MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Dorian Martin's SharePosts' source. Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:43:52 +0100 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/48686/magazine-immunity Every time I've gotten together recently with friends or go into the office, someone is fighting off a cold or the flu. Being susceptible to these diseases is bad enough when one has to deal with a long daily "to do" list (a job, family, school, etc.), but when you're a caretaker, you often have extra reason to feel that you don't have time to get sick.   So I was interested in the November issue of body+soul, which features a story... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1960917 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:52:00 +0100 1960917 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/48069/proclamation-elect               The Alzheimer's Association is seeking 50,000 signatures on a proclamation that will be urging President-elect Obama to make ending Alzheimer's a priority. This proclamation will be delivered in January. The proclamation, which you can electronically sign by visiting this webpage link, reads:   "To President Obama... As our President, you must lead the nation... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1952066 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:18:00 +0100 1952066 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/47524/exhibits-respect Sometimes to get a better appreciation for the wonders of your body, you need to have an "out of body experience." That's what my friend, Mara, and I did by attending one of the travelling shows of BODY WORLDS, which is being presented by the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences.             We both were a little worried walking into the show, BODY WORLDS 2 & The Brain - Our Three Pound... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1939290 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:49:00 +0100 1939290 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/46927/guide-interactions   A long-time family friend called recently with a pressing question. "How did you begin to work with the care facility once you placed your mom there?" Pam asked. She had recently placed her husband, who suffers a disease that attacks the brain, in an assisted living facility. Our conversation led to some suggestions that might be useful to caregivers who face this difficult transition. These suggestions are: Build relationships with... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1924589 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:55:00 +0100 1924589 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/46352/eloquently-journey Over the summer, I participated in a different type of chain letter. This particular chain letter resulted in about 10 paperback books being delivered to my mailbox. One of these books, A Three Dog Life: A Memoir by Abigail Thomas, provides a good picture of the many challenges that caregivers face in dealing with loved ones who have dementia or a brain injury.   Thomas's husband, Rich, didn't have Alzheimer's; instead, he was hit by a... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1911428 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:00:00 +0100 1911428 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/45718/artile-hispanics The Alzheimer's Association reports that 200,000 Latinos who live in the United States currently have Alzheimer's disease. By 2050, the projected total for this demographic group could reach 1.3 million. An October 21 New York Times article, "More Alzheimer's Risk for Hispanics, Studies Suggest" by Pam Belluck, explores the reasons behind this projection, as well as the cultural issues that will impact diagnosis and caregiving.   Belluck... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1901698 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:00:00 +0100 1901698 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/44773/detection-american The American Express Members Project has just announced the winner for 2008: Alzheimer's Disease: Early Detection Matters, submitted by American Express card member Jay Smith and the fulfilling organization, the Alzheimer's Association. This project, which received 24,101 votes, will garner $1.5 million for the project.   Early Detection Matters was initially submitted by Smith, whose wife, Patty, was diagnosed at the age of 51 after two... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1883422 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:43:00 +0100 1883422 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/44486/newsweek-describes             Before Alzheimer's, my mother was a strong-willed and very competitive woman, although she was very compassionate and willing to compromise. As Alzheimer's began to run its course, the first two traits became more pronounced, while the willingness to compromise often seemed to recede. And on occasion, paranoia and a blinding anger seemed to take over Mom, who often directed her... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1876175 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:37:00 +0100 1876175 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/43896/show-detrimental Words - and how you say them - can make a big difference in how an elderly loved one with Alzheimer's responds. As I mentioned in a 2006 blog, I learned that my strong-willed mother's reaction was often directly tied to the approach of the person making the request (or demand).   Thus, I'm not surprised by a New York Times article entitled "In ‘Sweetie' and ‘Dear,' A Hurt for the Elderly" that describes the impact of... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1862920 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:20:00 +0100 1862920 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/43153/remain-healthy-flu On Tuesday, I got my flu shot (complete with a Garfield bandage). I started this ritual when Mom moved near me in 2005. As a caregiver, I couldn't afford to get sick while Mom needed me; now, with my 80-plus year-old father living near me, I still want to be proactive in maintaining my health.   So I was very interested in a Health Magazine story, "How Some Women Never Get Sick," on CNN's website that described seven secrets that... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1859647 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:46:00 +0100 1859647 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/43153/remain-healthy-flu On Tuesday, I got my flu shot (complete with a Garfield bandage). I started this ritual when Mom moved near me in 2005. As a caregiver, I couldn't afford to get sick while Mom needed me; now, with my 80-plus year-old father living near me, I still want to be proactive in maintaining my health.   So I was very interested in a Health Magazine story, "How Some Women Never Get Sick," on CNN's website that described seven secrets that... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1851089 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:46:00 +0100 1851089 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/42674/death-caregiving As I sit here trying to write this sharepost to mark the one-year anniversary of Mom's death, I'm listening to the pitter-patter of afternoon raindrops on my patio. I'd like to believe that Mother Nature also is saddened by this anniversary and these natural tears from heaven are being shed to match the ones that slowly are making their way down my cheeks. Yes, it's been quite a rollercoaster ride since that 2:30 a.m. phone call on Saturday... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841125 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:52:00 +0100 1841125 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/41993/sisters-caregiving It would have been very easy for my relationship with my brother, Steve, to have been damaged during the two-year period that I was a caregiver for Mom. We had our moments when it was easy to fuss about his lack of involvement. Steve didn't often call the nursing home to talk to Mom. Instead, I often had to be the scheduler and arrange to call him from my cell phone when I was visiting Mom so they could converse. And when Steve forgot Mom's... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825937 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:41:00 +0100 1825937 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/41520/underscores-early Dad and I had a long conversation last night about Mom's diagnosis. Prompted by the HealthCentral producer's request for shareposts about Alzheimer's Day and the importance of early screening for Alzheimer's, Dad and I came to an agreement: Mom actively avoided being diagnosed. Having taken care of her own mother (who had the disease) and seen her grandmother also succumb to dementia, Mom was terrified of following in their footsteps. And being... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1809863 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:35:00 +0100 1809863 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/40830/presidential-fight Frankly, I'm really getting tired of listening to the presidential campaign as the candidates get mired in trivial mudslinging (such as what was meant when Sen. Obama talked about "lipstick on a pig"). I believe there are important issues to be discussed - like each candidate's health care platform and what each plans to do about looming health care issues, such as Alzheimer's. However, by keeping the slime flying, the candidates can avoid... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1802820 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:10:00 +0100 1802820 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/40773/magazine-insurance My dad has been after me to consider taking out long term insurance since it seems like there's a history of dementia on my mom's side of the family. But what should I look for when selecting this type of insurance. Thanks to the September 15 issue of Time magazine, I have a better idea of what to look for.   The article, Thinking Long Term by Daniel Kadlec, suggests the following: Be aware of your family's health history. Kadlec notes... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1794509 Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:30:00 +0100 1794509 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/40051/individual-process The New York Times ran an interesting article last week by Benedict Carey about a new study on the brain which may lead to a new line of research into Alzheimer's and dementia. In the study, which was just published in the journal of Science, scientists found that they can identify individual brain cells that are in the process of summoning a spontaneous memory.    The study involved placing tiny electrodes into the brains of 13... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1779370 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:28:00 +0100 1779370 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/39361/cremated-spotlight My mother made her final wishes darn clear - she wanted to be cremated and she wanted her ashes spread in the Colorado Rockies. What Mom didn't make clear was who should do this, but then again, I always assumed that this rite of passage should fall to family members. Yet reading an Associated Press article written by Steve LeBlanc in Sunday's Houston Chronicle has left me dumbfounded in how family members may not know that spreading a loved... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1760021 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:07:00 +0100 1760021 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/38707/missed-nomination   I was watching the evening news Wednesday and managed to catch the moment when Sen. Barack Obama was officially nominated. I could feel tears well in my eyes as Sen. Hillary Clinton called for his nomination by acclimation. And those tears started flowing as the CBS News reporter interviewed an African American lady who is a delegate from South Carolina. She talked about how her father had experienced segregation during his life, but now... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739316 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:00:00 +0100 1739316 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/38190/caregiving-lessons   A friend suggested that I rent the movie, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. I had heard about the movie last year when it was up for four Oscars, so I placed it first in my Netflix queue. I expected to be engrossed by the way that director Julian Schnabel portrayed the true story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who suffered a stroke and had to live with an almost totally paralyzed body; only his left eye wasn't paralyzed. However, I... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1734130 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:40:00 +0100 1734130 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/37795/philanthrophy I feel the need to share my most recent gripe. I really am tired of the phone calls from organizations that want me to send out letters on their behalf to my neighbors asking them to donate to a specific charity. It seems like once every week or so, I get the call, "Ms. Martin, I want to thank you for your previous support to (insert any one of a number of charities here). I'm not calling you to ask for any money, but instead to ask you to mail... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1720459 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:05:00 +0100 1720459 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/37533/cremated-security   I had a long checklist started in preparation for our trip to Colorado to spread Mom's ashes. I also delegated some tasks to others. My friend Anna's responsibility (since she travels a lot for business) was to check with the airline about any challenges in taking cremated remains on-board the airplane. She called me one morning to give the report - you have to make sure that the cremated remains are in a type of container that can be... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1714029 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:52:00 +0100 1714029 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/37077/journey-grieving A good friend expressed concern about me in the spring. "Dorian, are you OK? Do you need to see a grief counselor?" she gingerly asked. Acknowledging that I appreciated her concern, I said I was fine. And although I do believe that my answer was true, I will say that life had taken on a gray tinge since Mom had died in September.  I found that was having trouble determining which direction I wanted to go.   Thus, I was very... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1704820 Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:30:00 +0100 1704820 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/35193/fighting-alzheimer It's beginning to be that time of year again - the fall is the chance to lace up your walking shoes and take a step in the right direction to stop Alzheimer's. The Alzheimer's Association's Memory Walk® is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research - and it calls on volunteers of all ages to become champions in the fight against Alzheimer's. There are walks in more than 600 communities. A... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1692249 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:00:00 +0100 1692249 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/35206/doctor-appointment  About a week ago, I went with my 82-year-old father to his appointment with the cardiologist. Dad had been worried about his heart and wanted to make sure that it could handle the altitude since we will be taking Mom's ashes to spread in the high altitude of the Colorado Rocky Mountains soon.   The good news - Dad's heart is great, according to the cardiologist. The potentially scary news - he didn't hear the nurse correctly when... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1686373 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:00:00 +0100 1686373 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/35144/diary-beneficial Graduate school teaches you a bunch of 75-cent words that sound impressive. One of the words that I learned through my program is "metacognition." This high-falutin' word means, according to Merriam-Webster, "awareness or analysis of one's own learning or thinking processes."   The reason that I bring this word up is that I just was reading the August 4 issue of Time Magazine. The article "Dear (Food) Diary" shares a study published in... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1679488 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:50:00 +0100 1679488 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/35187/forgetting-sunday What are you doing the evening of Sunday, August 3? If you don't have any plans (or even if you do), I'd encourage you to take time to watch The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer's, which will air at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check your local listings).   A year ago, I had the opportunity to watch The Forgetting, the Emmy Award-winning documentary based on David Shenk's best-selling book. My 2006 sharepost described the important messages... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1674950 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:00:00 +0100 1674950 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/35217/pausch-caregivers It's with great sorrow that I write this blog about the death of Dr. Randy Pausch. I had the opportunity to hear him give his famous "Last Lecture" on a recent Oprah show that focused on dying. I really appreciated his message and wanted to put it in perspective for me and other caregivers who are taking care of someone with Alzheimer's disease.   Unfortunately, when he gave this last lecture, Mom was in the last stages of Alzheimer's and... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1660860 Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:40:00 +0100 1660860 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/34452/dementia-forgotten Since many friends have expressed concerns that they are suffering dementia when their cognitive ability slips, I found this headline from the June 2008 issue of O Magazine intriguing: "Head Trip: Why Your Memory May Be Slipping." It turns out that researchers have discovered that traumatic brain injuries from long-forgotten falls, sports injuries or other accidents that resulted in a blow to the head may be the culprit for unexplained... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1642750 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:50:00 +0100 1642750 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/34018/gift-burden During her lifetime, Mom rarely took off her Superwoman cape. Proudly independent, Mom reveled in her ability to take care of everyone and handle everything. Even in her later years, she was striving to help her family and doing everything to savor life. In 2000, while suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Mom was helping me hoist boxes in 90-degree temperatures during my big move to another city. Later that year, she... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1631217 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:04:06 +0100 1631217 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/33719/turning-walking That old adage, "When it rains, it pours," perfectly described the critical events in recent years that caused me to reshuffle my life. In April 2005, I was laid off from a job that I had been totally committed to. Five months later, Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and moved to an area nursing home; thus, I became the key caretaker. In October 2006, my 80-something-year-old father moved to the area, potentially placing me in a caregiving mode... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1625714 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:34:33 +0100 1625714 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/33016/birthday-letter Dear Mom,   Happy birthday! Today, which would have been your 84th birthday, is still a special day for Dad, Steve and me, even though you are now gone. I thought the best present I could give you is sharing what has happened since you left us September 29 (although I'm sure you know everything, I thought I'd give you my view).   We each are taking it one day at a time. We all are still processing the challenges that you faced... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1593922 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:14:33 +0100 1593922 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/32515/sportcaster-father Jim Nantz Jr., the father of CBS Sports anchor Jim Nantz III, died Saturday, June 28. The Houston Chronicle reported that Mr. Nantz, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1995, died with his son by his bedside.   I had heard about Mr. Nantz's struggle with Alzheimer's during interviews given by Jim Nantz III this past spring. When asked by U.S. News and World Report what the most difficult aspect of his father's demise had been, the son... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1575528 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:55:09 +0100 1575528 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/32369/year-encouragement As I was weeding a flowerbed one recent weekend, I saw my next door neighbors pull into their driveway. After hearing the car door slam, I heard Judy call out my name as she made her way across her front yard.   Held hostage by our various hectic schedules, Judy and I hadn't talked to each other recently. We tended to wave at each other as we drove to our respective events. So it was good to catch up over a leisurely visit on the swing... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1556430 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:59:22 +0100 1556430 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/31644/death-illustrate Your world as a caregiver revolves around your loved one who has Alzheimer's disease. You focus so much of your time, energy, and resources on them that they quickly become the center of your universe. Then they are gone. And how quickly it seems, the world moves on without them.   In our case, Mom died in the middle of the night. I got the call around 2:30 a.m., and then woke up my brother, Steve, and called my father. Fighting through... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1538099 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:04:34 +0100 1538099 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/31165/planning-traveling My mother made her final wishes very clear: (1)  No use of medical methods (such as a feeding tube) to extend her life; (2) Cremate her body; (3) Spread her ashes in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.   We began to follow Wish 1 last year about this time when she could no longer swallow solid food. Mom passed away in September 2007. Thus, we were able to check Wish 2 off her list in early October. Her cremated remains are safely tucked... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1531433 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:50:37 +0100 1531433 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/30673/reaches-volunteers National Public Radio (NPR) recently aired a story about the Intergenerational School's volunteer program that promotes interaction between the students and elderly volunteers who have dementia. The Cleveland inner-city charter school, which serves students in kindergarten-eighth grade, was created by Dr. Peter Whitehouse and his wife, Cathy Whitehouse eight years ago.   This story intrigued me since I worked for many years in education.... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526411 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:30:32 +0100 1526411 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/29923/strengthens-brain The June issue of O, The Oprah Magazine features an article, "Watch This. No - Read It!", which reports on a neuroscience finding of interest for those of us worried about keeping our brains strong. The article reports that reading exercises your brain more than watching the film adaptation of a book or TV reports of news.   Dr. Ken Pugh, president and director of research at Haskins Laboratories (an affiliate of Yale... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1518756 Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:33:12 +0100 1518756 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/30284/beginning-approach One of the defining moments in my life as a caregiver happened in early 2004. Just days into the New Year, my father shared with me that he had blockage in his carotid arteries that was going to require surgery. My mother, whose lungs were ravaged by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and who was having significant short term memory problems, was worried sick. After much discussion about the quality of medical care available in the... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1516612 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 22:13:44 +0100 1516612 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/29123/important-research  Earlier in May, The New York Times ran two interesting articles concerning some of the latest information on brain research. I think both have messages of interest for readers of this website.   The first article, For a Sharp Brain, Stimulation, reports that researchers have found that the brain actually is capable of generating new brain cells, especially in areas that are important for learning and memory. Times reporter Roni... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1475277 Thu, 29 May 2008 15:51:26 +0100 1475277 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/28585/houston-alzheimer The Houston Chronicle published an editorial on May 21 that makes a compelling argument why action needs to be taken now to fight Alzheimer's. "Time is of the essence," the editorial reads. "Death rates for heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer and strokes declined between 2000 and 2005. In the same period, Alzheimer's deaths increased 45 percent." Detailing the recent visits to Congress by former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1463902 Fri, 23 May 2008 15:36:19 +0100 1463902 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/28190/suggestions The May 2008 issue of body+soul features a thought-provoking story on caregiving, entitled, "Taking Care of You." Part of the headline in the magazine says it all: "Caregiving takes more than skill. It also takes stamina." We often forget about constant demands on our energy as we try to help loved ones, but being able to mentally, physically and emotionally go the distance while caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease is... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1451903 Mon, 19 May 2008 15:26:39 +0100 1451903 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/27819/columnist-dementia I realize that it's a few days past Mother's Day, but I thought readers would be interested in the column, "Call Your Mother," by New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman. The column, a tribute to his mother Margaret who died in April, was the most e-mailed column when I checked the Times website on Monday.   As Mr. Friedman notes, his mother had dementia for the past 10 years. However, his column doesn't tell about her struggles with... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1443027 Thu, 15 May 2008 10:38:08 +0100 1443027 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/27558/article-forgetting I must admit that I had never thought about the statistics before. The latest issue of Time features an article by Sue Halpern entitled, "Forgetting Is the New Normal." She notes that 14 million people in the United States will develop Alzheimer's disease in the next 40 years. Furthermore, 50% of the population will develop symptoms of Alzheimer's by age 85. However, the average U.S. life expectancy is 80.4 years for women and 75.2 years for... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1436992 Tue, 13 May 2008 00:19:44 +0100 1436992 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/26978/elderly-considered What would it be like if we gave the elderly the time and the information to make their own decisions about the level of medical care given to them as they approach the final  hour? That's the idea behind slow medicine, which is described in a New York Times article by Jane Gross.   "Grounded in research at the Dartmouth Medical School, slow medicine encourages physicians to put on the brakes when considering care that may have... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1420515 Mon, 05 May 2008 20:35:57 +0100 1420515 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/26530/restaurant-health In the past few years, I've become more attuned to sodium content in foods. My dad now lives near me and he has a history of high blood pressure. He has started pointing out the sodium content in packaged foods and I've tried to be thoughtful in what I cook when he comes over for dinner. I'd already starting reading labels, but this nutritional information took on a personal relevance when I learned this week that my blood pressure is too high.... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1409795 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:15:42 +0100 1409795 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/26173/robotic-alzheimer   Last Thursday evening, I tuned into PBS's News Hour with Jim Lehrer to catch up with the latest news across the world. One of the segments quickly grabbed my interest - homes with robotics designed to help care for the frail and elderly, especially those who are not able to care for themselves.   This story focused on Pittsburgh's effort to rebuild itself as a technological center. A portion of the segment... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1404135 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:29:57 +0100 1404135 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/25595/research-alzheimer Like many people who have a history of Alzheimer's disease in their family, I often scan various sources to learn about on-going research that may slow or stop this devastating disease. Recently, I received an e-mail newsletter from More magazine which included a link to two articles on promising research.   The first report is dedicated to studies being conducted by Dr. Katherine Tucker, an epidemiologist at Tufts University's... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1389136 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:48:06 +0100 1389136 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/25595/research-alzheimer Like many people who have a history of Alzheimer's disease in their family, I often scan various sources to learn about on-going research that may slow or stop this devastating disease. Recently, I received an e-mail newsletter from More magazine which included a link to two articles on promising research.   The first is dedicated to studies being conducted by Dr. Katherine Tucker, an epidemiologist at Tufts University's Friedman School... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1386084 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:10:10 +0100 1386084 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/21076/study-group In the United States, we're in the middle of our presidential election cycle. There are big plans on many issues, such as health care, being touted by candidates. However, away from the election fray, there also are smaller, quieter steps being taken by leaders at the national policy level concerning the fight against Alzheimer's disease.  Worried about the potential impact of Alzheimer's disease, U.S. congressional leaders... (Source: Dorian Martin's SharePosts) Dorian Martin's SharePosts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1379481 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:33:39 +0100 1379481