Even low levels of air pollution can damage health, study finds. US researchers looked at Canada to see how people in cleanest areas were still experiencing ill health. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/12/even-low-levels-of-air-pollution-can-damage-health-study-finds

How humans could live two years longer. You can’t see particles smaller than 2.5 microns. But they kill 3.4 million people a year. https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/22691558/air-pollution-deaths-mortality-pm-25-soot-particulate

https://www.airnow.gov/?city=El%20Cajon&state=CA&country=USA

https://www.pollen.com/forecast/extended/pollen/92021

bzKl0NH.jpg

KN95 MASKS VS PM2.5 FILTERS. KN95 (N95) is the rating given to a mask that can filter out 95% of PM2.5 such as dust, pollen, pollution, viruses and particulates in the air. PM2.5 describes the size of the fine particulate matter that people are concerned about. These tiny particles could be pollution, smoke or airborne virals. SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped virus ≈0.1 μm in diameter, so N95 masks are capable of filtering most free virions, but they do more than that. A micrometer (also called a micron) is 1000 times smaller than a millimeter. ... Nanometer A nanometer is 1000 times smaller than a micrometer. 1 micrometer (μm) = 1000 nanometers. https://www.medicalmasksuperstore.com/kn95-masks-vs-pm2-5-filters/

rosacea, industrial irritants

In a fascinating story, Will Hayward explains his years-long effort to figure out what was causing constant skin rashes on his face, from the "false dawn" of rosacea to gruelling allergy strip tests that revealed the true culprit: methylisothiazolinone. Methylisothiazolinone is found in many consumer and industrial products and is controversial because of its allergenicity, which leads to stories like this (and maybe to the vast array of other names behind which its presence hides). But there was another clue: when he started working from home, it got better. https://boingboing.net/2022/04/18/mystery-workplace-allergy-cured-by-working-from-home.html https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/skin-irritated-red-blotchy-years-23682100 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylisothiazolinone

Honey treatment for coughs

Honey better treatment for coughs and colds than antibiotics, study claims. Research suggests honey also more effective than many over-the-counter medicines. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/aug/19/honey-better-treatment-for-coughs-and-colds-than-antibiotics-study-clams

Cough. Taking a small amount of honey at bedtime appears to reduce the number of coughing spells in children age 2 years and older. Honey appears to be at least as effective as the cough suppressant dextromethorphan in typical over-the-counter doses. Also, drinking water containing a small amount of a honey/coffee paste seems to reduce the frequency of coughing in adults that have a long-lasting cough after they have been ill. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-738/honey

While there are many over-the-counter cough medicines that include honey, you can also mix it with hot lemon yourself at home to obtain a similar effect:

  1. squeeze half a lemon into a mug of boiled water
  2. add 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey
  3. drink while still warm (don't give hot drinks to small children)

https://www.nhs.uk/news/heart-and-lungs/honey-not-antibiotics-recommended-coughs/

Exploding Head Syndrome

Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS) is an actual medical condition in which an individual sometimes experiences an explosive sound inside their head when drifting off to sleep or just waking up. The big boom may also be accompanied by a flash of light. Also called "episodic cranial sensory shock," cases have been reported in the medical literature since the 19th century although the phenomenon is not well studied. In 2017, the BBC's Science Focus magazine and academic collaborators launched a survey about EHS and the results have just been published in the scientific journal Sleep Medicine: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389945720302604

“Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS) is not discussed very much in the media or elsewhere. Consequently, people having this experience may have very little information about what is going on,” said [Goldsmiths psychology professor Alice] Gregory. “In our study, we found that those who had experienced EHS reported poorer sleep quality and less sleep than others. In future, we would like to understand more about these associations. For example, could disturbed sleep trigger this experience, or is it that someone who has experienced EHS finds it more difficult to fall asleep at night?” https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/exploding-head-syndrome-largest-ever-study-of-mysterious-condition/ https://boingboing.net/2020/07/15/do-you-suffer-from-exploding-h.html

Healthcare Insurance cost and billing

The Nation’s Largest Repository of Private Claims Data https://www.fairhealth.org

Caring for relative and fear you’ll make mistake? Millions do, AARP report says https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/health-and-medicine/article229435059.html

U.S. Federal Court Finds UnitedHealthcare Affiliate Illegally Denied Mental Health and Substance Use Coverage in Nationwide Class Action https://apnews.com/Globe%20Newswire/7ac8e3da7f47c4064e7c49d28b82db4c

Care Facilities in El Cajon

https://choosewellsandiego.org/facility-search;facilityName=;location=El%20Cajon;capacity=;memberStatus=;specialtyCare=All;pageIndex=0;pageSize=20

Country Hills is an employee owned and operated skilled nursing facility located in the East County of San Diego. We are proud to offer the combined skills of experienced health care professionals to provide a caring home for individuals that need twenty-four hour nursing care. https://www.countryhills.com/services/

Tremor

The Steadi-One | All-in-one Assistive Glove for Essential Hand Tremor Relief https://steadiwear.com/products/steadi-one-glove

Ear blockage cleaning

Drain Sinus & Clogged Ears in 1 Move! Dr. Mandell https://youtube.com/shorts/CrKwVpmX4eg

Drain Sinus & Clear Stuffy Nose in 1 Move | Created by Dr. Mandell This technique opens up the eustachian tubes, increases sinus drainage, and opens the nasal passages in seconds. I hope this works for you! Dr M https://youtu.be/I47xi2F3W9g?t=106

ear flushing solution can be a mixture of:

  • rubbing alcohol
  • white vinegar
  • boric acid
  • hydrogen peroxide

COVID

Could microclots help explain the mystery of long Covid? Since early 2020, we and other researchers have pointed out that acute Covid-19 is not only a lung disease, but actually significantly affects the vascular (blood flow) and coagulation (blood clotting) systems. A recent study in my lab revealed that there is significant microclot formation in the blood of both acute Covid-19 and long Covid patients. With healthy physiology, clots may form (for instance, when you cut yourself). However, the body breaks down the clots efficiently by a process called fibrinolysis. In blood from patients with long Covid, persistent microclots are resistant to the body’s own fibrinolytic processes. We found high levels of various inflammatory molecules trapped in the persistent microclots, including clotting proteins like plasminogen, fibrinogen and Von Willebrand factor (VWF), and also Alpha-2 antiplasmin (a molecule that prevents the breakdown of microclots). The presence of persistent microclots and hyperactivated platelets (also involved in clotting) perpetuates coagulation and vascular pathology, resulting in cells not getting enough oxygen in the tissues to sustain bodily functions (known as cellular hypoxia). Widespread hypoxia may be central to the numerous reported debilitating symptoms. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/05/long-covid-research-microclots

The role of tiny blood clots in long COVID https://www.npr.org/2022/01/09/1071706533/the-role-of-tiny-blood-clots-in-long-covid

Depression

@maggiekb1 Really interesting study out -- a review of reviews, so high quality shit -- finding that there's not much evidence to support the idea depression = low serotonin. There's an easy-to-read write up by the authors at The Conservation: https://twitter.com/maggiekb1/status/1550141388259459075

Depression is probably not caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain – new study https://theconversation.com/depression-is-probably-not-caused-by-a-chemical-imbalance-in-the-brain-new-study-186672

Aging

Treatment

Drug reverses age-related cognitive decline within days. Just a few doses of an experimental drug can reverse age-related declines in memory and mental flexibility in mice, according to a new study by UC San Francisco scientists. The drug, called ISRIB, has already been shown in laboratory studies to restore memory function months after traumatic brain injury (TBI), reverse cognitive impairments in Down Syndrome , prevent noise-related hearing loss, fight certain types of prostate cancer , and even enhance cognition in healthy animals. "ISRIB's extremely rapid effects show for the first time that a significant component of age-related cognitive losses may be caused by a kind of reversible physiological "blockage" rather than more permanent degradation," said Susanna Rosi , Ph.D., Lewis and Ruth Cozen Chair II and professor in the departments of Neurological Surgery and of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-12-drug-reverses-age-related-cognitive-decline.html

Watch “Navigating the Long Term Care System” on #Vimeo. Kristin Rigsbee made this presentation at the 4th Annual Convention of the San Diego Chapter of the Huntington's Disease Society of America, San Diego, CA, July 13, 2019. Rigsbee is the Education and Outreach Specialist for the County of San Diego Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. https://vimeo.com/348534839

Aging in place, Aging solo

An emerging technology allows relatives to keep an eye on elderly or vulnerable people living alone by monitoring their electricity usage - but as with all innovations, there is the potential for misuse. It is called Infocare, and it is offered by a company called Informetis. It uses a technology called non-intrusive load monitoring, or NILM. https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-57009375

In Helsinki about 4,000 frail people are equipped with various safety gadgets to help them stay living at home for longer https://t.co/pRtbNE635R — The Economist (@TheEconomist) https://twitter.com/TheEconomist/status/1215649530856775681 January 10, 2020

Woman turns 107 and shares her secret to longevity: 'I never got married' http://via.kswbtv.com/U0Twm via @fox5sandiego

Happy ever after: 25 ways to live well into old age https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/may/26/happy-ever-after-25-ways-to-live-well-into-old-age

Diet, eating

Global spread of autoimmune disease blamed on western diet. New DNA research by London-based scientists hopes to find cure for rapidly spreading conditions. “Fast-food diets lack certain important ingredients, such as fibre, and evidence suggests this alteration affects a person’s microbiome – the collection of micro-organisms that we have in our gut and which play a key role in controlling various bodily functions,” Vinuesa said. “These changes in our microbiomes are then triggering autoimmune diseases, of which more than 100 types have now been discovered.” https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/08/global-spread-of-autoimmune-disease-blamed-on-western-diet

DASH diet: Healthy eating to lower your blood pressure. The DASH diet emphasizes the right portion sizes, variety of foods and nutrients. Discover how DASH can improve your health and lower your blood pressure. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/dash-diet/art-20048456

Cancer

Blood test that finds 50 types of cancer is accurate enough to be rolled out. Diagnostic tool being piloted by NHS England shows ‘impressive results’ in spotting tumours in early stages. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jun/25/blood-test-that-finds-50-types-of-cancer-is-accurate-enough-to-be-rolled-out

Care Plan for folks

Objective

  1. Provide basic hygiene care and grooming for Mom. Bathing and dressing.
  2. help with laundry. organize clothes in closets and tidy laundry area.
  3. Light housekeeping. Change linens and bed making. Collect and dispose of trash and recycling.
  4. Provide healthy breakfast for both. Help with meal prep and cleanup. Keep counters tidy. Check food supply.
  5. Dispence medications from prepared cassettes for both.
  6. Encourage hydration for Mom.
  7. Provide safety for Mom to avoid falls or injuries. Walking assistance.
  8. Provide respite to Dad.
  9. Provide afternoon activity to promote regular sleep patterns.

Services Required

  1. In home Aid service from 8:00am to 11:00am seven days a week.
    1. Primarily covers items 1-7 above.
  2. Daily in home visit to dispense evening medications from cassette, 15 minutes. Encourage hydration for Mom.
  3. Respite for Dad:
    1. Dad must be left alone undisturbed for 2-3hours.
    2. Mom should be out of the apartment 3 days per week 2-3hours each time.
    3. Provide companionship to Mom. Promote group activities.
    4. If Mom wants to be left alone walk her to one of the loobies or the library, withdraw but stay within sight of her and let her sit alone.
    5. Activities for Mom could be physical therapy. Combine hair appointment with lunch and walking. Others to be developed.
    6. Dad must be left alone undisturbed by Mom or Aid for 2-3hours.

Desires

  1. Have a writen plan. Provide consistent service day to day. Periodic review and revise if required.
  2. Would like 2-3 Aids to consistently do the daily morning shift. Uniform style of dress. Prominent name tags.
  3. Have a plan to deal with Mom's tantrums. see item 1.
    1. Phone contact to avoid "I will call the Police" threats.

misc

  1. clear out clutter in kitchen cabinets.
  2. note paper crafting with photos of roses.
  3. Mom sometimes likes to cook but use of stove requires supervision.
  4. organize collections and package in display boxes.

Sources

  1. Fox Run Home Support Services
  2. http://seniorshelpingseniors.com for respite care
  3. https://www.homeinstead.com/
  4. http://www.seniorhelpers.com/oaklandmi
  5. http://www.assuredhospicecare.com/Home.html

Kidney Disease

  1. Aranesp® is a prescription medicine used to treat a lower than normal number of red blood cells (anemia) caused by chronic kidney disease in patients on dialysis and not on dialysis. http://www.aranesp.com
  2. Welcome to the ESA APPRISE Oncology Program https://www.esa-apprise.com/ESAAppriseUI/ESAAppriseUI/default.jsp
  3. Blood tests. Kidney function tests look for the level of waste products, such as creatinine and urea, in your blood.
  4. High blood pressure medications. People with kidney disease may experience worsening high blood pressure. Your doctor may recommend medications to lower your blood pressure — commonly angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers — and to preserve kidney function. High blood pressure medications can initially decrease kidney function and change electrolyte levels, so you may need frequent blood tests to monitor your condition. Your doctor will likely also recommend a water pill (diuretic) and a low-salt diet.
  5. Medications to treat anemia. In certain situations, your doctor may recommend supplements of the hormone erythropoietin (uh-rith-roe-POI-uh-tin), sometimes with added iron. Erythropoietin supplements aid in production of more red blood cells, which may relieve fatigue and weakness associated with anemia.
  6. Medications to relieve swelling. People with chronic kidney disease may retain fluids. This can lead to swelling in the legs, as well as high blood pressure. Medications called diuretics can help maintain the balance of fluids in your body.
  7. Creatinine is a chemical waste molecule that is generated from muscle metabolism. Creatinine is produced from creatine, a molecule of major importance for energy production in muscles. Approximately 2% of the body's creatine is converted to creatinine every day. Creatinine is transported through the bloodstream to the kidneys. The kidneys filter out most of the creatinine and dispose of it in the urine. Because the muscle mass in the body is relatively constant from day to day, the creatinine production normally remains essentially unchanged on a daily basis. http://www.medicinenet.com/creatinine_blood_test/article.htm
  8. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level is another indicator of kidney function. Urea is also a metabolic byproduct which can build up if kidney function is impaired. The BUN-to-creatinine ratio generally provides more precise information about kidney function and its possible underlying cause compared with creatinine level alone. BUN also increases with dehydration.
  9. Results of the blood urea nitrogen test are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) in the United States and in millimoles per liter (mmol/L) internationally. In general, 7 to 20 mg/dL (2.5 to 7.1 mmol/L) is considered normal. But normal ranges may vary, depending on the reference range used by the lab, and your age. Ask your doctor to explain your results. Urea nitrogen levels tend to increase with age. Infants have lower levels than other people do, and the range in children varies. Generally, a high blood urea nitrogen level means your kidneys aren't working well. http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/blood-urea-nitrogen/basics/results/prc-20020239
  10. American Kidney Fund http://www.kidneyfund.org/are-you-at-risk/helpline/

Faecal transplant

Faecal transplant researchers identify 'super-pooper' donors https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/jan/21/faecal-transplant-researchers-identify-super-pooper-donors

Delirium

manifestation

Delirium Isn't 'Just Part of Getting Older'. Delirium refers to a change in the brain’s neurochemistry that causes a person to become highly confused and unable to think clearly. People with delirium often can’t remember recent events or where they are. The condition usually comes on quickly, but the symptoms can come and go. https://nexav.org/2HD0j0y via @nextavenue

Delirium manifests in two primary ways: high agitation (which is called hyperactive delirium) or, more commonly, as inactivity (which is called hypoactive delirium). It’s possible to experience both hyperactive and hypoactive delirium throughout the course of an illness.

It’s more difficult to catch hypoactive delirium because this type of delirium is much less obvious. When patients have hyperactive delirium, they’re doing things like shouting at family members or hospital staff, trying to pull out intravenous tubes or even striking out at people.

“But more often, people just become really withdrawn and they stop eating, stop moving around,” Takahashi says. “When I’m talking to patients or their families, I say: ‘If you notice mom has become less interactive, her mood and behavior changes, she’s less alert and she’s not really responding to you, that’s as serious as the overactive type.’”

Delirium’s mortality rate is high — the same in-hospital mortality rate as having a heart attack, says Dr. Stephanie Rogers, a geriatrician and physician lead for the University of California San Francisco’s (UCSF) Delirium Reduction program.

“It causes a lot of patient and family distress. There’s been reported cases of post-traumatic stress disorder after hospitalization,” Rogers says. “It increases the likelihood that you’re going to have to go into a nursing home after discharge rather than going home.” Delirium is also associated with patient falls in hospitals.

links

It's Time to Take Delirium Seriously. Fortunately, basic steps can be taken to prevent delirium or shorten its course, such as making sure the patient is well hydrated, has access to eyeglasses and hearing aids if he or she uses them, gets out of bed and walks as soon as possible, has adequate sleep, and is socially engaged by hospital staff and loved ones. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/its-time-to-take-delirium-seriously/?amp via @sciam

Dementia

General

  1. Rummaging and hiding things
  2. http://www.helpguide.org/articles/alzheimers-dementia/alzheimers-behavior-management.htm
  3. http://www.helpforalzheimersfamilies.com/dementia-support-network/hiding-misplacing-things-rummaging/
  4. Caregiver’s Guide to Understanding Dementia Behaviors https://www.caregiver.org/caregivers-guide-understanding-dementia-behaviors

Use of drugs

New report details misuse of antipsychotics in nursing homes https://apnews.com/2052229826d84280aeb29208f7eb9434

Occupational therapy for dementia

  1. THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA – COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS AND MAINTENANCE OF FUNCTIONING http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK55462/
  1. Communication is key. Keep the following strategies in mind: http://rehabvisions.com/dementia-occupational-therapy-treatment-techniques/
    1. Present one idea at a time.
    2. Speak slowly and simply.
    3. Avoid asking questions.
    4. If you need to repeat something, repeat the message exactly as you said it the first time.
    5. Approach dementia patients from the front, never from behind.
    6. Use gestures or visual aids.
    7. Remember processing delays (ex: patient may take up to 90 seconds to process a simple verbal command).

New drugs, treatments

We Just Got a Lot Closer to Finding a Cure for Alzheimer’s. New insights show how the disease progresses in the brain, setting up a new race for therapies. In 2020, 5.8 million Americans were suffering from Alzheimer’s. According to the CDC, that number is expected to balloon to 14 million by 2060. A cure for those people has long remained elusive, but that might change sooner than we think thanks to a new study illustrating how Alzheimer’s-associated proteins accumulate in the brain. The findings, published Friday in Science Advances, arm researchers with novel insights into how the disease progresses and could lead to new ideas for more effective treatments. Alzheimer’s is a disease defined by misbehaving proteins, according to Tuomas Knowles, a researcher at the University of Cambridge and a co-senior author of the new study. One of these proteins is called tau. In Alzheimer’s disease, tau starts to misbehave, forming clumps inside brain cells, interfering with their ability to communicate with one another. https://www.thedailybeast.com/scientists-saw-how-the-tau-protein-leads-to-alzheimers-progression-in-the-brain-and-are-now-closer-to-a-cure

In vivo rate-determining steps of tau seed accumulation in Alzheimer’s disease https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abh1448

So what is Huperzine A? It's a sesquiterpene alkaloid, derived from a kind of moss called Huperzia serrata. It's a stimulant without the negative side effects I've experienced from prescribed ADHD medications and has also been studied as a treatment for Alzheimer's. Although studies about this supplement are limited, it appears to be safe from what we know about it. That said, use it at your own risk if you decide to try it. This is my personal experience of course, and shouldn't be taken as medical advice. In fact, I forbid you from taking Huperzine A without the written approval of your medical doctor. https://boingboing.net/2021/08/20/i-use-huperzine-a-to-treat-my-adhd.html It is commonly available over the counter as a nutrient supplement, and is marketed as a cognitive enhancer for improving memory and concentration. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huperzine_A#Adverse_effects

He Inherited A Devastating Disease. A CRISPR Gene-Editing Breakthrough Stopped It. Doherty found out he had a rare, but devastating inherited disease — known as transthyretin amyloidosis — that had killed his father. A misshapen protein was building up in his body, destroying important tissues, such as nerves in his hands and feet and his heart. So Doherty was thrilled when he found out that doctors were testing a new way to try to treat amyloidosis. The approach used a revolutionary gene-editing technique called CRISPR, which allows scientists to make very precise changes in DNA. "I thought: Fantastic. I jumped at the opportunity," Doherty says. On Saturday, researchers reported the first data indicating that the experimental treatment worked, causing levels of the destructive protein to plummet in Doherty's body and the bodies of five other patients treated with the approach. Moreover, the promising results potentially open the door for using the same approach to treatment of many other, more common diseases for which taking cells out of the body or directly injecting CRISPR isn't realistic, including heart disease, muscular dystrophy and brain diseases such as Alzheimer's. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/06/26/1009817539/he-inherited-a-devastating-disease-a-crispr-gene-editing-breakthrough-stopped-it

Why the Approval of That Alzheimer’s Drug Is So Disturbing. Drugs that merely fiddle with the body’s physiology provide a false sense of control—at a cost. https://slate.com/technology/2021/06/alzheimers-drug-aduhelm-fda-outcomes-plaques.html

Column: The FDA’s hasty approval of an unproven Alzheimer’s drug is bad news for everyone. Call it a landmark, call it a breakthrough: There’s no disputing that the Food and Drug Administration’s approval on Monday of a purported new Alzheimer’s treatment called Aduhelm marked a significant change in the process of bringing new drugs to market. But it’s a discouraging change. The FDA’s action points to a broken drug approval system. And the way Biogen, the Cambridge, Mass., company behind the drug, responded to the approval points to the immense flaws in America’s drug-pricing methods. Here are the problems in a nutshell: Medical experts’ doubts about whether Aduhelm works at all should have stayed the FDA’s hand in issuing its approval. Despite the experts’ doubts, however, the FDA went ahead, effectively giving Biogen the green light to set the drug’s price at $56,000 a year. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-06-10/fda-alzheimers-drug-aduhelm

A flicker of light for the treatment of Alzheimer’s AFTER ALMOST two decades, the FDA has granted conditional approval to a drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, called aducanumab. But the new drug, and its approval, is surrounded by controversy. Will the gamble pay off? https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2021/06/08/a-flicker-of-light-for-the-treatment-of-alzheimers ?utm_campaign=editorial-social&utm_medium=social-organic&utm_source=twitter

Researchers have identified gut bacteria species that appear to play a role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and motor neurone disease. Previous research has shown a link between the conditions and changes in the gut microbiome, but among the thousands of species that live there, it wasn’t easy to identify which ones have an effect. Now, a team based at the University of Florida, USA, have not only identified the harmful bacteria, but have also shown that certain other bacteria species can produce compounds that counteract the effect. https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/scientists-identify-gut-bacteria-linked-to-neurodegenerative-conditions/

An experimental Alzheimer's drug from Eli Lilly showed significant slowing of decline in patients with early symptoms of the disease, the company said Monday. An experimental Alzheimer's drug from Eli Lilly showed significant slowing of decline in patients with early symptoms of the disease, the company said Monday. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/533712-experimental-alzheimers-drug-shows-promise-in-small-trial

links, News

Poor sleep linked to dementia and early death, study finds. Older adults who have significant difficulty falling asleep and who experience frequent night awakenings are at high risk for developing dementia or dying early from any cause, a new study finds. "These results contribute to existing knowledge that sleep plays a very important role, each and every night, for reducing our longer term risk for neural cognitive decline and all cause mortality," said study author Rebecca Robbins, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School who specializes in sleep research. The connection between sleep, dementia and early death from any cause is especially worrisome, experts say, due to the sleep habits of Americans and people around the world. According to the World Sleep Society, sleep deprivation is threatening the health of up to 45% of the world's population. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/18/health/sleep-dementia-early-death-wellness/index.html

The coronavirus jab's most tantalising side effects? It may help fight cancer, chronic pain... and even Alzheimer's. Scientists have documented the unexpected benefits of vaccines for decades. Some experts suggest vaccines can 'train' the immune system, strengthening it. Others say increased stress hormones affect cells' ability to target infections. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9307203/Coronavirus-jab-help-fight-cancer-chronic-pain-Alzheimers.html

As humanity ages the numbers of people with dementia will surge. The world is ill-prepared for the frightening human, economic and social implications. https://www.economist.com/special-report/2020/08/27/as-humanity-ages-the-numbers-of-people-with-dementia-will-surge

21 ways to reduce your Alzheimer's risk, backed by research. https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/20/health/alzheimers-disease-prevention-wellness/index.html

For men and women over 50, the dementia risk is 28% when taking body mass index and waist circumference into account together, the study said. Researchers measured participants' height, weight and waist circumference and followed up with them an average of 11 years later to see whether they'd been diagnosed with dementia. "As belly size gets larger, the memory center in the brain gets smaller, based on prior studies," said Dr. Richard Isaacson, who heads the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/23/health/belly-fat-dementia-link-wellness/index.html

Watch “Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter” on #Vimeo On Demand https://vimeo.com/ondemand/138538

‘Eventually I knew she was no longer safe alone’: how do we care for family with dementia? https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/sep/28/dementia-how-we-car-for-people-living-with-it-sarah-boseley

Alzheimer’s test predicts onset up to 20 years in advance https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/aug/02/alzheimers-test-predicts-onset-up-to-20-years-in-advance

Healthy lifestyle may cut risk of dementia regardless of genes. Eight-year study suggests genetic predisposition does not make condition inevitable https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jul/14/healthy-lifestyle-may-cut-risk-of-dementia-regardless-of-genes

Researchers have long dreamed of an Alzheimer's vaccine. Now it may finally be within reach. In a new research paper published in NPJ Vaccines, researchers reported they have developed a vaccine using virus-like particles to eliminate the tau tangles in mice who were bred to develop similar symptoms as human Alzheimer’s patients. “We’re excited by these findings, because they seem to suggest that we can use the body’s own immune system to make antibodies against these [tau] tangles .... these antibodies actually bind and clear these tau tangles,” Nicole Maphis, a PhD candidate in UNM’s Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program https://www.salon.com/2019/06/12/researchers-dreamed-of-an-alzheimers-vaccine-now-it-may-finally-be-within-reach/

Researchers say they've made progress toward preventing Alzheimer's https://thehill.com/homenews/news/447857-researchers-say-theyve-made-progress-toward-preventing-alzheimers

Pfizer had clues its blockbuster drug could prevent Alzheimer’s. Why didn’t it tell the world? Sometimes doctors prescribe drugs for uses that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. But none of the experts interviewed for this story said such “off-label’’ use of Enbrel would be appropriate for Alzheimer’s, because of the very limited nature of the data thus far. Nor, they said, do they believe such prescribing is happening to any significant extent. The role of brain inflammation in Alzheimer’s recently has been getting closer attention among academics after the failure of multiple experimental drugs that targeted the buildup of plaques on brain tissue. In 2016, researchers from Dartmouth and Harvard universities published a study of insurance claims data — similar to Pfizer’s internal findings — that showed a potential benefit of Enbrel. Enbrel “shows promise as a potential treatment’’ for Alzheimer’s, the study found. https://wapo.st/2HTW4xX

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched its first ever guidelines on how people can help avoid getting dementia. It looked at the evidence of what works and what doesn't for lowering risk. Things to avoid include smoking and drinking too much alcohol. While eating a healthy diet is beneficial, popping vitamin pills makes no difference to dementia risk, it advises. There is no good evidence that brain training works but some studies suggest it may be worthwhile, says the WHO. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clldg965yzjo

He has dementia, but cartoonist Gahan Wilson still sees humor in the world. Paul recently took Gahan out for coffee. "This fresh air smells so good," Wilson had said, and then he asked, "How did you break me out of jail?" https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/karinabland/2019/04/11/gahan-wilson-cartoonist-still-sees-humor-world/3432875002/ via @azcentral

Is It Alzheimer's Or Another Dementia? The Right Answer Matters https://n.pr/2CmMNeu

Does our immune system hold the key to beating Alzheimer’s disease? https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/mar/03/alzheimers-disease-immune-system-immunotherapy-vaccine

Words of reassurance left for an elderly lady with dementia by her daughter. A simple white board left… https://old.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/akbxho/words_of_reassurance_left_for_an_elderly_lady/

Blood test could detect Alzheimer's years before symptoms begin. By measuring changes in the levels of a protein in the blood, called neurofilament light chain (NfL), researchers believe any rise in levels of the protein could be an early sign of the disease, according to the study published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine. NfL is a "marker in the blood which gives an indication of nerve cell loss in the brain," explained lead researcher Mathias Jucker, professor of cell biology of neurological diseases at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases. The more neurofilament you have in the blood, the more brain damage you have," he said. @CNN https://cnn.it/2AWr4JM

Virtual reality to help detect early risk of Alzheimer’s https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/dec/16/alzheimers-dementia-cure-virtual-reality-navigation-skills

A professional geriatric care manager has been educated in various fields of human services — social work, psychology, nursing, gerontology — and trained to assess, plan, coordinate, monitor and provide services for the elderly and their families. Advocacy for older adults is a primary function of the care manager. http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/06/why-hire-a-geriatric-care-manager/

Dementia Care Resource and Training Center The Resource center is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10:00am – 2:00 pm or by appointment – call 615-283-4512, Senior Helpers, 109 Holiday Court Suite D1, Franklin, TN 37067 http://www.seniorhelpers.com/franklin-tn/services/alzheimers

Alzheimer’s San Diego is dedicated to supporting families and caregivers. For many, one of the the best sources of support is through regular support group meetings. Not only is it an opportunity to understand you are not alone in the daily struggles of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, but you will build relationships and learn from other caregivers who understand what you are going through, develop new coping strategies and find comfort, strength and hope in a compassionate and safe environment. Groups are free, led by a trained group leaders and located throughout San Diego County. http://www.alzsd.org/services/support-discussion-groups/

https://www.caring.com

ref