Alzheimer's Association | Blog

Stress and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Hormonal Connection

Apr 052013

Stress and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Hormonal Connection

Recently, findings were published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease that may help explain why people who are susceptible to stress are at more risk of developing Alzheimer’s and why — increasingly — we are finding evidence that physical activity, which reduces stress levels, may reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer’s. It is widely believed that the stress hormone corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) may have a protective effect on the brain, including the memory changes brought on by Alzheimer’s. CRF is associated [...]

Caregiving Conversation Between Your Heart and Your Head

Caregiving, Risk Factors/ Prevention 13 Responses »

Mar 082013

Caregiving Conversation Between Your Heart and Your Head

I recently attended a salon event hosted by The Judy Fund, an Alzheimer’s Association donor sponsored effort created by Marshall Gelfand and his family now lead by daughter Elizabeth Gelfand-Stearns who lost both her grandmother and her mother, Judy (the fund’s namesake), to Alzheimer’s disease. Elizabeth’s heartfelt passion is finding a cure for the disease that took her loved ones. To date, the family has raised almost $5 million to fund research and advocacy efforts [...]

Medicare’s Decision on Whether to Cover Amyloid Brain PET Scans

Alzheimer's & the Brain, Diagnosing Alzheimer's 1 Response »

Feb 212013

Medicare's Decision on Whether to Cover Amyloid Brain PET Scans

Although the FDA approved florbetapir (Amyvid) in April 2012 as a tracer for PET scans in detecting brain amyloid, Medicare has not covered it. The test costs about $3,000 in total and some patients have been paying for it out of pocket. Last month, a Medicare advisory panel voted against medicare coverage for amyloid brain PET scans. Although the technology has been around for eight years, and numerous studies have shown its accuracy in detecting [...]

Dr. Goldie Byrd on Alzheimer’s and the African-American Community

Women & Minorities No Responses »

Feb 152013

Dr. Goldie Byrd on Alzheimer's and the African-American Community

During February, Black History Month, the Alzheimer’s Association sat down for a one-on-one talk with Dr. Goldie Byrd, an African-American scientist who has spent more than a decade researching the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease. Early in her career, Dr. Byrd recognized the impact of studying the nature of Alzheimer’s disease on a genomic level. Here are some of her thoughts on her observations and her motivations for continuing her research. “I decided to focus my [...]

Music as Therapy: A 5-Note Plan for Caregiver Calm

Caregiving 8 Responses »

Feb 132013

Music as Therapy: A 5-Note Plan for Caregiver Calm

Celebrating the Grammy Awards earlier this week brought to mind the power of music to heal us. Numerous studies have shown the therapeutic effects of music for those with everything from Alzheimer’s disease to autism. Anecdotally, Kim Campbell, who is now caregiver to her husband, country music icon Glen Campbell (who was diagnosed last year with Alzheimer’s), has said in several interviews that music has helped her 75-year-old husband continue to do what he loves [...]

Where We Are Today in Alzheimer’s Research: A Year in Review

Current Studies, Featured Posts, Risk Factors/ Prevention 7 Responses »

Jan 242013

Where We Are Today in Alzheimer's Research: A Year in Review

One year closes and another begins. Here are the 2012 Alzheimer’s disease research highlights, as well as new directions that we will likely be heading during 2013. Genetic Insights: Among the important discoveries of 2012 was the identification of a genetic mutation that protects people from developing Alzheimer’s disease. The mutation in Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) significantly decreases the amount of beta-amyloid a person makes (about 40 percent), conferring a resistance to developing Alzheimer’s. Just to review, all neurons secrete APP, and [...]

Dear Abby A Voice For People Facing Alzheimer’s Long Before Own Diagnosis

Voices of Alzheimer's 65 Responses »

Jan 182013

Dear Abby A Voice For People Facing Alzheimer's Long Before Own Diagnosis

Pauline Phillips, the woman you probably all know as Dear Abby and who wrote under the name Abigail Van Buren, was never afraid to bring tough topics into public discussion. Alzheimer’s disease was no exception. In 1980, long before her own diagnosis with this devastating disease, she brought dementia into the spotlight when she published a letter from a woman who had recently learned her 60-year-old husband had Alzheimer’s. The woman, who signed her letter [...]

The Caregiver Solution to New Year’s Resolutions

Caregiving, Featured Posts 9 Responses »

Jan 092013

The Caregiver Solution to New Year’s Resolutions

One of the things I hate about New Year’s Resolutions is they seem to be about taking away something rather than giving yourself something. I suppose one could argue if you lose weight with more exercise and eating more nutritiously you are giving yourself a longer, healthier life. But when our brains think of resolutions as punishment rather than pleasure, it’s hard to maintain them. For caregivers, resolutions are even harder since you are typically [...]

Embracing the Holiday Season with Alzheimer’s

Voices of Alzheimer's 10 Responses »

Dec 172012

Embracing the Holiday Season with Alzheimer’s

Ah, it’s that most wonderful time of the year. The store shelves are groaning gentle reader, from the weight of merchandise placed on those shelves and the skinny arms which hold them up. Stores are crowded with more racks of clothing and the people, ah yes the people, loaded down with stuff over-flowing from their carts, picking out things for those who are naughty and nice. After all it is the season for forgiveness. [...]

Embracing the Caregiver Role

Caregiving 20 Responses »

Dec 032012

In the summer of 2011, my sister Gina and I held the distinction of having two parents in the hospital at the same time. On top of that, they were in different hospitals; one hour apart. I was drawn to our mother, and my sister was pulled to our Dad. We didn’t pressure each other. Our natural abilities paired with what each parent needed at the time. Gina is a doctor in teacher’s clothing. She can read [...]

Older Entries Newer Entries