Tuesday December 15, 2009
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered that healthy people with amyloid brain plaques have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later on.
The researchers analyzed the results of cognitive tests over the years, and found that people with the brain plaques had declining scores -- but those without the plaques did not. In addition, certain areas of the brain that are affected by Alzheimer's were smaller in people with the plaques.
The hope is that the scientists' work will eventually lead to a way to diagnose Alzheimer's earlier.
Read more about the research at Newswise.
Tuesday June 2, 2009
If you are a proponent of the early detection of
Alzheimer's disease, check out the Alzheimer's Association's
Early Detection Blog Series, where the organization's Early Stage Advisors share their personal experiences recognizing the signs of Alzheimer’s. Their real stories are powerful and motivate us to seek early detection in order to improve quality of life for everyone.
Wednesday May 27, 2009
If you missed
The Alzheimer's Project -- the multi-part HBO special on
Alzheimer's disease and caregiving, you can still watch it for free online. I highly recommend this excellent series that covers what is known about the disease and its devastating effects, how it affects caregivers and families, and what scientific discoveries are on the horizon.
Have you seen The Alzheimer's Project? If so, tell us about it by posting a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts about the series.
Tuesday May 12, 2009
It's only about six weeks before scheduled Committee votes in the Senate, so the
National Alliance for Caregiving wants your help. The organization has organized a national call-in day on
Wednesday, May 13 to urge that financing for long-term care services and and related supportive resources be included in health care reform.
To call your Senators toll-free, dial 1-800-958-5374 and follow the voice prompts for your name and state. After speaking with one of your Senator's offices, ask to be directed to the office of your other Senator. Be sure to say that you are a constituent and that you are urging your Senators to support the inclusion of long-term care services and supports in health care reform. If you have a personal story about how long-term care services and related community programs have helped you or a family you know, even better.
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