Tag: Dementia

Alzheimer Treatments: What’s on the Horizon

Posted on | by Brenda Armstrong

What is on the Horizon for Alzheimer Treatments: Despite many promising leads, new treatments for Alzheimer’s are slow to emerge. Current Alzheimer’s treatments temporarily improve symptoms of memory loss and problems with thinking and reasoning. These Alzheimer’s treatments boost the performance performance of chemicals in the brain that carry information from one brain cell to another. They include Cholinesterase inhibitors and the medicine Memantine (Namenda). However, these treatments don’t stop the underlying decline and death of brain cells. As more cells die, Alzheimer’s disease continues to progress.

Experts are cautious but “hopeful” about developing treatments that can stop or delay the progression of Alzheimer’s. Future Alzheimer’s treatments may include a combination of medicines. This is similar to treatments for many cancers or HIV/AIDS that include more than one medicine.

A Few of the Strategies Currently Being Studied: Taking aim at Plaques: Some of the new Alzheimer treatments target clumps of the protein beta-amyloid, knows as plaques, in the brain. Plaques are a characteristic sign of Alzheimer’s disease. Medicines known as monoclonal antibodies may prevent eta-amyloid from clumping into plaques. They may remove beta-amyloid plaques that have formed. They do this by helping the body clear them from the brain. They mimic the antibodies your body naturally produces as part of your immune system’s response to foreign invaders of vaccines. The US Food and Drug Admin (FDA) has approved (Leqembi) and Donanemab for people with mild Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment.

Preventing Destruction: A medicine initially developed as a possible cancer treatment – Saracatinib – now being tested in Alzheimer’s treatment underway now.

Studying the Heart-Head Connection: A number of studies are exploring how best to build on that brain linked to heart and blood vessel health. The risk of developing dementia appears to increase as a result of many conditions that damage the heart or arteries. This includes: high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and high cholesterol. Developing new medicines is a slow process. The pace can be frustrating for people with Alzheimer’s and their families.

I hope this helps with some of the understanding of new treatments and more research. Since majority of my client(s)/patients have some stage of Dementia/Alzheimer, my education working with the Alzheimer Association and Specialists who study and treat this disease helps me to guide those families with their loved ones the resources and services to help their loved one(s) to still have the quality of life. (Info provided by the Mayo Clinic)

Brenda Dever-Armstrong, CEO/Owner/CSA/Geriatric Advisor/Lifetime Advocate
The Next Horizon Senior & Military (Veterans/Spouses) Services/Resources/Locator
Business Cell: 210-275-3002
Email: deverb@att.net

KNOW THE SIGNS OF (DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER) AND HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH SOMEONE WITH ALZHEIMER DISEASE

Posted on | by Brenda Armstrong

This is an excellent article for those that may have a loved one with signs of Dementia/Alzheimer. Recently, my team and I are seeing more families with a loved one with these early signs.

Early Detection Matters:
(1) Memory changes that disrupt daily life (early signs forgetting recently learned information).
(2) Challenges in planning or solving problems (Difficulty concentrating or taking longer to complete a task).
(3) Difficulty completing familiar tasks (Complete daily tasks: driving familiar area, managing their budget)
(4) Confusion with time or place: (Cannot remember appointment(s) or location).
(5) New problems with words in speaking or writing (May have trouble following a conversation or joining in a conversation). They may repeat themselves. Trouble finding the right words.
(6) Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps (Placing things in unusual areas). Often accuse others of stealing and re-occurs more often.
(7) Decrease or poor judgement (Demonstrate unusual changes in judgement or decision-making).
(8) Withdraw from work or social activities (They remove themselves from family, hobbies or sports).

COMMUNICATING WITH AN ALZHEIMER/DEMENTIA PATIENT

HELPING THE PERSON COMMUNICATE: Helping someone communicate takes patience and understanding. Here are some Suggestions:
(1) Be calm and supportive. Maintain eye contact and use touch to reassure them. Show them you are listening.
(2) Show your interest in what he/she is saying or feeling.
(3) Pay attention to their voice/gestures for clues to what they are feeling. Sometimes, their emotions are more important than she they are trying to say.
(4) If you do not understand what they are trying to say, encourage them to point or gesture.
(5) If they cannot find a word, they may be less frustrated if you offer a guess.
(6) If they use the wrong word, and you know what they mean, supply the correct word. If this upsets them, do not correct future mistakes!
(7) Do not try to get them to explain as this may make them more upset. If possible just go along with what they are saying or agree with them – less agitated.
(8) Approach the person from the front but some may feel more comfortable if you talk from a handshake distance away.
(9) Keep confusion, distraction and noise to a minimum.
(10) Say your name first then address their name to get their attention.
(11) Speak slowly and distinctly. Use a lower voice pitch to convey sense of calm.
(12) Pay attention to your tone of voice. A person with Dementia/Alzheimer can sense your emotions. Limit the number of “don’t) and avoid harsh or direct orders.
(13) Confrontation may make the situation worse or get the person “worked up.”

Your observation and sensitivity will make a big difference. A hug or kiss can express affection. Remember: Treat the person with dignity and respect.

I suggest for any family or family member to go to www.alz.com. The Alzheimer Association provides so much information about the “Stages” of Alzheimer. They also list the Support Groups throughout Texas for family members to attend – FREE! The support from other families going through this disease with their loved ones can provide “insight” on how they have handled their “loved one” and also received support from outside Speakers.

We need to keep on Congress to provide more “funding” for research….there is NO CURE at this time. The information listed was provided by the Alzheimer Association whom I work very closely with for my updated training working with families who have a loved one with this terrible disease.

Brenda Dever-Armstrong, CEO/Owner/CSA/Geriatric Advisor
The Next Horizon Seniors & Military (Veterans/Spouses) Advocate/Resources/Services/Locator (TX & nationwide)
Bus Ph: 210-275-3002
Email: deverb@att.net
www.nexthorizonlocators.com