New Ways to Help Alzheimer's Patients

When I was visiting my mother-in-law's nursing home over the holidays, I noticed that several of the patients had baby dolls in their arms. These patients clearly cared about these dolls. One woman had been waiting for her doll, and when the staff member handed it over, she was so relieved. I also noticed the staff giving small snacks to people who said they were hungry. One man was dressed in an oxford shirt and gray flannel pants. He stood up and started to speak in a business-like tone as if he were giving a talk at a meeting, although the words were nonsense. I learned he used to be an executive. I couldn't help but realize that the staff was enabling the patients to live in their own worlds and remain calmer and happier for doing so. This was a far cry from the scenes I used to encounter when my own mother was in a nursing home for dementia in the 1980s.

That's why an article in the New York Times about new ways to treat Alzheimer's patients was so interesting to me -- Giving Alzheimer's Patients Their Way, Even Doses of Chocolate (front page, 1/1/11).

The article told the story of a nursing home in Phoenix, AZ, that allows patients to do almost anything to keep their anxiety at a minimum without drugs. The staff at this home claims that a little chocolate can have an amazingly calming effect. Ironically, when government officials learned about these unusual methods, they frowned upon them because they didn't follow "regulations."

The good news is that people who care for loved ones at home can use these techniques, too. Over 11 million people care for a relative with Alzheimer's in their homes. That is a startling number, one that is going to keep growing. Caring for a loved one at home can be daunting, so new tips to deal with Alzheimer's patients more effectively is a boon. If you're dealing with such a challenge, I urge you to read the article in the Times, even though it is long.

What Really Causes Alzheimer's?

I'm puzzled. Just this spring I read that a researcher at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine had discovered that amyloid plaques were probably not the cause of Alzheimer's. Therefore, removing plaques would not help patients. In fact, it might even hurt. Dr. Sam Gandy, who is the lead researcher, says it's floating clumps of protein that are destroying the neural pathways involved with learning and memory. He says science should be working on pursuing this new hypothesis -- the "abeta oligomer hypothesis" -- rather than the "amyloid beta" hypothesis that most drug research is focusing on.

 The articles I read online in AARP magazine and medicinenet.com were very compelling, explaining how Dr. Gandy used mice to make his discovery. The research even indicated that plaques might be the body's mechanism to protect the brain from the damaging floating protein. I thought I'd be reading more about this exciting, hopeful research. But no.

Instead, I've been reading about huge drug trials from big pharma intent on studying the removal of plaque. The New York Times had a front page article on July 17, 2010, on new ways to test for Alzheimer's, new drug studies and how the FDA is slowing the studies up. The FDA is saying that it's one thing for a medicine to make plaque disappear, but what they want is for the memory of the people taking the drug to improve (or at least not continue to deteriorate). Hooray for the FDA. This makes perfect sense. But why weren't the FDA and Times also talking about Dr. Gandy's research? Why aren't drug companies shifting over to test drugs that fight the abeta oligomer?

I'm baffled. If anyone out there reads this and can shed light on this, please let me know. Alzheimer's is a terrible disease. My mother had dementia from a stroke. I know first hand how devastating dementia can be.  
Here are links to the various articles I've cite here:

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=115821


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/17/health/research/17drug.html


http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-05-2010/alzheimers_disease.html

Brain Health and Dementia Information

So much of the information in the blogosphere is ridiculous or misleading. But this morning I found a blog that is really useful. It focuses on brain health, including dementia and how to deal with it and how to prevent it. It seems to be science-based and has information about an upcoming conference on dementia sponsored by the National Institute of Health. Here is a link to information on the conference:

http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/alz.htm
NIH State-of-the-Science Conference
Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease
and Cognitive Decline

April 26–28, 2010
Bethesda, Maryland

Here's a link to the blog called "Brain Today" -- 

http://braintoday.blogspot.com/2010/03/nih-state-of-science-conference.html

Darien, CT, Alzheimer's Support Group

The Darien Community Association
and
The Visiting Nurse/ Hospice Care of SW. CT
Introduce

Alzheimer's Support Group
For Caregivers

Invited to attend are caregivers of persons
with diagnosis of Alzheimer's who seek
to improve care and coping by giving
voice to their emotions and sense of loss

Second Wednesday of each month 12 noon-1:00pm
Starting December 9
Limited group seize requires pre-registrationon a first come basis

Facilitator: Edward Simas, Ph.D
Counselor: Transition/loss VNHC

For more information,
please contact the DCA 655-9050

Alzheimer's Project - TV Documentary

The New York Times has an excellent review of the Alzheimer's Project -- a TV documentary. Here are a link and synopsis. The review also lists resources for people to tap on the Internet.

Television Review | 'The Alzheimer’s Project'

The Disease That Steals Your Self

By ALESSANDRA STANLEY

Published: May 8, 2009

“The Alzheimer’s Project,” a deeply affecting documentary series on HBO that begins on Sunday, seeks to comfort and encourage those affected by the disease.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/arts/television/08alzh.html