Alzheimer's News .... keeping you informed ...

The super ager brain and new Alzheimer’s research

2009-07-06T13:04:00.003+10:00

Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia
ABC Health Report: 6 July 2009
This week on the program we look at new research relating to Alzheimer's disease and dementia and researchers at Northwestern University in Chicago investigated 'super' ager brains, which reveal first secrets of sharp memory in old age. > listen to report and read transcript (29:27 min)

Related Alzheimer's News story: Fewer brain 'tangles' in brains of high-functioning elderly

Worried about your memory?

2009-07-06T13:04:00.001+10:00

Memory loss: when to seek help
Mayo Clinic: 2 July 2009
Many problems besides Alzheimer's can cause memory loss in older people. Before jumping to conclusions, consider the other possibilities including normal ageing and memory loss; and reversible causes of memory loss. > read full article

For further information visit Alzheimer’s Australia’s information pages:

Early signs: Worried about your memory?
Memory changes
Mind Your Mind
The above publications are also available in languages other than English

Does being single in midlife increase risk of dementia?

2009-07-06T13:03:00.002+10:00

Dementia is greater risk for single people in later life, study finds
Guardian UK: 2 July 2009
Researchers suggest that being in a steady relationship helps insulate people against mental decline. > read story : comment from Alzheimer’s Society (UK) : comment from Alzheimer’s Research Trust (UK)

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus misdiagnosed as dementia

2009-07-06T13:03:00.001+10:00

Rare disorder can show same symptoms as Alzheimer’s or dementia
KAUZ News: 1 July 2009
This report discusses Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (N.P.H.), which is often mistaken for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and is a treatable condition. > read more and watch video report

Report on use of Nintendo Wii in aged care

2009-07-06T13:02:00.002+10:00

Evidence for Wii’s success
Australian Ageing Agenda: 1 July 2009
Aged care staff are enthusiastic about the physical and mental benefits for older clients who use the Nintendo Wii game console, according to an Australian study.

Not-for-profit provider Blue Care has conducted an evaluation of the Wii in aged care after rolling out the technology at 53 of its services in Queensland and northern NSW midway through last year. [ … ] The findings from Blue Care’s evaluation report will be presented at the International Health in Transition Conference in Adelaide next month. …
> full story

Related news story from Medical College of Georgia: Wii-hab may enhance Parkinson's treatment (11 June 2009)

Good design - raised garden beds

2009-07-06T13:02:00.001+10:00

Raised gardens raise spirits in dementia patients
Wausau Daily Herald: 1 July 2009
Gardening is a big part of life in the dementia care units at Kennedy Park Rehabilitation Center. Until recently, however, wheelchair-bound residents weren't able to work with plants in the ground.

That changed when residents received new raised beds that allow them to garden from their wheelchairs. … > full story

For further information review the reading list on garden design

Wandering and dementia

2009-07-06T13:01:00.001+10:00

The mysteries of dementia-driven wandering
National Public Radio: 29 June 2009
“Scientists are not sure why dementia often leads to roaming. But there is this sobering statistic from the Alzheimer's Association: About 50 percent of people who wander will suffer serious injury or death if they are not found within 24 hours.” > read story

The Return Safely Home Program, which operates in most Australia States and territories provide assistance return of a wandering person to their home.

Related information:

Australian first study to reduce Alzheimer's symptoms through exercise

2009-07-06T12:59:00.000+10:00

Research to find if walking jogs memory
The World Today (ABC News): 29 June 2009
Australian researchers think exercise might be useful in jogging people's memories.

Three universities have teamed up with the National Aging Research Institute to test whether physical activity improves the memory and wellbeing of Alzheimer's sufferers. > read news story transcript and listen to podcast : Melbourne University news story (including video and audio)

Need to focus on dementia in primary and acute care

2009-07-06T12:58:00.000+10:00

Dementia: more than just an aged care issue
Australian Ageing Agenda: 26 June 2009
Dementia is not just a concern for aged care providers but a pressing public health issue, according to the CEO of Alzheimer’s Australia.

Glenn Rees told a summit on Australia’s ageing population that dementia is a chronic condition that requires coordinated care planning.

The number of people with dementia is set to double by 2030 and without immediate government action, this could have serious effects on the health system.

Mr Rees told the forum that there should be a bigger focus on dementia in primary and acute care, noting that hospitals can be “dangerous” places for people with dementia. … > full story

Related speech:

Glen Rees, Dementia: The Priorities – responding to the needs of Australians of all ages; Australia’s Ageing Populations Summit, 25 – 26 June 2009

Related Alzheimer’s Australia Papers:

Paper Number 17 Respite Care for People Living with Dementia: "It's more than just a short break" (May 2009)
Making choices - Future dementia care: projections, problems and preferences (April 2009)

People with mild Alzheimer's have trouble focusing on what's most important

2009-07-06T12:57:00.002+10:00

Remembering what to remember and what to forget
UCLA: 25 June 2009
People in very early stages of Alzheimer's disease already have trouble focusing on what is important to remember, a UCLA psychologist and colleagues report.

"One of the first telltale signs of Alzheimer's disease may be not memory problems, but failure to control attention," said Alan Castel, UCLA assistant professor of psychology and lead author of the study.

The study consisted of three groups: 109 healthy older adults (68 of them female), with an average age of just under 75; 54 older adults (22 of them female) with very mild Alzheimer's disease, who were functioning fine in their daily lives, with an average age of just under 76; and 35 young adults, with an average age of 19. … > full press release

Monitoring patients' health, whereabouts

2009-07-06T12:57:00.001+10:00

In-home health tracking system to deliver alerts to smartphones
University of Houston: 25 June 2009
For those who are caring for elderly parents, peace of mind is hard to come by. And, for their parents, dignity is hard to retain. But a team of University of Houston researchers hopes to ease worries and frustrations by designing an affordable in-home health-monitoring system that will notify caregivers, via smartphones or PDAs, if their loved ones need attention.

"Our system will allow for such things as vital sign monitoring and location tracking using low-cost technologies and offering fast response times for caregivers," said Driss Benhaddou, an assistant professor of engineering technology at UH's College of Technology. ... > full press release

Study suggests American elderly smarter than English

2009-07-06T12:56:00.000+10:00

Cognitive health among older adults in the United States and in England
The Medical News: 24 June 2009
American over-65s scored significantly better than their English counterparts at a memory and awareness test. The authors of the research, published in the open access journal BMC Geriatrics, suggest that differences in relative levels of depression, education, and the aggressiveness of treatment for heart disease may be to blame. … > full story

Benevolent Society report on Apartments for Life in Australia

2009-07-06T12:55:00.002+10:00

Community links vital to quality of life in older age
The Benevolent Society: 24 June 2009
A high level of independence, access to care when you need it and strong connections with the local community... these are some of the hallmarks of the innovative model of residential care for older people winning acclaim in The Netherlands, according to The Benevolent Society.

The Apartments for Life model, as pioneered by the Humanitas Foundation in Rotterdam, offers older people the chance to remain in their own home throughout older age and to avoid having to move when their health declines and they require increasing levels of care and support.

The model, which The Benevolent Society is committed to introducing to Australia, directly challenges the assumption of the inevitability of a move to a nursing home in later life.

The Society hosted a visit to Australia of the founder of the Dutch model, Dr Hans Becker, to gain a deeper understanding of its operation, relevance to Australia and the issues likely to arise in the local application of the Apartments for Life approach.

Dr Becker’s tour provided an opportunity for discussion of these issues among key stakeholders with an interest in aged care and housing. … > full press release

Report: Apartments for Life in Australia: Lessons for Australia from Humanitas in the Netherlands, The Benevolent Society, June 2009

Related Alzheimer's News story: Innovation in aged care and the environment

Emotional health and well being

2009-07-06T12:54:00.000+10:00

Care for the Caregiver: Spiritual round-up
Massage Therapy Radio: 24 June 2009
Recently, Michael Verde, Founder of Memory Bridge was a featured guest on Massage Therapy Radio.

There is a world of difference, Michael claims, between Alzheimer’s disease and the dis-ease occasioned by Alzheimer’s. We cannot wait passively for a cure. The sources of emotional healing are in us and between us, contends Michael, and we must begin to activate them in our relationships with people with dementia now. > listen to radio broadcast

Related radio broadcast:
Michael Verde and Ageing Matters host Sarah Lemnah discuss societal attitudes towards individuals with Alzheimer's disease and Memory Bridge's efforts to change these attitudes. > listen to radio program (14.58 Mins)

Association between late-life social activity and motor decline in older adults

2009-07-06T12:53:00.002+10:00

Less frequent social activity linked to more rapid loss of motor function in older adults
Rush University Medical Centre: 22 June 2009
Loss of muscle strength, speed and dexterity is a common consequence of aging, and a well-established risk factor for death, disability and dementia. Yet little is known about how and why motor decline occurs when it is not a symptom of disease. Now, researchers at Rush University Medical Center have found that, among the elderly, less frequent participation in social activities is associated with a more rapid decline in motor function. The study is published in the June 22 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. … > full press release

Communication and dementia

2009-07-06T12:53:00.001+10:00

How to communicate when your elderly parent can no longer speak
AgeingCare.com: 20 June 2009
Carol Bradley Bursack offers tips on communication techniques when being in contact with a person who can no longer speak, including: the use of touch, music and reading. > read story

For further resources on this topic view reading list on communication

New AIHW report on Residential aged care in Australia

2009-07-06T12:52:00.002+10:00

Residential aged care in Australia 2007-08: a statistical overview
AIHW: 19 June 2009
Residential aged care in Australia 2007-08: a statistical overview provides comprehensive statistical information on the 2,080 residential aged care homes and their 160,250 residents at 30 June 2008. The report contains information on the capacity of residential aged care homes, their residents and resident characteristics, levels of dependency among residents, and admissions and separations. The year is particularly significant with the change over from the Resident Classification Scale to the Aged Care Funding Instrument for the appraisal and funding of residents. > read report

Telecare in Tasmania

2009-07-06T12:52:00.001+10:00

Support Tasmania with telecare
The Medical News: 18 June 2009
On 30 April 2009, Tunstall Healthcare and Alzheimer's Australia Tasmania launched 'Telecare in Tasmania', a new respite facility fitted out with a range of Tunstall's assistive technologies, where people can come and try out the technology for themselves.

As well as providing telehealthcare products, Alzheimer's Australia Tasmania are offering a telecare library, where people can borrow the products to try before they buy or lease. … > full news story : Tunstall Press Release

Aricept (donepezil) may delay progress of MCI with depression

2009-07-06T12:51:00.002+10:00

Depression may increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease in people with memory problems
American Academy of Neurology: 16 June 2009
People with memory problems who are depressed are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease compared to people who are not depressed, according to a study published in the June 16, 2009, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. However, the research also shows that the popular Alzheimer’s drug donepezil may delay the progression to Alzheimer’s disease for depressed people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or memory problems.

MCI is described as the period in-between normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease. A person with MCI experiences memory problems that are greater than expected with normal aging but does not show other symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, such as difficulties in completing everyday activities. … > full press release : review by MedPage Today

New diagnostic technique

2009-07-06T12:51:00.001+10:00

New technique detects possible Alzheimer's biomarker in blood
McGill University: 16 June 2009
A new diagnostic technique which may greatly simplify the detection of Alzheimer's disease has been discovered by researchers at McGill University and the affiliated Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research at Montreal's Jewish General Hospital (JGH). Their results were published June 8 in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. There is currently no accepted blood test for Alzheimer's, and the diagnosis is usually based on expensive and labour-intensive neurological, neuropsychological and neuroimaging evaluations. … > full press release

A paradigm shift about Alzheimer’s disease

2009-07-06T12:50:00.000+10:00

Popular Alzheimer’s theory may be false trail
University of Florida: 15 June 2009
The idea that anti-inflammatory drugs might protect people struggling with dementia from Alzheimer’s disease has received a blow with the online release of a study of human brain tissue in Acta Neuropathologica.

Researchers with the McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida, in collaboration with scientists at the University of Frankfurt, Germany, discovered that inflammation of microglia — an abundant cell type that plays an important supporting role in the brain — does not appear to be associated with dementia in Alzheimer’s disease.

The finding supports recent clinical trial results that indicate anti-inflammatory drugs are not effective at fighting dementia in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, which affects about 5.3 million Americans. … > full press release

Involving older people in research

2009-07-06T12:49:00.000+10:00

The ARC/NHMRC Research Network in Ageing Well and The Australasian Centre on Ageing (ACA) at the University of Queensland have produced a guide for involving older people in research.

The Guide is a product of an ongoing program of work within the Network in Ageing Well and builds on a series of workshops held in 2006-2007. The Guide is intended to assist researchers, older people, community and peak organisations to work together to achieve positive outcomes from research on ageing. It provides some practical tips on how working together can help make a difference to the lives of older people.

The Guide outlines the following key considerations in researchers and older people working together: Speaking the same language; The research process; Clarifying roles;
Communicating with each other; Different expectations; Who represents older people?; The importance of mutual respect; and Disseminating findings. > read guideline

New dementia resources available from DoHA

2009-07-06T12:43:00.003+10:00

A number of new free dementia resources are now available from the Department of Health and Ageing.

To order any of the products listed below please advise people to contact National Mailing and Marketing on (02) 6269 1000.

1. Dementia Training Resource for People with Special Needs – CALD focus
Living with Dementia: A Vietnamese Family Story (Alzheimer’s Australia)

This project involved the development and piloting of training resources, in consultation with stakeholders, to support improved dementia awareness and care for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The resources include a CD ROM containing the basic building block of the three areas of knowledge (dementia, communication and cross-cultural competence) taken from the Community Services Training Package, a hard copy version of the CD ROM, a workbook and optional assessment materials

2. Dementia Training Resource for People with Special Needs – rural and remote access
Local Knowledge: A dementia care e-learning resource for rural and remote aged care workers (Alzheimer’s Australia WA)

This project involved the development and piloting of an e-learning training resource, in consultation with stakeholders, to support improved dementia awareness and care for people from rural and remote areas. This web/CD ROM based product allows rural and remote care workers and volunteers to undertake self-paced, on demand dementia care training.

3. Dementia Training Resource for People with Special Needs – a focus on younger people
2 Young 4 Dementia - Meeting the Needs of People with Younger Onset Dementia (Alzheimer’s Australia ACT)

This project involved the development and piloting of training resources to support improved dementia awareness and care for younger people with dementia, their carers and families. The training products include a DVD ROM, supporting manuals, worksheets and other guides that can be utilized in relevant work and care environments. Focus group input and case studies provide the basis of a DVD about young people who live with dementia.

4. Dementia Training Resource for People with Special Needs – rural/remote, people living alone focus
Staying at home with dementia - how the environment, technology and you can help (Baptist Community Services ACT/NSW)

This project involved the development and piloting of training resources to assist care workers, volunteers, service providers and family carers of people with dementia who live alone at home. The resources include help sheets, posters, a brochure, DVD and web-based virtual tour of the Baptist Community Services Age Friendly Home. They provide information about options such as assistive technologies and equipment and environment adaptation and will allow people with dementia and people in rural and remote community’s easy access to educational information and on-line resources. The assistive technology house is located in Marsfield in Sydney; the house is complete and receiving visitors.

5. Dementia Training Resource for People with Special Needs – CALD focus Strangers in a Strange Land (Workplace Initiatives Learning)

This project involved the development of a CD ROM of interactive learning materials, with accompanying resource sheets, for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and will be designed with a particular understanding of the needs of older carers in mind.

Jigzaw puzzle for people with dementia

2009-07-06T12:42:00.000+10:00

Student’s design helps piece together parts of the Alzheimer’s puzzle
Kingston University: 25 May 2009
A Kingston University design student has turned his coursework into a budding business venture, launching a jigsaw puzzle ideal for people living with dementia.

Ben Atkinson-Willes, 22, who is completing a degree in product and furniture design at Kingston University in South West London this year, was inspired to use his skills to create a specially-designed activity puzzle after his granddad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. … > full press release

Open Access journal on Public Health Policy

2009-07-06T12:41:00.000+10:00

View the Workforce in Public Health thematic series by Australian & New Zealand Public Health Policy journal.

Recent addition to this series: The Australian preventive health agenda: what will this mean for workforce development? (22 May 2009)