MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'alzheimer's disease/dementia'. Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:43:14 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862627&cid=t_116133_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2009%2F10%2F04%2Fcaffeine-natures-own-wonder-drug%2F Much has been said and written about caffeine over the past half century. There have been over 20,000 studies conducted looking at the various effects and benefits of caffeine over this period of time. Numerous studies have demonstrated the tremendous health benefits that can be derived from regular daily consumption of caffeine, most commonly delivered through the consumption of coffee or energy drinks such as Red Bull or similar beveragage. All of these have a high caffeine content.  In almost any way that caffeine is consumed, there are certain health benefits that it delivers. Despite all the negative press that has been attributed to caffeine, there has never been a study that has shown that caffeine has long term negative health effects, quite the contrary. The vast majority ... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862627 Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:36:58 +0100 2862627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2814557&cid=t_116133_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2009%2F09%2F20%2Fcymbalta-savella-new-hope-for-fibromyalgia-patients%2F The FDA has approved two additional medications specifically for the treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms. The first drug to ever be approved for fibromyalgia treatment was Lyrica. Lyrica was developed as an anti-seizure medication and has FDA approval for this and treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy. Since its initial release, the FDA approved its use for symptomatic treatment of fibromyalgia. Cymbalta was the second drug to be FDA approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia. This has been a tremendous addition to treatment of this disabling condition. The most recent medication approved for FM treatment is Savella. Prior to the FDA approval of these three medications, there were no proven effective treatments for fibromyalgia. What is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome of di... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2814557 Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:55:25 +0100 2814557 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1689049&cid=t_116133_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2008%2F08%2F07%2Fhealth-benefits-from-omega-3-fish-oil%2F There are many studies that have shown excellent health benefits from taking omega 3 type fish oil. Omega 3 oils are found in fish oils, flax seed and several vegetable oils including canola, soybean and olive oils. There are different components to these oils that provide health benefits. The DHA and EPA oils in fish oil have been linked to reducing hardening of the arteries and lowering triglycerides. They also have the benefit of lowering blood pressure and heart rate to a mild degree. This all results in an overall reduction in risk for coronary artery disease, heart attack, sudden death, irregular heart beat and stroke. Fish oil can also have a blood thinning effect to reduce abnormal blood clotting, similar to that of aspirin. This latter effect is a two edge sword because too much f... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1689049 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:19:26 +0100 1689049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1603089&cid=t_116133_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2008%2F07%2F10%2Fparkinson-disease-may-benefit-from-early-brain-stimulation%2F Recent studies have suggested that qualifying Parkinson patients benefit from earlier treatment with deep brain stimulation, as reported in Clinical Neurology News. The study indicates that younger Parkinson disease patients are more likely to benefit from early brain stimulator treatment. There is information that may suggest that this therapy may have a protective effect in delaying the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) was FDA approved in 2002 for treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms that are best controlled include tremor and dyskinesias although brain stimulation can also help reduce freezing and off time. Younger Parkinson patients develop motor complications such as dyskinesias, off time and freezing much earlier than older patients w... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1603089 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:00:33 +0100 1603089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1577346&cid=t_116133_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2008%2F07%2F04%2Fpost-concussion-syndrome-headaches-memory-loss%2F Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) results from injuries to the head. This can range from mild concussions (being struck on the head) to severe head injuries. Not always does the degree of head trauma correlate with the degree and symptoms of PCS. It is estimated that approximately 60-80% of patients suffering a moderate to severe concussion, traumatic brain injury (TBI), will develop PCS. In milder head injuries, PCS will develop up in up to 40-50% of injured individuals. Loss of consciousness is not a requirement for development of PCS. It is not even a requirement that there be a direct head injury. Patients who have sudden jerking movements of the head, particularly in car accidents, with out direct head trauma can suffer from PCS. Risk factors for development of PCS can include lower educ... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1577346 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:33:41 +0100 1577346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526287&cid=t_116133_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2008%2F06%2F13%2Fmild-cognitive-impairment-mci-memory-loss-without-dementia%2F Many patients over the age of 65 complain of memory loss and are concerned they have dementia. Others attribute their memory loss to aging. While there is a very mild degree of memory loss associated with aging, it is usually not significant. For example, forgetting where you put your keys or where you parked your car. These are not serious memory problems. A more problematic degree of memory loss, while not dementia, is called Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). MCI is characterized by an increase level of forgetfulness. There are two primary types of MCI: (1) Amnestic MCI (2) Non-amnestic MCI. In patients affected with amnestic MCI, they have significant memory and recall difficulty. There is a stronger association with this type of MCI with Alzheimer’s disease. Non-amnestic MCI usual... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526287 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:49:58 +0100 1526287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1243562&cid=t_116133_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fcaregiver%2Fjeff%2Fmovie-the-savages-portrays-caregiving-with-all-its-warts%2F The trailer of “The Savages” makes the movie look a lot funnier than it is. Even calling this movie a black comedy – as some reviewers do – doesn’t seem quite accurate. Even though there are some funny scenes, I’d have to say this is a pretty straight-ahead serious movie about caregiving. The movie focuses on the Savage siblings, a brother, Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and sister, Wendy (Laura Linney), who suddenly are thrust into caregiver roles when their estranged elderly father Lenny Philip Bosco) begins to slip into dementia. These are all imperfect people. Both of the middle-aged siblings, the story makes clear, suffer from frustrations and disappointments in their own present-day lives as well as the residue of unhappy childhoods. Neither is married nor has a family. Bot... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1243562 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:16:35 +0100 1243562 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1044228&cid=t_116133_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fcaregiver%2Fjeff%2Fmemory-lapses-cause-concern%2F You know, lots of times talking with my father, you would never know he is 90 –years- old. He is completely lucid, often sharp, getting off the clever one-liners that make him the toast of the Mill, where he lives. At other times, the after effect of his two strokes is starkly apparent. Case in point: I was having breakfast at McDonald’s with Pops the other day. He was halfway through an Egg McMuffin and was sipping his coffee. All of a sudden he looked down at the sandwich and asked, “Where did that come from?” This was way beyond Pops’ normal forgetfulness. He honestly did not remember that he had been eating the Egg McMuffin just a moment before. He thought I had just surreptitiously put the half-eaten Egg McMuffin there, and it took a minute to convince him I hadn’t. Then h... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1044228 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:11:54 +0100 1044228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1024445&cid=t_116133_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fcaregiver%2Fjeff%2Fa-lighter-moment-in-caregiving%2F The other day I went over to pick up my father for breakfast, and found his friend Lily there having coffee with him. Lily is in her late 70’s and has an apartment at the Mill, too. She makes a point to check in with Pops every morning, so I asked her to come to breakfast with us and she said OK. That’s when the hilarity began. I had the pickup truck, which technically has a little back seat, so Pops struggled into the back seat with me providing a little lift from behind. The problem started when we got to the diner and had to get Pops out. First, he tried a frontward approach, but couldn’t get his good leg to reach the ground, so he tried backing out. Lily and I clung to Pops’ elbows and armpits trying to ease him out in the narrow gap between the front seat and the doorframe. Ma... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1024445 Tue, 13 Nov 2007 23:28:19 +0100 1024445 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1017957&cid=t_116133_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fcaregiver%2Fjeff%2Fpops-blood-test-looks-ok-this-time-around%2F Pops had a blood test yesterday to see how his clotting factor was trending. As I’ve blogged before, I have been anxious about it because Pops is again taking Ciprol (ciprofloxacin) for a bladder infection, and the last time he took Ciprol it interacted with his blood thinner, Coumadin, and made his blood too thin. To make a long story short, the blood test came out okay this time. It was up a bit from the last test a couple of weeks ago, but it was in the therapeutic range (on the high end). Dr. H’s nurse, Gina, who called with the news, said Pops could wait two weeks for his next blood test. By then, he’ll be done with the Ciprol. As luck would have it, Dr. H was taking one of his monthly vacations this week when the lab results came in, and Gina said his stand-in, Dr. M, suggeste... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1017957 Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:35:42 +0100 1017957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1015937&cid=t_116133_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fcaregiver%2Fjeff%2Fpops-blood-test-looks-ok-this-time-around%2F Pops had a blood test yesterday to see how his clotting factor was trending. As I’ve blogged before, I have been anxious about it because Pops is again taking Ciprol [ciprofloxacin] for a bladder infection, and the last time he took Ciprol it interacted with his blood thinner, Coumadin, and made his blood too thin. To make a long story short, the blood test came out OK this time. It was up a bit from the last test a couple of weeks ago, but it was in the therapeutic range (on the high end). Dr. H’s nurse Gina, who called with the news, said Pops could wait two weeks for his next blood test. By then, he’ll be done with the Ciprol. As luck would have it, Dr. H was taking one of his monthly vacations this week when the lab results came in, and Gina said his stand-in, Dr. M, suggested a ... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1015937 Fri, 09 Nov 2007 04:48:37 +0100 1015937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1009646&cid=t_116133_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fcaregiver%2Fjeff%2Fshare-the-care-group-offers-a-team-approach-to-caregiving%2F The AARP magazine has an article on caring for the caregivers in the current November/December issue. It has the usual scary stuff abut how caregivers are at greater risk for depression, infectious diseases, inflammatory diseases, exhaustion, self-neglect and a bunch of other bad stuff all wrapped up in a new quasi-medical term: “caregiver syndrome.” I almost put the article down. Reading another article about caregiver depression was starting to make me depressed. But then my attention was drawn to a sidebar about setting up a “share the care” group, an approach to caregiving based on the experience of a group of women who got together in 1988 to help care for a mutual friend with cancer. The experience spawned a novel and creative model for caregiving, a book called Share the Car... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1009646 Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:34:12 +0100 1009646 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=998860&cid=t_116133_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fcaregiver%2Fjeff%2Fa-way-to-observe-national-family-caregivers-month%2F I may have sounded a bit dismissive a few blogs back when I wrote about National Family Caregivers Month (which starts today) being government’s way of recognizing caregivers without actually materially helping them. That doesn’t mean we can’t individually recognize the caregivers we know with individual acts of kindness and concern. Here are some ideas I thought of from the caregiver situations I know about, but other individual caregivers may have different and very specific needs. Please write in with your own suggestions: • Take over for your favorite caregiver for a week. For example, in most families, there is one sibling (it’s usually the oldest daughter, isn’t it?) who carries the bulk of the caregiving load for an elderly parent or parents. This is a good time for oth... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=998860 Thu, 01 Nov 2007 21:01:08 +0100 998860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=992153&cid=t_116133_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fcaregiver%2Fjeff%2Fdigging-up-67-year-old-memories-with-mexican-food%2F I take my 90-year-old father to dinner or breakfast once or twice a week, so the novelty has pretty much worn off these outings. Last Saturday, for a change I suggested we go to a local Mexican restaurant instead of any of the same four or five diners and family restaurants we usually haunt. While Pops likes all kinds of food, including spicy Chinese and Cajun dishes, I had never heard him mention Mexican food, but when I suggested it, he was on board right away. At the restaurant, he looked less certain as he surveyed the menu of unfamiliar dishes like “chimichanga”, “tamale” and “guacamole”. I made some suggestions, but Pops seemed hesitant. Then he saw the words “arroz con pollo” (literally “rice with chicken”) and his choice was made. It turns out this traditional S... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=992153 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:30:30 +0100 992153 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=972869&cid=t_116133_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fcaregiver%2Fjeff%2Fpops-gets-a-flu-shot-and-i-dont%2F Today was a “twofer” for Pops. I took him to the lab to have his weekly Prothrombin blood test and, then to Dr. H’s office where the nurse Gina administered his flu shot. While I was there I tried to get a flu shot too, but Gina said I couldn’t because I am not Dr. H’s patient. Between the two medical procedures, Pops and I went to McDonald’s for breakfast, and I proceeded to dump a whole steaming cup of coffee in my lap. I may have uttered an off color epithet or two at that moment. “Here have some of my coffee,” Pops offered. “No thanks,” I muttered. “Just give me your pants.” For the next 10 minutes, I stood in the bathroom with the wall-mounted blow dryer aimed at the crotch of my pants. Yes, it has been shaping up as that kind of day. Last night, my asthma ... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=972869 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:21:30 +0100 972869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=961845&cid=t_116133_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fcaregiver%2Fjeff%2Fis-collaborative-caregiving-coming-for-people-with-dementia%2F According to researchers at Indiana University Center for Aging, the U.S. needs a more integrated healthcare system for elderly people with dementia, a system that fosters collaboration among healthcare providers, community service organizations and caregivers. “Well, duh”, was my first response when I saw this new research from the November issue of the “Journal of General Internal Medicine.” Isn’t this obvious? But I guess it is important progress whenever an influential medical journal like the JGIM states the obvious. An expert stumbling over the obvious is the way we get problems articulated and a public conversation going in this country. Anyway, the crux of the journal article was that most people with dementia only get care from their primary care doctor, and, in ... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=961845 Thu, 18 Oct 2007 23:37:56 +0100 961845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=959066&cid=t_116133_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fcaregiver%2Fjeff%2Fits-time-for-the-flu-shot%2F I guess I have been preoccupied with Pops’ bladder infection because I never thought about the fact flu season is coming until Pops said the other day, “Shouldn’t I get a flu shot?” And, of course, he was right. For a 90-year-old man with chronic conditions, the flu can be a particularly dangerous disease. So I called Doctor H’s office and set up an appointment for next Tuesday for Pops to get a flu shot. For convnenience, I’ll probably get one at the same time (if it doesn’t cost too much. Dr. H is not my usual doctor, so I won’t be covered by insurance). Meanwhile, Pops started his new course of Ciprol for the bladder infection yesterday, but before he took the first pill, I made sure he had a PT blood test. I had the idea it would be a good baseline on which to base ... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=959066 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:11:58 +0100 959066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=939008&cid=t_116133_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fcaregiver%2Fjeff%2Fnational-family-caregivers-month-approaches%2F In case you didn’t know, National Family Caregivers Month is coming up in November. This year, the official commemoration reportedly will focus on public policies addressing family caregiving issues. If you’re a caregiver, don’t expect cake and a party, much less any extra help with your caregiving responsibilities, but I suppose it can’t hurt that there’s a month set aside exclusively to help raise awareness of caregivers. Well, it’s not actually “set aside” for caregivers. November is also National Alzheimer’s Disease Month, National Healthy Skin Month, Foot Health Issues Related to Diabetes Month, TMJ Awareness Month and a 30-day promotional opportunity for a slew of other health-related issues. I don’t mean to sound jaundiced about National Family Caregivers Month, ... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=939008 Tue, 09 Oct 2007 23:33:12 +0100 939008 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=928122&cid=t_116133_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fcaregiver%2Fjeff%2Fsome-old-health-problems-resurface%2F When I called my father yesterday morning to check in, he said he awoke feeling lightheaded and had to hold onto the furniture as he made his way around the apartment. I told him it sounded like his blood pressure was too low and I said I would call Dr. H to see what we should do. Back in March, a similar thing happened. That time, Dr. R (who was standing in for Dr. H) said Pops’ blood pressure probably had dipped overnight. Dr. R lowered the dosage of Pops’ blood pressure medication Altace from 10 mg to 5 mg a day. That seemed to do the trick, and the lightheadedness went away. Then in April, on the next visit to Dr. H, Pops blood pressure had begun to creep back up on the lower dosage, so Dr. H increased the medication to alternating 5 mg and 10 mg doses daily. Pops had been fine on ... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=928122 Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:55:11 +0100 928122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=908818&cid=t_116133_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fcaregiver%2Fjeff%2Fa-little-inspiration-from-a-neighbor%2F My wife Deb recently got a new job as public relations director in a regional rehabilitation center. It’s a facility for severely disabled people, many with brain injuries. Some of the residents (they call them “neighbors”) will succeed in their rehabilitation and “graduate” to the wider world. Others will spend their days at the center. The center has very active arts, music and creative writing programs for the neighbors, and my wife has been coming home with photos of their works of art and some of their poetry. We both loved this poem, an unexpected exultation written by a severely disabled man named Joe: To be a human, what a privilege I could have been a grasshopper on the ledge of a hill Or an elephant, or any kind of animal on the earth But to be a human being, what a gre... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=908818 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:57:27 +0100 908818 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=903918&cid=t_116133_158_f&fid=36024&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fcaregiver%2Fjeff%2Fcaregivers-go-give-dr-taylor-a-listen%2F I was browsing through some of the programs on HealthTalk the other day (always time well spent) and listened to the interview of Dr. Richard Taylor about what life with Alzheimer’s disease is like. Wow. Every caregiver needs to hear this interview. Go to the Alzheimer’s program page and click on the September 12 program “Alzheimer’s: Active, Involved and Alert .” Dr. Taylor, a former psychologist who suffers from dementia thought to be Alzheimer’s, is the author of the book, “Alzheimer’s from the Inside Out,” which he said he wrote to keep tabs on the progress of his disease. I haven’t read Dr. Taylor’s book yet, but judging from the interview, Dr. Taylor has ideas – some quite surprising – that any caregiver would benefit from hearing. By coincidence... Caregiver Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=903918 Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:49:13 +0100 903918 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=676105&cid=t_116133_87_f&fid=35057&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.orlandosentinel.com%2Ffeatures_healthblog%2F2007%2F06%2Froad_map_to_bra.html Health officials have compiled a map to lifelong brain health, saying a national commitment is needed to prevent an onslaught of cognitive decline in the coming decades. In a prepared statement, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Julie Gerberding... (Source: Health Check the Blog) Health Check the Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=676105 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 11:02:00 +0100 676105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=645187&cid=t_116133_87_f&fid=35057&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.orlandosentinel.com%2Ffeatures_healthblog%2F2007%2F05%2Fstudy_alcohol_s.html A daily drink may curb dementia in patients who are experiencing the start of mental decline. That's the conclusion of a study published in the journal Neurology. More than 1,400 seniors were tracked for 3.5 years, including 121 participants who... (Source: Health Check the Blog) Health Check the Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=645187 Tue, 29 May 2007 11:01:00 +0100 645187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=580066&cid=t_116133_87_f&fid=35057&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.orlandosentinel.com%2Ffeatures_healthblog%2F2007%2F04%2Ffish_oil_keeps_.html More research is extolling the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish oil, eggs, flax and other sources. One study suggests that elderly people with high blood levels of certain omega 3 acids - specifically, EPA and... (Source: Health Check the Blog) Health Check the Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=580066 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 11:52:00 +0100 580066