Friday, June 18, 2010 An Apple (juice) a Day !
Apple juice can be a useful supplement for calming the declining moods that are part of the normal progression of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's Disease (AD), according to a study in American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias (AJADD), published by SAGE. In the AJADD study, after institutionalized AD patients consumed two 4-oz glasses of apple juice a day for a month, their caregivers reported no change in the patients' Dementia Rating Scale or their day-to-day abilities. What did change, however, was the behavioral and psychotic symptoms associated with their dementia (as quantified by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory), with approximately 27% improvement, mostly in the areas related to anxiety, agitation, and delusion. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a progressive loss of memory, decline in cognitive function, behavioral changes, and the loss in ability to do daily activities, all of which causes a significant caregiver burden and increased health care costs. While pharmacological treatments can provide temporary reduction in AD symptoms, they're costly and cannot prevent the ultimate decline in cognitive and behavioral function. That's why the authors considered it important to discover any possible nutritional interventions. "The modest, but statistically significant, impact of apple juice on the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in this study adds to the body of evidence supporting the usefulness of nutritional approaches, including fruit and vegetable juices, in delaying the onset and progression of Alzheimer's Disease, even in the face of known genetic risk factors," write the authors, Ruth Remington, RN, PhD, Amy Chan, PhD, Alicia Lepore, MS, Elizabeth Kotlya, MS, and Thomas B. Shea, PhD, "As in prior studies with vitamin supplements, it indicates that nutritional supplementation can be effective even during the late stages of AD."
Source: EurekAlert (June 14, 2010)
Full story: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-06/sp-aji061410.php
Read the journal article: http://aja.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/25/4/367
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 The Alzheimer's Advisor Vaughn E. James. The Alzheimer's Advisor: A Caregiver's Guide to Dealing with the Tough Legal and Practical Issues. AMACOM. New York, NY. 2009. 300 pages. $14.96 from Amazon
Caring for a family member with Alzheimer's disease is complicated enough, but often overlooked are the legal implications of the disease. The Alzheimer's Advisor provides a guide to the legal and ethical aspects of caring for a family member with Alzheimer's.
The Alzheimer's Advisor is written by Vaughn James, an elder law professor at Texas Tech University School of Law who has personal experience with family members with Alzheimer's disease. While James touches on possible causes and symptoms of the disease, the bulk of the book addresses the legal challenges that arise when caring for an Alzheimer's patient. James stresses that legal assistance is needed as soon as possible because once a patient is in the final stages of the disease, he or she may not have the capacity to execute essential estate planning documents.
James discusses the various planning documents that are important for anyone to have, especially someone suffering from Alzheimer's disease, including powers of attorney, wills and trusts, living wills, and "do not resuscitate" orders. The presence of the disease complicates issues regarding many of these documents. For example, because Alzheimer's disease is technically not a terminal illness, it may not trigger a living will. James also explains the guardianship process, moving someone who is under guardianship, legal liability for patients who do something wrong, and paying for care. In addition, James provides tips for caregivers on how to cope with the stresses of caring for an Alzheimer's patient.
James's experience with family members with Alzheimer's disease lends the book a personal dimension. Using real-life examples, James provides a thorough and easy-to-read explanation of the complicated legal implications of having a family member with Alzheimer's disease.
http://www.elderlawanswers.com/resources/article.asp?id=7920§ion=5 Thursday, October 08, 2009 Report Discusses Ethical Issues in Dementia CareThere is no ‘miracle cure’ just around the corner for dementia. And yet while the number of people suffering from dementia is increasing rapidly, there is a widespread lack of understanding about what people with dementia are capable of doing. This report concludes that we need to do more as a society to enable people to live well with dementia. Currently, they are not getting the support and respect that they need. This report presents an ethical framework to help those who face dilemmas in connection with the everyday care of someone with dementia. The framework forms the basis for a number of recommendations to policy makers in the following areas: promoting autonomy and well-being through an ethical approach to dementia care; including people with dementia in society; aking decisions about the care and treatment of people with dementia; dealing with day-to-day ethical dilemmas in care; recognising the needs of carers; and research funding and participation.
Source: Nuffield Council on Bioethics (1 October 2009)
Cite: http://www.nuffieldbioethics.org/go/ourwork/dementia/publication_530.html
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