Here's more research that a heart healthy diet is also good for the brain. According to a recent study published online on May 18, 2012 in the Annals of Neurology, eating "good" fats was associated with less cognitive decline over a four-year period.

This study involved 6,183 women over the age of 65 who were evaluated over a four-year time frame. They reported their diet to researchers and were tested several times throughout the study to assess their cognitive functioning.

Participants whose diet consisted of more monounsaturated fat (or "good" fat), such as olive oil, nuts or seeds, showed better memory and overall cognitive functioning over four years than those whose diets contained more "bad" fat, such as the saturated fat contained in butter, cheese and red meats. The women who ate more "bad" fat demonstrated a bigger cognitive decline throughout the study.

Research consistently has demonstrated that eating right, exercising, and staying mentally active can reduce the risk to develop Alzheimer's or another dementia. So, while scientists continue to work on isolating the causes of Alzheimer's, knowing how to reduce the risk plays a key role in the fight against Alzheimer's.

Also, here's more research on diet and its effect on cognitive functioning.

For some people, the answer to this question is clear. They may say, "No! I'm not ever going to make that choice. We'll figure it out and get the help we need at home." Or, "We promised our dad we wouldn't put him in a home."

Others might think about this question with hesitancy and guilt mingled together, and yet feel the weight of not being to meet every need of their loved one at home.

Clearly, nursing home placement is an issue many feel strongly about, and based on situations and resources, different decisions are made by loving families to care for their loved one.

Sometimes, the answer to that question is taken out of our hands by a serious illness, injury or other complication that we didn't anticipate. That's why it's important to consider nursing home placement ahead of time.  Perhaps things are going great and you have in-home resources well organized. Or, maybe you're at the edge and questioning how much longer you can handle the challenging behaviors of your loved one's dementia at home.

Whether you fall on one side or the other, or somewhere in between, if you or your loved one has Alzheimer's disease or another dementia, plan ahead by researching what the options are in your community. You might never utilize them, but if you do need them, you'll know what's available and what your preference is, as well as possibly have a better chance of ending up with your preferred choice.

Take a look at these suggestions on how to decide if it's time for nursing home care and researching and choosing a nursing home.

If you do end up deciding to use a nursing facility to help care for a family member or friend, consider how to help your loved one with dementia adjust to nursing home placement.

As Mother's Day approaches, I'd like to share a brief story with you.

Margie, a reader who had been caring for her mother with Alzheimer's disease, recently contacted me and we began an email conversation. Margie wrote about the different symptoms her mother exhibited, the difficulty and helplessness of not knowing how to respond to those changes in her mother, the struggle of whether to keep her mother at home or have a facility help care for her, and the void in her heart since her mother passed away in November.

I asked Margie for permission to share her experiences, and she agreed with the hope that you would be encouraged and reminded that you are not alone in dealing with Alzheimer's.

Margie's struggles with the effects of this disease are a poignant picture of the challenges of Alzheimer's, but her patient and caring approach toward her mother is a beautiful, even more powerful, picture of a daughter's love. Take a moment to read Margie's story, and have a happy Mother's Day.

An Interview with Margie (Part 1)

An Interview with Margie (Part 2)

An Interview with Margie (Part 3)

If you've been following Alzheimer's research, you may have heard about the use of coconut oil in treating Alzheimer's disease. A physician in Florida has written about her experience with using coconut oil to treat her husband's symptoms of dementia, noting that he showed significant improvement after she added it to his diet.

So the question from a few of my readers is: Do you recommend coconut oil to treat Alzheimer's? In response, I conducted a review of the literature published online and summarized the information I found here:

Coconut Oil: Is It Effective in Treating Alzheimer's Disease?

If you've tried using coconut oil in response to symptoms of Alzheimer's, feel free to comment below if you found it to be helpful or not helpful.

Please note that this information should not be considered medical advice. Any supplements or other dietary changes should be discussed with the physician responsible for the care of the person with Alzheimer's disease.