by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Oct 14, 2016 | Alzheimer's and Dementia, Uncategorized
Dehydration can be a fairly common health problem for seniors with Alzheimer’s. Forgetfulness is one reason people with the disease become dehydrated. Other causes range from side effects of medications to a decreased sense of thirst that often happens as we grow older.
Hydration is important at any age. Fluid intake impacts everything from kidney function to heart health. The good news is that there are steps caregivers can take to help a senior with Alzheimer’s disease stay well-hydrated.
5 Ways to Prevent Dehydration for Seniors with Alzheimer’s
1. Offer water and foods with high water content throughout the day
People with Alzheimer’s disease often suffer from a loss of verbal communication skills. This makes it tough for both of you. Instead of waiting for them to signal you that they are thirsty, offer them water and foods that have a high water content frequently. You can add lemons or other fruit to the water to make it look more appealing.
2. Set a good example for your loved one to mimic
Make drinking water and/or herbal tea (its caffeine free!) a shared ritual. Take breaks throughout the day to sit down and drink a glass of either one with your loved one. Or make a fruit cup with melons and berries that help pump up fluid levels for each of you to enjoy as an afternoon or mid-morning snack.
3. Plan menus that promote hydration
If your senior loved one was never a big water drinker, it may be a challenge to get them to drink enough each day. To help them stay hydrated, plan menus that include foods known to have a high water content. They range from cucumbers and leafy green vegetables to tomatoes, celery and melons.
4. Make it easy for your family member to drink water
When you can’t be with your loved one, make sure it is easy for them to drink water. Fill several water bottles and keep them in the refrigerator. You might even want to order bottles that have an infuser built in so you can add fruit. Then make reminder calls to your family member to encourage them to drink while you are away.
5. Investigate their medications’ side effects
It isn’t uncommon for older adults to take medications that contribute to dehydration. Diuretics and blood pressure pills are two examples. Some over-the-counter medications, like antihistamines, may also be a problem. Review your loved one’s medications to see if any of them are known to cause dehydration.
Dehydration Can Mimic Alzheimer’s Disease
Since the signs of dehydration can mimic common symptoms of dementia, it may be necessary to monitor the fluid intake and urine output of a senior with Alzheimer’s. Talk with your loved one’s primary care physician to learn more.
Heritage Senior Communities are a leading provider of specialized dementia care in Michigan. Call the community nearest you to schedule a visit today!
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Sep 8, 2016 | Alzheimer's and Dementia, Uncategorized
One of the challenges when it comes to Alzheimer’s prevention is that scientists still don’t know exactly what causes the disease. Current thinking is that Alzheimer’s is linked to plaques that build up between nerve cells in the brain. But researchers still aren’t sure how those plaques develop. They do have some ideas that might help you prevent the disease.
7 Lifestyle Changes That May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s
- Brain Aerobics: Continuing to take on new challenges and learn new skills and hobbies can provide your brain a workout. Many scientists believe that is a key reducing your risk for the disease. You might consider learning a new language or taking up a musical instrument like the guitar or drums. Reading, working puzzles, and playing cards also help to pump up your grey matter.
- Berries and Veggies: Adopting a lifestyle that includes a diet rich in nuts, fish, beans, berries and vegies have all been linked to lower rates of Alzheimer’s. The Dash Diet and the Mediterranean Diet are two food plans believed to be the best for living a longer, healthier life.
- Break Out the Red: This prevention tip is a little more controversial. Some studies show that Polyphenol, an ingredient found in red wine, might reduce plaque formations in the brain. Just a glass a day though! Too much alcohol can have the opposite effect and create more health problems.
- Indulge Your Coffee Habit: For many years we were told to avoid drinking more than one cup of coffee a day. More recent studies show that drinking 3 or 4 cups of coffee a day may prevent Alzheimer’s. (Heart patients and others with coronary diseases should check with their doctor first. Many cardiologists tell adults with heart problems to avoid coffee and caffeine.)
- Opt for Omegas: Omega-3 fatty acids are also believed to help slow the development of cognitive problems and conditions like Alzheimer’s. The best ones to work in to your diet are salmon, tuna, walnuts and even those smelly little anchovies.
- Get Moving: Thirty minutes of moderate exercise at least five days a week can help lower your blood pressure and reduce stress. Both conditions are linked to Alzheimer’s. Walking, Chair Yoga and bike riding are easy, low-impact forms of senior-friendly exercise.
- Kick the Habit: If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to kick the habit. Besides the damage smoking does to your heart and lungs, studies now show that smoking can put you at as much as 157% higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s.
If you are currently struggling to care for a Michigan senior who has Alzheimer’s disease, the Heritage Senior Communities can help. Call the location nearest you. We offer short-term respite care and long-term Memory Care for people with Alzheimer’s.
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Aug 26, 2016 | Alzheimer's and Dementia, Uncategorized
Most of us associate Alzheimer’s disease with older adults. We assume their caregivers are aging spouses and adult daughters. But an increasing number of caregivers are much younger. In fact, researchers say that almost 1.4 million children and teens between the ages of eight and eighteen are caregivers.
Young Caregiver Statistics
According to the American Association of Youth Caregiving, 72% of young caregivers are providing care for a parent or grandparent who lives with a chronic illness or a disease like Alzheimer’s.
Early onset Alzheimer’s disease strikes adults in their 40s and 50s. This means their children are likely in their teens or even younger.
In recent years several movies shined the spotlight on this challenging issue.
- The movie “Still Alice” won actress Julianne Moore an Academy Award for her performance as a linguistics professor at Columbia diagnosed with familial Alzheimer’s disease. She was just 50 years old.
- The documentary Much Too Young follows young caregivers as they struggle to care for a loved one. It highlights the sadness they feel as they put their lives on hold. In some cases, their caregiver role requires them to drop out of high school. According to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 22% of kids who drop out of high school drop-outs say caregiving is the reason.
Caring for Young Caregivers in Michigan
If a young Michigan caregiver you know is struggling to manage all of the demands of this role, you can help in several ways. A few suggestions include:
- Connect them with resources: A young caregiver may not understand there are resources for support in their own neighborhood. You can help connect them by calling organizations such as the Michigan Association of Agencies on Aging. Heritage Senior Communities throughout the state of Michigan have Memory care programs and respite services that might also be of help.
- Keep in touch: Caregiving is lonely work, especially for young people. Depression is quite common among Alzheimer’s caregivers. Stay in touch with the young caregiver in your life whether it is by phone, via Skype or with personal visits.
- Online support of peers: Another way you can help a young caregiver is to connect them with their peers. A teen caregiver might not realize there are other youth experiencing similar challenges. The American Association of Youth Caregiving, com and the Family Caregiving Alliance are all online support groups.
You can learn more about early onset Alzheimer’s disease by contacting the Michigan chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association that is nearest to you.
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Aug 4, 2016 | Alzheimer's and Dementia, Uncategorized
If you are a caregiver trying to maintain a healthy diet and help your senior loved one do the same, you’ve probably noticed an increasing number of products popping up in grocery stores throughout the Great Lake state that bear the label “Gluten-free.”
While most of us think the gluten movement is primarily focused on helping people manage digestive illnesses, newer research might suggest there are other reasons to monitor your gluten intake. One is a link between wheat and other grains and the development of dementia.
Researchers believe the connection might be because gluten increases inflammation in the body. When gluten can’t be digested or processed, the body’s immune system begins to attack. This leads to increased inflammation. Chronic inflammation is widely considered to increase a person’s risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
What is Gluten?
So what exactly is gluten?
Gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley, rye and triticale. It is what helps our food maintain its shape, essentially acting as a bonding agent that holds it together. Estimates are that 10% of the population lives with gluten-sensitivity or intolerance. Some people aren’t even aware they have it. Many times it is misdiagnosed as IBS or a “nervous stomach.”
Researching the Connection between Gluten and Dementia
Dr. David Perlmutter, the author of Grain Brain, is a neurologist who advocates for gluten-free living. His research shows that people with lower blood sugar levels are at lower risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia. Dr. Perlmutter believes gluten increases blood sugar.
In reinforcing his point, he cites studies going back more than a decade, including one published in Neurology in 2005. Perlmutter contends that the connection between blood sugar levels and the rate of brain atrophy and cognitive decline is the key.
Even slight elevations of blood sugar increase your risk for brain degeneration. Researchers like Perlmutter are especially interested in a process known as glycation. It occurs when glucose binds to protein in the body. The result is an increased production of inflammatory chemicals.
Dr. Perlmutter and his colleagues say you can cut your risk for dementia by eating a diet rich with inflammation-fighting foods and low in gluten and other carbohydrates.
What Other Researchers Say about Gluten
Then there are the scientists who say this issue is much more complex. Frank Sacks, Professor of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at the Harvard School of Public Health, believes obesity might be the underlying issue.
They cite the obesity epidemic in our country as the real cause of high blood sugar and the rise in type 2 Diabetes. These experts say eating a healthy diet and getting the right amount of exercise each week will help you lose weight while decreasing the level of inflammation in your body. The result may be a lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, including the latest news on how diet and lifestyle might impact your risk, we invite you to follow our blog. We share frequent updates on a variety of aging-related topics!
Photo Courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Apr 28, 2016 | Alzheimer's and Dementia, Uncategorized
Getting the news that you or a senior loved one has Alzheimer’s can be life-changing. A frustration for both seniors and their families is the lack of solid science about the cause of the disease. Recent studies linking diabetes and Alzheimer’s, however, seem to be gaining ground.
Nearly 26% of adults age 65 and older have diabetes. One out of eight older adults lives with Alzheimer’s disease. What researchers are trying to determine is if there is a link between the two.
Is There a Link between Diabetes and Dementia?
Since 2005, the link between dementia and insulin-resistance has grown stronger. It’s even led some researchers to begin referring to Alzheimer’s by a new name: Type 3 diabetes.
These studies seem to indicate seniors with diabetes are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
While researchers don’t yet understand the cause-and-effect between diabetes and dementia, they do know that high blood sugar can have a negative impact on brain health.
Type 2 diabetes results when the body doesn’t make the right amount of insulin or doesn’t process it properly. As blood sugar in the body rises, it puts more stress on blood vessels, including those in the brain. This causes arteries in the brain to harden and narrow.
If an adequate supply of blood doesn’t reach the brain, an older adult’s cognitive abilities may decline. They may develop problems with memory or have trouble completing daily tasks independently.
Excess glucose (sugar) also limits the brain’s ability to break down fatty membranes. When these clump together, they form plaques and tangles that are believed to contribute to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
How to Lower an Older Adult’s Risk for Diabetes
While there is no definitive way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, researchers believe lifestyle is the key.
According to the American Diabetes Association, you can lower your risk for diabetes by:
- Using the plate-method to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
- Get 150 combined minutes of exercise each week. Most physicians recommend 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week.
- Work with your family physician to monitor and manage cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Don’t smoke.
- Limit alcoholic beverages to just a few times a week or less.
Successfully controlling blood sugar may help seniors prevent or delay the onset of dementia allowing them to live healthier, more active lives.
Photo Courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Apr 6, 2016 | Alzheimer's and Dementia, Uncategorized
Even in the earliest stages, Alzheimer’s can make it tough for an adult to maintain their normal routine. Seniors and their spouses often fear they will be forced to move or to be separated if adult children discover one of them has this common form of dementia. In some cases, older adults go to great lengths to hide what they fear are the early signs of Alzheimer’s.
Tricks Seniors Use to Try to Hide the Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Here are a few behaviors that might indicate the older loved one in your life is trying to hide troubling symptoms from you:
- Discouraging Visitors: When a senior family member who has always loved spending time with their children and grandchildren begins finding reasons to avoid you, it can be a warning sign. They might tell you they know you are “busy with your job” or that they will be “taking a long vacation.” The real reason just might be they are afraid you will notice the changes and realize something is wrong.
- Hiding Mistakes: An older adult who knows there is a problem but isn’t quite sure what it is may hide their mistakes. From falling victim to a door-to-door scam to mismanaging the checkbook or getting lost when driving, they work hard to keep you from finding out there is a problem.
- Excuses: When an aging loved one seems to be making a lot of excuses for their forgetfulness or for unusual behaviors, it can be a sign of something more serious than the fatigue they blame it on.
- Changes in Activity: If your mother always loved cooking but has recently given her favorite cookbooks away or if your father dropped out of his longstanding poker night, it might be related to problems with memory. Pastimes that require adults to follow directions or problem solve become more challenging as Alzheimer’s progresses.
- Speaking for a Spouse: While some partners are known for finishing one another’s sentences, a change in this dynamic can be another red flag. A spouse may be trying to cover for their partner’s memory loss. They may feel it is necessary to do so to protect their partner and their marriage.
The good news is that there are other illnesses that mimic Alzheimer’s disease and many of them are treatable with early intervention. Seeking the help of your primary care doctor might reveal the diagnosis really isn’t Alzheimer’s at all.
Conditions that Mimic Alzheimer’s Disease
A few conditions that can look like Alzheimer’s disease include:
- Thyroid disorder
- Vitamin B-12 deficiency
- Dehydration
- Medication interaction or side effect
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
You can learn more about the signs of Alzheimer’s by visiting 8 Behaviors to Monitor if You Suspect a Michigan Senior has Alzheimer’s.
