National Alzheimer's Disease Caregivers Network Malaysia

NOV 14TH AND 15TH : ROYAL CHARITY CONCERT, UNFORGETTABLE "KONSERT AMAL DIRAJA" ORGANIZED BY ADFM

2009-10-07T04:45:00.010+08:00

Dear Members and the Public,

Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM) is a non-profit organization set up to promote awareness of Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia, while supporting Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers at dedicated care centers. From a small community project in 1996, ADFM's role and commitment have grown over the years as it continuously champion the needs of the patients and caregivers in Malaysia, giving them a voice and ensuring that they will not be forgotten.

The Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM) is organizing a charity concert, Unforgettable "KONSERT AMAL DIRAJA" at the Plenary Hall of Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) on November 14th and 15th, 2009 in conjunction with the 64th Birthday of His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor, DYMM Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Al Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj as well as in aiding the non-profit organization's fund. The Royal Charity Gala Concert on November 15, 2009 will be graced by the Sultan of Selangor.

The charity concert, aptly named “Unforgettable“ as it signifies the struggle of the Alzheimers patients and their caregivers, is set to give the audience a night to remember as they walk down the musical memory lane of light classics, popular favourites and sheer symphonic magic.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER - UNFORGETTABLE "KONSERT AMAL DIRAJA"

COME THIS NOVEMBER 14TH AND 15TH, Malaysian-born, New York-based Conductor, Eugene Pook leads 66 premier international and local musicians in a programme of sheer symphonic magic with light classical pieces and highlights from the exhilarating worlds of stage, silver screen, and beyond! Guest soloists include award winners, virtuoso violinist Jessica Lee and Malaysian artist Sean Ghazi in a special performance to enthral you in an Unforgettable Night.

DETAILS:
(1) TIME / DATES:
8:30pm - November 14th, Charity Concert Night
8:30pm - November 15th, Royal Charity Gala Night

(2) VENUE: Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)

(3) TICKET PRICE:
RM383, RM283, RM183, RM83 ( Saturday - Charity Concert Night)
RM500, RM350, RM200, RM100 (Sunday - Royal Charity Gala Night)

(4) EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT 10%
There is an early bird discount of 10% for the first two weeks, starting from 30/09/2009 to 15/10/2009.

(5) VISA DISCOUNT 20% (Valid from 30/09/2009 Till 15/10/2009)
20% rebate on normal ticket price to Premium VISA Card Members (VISA Infinite & VISA Platinum).
4 tickets per Visa Infinite and Visa Platinum Cardholder.
Purchase MUST be made through Axcess-Visa dedicated HOTLINE 03-7954 5922 or any authorized Axcess-Visa Outlets.

All tickets are available at all Axcess following Outlets, Hotline and Internet:
> Axcess Office
> 1-Utama Shopping Complex
> Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil
> Rock Corner Mid Valley
> Tower Records Lot 10
> Parkson Sunway Pyramid
> Rock Corner The Curve
> Rock Corner KLCC
> Alamanda Putrajaya Shopping Centre
> UC Travel, University Malaya

(5) TICKET ENQUIRIES & PURCHASES:

CALL AXCESS HOTLINE: 603 - 7711 5000

ONLINE: www.axcess.com.my OR CLICK here:
http://axcess.com.my/s_KonsertAmalDiraja09.asp?id=7907232852729371778249823783458571894156

OR VIA ONLINE LINK SETUP AT ADFM Website: www.adfm.org.my

(6) EVENT ENQUIRIES:
Call ADFM at (603) 7956 2008 / 7958 3008 or Email: adfmsec@streamyx.com

Log on to www.adfm.org.my for more information.

To raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research, we call on the support of all members and the public to join us in making this charity concert a success.

Your support is much appreciated to disseminate this information to family members, friends, business associates, colleagues and the public to join us for a good cause.

From: The National Alzheimer's Caregivers Online Network (NACON).

THE GIRL, 13, WHO'S HAD DEMENTIA SINCE SHE WAS NINE

2009-09-22T04:42:00.005+08:00

A 13-year-old girl is suffering from Alzheimer's-like dementia after developing an extremely rare form of the disorder.

Isobel Jeffery displays the same symptoms as some victims in their 70s, and can no longer feed or dress herself or walk or talk properly. She becomes easily confused and suffers memory loss, nightmares and hallucinations. Isobel was diagnosed with early onset dementia aged nine after she began to slur her words, lose the ability to swallow and became unsteady on her feet.

She now needs 24-hour care and will never develop the basic day-to-day skills to look after herself.

Child dementia is extremely rare and affects about one in 12million - about 500 worldwide. It is sometimes treatable, but although there are 100 different types of dementia, including Alzheimer's, doctors say Isobel's condition has not responded to any medication.

Her mother and full-time carer, Nicola, 39, says her daughter has lost understanding of the world around her as her mind has gradually shut down. But she described her as a 'rare cookie' who retains a sense of humor and goes about her life with enthusiasm.

The mother of two from Exeter said: "When she was nine she suddenly started slurring her words and was less clear in her talking. It sounded like she was drunk."

"Now it is a relentless loss of skills and mobility. We've been told that she will slowly deteriorate. She has undergone extensive tests but the outcome is always the same."

'The prognosis is she will get gradually worse." She added: 'The cruel thing about dementia is that she is semi-aware of the fact that she is losing her skills."

"Despite all this, she is one of the most vibrant people I have ever known, with a wicked sense of humour and enthusiasm about life."

After her diagnosis Isobel gradually lost the ability to concentrate and her conversation became 'fixed' and 'rigid'.

Doctors have said that the condition will eventually rob her of her ability to walk, speak and even communicate with her family at all.

She has been given just ten to 15 years to live - meaning she could be dead before her 30th birthday.

Dementia is a degenerative and progressive disease which can affect all areas of mental and physical functions, not just memory. Diagnosis before the age of 65 is considered as early onset. For Isobel it has meant learning difficulties, impaired memory and sensory processing problems.

Isobel lives with her mother, father Keven, 39, a nuclear safety engineer, and sister, Katie, eight.

Mrs Jeffery said: 'Two years ago we took the painful decision to have an operation to enable her to be tube fed directly into her stomach because she was no longer able to swallow."

"We don't know why it is happening. Izzie effectively has Alzheimer's although she is only 13. But she is a rare cookie and really has made every attempt to live her life to the full."

Terry Roberts, of the Alzheimer's Society, said: 'This is a very sad state of affairs which re-emphasizes how important support is for the young person and the carers."

Mrs Jeffery is taking part in a four-day, 370-mile bike ride from London to Paris to raise awareness of her daughter's condition and funds for research. It begins on September 16.

To sponsor her, visit www.justgiving.com/nicolajeffery2.

(Source: The Daily Mail, September 12, 2009 - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1212904/The-girl-13-whos-dementia-nine.html?printingPage=true)The mother of two from Exeter said: 'When she was nine she suddenly started slurring her words and was less clear in her talking. It sounded like she was drunk." "Now it is a relentless loss of skills and mobility.

(Join The Malaysia National Alzheimer's Caregivers Online Network - NACON )

DRUG FOUND TO CREATE NEW CONNECTIONS IN BRAIN, RESTORING AND IMPROVING MEMORY

2009-09-21T07:59:00.000+08:00

Scientists at the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute (BRNI) have discovered that a cancer drug – Bryostatin – enhances the formation of new connections in rat brains during memory storage. This drug could potentially increase normal memory capacity in humans as well as repair and restore memory lost from Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and head trauma.

In an article in the December 4 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), BRNI Scientific Director Daniel Alkon, M.D., and Jarin Hongpaisan, Ph.D., describe how the cancer drug Bryostatin stimulates the production of connections between neurons in the same structural way that memory storage does naturally. Bryostatin essentially rewires the brain.

"There have been no effective drugs to promote brain repair,” Dr. Alkon said. “Bryostatin and other BRNI drugs in this class could introduce a whole new era for brain repair. At the same time, we are now closer to understanding what controls the growth of synaptic connections in the adult brain."

The BRNI research shows that a healthy brain normally undergoes some ‘rewiring’ when it stores memories. Bryostatin enhances this rewiring in normal healthy brains and also creates new connections in brains that have been ravaged by Alzheimer’s disease, stroke or head trauma.

Alkon and Hongpaisan used high-powered electron microscopes to directly visualize these synaptic connections between neurons. They also used molecular markers to label these connections to confirm the synaptogenesis induced by memory and Bryostatin.

“Diseases like Alzheimer’s actually destroy synapses in the human brain. There is still no recognized cure,” said Dr. Alkon. “In our animal studies with Bryostatin, damaged brains repaired synaptic connections of cells that were ruined from disease, giving the brain more capacity for memory. If this result is applicable to humans, this could be life-changing for Alzheimer’s patients.”

In previous BRNI studies, Bryostatin was found to markedly increase survival of mice with human Alzheimer's genes, decrease the production of the toxic Alzheimer's protein called A Beta, and increase the production of the healthy proteins from human cells.

Bryostatin also shows the ability to accelerate the production of synapses when paired with learning exercises. According to Dr. Alkon, this could eventually lead to new treatment therapies for children with compromised memory activity.

In 2004, BRNI received patent protection for the use of Bryostatin - originally developed as a cancer drug - to treat Alzheimer's disease. BRNI is preparing now for the first clinical trials of Bryostatin for the treatment of neurological disorders. Clinical trials will test whether Bryostatin’s promising preclinical results generalize to humans.

Source: http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/Research/drug-found-to-create-new-connections-in-brain-restoring-and-improving-memory-a226.html

(From The Malaysia National Alzheimer's Caregivers Online Network - NACON)

TROUBLE WITH DAILY ACTIVITIES COULD POINT TO ALZHEIMER'S RISK

2009-09-21T02:52:00.001+08:00

Problems carrying out daily chores or enjoying hobbies could predict which people with "mild cognitive impairment" will progress more quickly to Alzheimer's dementia, U.S. researchers report.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is "a condition in which a person has problems with memory, language, or another mental function severe enough to be noticeable to other people and to show up on tests, but not serious enough to interfere with daily life." This type of mental state is considered a risk factor for dementia.

In fact, some studies have found that about 10 percent to 15 percent of those with MCI will progress to dementia each year, according to background information in the new study.

Reporting in the September issue of the Archives of Neurology, the researchers sought to determine if there were telltale signs within MCI that might spot those people who would progress more rapidly to full-blown dementia. To do so, they collected data on 111 people with mild cognitive impairment, then evaluated these individuals using brain scans and cognition tests.

Over the next two years of follow-up, 28 people did go on to develop dementia.

"On their own, the tests did not predict which patients went on to develop dementia," said lead researcher Sarah Tomaszewski Farias, an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of California, Davis.

"However, level of daily function was a key predictor," Farias said.

"So, if an older adult is starting to display problems in daily life, such as problems shopping independently, problems managing their own finances, problems performing household chores, and problems maintaining their hobbies, they are more likely to develop a dementia within several years," she said.

Farias cautioned that the study involved people visiting a clinic because they were already having memory and other problems, so the implications could be different among the general population of older adults.

"If you look at individuals in the community, you see a much slower progression to dementia in those with some mild cognitive impairment," she said. "The time to develop dementia once someone has mild cognitive impairment is probably slower in the general population of older adults than we had previously thought."

Still, any kind of early warning is helpful, and Farias believes health-care providers should ask patients and those who know them well - a spouse or adult child - about how they are doing in their daily lives.

"It is important to keep in mind that sometimes individuals themselves lack awareness of some of these problems. So it is important, if at all possible, to get feedback from individuals who are familiar with how the older adult is functioning in their daily life," she added.

"If there is evidence or suspicion that an older adult has some mild cognitive or memory problems, and it is starting to interfere with their ability to do daily activities, there is a higher likelihood this individual is developing a dementia and they should be closely monitored," Farias said.

Greg M. Cole, a Neuroscientist at the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System and Associate Director of the Alzheimer's Center at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, said it is crucial to be able to identify people with early Alzheimer's disease, "if we want to test methods of preventing it."

"This study illustrates the difficulties in early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in aging people with mild problems with memory and cognition," Cole said.

"In my view, because memory and cognitive performance vary widely in our population no matter what age, the best indications of ongoing decline are going to be seen against past individual performance rather than some cross-sectional 'normalized' standard," he said.

Dr. Ronald C. Petersen, Director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., agreed that, despite the lack of effective treatments, spotting Alzheimer's disease early remains important.

"If people in the family start to recognize a change in memory/learning patterns, that might be sufficient to identify someone who could develop Alzheimer's disease," Peterson said. "Don't wait until the person is having trouble driving, is having trouble paying their bills or having trouble functioning in the community - that's dementia," he said. "This study tells us that we can identify important symptoms earlier and it may be worthwhile doing so."

Source: HealthDay, September 17, 2009

(Join The Malaysia's National Alzheimer's Caregivers Online Network - NACON)

INFECTIONS MAY SPEED ALZHEIMER'S MEMORY LOSS

2009-09-21T02:02:00.003+08:00

A split-view image showing PET scans of a normal brain (L) and a brain with Alzheimer's disease. Reuters/National Institute on Aging/Handout

Catching a cold or the flu could speed memory loss in people with Alzheimer's disease, researchers reported.

In a study of patients with mild to severe Alzheimer's disease, they found that people who suffered acute or chronic infections, or even bumps and bruises from a fall, were much more likely to have high blood levels of a protein involved in inflammation and also experienced faster memory loss than people who did not have infections and who had low levels of this protein.

It's possible that finding a way to reduce inflammation in the body "could be beneficial for people with Alzheimer's disease," study chief Dr. Clive Holmes, from the University of Southampton, UK, said in a prepared statement. Over about 6 months, Holmes and colleagues measured the cognitive abilities and blood levels the inflammatory protein TNF-alpha of 222 people with Alzheimer's disease. They also interviewed each subject's main caregiver several times during the study. During follow up, roughly half of the study subjects experienced a sudden infection or injury that led to inflammation, and a spike in TNF-alpha levels. These people, the researchers found, experienced memory loss that was at twice the rate of those who did not have infections or injuries. People who had high levels of TNF-alpha in their blood at the beginning of the study, a sign of chronic, ongoing inflammation, had memory loss at four times the rate of those with low levels of the protein at the start of the study. By contrast, subjects with low levels of TNF-alpha throughout the study showed no decline in brain function, the report indicates. "One might guess that people with a more rapid rate of cognitive decline are more susceptible to infections or injury, but we found no evidence to suggest that people with more severe dementia were more likely to have infections or injuries at the beginning of the study," Holmes noted in a prepared statement.

Source: Neurology, September 8, 2009.

(Join The Malaysia's National Alzheimer's Caregivers Online Network - NACON)

NEW ALZHEIMER'S GENE LINK DISCOVERED

2009-09-21T01:10:00.002+08:00

Scientists working in seven countries announced they had uncovered variants of three genes which play a role in Alzheimer's, a discovery that should throw open many new avenues for tackling this tragic, mind-killing disease.

The biggest cause of dementia, Alzheimer's has a strong heritability -- nearly one in four cases are believed to have a genetic cause -- but precisely which genes are to blame and how their fiendish mechanism works remain elusive.

So far, three culprit genes have been found in "familial" Alzheimer's, a rare, early-onset form in which the disease shows up before the age of 60. This type accounts for less than three percent of all cases.

Of the far more common "sporadic" type, where there is no readily identifiable family history of the disease, just a single gene, APOE4, has come to light -- and it was spotted way back in 1993.

But hopes are now rising that a few of the many knowledge gaps may now be filled.

In two papers published in the journal Nature Genetics, a team based in Britain and the other in France report that a trawl through the DNA of 36,000 individuals has added three new genes, whose tell-tale variants showed up among people with Alzheimer's.

That finding could be useful in the search for a diagnostic tool, helping people with a heightened susceptibility to Alzheimer's make lifestyle decisions, even if a cure for the disorder remains beyond the far horizon.

Farther afield, it could help tease out a pharmaceutical weapon to interfere with the action of the faulty genes.

In Alzheimer's, clumps of protein called amyloid plaques and tau tangles proliferate in the brain, especially the cortex and hippocampus, destroying brain cells and their connections.

A progressive, degenerative disease, it causes forgetfulness and confusion, disturbs thinking, emotions and behaviour, eventually leading to death.

The role of the three newly-identified genes remains unknown.

Two of them, called CLU and CR1, may be involved in the elimination of amyloid plaques, so faulty variants may allow the toxic compound to build up, the scientists believe.

The other, called PICALM, controls brain chemicals that are important at synapses -- the connection between neurons -- and is involved in the transport of molecules into and inside nerve cells, thus helping to form memories and other brain functions.

"These findings are a leap forward for dementia research," Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, a British charity that funded research encompassing universities in Britain, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Ireland and the United States.

"At a time when we are yet to find ways of halting this devastating condition, this development is likely to spark off numerous ideas, collaborations and more in the race for a cure."

The other paper was authored by a team from France's National Institutional of Health and Medical Research (Inserm).

The team "has about 10 other genes that may be possible targets" but further work is needed to confirm this, lead researcher Philippe Amouyel, of the Institut Pasteur in Lille, told AFP.

There is no cure at present for Alzheimer's, although some researchers are confident that a first generation of drugs that will slow or block the spread of the disease is not far away.

Present drugs have only a temporary effect. They inhibit an enzyme that reduces acetylcholine, a vital chemical used in communication between brain cells.

A breakthrough is urgently needed.

Alzheimer's primarily surfaces among people beyond their mid-60s, thus as the world's population ages, case numbers will surge, badly straining hospital systems.

According to an estimate published by the journal The Lancet in December 2005, the number of people with dementia will more than triple by 2040, reaching 81 million. China and South Asia will see the biggest increases.

Source: AFP, September 7, 2009

(Join The Malaysia's National Alzheimer's Caregivers Online Network - NACON )

ELDERLY MUST LEARN TO DETECT ILLNESSES

2009-09-21T00:19:00.002+08:00

By 2020, nearly 10 per cent of the population will be 60 years old and above.

Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society President, Associate Professor Nathan Vytialingam said the nation faced a huge challenge in handling the implications of an ageing population, which include demands on the public healthcare system and services for the aged.

"Chronic diseases will pose a heavy health and economic burden on older adults due to diminished quality of life. It would also increase healthcare costs."

The risk of disease and disability came with advancing age, he said, and there was a need to educate the elderly on how to detect, prevent and treat age-related illnesses.

Many of these could be prevented through leading a healthy lifestyle with regular physical activity and a balanced diet.

"They must go for regular medical screenings to catch any illness at the earliest stage so they can be treated," he told the New Straits Times.

As people age, they must be made aware of chronic diseases and conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, depression, psychiatric disorders, osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease and incontinence, he said.

"It is important they know how to prevent or delay their onset."

He said that at the same time the aged were educated about age-related illnesses, caregivers must be taught how to look after them.

Source: New Straits Times, September 8, 2009 - www.nst.com.my

(From The Malaysia's National Alzheimer's Caregivers Online Network - NACON)

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE CAN BE MANAGED

2009-09-20T19:29:00.008+08:00

ALZHEIMER'S disease, which has affected 60,000 Malaysians, is on the rise.

There is a serious need for mental tests that will help with early detection of the disease and reduce the number of cases, says Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM)'s Executive Committee Vice-Chairman, Ong Eng Joo.

Ong said the lack of awareness is to blame for the increasing numbers.

"The detection rate in Malaysia is very low. There are tests that can be done to detect Alzheimer's cases such as MMSE (Mini Mental State Exam) test. "

Despite intensive research in recent years, the disease is still not yet fully understood and there is still no known cure.

People with Alzheimer's, or "the long goodbye" as it is also called, suffer a decline of mental functions, which eventually interfere with the patient's normal daily activities.

Over time, Alzheimer's patients lose their ability to perform even the most basic tasks like brushing teeth, putting on clothes and bathing. The ability to walk and talk may be lost as well.

"People are living longer, increasing the rate of Alzheimer’s exponentially. Those most at risk of developing Alzheimer’s are the elderly, and the risk increases with age." said Ong Eng Joo, Executive Committee Vice-Chairman of ADFM.

Ong said people were living longer, thanks to advances in medicine, but this posed other problems.

"A longer life span increases our ageing population. People are living longer, increasing the rate of Alzheimer's exponentially."

"Those most at risk of developing Alzheimer's are the elderly, and the risk increases with age. According to worldwide statistics, one in 20 of those aged 65 and above have Alzheimer's."

"But, among those aged 80 and above, one in five have Alzheimer's."

There is also a small group of people who develop what is called "early onset Alzheimer's" from as young as their late 30s or 40s.

Ong said the increase in Alzheimer's cases also affected the lives of some 250,000 caregivers.

"Sadly, there are only three daycare facilities in the country that provide relief for caregivers," he said.

Puan Sri Wendy Ong (left) says many Malaysians still do not understand Alzheimer's Disease, while Dr Lee Fatt Soon says many people think the disease is a natural part of ageing.

"Ideally, we should have one daycare centre in each state to cater for the increasing ageing population."

"But this can get very expensive. Getting staff is the biggest problem as it's important that the patients don't wander off."

ADFM Patron, Puan Sri Wendy Ong said many Malaysians were still unclear on the reality of Alzheimer's.

"Lack of awareness and understanding has led to continuous suffering for those affected as they often lack the required care and assistance."

Hospital Kuala Lumpur Geriatric Unit Head, Dr Lee Fatt Soon believed a lot of people made the common mistake of attributing Alzheimer's as natural consequence of ageing.

"It is a progressive disease which attacks the brain, causing impaired memory, thinking behaviour and functional activity."

"We need to communicate the message that the disease can be better managed through early diagnosis and intervention, thereby leading to better quality lives for patients,caregivers and their family."

Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia. It is not part of normal ageing but involves the progressive loss of brain nerve cells.

At present, 18 million people worldwide have the disease. It is predicted that by 2020, 34 million will have Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's will be recognized globally tomorrow, with the theme "Diagnosing Dementia: See It Sooner", emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis.

Source: The Sunday Times, September 20, 2009 at www.nst.com.my

(From The Malaysia's National Alzheimer's Caregivers Online Network - NACON)

WORLD ALZHEIMER'S DAY

2009-09-20T18:52:00.001+08:00

THIS year's World Alzheimer's Day (WAD) is themed, "Diagnosing Dementia: See It Sooner". It seeks to bring people from all around the world to emphasise the importance of early diagnosis of the disease.

Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM) in collaboration with Novartis Corporation Malaysia has announced a series of initiatives to mark WAD 2009, including the Global Alzheimer's Disease Charter.

THE CHARTER calls for action to address the growing public health and social care emergency posed by Alzheimer's and related dementias.

It upholds six core principles to make Alzheimer's and other dementias a global health priority:

(1) Promoting awareness and understanding of the disease.

(2) Respecting the human rights of patients with the disease.

(3) Recognizing the key role of families and carers.

(4) Providing access to health and social care.

(5) Stressing the importance of optimal treatment after diagnosis.

(6) Taking action to prevent the disease, through improvements in public health.

(From the Malaysia's National Alzheimer's Caregivers Online Network - NACON)

(SAT) 26 Sept '09 Public Event Commemorate World Alzheimer's Day By Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM) in Collaboration with Novartis

2009-09-20T17:26:00.008+08:00

Dear Members & The Public,

To commemorate World Alzheimer's Day (on September 21st), ADFM in collaboration with Novartis Corporation Malaysia is organizing a public event in the form of a talk and other activities for patients and caregivers on:

Date : Saturday, 26 September 2009
Time: 9:30 am - 1:00pm
Venue : Rumah Alzheimer's, No. 6 Lorong 11/8E, Section 11, 46200 Petaling Jaya.

Program:
09:30am : Arrival of guests and registration
10:00am : Welcome address by ADFM President BoT, Dato' Jeffrey Ng Chin Heng
10:10am : Talk on "Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia" by Dr Lee Fatt Soon, Head of Geriatrics, Hospital KL
10:40am : Q & A
11:00am : Tea Break
11:20am : Family activities & games for Patients and Caregivers
01:00pm : Lunch and adjourn

Note:
(1) Due limited space, prior registration with ADFM Secretariat is required - Tel: 603-7956 2008 / 7958 3008
(2) All visitors are requested to park their cars along Jalan 11/8 in front of Telekom and walk the few steps, or drop your older loved ones and park outside.

Location Map:

From The Malaysia’s National Alzheimer's Caregivers Online Network

GLOBAL ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE CHARTER:

2009-09-06T21:43:00.002+08:00

Dear Members & the Public,

Alzheimer's Disease International has developed a Global Alzheimer's Disease Charter to draw attention to the urgent action needed from governments and stakeholders to make Alzheimer's disease and other dementias a health priority around the world!

The Charter was launched last year on World Alzheimer's Day - 21st September 2008.

With this year World Alzheimer's Day on 21 September of this month, it is timely to remind us to show our concern and support by signing the following charter (if you have not signed up yet ) at: http://www.globalcharter.org/

GLOBAL ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE CHARTER:

We are facing a public health and social care emergency and immediate action is needed!

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and accounts for 60-70% of all cases. Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are progressive, degenerative illnesses that attack the brain. They affect people's abilities, impacting on all aspects of their life and upon others in their lives, particularly those who care for them day by day.

Every year, 4.6 million new cases of dementia are reported worldwide: One new case every seven seconds. By 2050, it is projected that there will be 100 million people with dementia in the world. No country is adequately prepared to deal with a crisis of this magnitude.

Lack of awareness and understanding has resulted in insufficient resources to address this crisis. Worldwide, attention to this rapidly growing problem is so small that most of those affected continue to suffer without help, or hope. This must change! The quality of life of people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias can be transformed. Too often, they, their families and carers lack the support that they need and deserve.

We, the members of Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), representing 71 associations around the world, urgently call upon all governments and stakeholders to act now.

The following six principles should be adopted to make Alzheimer's disease and other dementias a global priority:

(1) Promote awareness and understanding of the disease
(2) Respect the human rights of people with the disease
(3) Recognize the key role of families and carers
(4) Provide access to health and social care
(5) Stress the importance of optimal treatment after diagnosis
(6) Take action to prevent the disease, through improvements in public health

Within the limits of the resources available to different countries, an eleven-point action plan consistent with the Kyoto and Paris Declarations should be implemented as follows:

(1) Provide public information about the symptoms, treatment and course of the disease
(2) Reduce stigma by promoting understanding and awareness
(3) Provide training and tools to healthcare professionals (including social workers) and family caregivers, to encourage early assessment, diagnosis, appropriate care, and access to optimal treatment
(4) Provide access to primary and secondary health care services, responsive to the needs of people with dementia
(5) Promote access to a range of options for long-term care that prioritize maintenance of independence, home and community-based care and support for family carers
(6) Make all care environments, including (acute) hospitals and long term care institutions, safe places for people with the disease
(7) Encourage the fullest possible participation of those living with the disease, in the life of their communities and in decisions about their care
(8) Ensure a standard of living adequate for health and well-being, including food, clothing, housing and medical care for people with the disease
(9) Provide a legislative framework to regulate and protect the rights of those people with dementia who lack the capacity to manage their everyday lives
(10) Fund awareness programs to promote greater understanding that the risk of the disease can be reduced
(11) Prioritize research into Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia are not a natural part of ageing. Prevention is possible. Care can improve quality of life for the person with dementia and their families. Medical research will continue to improve upon existing effective treatments. Be positive and adopt the solutions that will help millions of people today and tomorrow.

(From the Malaysia's National Alzheimer's Caregivers Online Network - NACON)

21 September '09 World Alzheimer's Day - DON'T YOU FORGET

2009-09-06T19:42:00.005+08:00

21 September is World Alzheimer’s Day. Find out what you can do to make it count.

THIS year’s flurry of educational events held in conjunction with World Alzheimer’s Day will take place in over 50 countries and focus on "Diagnosing Dementia: See It Sooner”.

This month’s Art4Health piece was created by Malaysian Art Director, Walter Teoh in support of World Alzheimer’s Day 2009. It illustrates how the memory loss and inability to mentally process information an Alzheimer’s patient experiences can make him feel like he is slowly losing the bits and pieces that make him.

Why is early detection important? Because Alzheimer’s is incurable, but appropriate care and medical treatment can slow its progression and improve patient quality of life.

The sooner it’s detected, the sooner intervention can take place, and the better the outcome for patients, caregivers, and the community at large.

FAST FACTS

Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common cause of dementia (the loss of control of conscious mental processes) among older people, but it is not part of the normal ageing process.

In Alzheimer’s, nerve cells in the brain progressively die. At the same time, the brain produces less of the chemicals that allow nerves to communicate with each other.

As the parts of the brain typically affected first are those that store and retrieve new information, memory is usually affected first.

Early stage patients may also experience difficulty in finding the right words and mood swings. Don’t dismiss these symptoms as part and parcel of old age!

Later stage patients may suffer deeper lapses of memory and have difficulty understanding what they’re told. They may forget daily living skills, undergo personality changes, or appear indifferent to those around them.

Advanced stage patients may become unable to speak, walk, and eat independently. Some lose their sense of time and place, and may wander off with no idea where they’re headed or recollection of how they got there. Some lose their inhibitions and sense of propriety, and may undress in public or make inappropriate sexual advances.

Take a minute to visit www.globalcharter.org/film and watch A Cup of Tea, a (very) short film produced by Alzheimer’s Disease International.

Some drugs can slow disease progression and alleviate symptoms like depression, paranoia, insomnia, and hallucinations. But loving care, patience, understanding, and a safe, stable environment are what a patient needs most.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Attend a talk, like any of those listed in Events, to learn more.

Watch A Cup of Tea, a (very) short film produced by Alzheimer’s Disease International at www.globalcharter.org/film.

Contribute to Alzheimer’s care. For example, at the Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM) two centres, RM30/day pays one person’s way, covering meals, daily activities, staff salaries, and maintenance. To find out how you can help, contact ADFM Secretariat at Tel: 603-7956 2008 / 7958 3008 or Email: adfmsec@streamyx.com.

Sign the Global Alzheimer’s Disease Charter if you feel all governments should promote awareness and understanding of Alzheimer’s; respect the human rights of people with the disease; recognize caregivers; provide patient access to health and social care; stress the importance of optimal treatment after diagnosis; and increase prevention by improving public health.

(Source: Sunday Star, September 6, 2009 at http://thestar.com.my/services/printerfriendly.asp?file=/2009/9/6/health/4641611.asp&sec=health)

From Malaysia's National Alzheimer's Caregivers Online Network

HABILITATION: A BETTER CAREGIVING APPROACH

2009-09-05T13:31:00.000+08:00

A quiet revolution is taking place in Alzheimer's care. The approach is called habilitation, and it has been credited with easing caregiver and patient stress, improving communication, and helping to maintain emotional bonds between individuals with Alzheimer's and their family members.

Habilitation focuses on respecting the feelings of people with Alzheimer’s and making the most of their remaining capacities, rather than trying to restore lost abilities (rehabilitation) - often in vain - or impose rigid standards for thoughts and behavior. Although the tenets of habilitation may seem intuitive, they run counter to the ways in which many Alzheimer’s patients are treated in nursing homes and family caregiving settings.

Accepting Their Reality
In the past, Alzheimer's caregivers were encouraged to practice "reality orientation" with their patients or loved ones. This meant constantly reminding the Alzheimer’s patient of the date and correcting the demented person's faulty beliefs and inaccurate perceptions in order to pull them "back to reality."

For example, if a person with Alzheimer's insisted that she had talked with her deceased husband on the phone that morning, a caregiver would remind her that he had died many years earlier. Oftentimes an argument would ensue, with the caregiver insisting that the person accept the reality of her husband's death. These attempts at reality orientation are not only frustrating and fruitless, but they often trigger agitation and angry outbursts from the patient.

Habilitation takes the opposite approach. The caregiver interacts with the Alzheimer’s patient on his or her own terms. The concept involves entering the person's world, offering patience and acceptance of their reality. In the situation described above, a caregiver practicing habilitation would say something soothing and reassuring, such as, "You and Harry love each other very much, don't you?" or "Tell me about Harry."

The practice of habilitation acknowledges that while a person with Alzheimer’s may not have the ability to reason or remember, he or she still feels emotion. As a result, caregivers do not attempt to reason with or correct the Alzheimer’s patient. Instead, they try to connect with the individual on an emotional level. Communication involves identifying the emotion behind the person's words and finding a way to address and validate those feelings.

Streamlining Their Space
A major part of habilitation is accommodating your loved one's physical reality as well, which means simplifying the living environment and keeping it as free of distractions as possible. This can help the person to continue to perform self-care tasks and simple household chores that promote independence and feelings of competence. Keep clutter to a minimum, reduce noise, and adjust lighting to minimize shadows, which can confuse or frighten a person who has Alzheimer’s. Dimmer switches on lights can be used to control light intensity. This can be helpful in reducing late afternoon and early evening agitation known as sundowning by increasing light intensity at these times of day.

Remember to break chores into simple steps and to provide only a small amount of information at a time. A caregiver following the tenets of habilitation tries to remain positive, calm, and encouraging and to refrain from criticizing and pointing out mistakes.

Enriching Their World
Most individuals with Alzheimer's disease get pleasure from doing things that they have always enjoyed, so it's important to pursue leisure activities that they find pleasing. Create opportunities for success by considering what they liked doing in the past and determine if there are activities that the person can still accomplish without becoming frustrated or agitated. Depending on the stage of Alzheimer’s disease the person is in, these might include crafts and hobbies, making or looking at scrapbooks and photo albums, stringing beads, baking cookies, going for walks, listening to music, or any other enriching activity that can keep the person occupied and engaged.

Social contact and physical activity are also important. Taking walks together in the neighborhood or mall, window-shopping, gardening, and planned activities at a senior center are just a few of the possibilities.

(Source: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, August 31, 2009)

Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician.

BITTERSWEET BURDENS

2009-08-24T02:10:00.006+08:00

(By Dr Esther G. Ebenezer, ADFM Panel of Medical Advisers)

The Burden of Dementia on Caregivers and Loved Ones:

IT would be appropriate to begin this with a real account of how a caregiver struggled to take care of her husband who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease before he passed away recently.

Mrs X felt lost when her husband was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Initially, she had no clue about the disease, but she learned a lot along the way. She single-handedly took care of her husband. Support groups did not exist in her locality at that time and both her children were settled overseas. As she went through each stage of the disease with her hubby, she became well versed in handling the associated difficulties inherent in Alzheimer’s disease.

She considers moderate stage Alzheimer’s disease to be the toughest period to go through. She cites some of the incidents and her experiences as follows:

"One night, when I thought my husband was fast asleep, I switched on the TV for a moment to relax. I was sewing at the same time. I was startled by a shout right beside my ears, and found him standing close by, raving something about me having killed his two sons. ‘Where are my two sons, show me my sons, you have killed them ...' "

"My husband did not recognize me at all. Gripping the pair of scissors I used for sewing, he pointed it at my neck. He dragged me towards the wall and began to bang my head against it, again and again. I felt a cold shiver my spine. I managed to convince him that they were alive, living abroad, and I could get them to talk to him."

"He seemed to comprehend that ... so I ran to phone to call the boys to talk to him. For the next few hours, the boys phoned back a number of times to talk to him until he calmed down completely. He was also tired out by then and wandered back to bed to sleep."

"For the rest of the night, I stayed outside the house, inside the car. It was only later I learned that this kind of behaviour of mistaking someone to be an imposter is known as ‘Capgrass syndrome’."

"When my husband became aggressive and abusive verbally as well as physically, his anger outbursts came unexpectedly, during odd hours of night. Life became unbearable. Some nights, when he was unusually restless, I slept in the car as I felt safer there."

"Now he is no more, and I still feel that I had not done enough for him when he was alive. I never thought I would miss him that much. In the past, I wished he would die, but now that he is gone, it is hard to face.”

Elderly Concerns:
The number of elderly people in Malaysia is increasing at a rapid pace – those aged 60 years old and above constituted 6.5% in 2000, and this is expected to double by the year 2020. The number of dementia-like diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease increases with age. Currently dementia is estimated to affect some 60,000 Malaysian elderly, and by the year 2020, this figure is also expected to double.

People with dementia suffer mainly from poor memory; impaired cognitive functioning such as planning, organizing, and judgment; and personality changes, disorientation, and behavioural disturbances. Persons with dementia go through different stages where they need different sort of care.

A Caregiver is someone who offers help to a family member or friend with dementia, either part-time or full-time. Caregivers provide many services that include transportation to the doctor, paying the bills, help with bathing or dressing, shopping, meal preparation, and coordinating with outside agencies for assistance.

The Four Stages of Care-giving:

Stage One : Getting Started
Recognize the impact of care-giving on your life and family, learn how to be a Caregiver, and find out more about the demented person who needs care. In the early stages of dementia, activities of daily living are impaired, and the sufferer needs constant supervision.

Stage Two : Finding Help
As the disease progresses, behavioral disturbances set in; this is considered the most difficult stage to handle and is a testing period for caregivers. Demented persons at this stage often end up being sent to institutions or to nursing homes as the caregiver can no longer cope. DO NOT hesitate to ask for help – from family, friends, and support groups.

Stage Three : Heavy Care
Finally, the sufferer will become wheelchair-bound or bed-bound. Here they need basic nursing care.

Stage Four : Letting Go
Resolve relationships, complete end-of-life decisions, utilize hospice care, let yourself grieve after the demise, care for yourself, and have a plan for your life after care-giving has ended.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia impacts every aspect of daily life. As the patient loses one ability after another, Caregivers face tests of stamina, problem-solving, and resiliency. During this long and difficult journey, communication diminishes, rewards decrease, and without strong support, caretakers face challenges to their own well-being. Grief, depression, and anger are common, but learning about the disease can reduce one’s frustration, foster reasonable expectations, and help prepare for new challenges.

Maintaining emotional and physical fitness is crucial. Prepare and protect yourself by understanding your loved one’s experience and getting help from others. This can minimize the stress and enhance the joys of one’s care-giving experience.

The cognitive and physical regression of the patients will ultimately require 24-hour care. Although medical advances can slow down the decline, Alzheimer’s remains a terminal disease. Research carried out among Caregivers have found that they experience significant emotional disturbances. They visit their doctors more often, and are more prone to psychological distress.

Poor social support where there is lack of family and friends to facilitate care, lack of community health-care services, social isolation, and even lack of knowledge of the disease can adversely affect the caregiver.

Seek professional help if you have warning signs of Caregiver burnout. If you’re not getting enough sleep, eating poorly, and feeling lonely or crying, losing your temper more, it is time to reach out for help.

Because care-giving is such hard work, the following simple strategies will help protect the Caregiver against the pitfalls of excessive stress:

- Schedule mini-workouts throughout the day. Regular exercise not only keeps you fit, it releases endorphins that help keep you happy.
- Make time to play. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, include your loved one in short walks, board games, or jigsaw puzzles. A daily dose of fun is good medicine, and doesn’t require money, a car, or huge amounts of time.
- Try something new. Challenge yourself to learn a new skill while you are “on the job”.
- Keep laughing. Humor is a well-known antidote to stress, sadness, illness, and boredom. Hence, envelop you and your loved one with laughter. Get hearty belly laugh DVDs at the video store. Your infectious good mood will replenish your inner resources and sooth your loved one.
- Ask for help. Take regular time away to recharge yourself.

Some Recommendations:
- Put staying healthy at the top of your list.
- Have a back-up plan in case something unexpected happens to you.
- Take one day at a time.
- Keep your sense of humor.
- Pat yourself on the back for the good job you are doing.
- Get enough rest and eat right.
- Make time for the things you like to do.
- Talk to others about how you feel.
- Listen to your friends.

If you have family members who live close by, ask them to share some of your burden. A couple of hours a week away from care-giving can be a lifesaver for you. Use this time to do the things that you used to do in your life, such as:

- Get away from the house
- Go out for a walk
- Meet friends for lunch
- Go to a prayer meeting
- Listen to music
- Work in your garden
- Read a book

Medical, legal and financial planning should be done early, while options are still available. Once decisions are made, communicate them to people who need to know, both family members and professionals. Plan ahead on how care would be provided in the event of illness, hospitalization, or death of the Caregiver.

Avoid isolation. Being a Caregiver can be a wonderful experience, but it can also be a lonely one. Caregivers can express love, loyalty, and affection for those in their care, but it can also be a time when guilt, anger, and frustration surface. Caregivers need people with whom they can share their pain, in person or by phone. Look for support groups as a source of encouragement and information.

For some help and information, the book, "The 36-Hour Day : A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease and Memory Loss in Later Life" is an excellent guide, with vivid illustrations and clear information. It’s worth buying.

Alzheimer’s Disease Support Group:

When you’re caring for someone with dementia, it can be all too easy to ignore your own needs and to forget that you matter, too.

Support groups can be of assistance. One example is the Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM), a non-profit, non-governmental organization registered in July 1997. There are ADFMs operating in Penang, Perak, Melaka and Johor Bahru. The main objective of this organization is to assist dementia patients and their families. They can offer encouragement, the latest information, and helpful suggestions for caring of Alzheimer’s patients.

Support groups usually consist of family members who provide a caring, non-judgmental support network. Support groups usually offer guidance on legal advice, respite care, financial and insurance information, state medical assistance, placement issues, handling feelings of guilt and anger, elderly benefits, clinical research, latest drugs that are available, companionship, comfort, and much more. Though support groups in Malaysia are not equipped to offer the full range of support, they still provide ample aid.

Respite Care:
Respite care is short-term care used as a temporary alternative to a person’s usual care arrangements. People who care for someone with dementia often carry on without realising how tired or tense they have become. A break or holiday can help them relax, recharge and rejuvenate their minds and bodies.

Different types of respite care are available, ranging in duration from hours to days or even weeks. The most frequently utilized form of respite care service is the day care centers. Day care benefits the demented person through social interaction and diverse activities. It benefits the Caregivers by giving them a much needed break. Research has found that day care centers have favourable effects on a demented person’s behaviour and helps reduce Caregiver stress.

In Malaysia, dementia day care centers are run by NGOs. Volunteers are always welcome for various needs such as drivers, persons providing information and legal advice, physiotherapists, social workers, general helpers, and also individuals who can raise funds to run the centre.

Anyone who is interested to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease can get a copy of the handbook "Playbook for Alzheimer’s Caregivers" by Coach Broyles for free through the internet. This book won the 2008 Caregiver Friendly Award and provides a wealth of tips on care-giving. You can also visit the website at: www.alzheimersplaybook.com.

I would like to conclude the topic on dementia with a poem from a demented person’s perspective:

Do not ask me to remember.
Don’t try to make me understand.
Let me rest and know you’re with me.
Kiss my cheek and hold my hand.

I’m confused beyond your concept.
I am sad and sick and lost.
All I know is that I need you
To be with me at all cost.

Do not lose your patience with me.
Do not scold or curse or cry.
I can’t help the way I’m acting,
Can’t be different ’though I try.

Just remember that I need you,
That the best of me is gone.
Please don’t fail to stand beside me,
Love me ’til my life is done.

– Author unknown-

(Source: thestar.com.my/health, published 23 August 2009)

3 October '09 9:00am Grand Bluewave Hotel, Shah Alam : Free Public Seminar "Diagnosing Dementia - See It Sooner" Commemorate World Alzheimer's Day

2009-08-24T01:02:00.005+08:00

All Caregivers, Members and the Public,

You are invited to a free public seminar on "Diagnosing Dementia: See It Sooner" on Saturday, 3 October '09. It is a joint collaboration between ADFM-Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia and the Rotary Club of Shah Alam, Malaysia and sponsored by Eisai (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd to commenmorate World Alzheimer's Day which is on 21 September 2009.

Details:

Day/Date: Saturday, 03 October 2009
Time: 09:00am - 2:00pm
Venue: Grand Bluewave Hotel, Persiaran Perbandaran, Seksyen 14, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia (Tel: 603-5031 3388)

Program:

09:00am - 09:30am : Registration (light Refreshment-coffee/tea).
09:30am - 09:40am : Welcome Address by ADFM EXCO Chairman, Datuk Dr Yim Khai Kee.
09:40am - 10:20am : "What is Alzheimer's Disease / Dementia?" by Dr Ho Bee Kiau, Family Physician, Klang Keluarga Poliklinik, Kelang.
10:20am - 11:00am : "How Is AD Diagnosed?" by Dr Lee Fatt Soon, HKL.
11:00am - 12:00pm : "Treatment of AD - Current and Future" by Dr Yau Weng Keong, HKL.
12:00pm - 12:40pm : "Managing Difficult Behaviour of Alzheimer's Disease" by Dr Chin Ai-Vyrn, UMMC.
12:40pm - 01:10pm : Q & A

01:10pm - 01:15pm : Closing Remarks by RCSA President
01:15pm: Lunch and adjourn.

Kindly take note that REGISTRATION is on First-Come-First Served Basis. Space limited to 150 pax. Entrance is by prior registration with ADFM.

Call ADFM at: 603-7956 2008/7958 3008 or Email: adfmcaregivers@gmail.com or Fax: 603 7960 8482.

From NACON

CARING FOR A MEMORY-IMPAIRED PARENT

2009-08-10T01:13:00.005+08:00

(By Professor Dr Philip Poi Jun Hua, Consultant Geriatrician from University Hospital-UMMC, Malaysia & ADFM Panel of Medical Advisers)

THERE are an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 people with significant memory impairment in Malaysia. As a result, there is a silent, unrecognized band of Malaysians – mostly women (daughters) – who have chosen to take care of a loved one with such a condition, e.g. Alzheimer’s disease. This is a demanding job in itself, but many are not only care-giving. They are also raising their own children – and maybe working – at the same time.

For anyone in this situation, squeezed between the responsibilities of parent and caregiver, days are spent preparing lunches and making sure medications are taken, checking homework, and filling out health insurance forms. For the caregiver, his or her marriage, family, career, and health will be tested.

Being a caregiver does just mean taking care of a loved one 24 hours a day. If you are helping a parent out with the basics of living, and your visits have stopped being social and become a necessity, you have become a caregiver.

Taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s is too much for one person. You’ll need caregiver support from your spouse, siblings, doctors, local and national organizations; and of anyone else who offers it.

The Long Haul

There are seven things you need to accept about your future as a caregiver.

Your loved one may live for many years. The life expectancy of someone with Alzheimer’s depends on the age at which the diagnosis was made. Many people with Alzheimer’s disease live eight, 10, or more years. Becoming a caregiver is a serious, long-term commitment.

The demands of care-giving will increase. As the disease progresses, your loved one will need more and more help. In the early stages of the disease, caregivers spend about 14 hours a week on average caring for the person. In the advanced stages, it becomes a full-time job.

Being an Alzheimer’s caregiver will affect your family. There may be ways to get your children involved that will not only give you, the caregiver, support, but will benefit your loved one and transfer the care ethic to your children.

Care-giving will affect your finances. This is usually due to the cost of medications and the need to have an extra hand in the form of domestic help or a nurse.

Do not try to do it alone. Taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s is too much for one person. You’ll need caregiver support from your spouse, siblings, doctors, local and national organizations – and from anyone else who offers it.

Care-giving requires skills. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease does not come naturally any more than lecturing on physics comes naturally. Care-giving for someone with dementia is not like looking after another child. Sometimes the logical, natural thing to do is the wrong thing.

The common problems faced by children looking after parents with memory impairment are usually a result of a lack of information on how to handle this new situation. You need to learn about the disease, its treatment, and the legal and financial issues. Consult Alzheimer’s disease web sites (see below), books, health care professionals, and other caregivers. Do not try to muddle through on your own. Both parent and caregiver will suffer the consequences!

Dementia causes memory impairment, but in the early stages of this illness, the forgetfulness noted by both your parent and the family might be innocuous. Many children attempt to correct the mistakes the parent makes in the hope that it improves the memory of the event. Some become irritated by the repeated questions asked. It is useful and important to appreciate that the reality experienced by those with memory loss is not your reality. They may insist a long gone relative is still alive or that someone is stealing their money. By persistently insisting that they are wrong in their perception can cause your parent to suffer from a loss of confidence and experience distress and possibly depression.

One solution is to distract your loved one with another interesting activity or to bring them to another room where there are no triggering cues. Try not to confront or correct, but to diplomatically distract to avoid creating a drama.

Later in the illness, when your loved one becomes increasingly dependent on you, there is a tendency to assume control over all activities. Prompting your memory impaired parent to change his or her clothing, or to bathe or eat may be necessary. They may react to your attempts to help in a way that you might find inappropriate, or irritating. When your parent behaves erratically, look for possible triggers as listed below:

- Physical discomfort: They may have an infection, a headache, lack of sleep, a toothache, or even simple constipation that could affect even your behavior!

- Activity related: In the past, your parent might have been the queen of the kitchen, and because of her worsening memory, you fear that she might harm herself and bar her from accessing the kitchen. You might find that your loved one becomes increasingly agitated as mealtime approaches, and this could be her intrinsic desire to prepare food for the family.

Distracting her with another meaningful activity or involving her in the kitchen whilst monitoring her activity might reduce her feeling of helplessness. In a similar situation, cessation of driving may be very disturbing and has to be handled with care and tact.

- Intrinsic personality: Some parents have in the past, docile temperaments, and some may have fiery tempers. One should anticipate amplification of their past behavior if they experience distress.

- Depression: A common association, which may precede or follow the onset of memory loss and can present with agitated behavior or restlessness.

When you feel overwhelmed, it is easy to get locked into your habits, to keep doing things the same way even if they are not working. Try to keep some perspective and think of creative ways to get help. At the very least, reach out to some of the local and national organizations for Alzheimer’s caregiver support (see below)

Family Issues

Explain the situation to your children. The chances are that your children have already noticed that something is amiss. So explain that it is a disease that is making grandpa or grandma behave strangely – and that it is not contagious.

Involve your children. Young children can provide entertainment; older children can help out by doing more chores around the house. Your children might not like to do this, but sometimes circumstances give you little choice. And if the household functions better as a result of their help, everybody benefits.

Develop a plan of care. If possible, bring the family together for a meeting. Decide with the older person what the primary needs are, who can provide assistance and what community resources would help. Summarize your agreement in writing. Keep in mind that family difficulties are common. Involve your family and siblings in the decision making process as early as possible.

Discuss legal and financial issues. These topics may be difficult to talk about, but they help ensure that the older person maintains decision-making authority even when incapacitated. Pre-planning will also lessen family disagreements and protect family resources. Do not delay addressing this item.

Sometimes, exclude grandma. A person with Alzheimer’s tends to become the center of attention, which can leave children – and other adults – feeling overlooked. So although you might feel guilty about it, you need time away. A weekly dinner out with just your spouse and children to reconnect as a family might be all you need to recharge your batteries.

Taking Care of Yourself

If you want to keep taking care of your family and your loved one, you need to keep physically and mentally strong. You need to give yourself breaks. If you have siblings, make a deal where they take over for the weekend, or even for a longer period.

Getting other people to help out does not only help you, it gives you the opportunity to interact with your friends, go shopping, or just to get your hair done. So stay fit. Eat in moderation. Activity is the key for physical and mental health. Try to squeeze in 20-minute walks or have a home exercise programme.

Long-Distance Caregivers

If your mother lives in Penang and you are in Hong Kong or even Johor Baru, how do you help take care of her?

Get Organized: Take care of necessary paperwork. Find all legal, financial, and insurance documents, including birth and marriage certificates, wills, and power of attorney. Identify bank accounts, titles, sources of income and obligations, and all relevant insurance papers.

Review these documents for accuracy and update them if necessary. Store documents in a secure place such as a safe-deposit box or a fireproof box.

Identify your informal network. Ask for help from people in the older person’s community, such as relatives, neighbours, long-time family friends and members of religious, civic, and social organizations. Ask them to call you if they spot a problem.

Investigate travel alternatives. Be prepared to “care commute” for any emergencies. Investigate travel options in advance.

Finally, maintain good health, make time for yourself, set limits, and allow others to help. Remember that the person with memory impairment has a different reality and it is easier to be non-confrontational and develop the patience of an angel.

(Source: The Sunday Star, August 9, 2009 - http://thestar.com.my/health)

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: GROUNDED BY ALZHEIMER'S BUT STILL RISING ABOVE

2009-07-29T01:08:00.001+08:00

First in A Series of Inspirational Profiles of Individuals Confronting Alzheimer’s Disease
(Source: Alzheimer's Association )

Alan Romatowski - Grounded by Alzheimer's but still rising above

Three years ago, when Alan Romatowski was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer's at the age of 55, he was a pilot for USAirways, a profession he'd enjoyed for the past 30 years.

"The diagnosis put a sudden stop to my career as an airline pilot," Alan says. "The news that I had Alzheimer's was, of course, initially devastating. But as time passes I am finding more and more to be thankful for."

Today Alan volunteers at a local Specialty Care Center, working in the physical therapy department and escorting Alzheimer's patients to and from medical appointments. Alan also delivers Meals on Wheels and works part time at a gas station.

"I became involved with the Alzheimer's Association shortly after my diagnosis," Alan says. "I turned to the Association for help and began participating in one of their support groups."

It wasn't long before Alan's natural leadership abilities came to the forefront. In 2008, Alan was appointed to the National Early-Stage Advisory Group, a leadership body of individuals living with Alzheimer's. In this role he serves as an advocate, traveling to speak about his experiences and rally others with Alzheimer's to help defeat this disease by participating in clinical trials of new treatments.

"I just completed a term with the Early-Stage Advisory Group for the Alzheimer's Association," Alan says. "I now work with the local Pittsburgh office and will once again be participating in Memory Walk. Recently I was elected to the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter Board of Directors."

"After my diagnosis I had a choice of either surrendering to Alzheimer's or go on fighting. I chose to fight," Alan says. "My wife and I stand shoulder to shoulder to fight this disease, and I appreciate and cherish my wonderful family more than ever."

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER ALZHEIMER'S, DEMENTIA RISK

2009-07-26T22:20:00.002+08:00

Though discoveries about Alzheimer's disease risk factors are often in the news, adults do not know about the relationship between Alzheimer's disease risk and heart health, nor that physical activity can be protective against dementia, according to new research reported at the Alzheimer's Association 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD 2009) in Vienna.

An additional study reported at ICAD 2009 shows higher Alzheimer's risk in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

"Your brain plays a critical role in almost everything you do: thinking, feeling, remembering, working, and playing – even sleeping," said Maria Carrillo, PhD, Director of Medical & Scientific Relations at the Alzheimer's Association. "The good news is that we now know there's a lot you can do to help keep your brain healthier as you age. These steps might also reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or another dementia."

"There's a strong and credible association between heart health and brain health. If people learn about and do some simple lifestyle modifications, such as being more physically active and eating a brain healthy diet, it could have an enormous impact on our nation's public health and the cost of healthcare," Carrillo added.

Adults Show a Poor Understanding of Alzheimer's Link to Heart Health Risk Factors

Colleen E. Jackson, M.S., a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Connecticut, and colleagues conducted an anonymous online survey of 690 adults to measure "dementia literacy," that is, their knowledge and beliefs that may assist in the recognition, management, or prevention of Alzheimer's.

Mean age of the population was 50 years, the range was 30-85 years; 76% of respondents were female. Ninety-four percent (94%) of participants were from the United States, with the remaining 6% from other English-speaking countries. The sample was relatively wealthy, with 18% of respondents making more than $200,000 per year at the peak of their careers, and well-educated, with 87% of respondents having completed at least 1-3 years of college.

The researchers found that 64% of study participants incorrectly indicated no association between Alzheimer's and obesity or high blood pressure. Sixty-six percent (66%) did not know that high stress is a risk factor for dementia, and 34% did not know that physical exercise is a protective factor.

On the positive side, nearly all study participants (94%) correctly indicated that Alzheimer's is not normal aging, and is not completely based on genetics.

"Our data suggest that American adults have limited knowledge and a poor understanding of factors that have been demonstrated to increase risk for Alzheimer's, such as obesity, high blood pressure, and other heart health risk factors," Jackson said. "They also didn't know much about protective factors against Alzheimer's, such as physical exercise, relative to the strength of the available research evidence."

"We need more education programs and opportunities, across all demographic groups, focusing on behaviors that modify your risk for developing Alzheimer's disease," Jackson added.

PTSD Linked to Nearly Double Dementia Risk in Veterans

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among veterans returning from combat and there is some evidence that it may be associated with reduced cognitive function. However, no study has yet investigated if PTSD increases the risk of developing dementia.

To address this emerging issue, Kristine Yaffe, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology and Epidemiology and Associate Chair of Research for the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, and Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry and Director of the Memory Disorders Clinic at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, and colleagues sought to determine if PTSD is associated with risk of developing dementia among older veterans in the U.S. receiving treatment in veterans' medical centers.

They studied 181,093 veterans aged 55 years and older without dementia (53,155 veterans diagnosed with PTSD and 127,938 veterans without PTSD) using data from the Department of Veterans Affairs National Patient Care Database. Mean baseline age of the veterans was 68.8 years and 97% were male. They followed the veterans from 2001 through 2007, including tracking whether they were diagnosed with Alzheimer's/dementia.

The researchers found that veterans with PTSD in the study developed new cases of dementia at a rate of 10.6% over the seven years of follow-up; those without PTSD had a rate of 6.6%. (Note: This is updated data from the researcher, which is why it differs from the attached abstract.) Even after adjusting for demographics, and medical and psychiatric comorbidities, PTSD patients in this study were still nearly twice as likely to develop incident dementia compared to veterans without PTSD (HR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.7-1.9). Results were similar when they excluded those with a history of traumatic brain injury, substance abuse or depression.

"It is critical to follow patients with PTSD, and evaluate them early for dementia," Yaffe said.

"Further research is needed to fully understand what links these two important disorders. With that knowledge we may be able to find ways to reduce the increased risk of dementia associated with PTSD."

(Source: ScienceDaily, July 24, 2009)

A 'HEART HEALTHY' DIET & ONGOING, MODERATE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MAY PROTECT AGAINST COGNITIVE DECLINE AS WE AGE

2009-07-21T05:20:00.002+08:00

Eating a "heart healthy" diet and maintaining or increasing participation in moderate physical activity may help preserve our memory and thinking abilities as we age, according to new research reported at the recent Alzheimer's Association 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD 2009) in Vienna.

"We can't do anything about aging or family history, but research continues to show us that there are lifestyle decisions we all can make to keep our brains healthier, and that also may lower our risk of memory decline as we age," said William Thies, PhD, Chief Medical & Scientific Officer at the Alzheimer's Association.

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Eating Pattern May Reduce Age-Related Cognitive Decline

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet is often recommended by physicians to people with high blood pressure or pre-hypertension. The DASH Diet Eating Plan has been proven to lower blood pressure in studies sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. High blood pressure is considered a risk factor for Alzheimer's and Dementia.

Heidi Wengreen, RD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Nutrition at Utah State University, and colleagues examined associations between how closely people adhered to the DASH Diet and risk of cognitive decline and dementia among older participants in the Cache County Study on Memory, Health and Aging.

In 1995, 3,831 study participants 65 years of age or older completed a survey that included a food frequency questionnaire and cognitive assessment. Cognitive function was checked again during four assessments over 11 years using the Modified Mini-Mental State examination (3MS), which is graded on a 100 point scale. A DASH diet adherence score was created based on consumption levels of nine food-group/nutrient components -- fruit, vegetables, nut/legumes, whole grains, low-fat dairy, sodium, sweets, non-fish meat, and fish. Participants were ranked by DASH score into five groups, or quintiles.

The researchers found that higher DASH scores were associated with higher scores for cognitive functioning at the beginning of the study and over time. Those in the highest quintile scored 1.42 points higher at baseline and 1.81 points higher after 11 years on the 3MS than did those in the lowest quintile of the DASH score (p-values <0.001).

They also found that four of the nine food-group/nutrient components used to create the DASH score were independently associated with 3MS scores - vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, nut/legumes. The scientists created a diet adherence score based on just these four components which they then tested for association with changes in cognitive abilities on the 3MS. Those in the highest quintile scored 1.72 points higher at baseline and 3.73 points higher after 11 years than did those in the lowest quintile of the four-component score (p-values <0.001).

"Our results suggest that including whole grains, vegetables, low-fat dairy foods, and nuts in one's diet may offer benefits for cognition in late life," Wengreen said. "However, we need more research before we can confidently say how much of these foods to include in your diet to experience some benefit."

CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH CAREGIVERS SLOWS ALZHEIMER'S

2009-07-21T04:48:00.003+08:00

(Source: Alzheimer's Association: Special issue on ICAD and Alzheimer Research. http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/Caregivers/close-relationship-with-caregivers-slows-alzheimers-a550.html)

Higher levels of closeness to ones caregiver were significantly associated with a slower decline, especially in persons with spouse caregivers.

A group of Utah State University researchers and colleagues at Johns Hopkins University, Duke University and Boston University have demonstrated that the rate of clinical progression of dementia may be slowed by a close relationship with one's caregiver. The findings will be published in the September 2009 issue of "The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences" by Oxford Journals

The research study "Caregiver Recipient Closeness and Symptom Progression in Alzheimer Disease. The Cache County Dementia Progression Study," started in 2002 and monitored 167 participants with Alzheimer's disease for three years. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, measured the cognitive and functional status of the participants and the caregiver-reported relationship of the participants. It was found that higher levels of closeness to ones caregiver were significantly associated with a slower decline in both cognitive and functional domains, especially in persons with spouse caregivers.

USU Researchers involved in the study are Maria Norton, Associate Professor of Family, Consumer and Human Development and Principal Investigator for the Cache County Memory Study, the population wide project from which persons with dementia were identified; JoAnn Tschanz, Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Cache County Dementia Progression Study; and Kathy Piercy, Associate Professor of Family, Consumer and Human Development; and Chris Corcoran, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Statistics.

"This is the first study to demonstrate that, in addition to medications that help slow the progression of the disease, there are non-pharmacologic factors in the caregiving environment that may also help to extend functional abilities and quality of life for the person with dementia," Norton said. "Considering the aging of the 'Baby Boomer' generation, finding ways to reduce risk for development of dementia and slowing the rate of decline in affected individuals are urgent public health priorities."

The researchers will now focus on finding the kind of caregiver activities that may promote the longevity and quality of brain function for those suffering from dementia. The new focus may lead to interventions that will enhance the care-giving relationship and help slow the decline caused by Alzheimer's disease.

USU has collaborated with Duke University and Johns Hopkins University since 1994 when it began the Cache County Memory Study. The study is funded by the National Institute on Aging and has followed an initial cohort of more than 5,000 persons aged 65 and older to study the genetic and environmental factors that affect risk for development of Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias. Persons identified with dementia by the Cache County Memory Study are then monitored by the Cache County Dementia Progression Study.

The Cache County Memory Study follows individuals to the point of dementia onset to study what factors affect risk of developing the disease. The Dementia Progression Study is focused on what factors affect the rate of progression of the disease once it has started.

"The extraordinary participation rate (90 percent of the entire eligible population) and unusual longevity of the population in Cache County, Utah (the U.S. county with the highest longevity, based on 1990 Census), have made our university and its setting an ideal place for such a large-scale epidemiologic study," Norton said.

Norton has been involved in managing the study since its inception in 1994 and has been the local director of the project since 2001.

A DAILY TIPPLE CUTS DEMENTIA RISK FOR HEALTHY ELDERLY

2009-07-19T13:50:00.001+08:00

One or two alcoholic beverages a day may reduce an elderly person’s risk of developing dementia by almost 40 percent, a study presented at the recent International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease in Vienna found (ICAD).

The results show people aged 75 years and older reap the same benefits from alcohol as their middle-aged counterparts, the researchers said. They asked more than 3,000 adults how often they drank and examined them every six months for up to six years for signs of memory loss or mental decline.

The findings aren’t a free pass for drinking among the elderly, the results showed. People who were already showing signs of memory problems deteriorated significantly faster if they drank alcohol, and the more they consumed the worse the symptoms became. Heavy drinkers, defined as those consuming more than 14 drinks a week, were almost twice as likely to develop dementia, researchers said.

“If you’re already drinking, you don’t need to cut back if you’re cognitively healthy, but we don’t have enough information to recommend you start drinking,” Kaycee Sink, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, said during a press conference. “The benefits increase as people move from mild to moderate levels of drinking, and then start to decline.”

Range of Benefits:

Alcohol has a range of benefits, such as boosting good cholesterol, preventing blood platelets from clotting and prompting the production of chemicals that help memory, Sink said. When older people show signs of dementia, the benefits may be outweighed by the toxic effects of drinking, she said, emphasizing that the theory is unproven. Heavy drinking is associated with a range of problems, including smaller brain volumes and vitamin deficiencies, she said.

The study divided the group into four categories: those who abstained, light drinkers who had one to seven beverages a week, moderate drinkers at eight to 14 weekly drinks and heavy consumers who had more than 14 every week.

The participants had an average age of almost 80 years and most, 43 percent, didn’t drink at all. One-third took a drink a few times a week, while the rest were moderate or heavy drinkers.

The moderate drinkers were most likely to benefit from their alcohol habits, with the risk of developing dementia lowered by 37 percent, according to the study.

“It’s a nuanced message, and we need to take some care with that, especially given the large number of people with mild cognitive impairment that remain undiagnosed,” William Thies, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer of the Alzheimer’s Association, said in an interview. “Still, people are comforted by the fact that a drink or two a day is ok.”

(Source: Bloomberg, July 13, 2009)

NEW TESTS MAY HELP SPOT EARLY-STAGE ALZHEIMER'S

2009-07-19T13:23:00.003+08:00

New tests assessing brain changes and body chemistry are showing promise at diagnosing Alzheimer's disease in its earliest stages, aiding the search for new drugs, Researchers said at the recent Alzheimer's Association's annual International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD).

In one study, Irish Researchers found scans measuring brain volume and a combination of memory tests accurately identified nearly 95 percent of people who had progressed from mild cognitive impairment to early Alzheimer's disease.

In another study, U.S. Researchers found that a type of brain scan that measures glucose combined with low scores on memory tests was a strong predictor of disease progression.

The findings, presented at an Alzheimer's Association meeting in Vienna, Austria, are some of the first from a five-year, $60 million study aimed at identifying brain changes that signal the advance of Alzheimer's disease.

"The idea is if there could be biological markers identified that tracked what was going on in the brain, this would give you a better idea of whether a drug was having a biological effect," Neil Buckholtz, who heads the U.S. National Institute on Aging's Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, or ADNI, said in a telephone interview.

The study, which is funded with U.S. government and industry funds, involves more than 800 people looking at brain structure and biological changes such as in spinal fluids that could signal disease progression.

Despite decades of research, doctors still have few effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease, a mind-robbing form of dementia that affects more than 26 million people globally and is expected to reach 100 million by 2050.

CHEAPER TRIALS

Only an autopsy revealing the disease's hallmark plaques and tangles in the brain can offer a definitive Alzheimer's diagnosis. Short of that, Doctors use Neurological and Memory Tests. Because they are subjective, drug companies must run large, costly trials to show their drugs work.

"Biomarkers may lead to cheaper trials," Buckholtz said.

In the Irish study, Michael Ewers of Trinity College Dublin and colleagues studied 345 participants in the ADNI study with mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to Alzheimer's.

They looked at an array of tests and found three memory tests plus MRI measurements of brain volume in the left hippocampus - a region closely linked to memory - were most predictive of disease progression.

In a separate study, Susan Landau of the University of California, Berkeley used data on 85 patients and found positron emission tomography scans that measure glucose in the brain and poor memory recall were strong predictors. People who did poorly on these measures were 15 times more likely to progress to Alzheimer's within two years.

Buckholtz expects many more studies to come from the ADNI study. "The idea is we are trying to define the best biomarkers or combination of biomarkers that will allow us to assess progress," he said.

In another study presented at the meeting, a Team at Duke University in North Carolina led by Dr. Allen Roses found that a gene called TOMM40 raises Alzheimer's risk.

The gene predicted the age of Alzheimer's development within a five- to seven-year window in people over 60. It is closely linked to another Alzheimer's gene called ApoE4.

"It now looks fairly clear that there are two major genes -- APOE4 and TOMM40 - and together they account an estimated 85-90 percent of the genetic effect," Roses said.

(Source: Reuters, July 14, 2009)

GENE MAY HELP PREDICT TIMING OF ALZHEIMER'S ONSET

2009-07-13T00:45:00.000+08:00

A gene that may offer a highly accurate prediction of the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and the age at which people will begin to show symptoms has been identified by U.S. researchers.

The TOMM40 gene may be the most highly predictive Alzheimer's gene discovered so far, said the Duke University Medical Center Rsearch Team, who found that the gene could predict the age of Alzheimer's disease onset within a five- to seven-year window among people over 60.

The study was scheduled to be presented on July 12 at the Alzheimer's Association 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease, held in Vienna, Austria.

"If borne out through additional research, a doctor could evaluate a patient based on age, especially among those over age 60, their APOE genotype and their TOMM40 status, to calculate an estimated disease risk and age of onset," Lead Author Dr. Allen Roses, Director of the Deane Drug Discovery Institute at Duke, said in a university news release.

In previous research, Roses found that apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes, particularly APOE4, are associated with increased risk and younger age of development of Alzheimer's disease. APOE4 accounts for about 50 percent of late-onset cases of Alzheimer's, but the cause of the remainder of cases hasn't been known.

"It now looks fairly clear that there are two major genes -- APOE4 and TOMM40 -- and together they account for an estimated 85 to 90 percent of the genetic effect," Roses said.

The Duke team is planning a five-year study of APOE genotypes and TOMM40, along with a drug trial to assess prevention or delay of Alzheimer's disease onset.

(Source: HealthDay News, July 12, 2009)

LANGUAGE 'PREDICTS DEMENTIA RISK'

2009-07-11T13:06:00.001+08:00

People with superior language skills early in life may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease decades later, research suggests.

A Team from Johns Hopkins University studied the brains of 38 Catholic nuns after death.

They found those with good language skills early in life were less likely to have memory problems - even if their brains showed signs of dementia damage.

The study appears online in the Journal Neurology.

Dementia is linked to the formation of protein plaques and nerve cell tangles in the brain.

But scientists remain puzzled about why these signs of damage produce dementia symptoms in some people, but not others.

The Researchers focused on nuns who were part of an ongoing clinical study.

They divided the women into those with memory problems and signs of dementia damage in the brain, and those whose memory was unaffected regardless of whether or not they showed signs of dementia damage.

And they also analysed essays that 14 of the women wrote as they entered the convent in their late teens or early 20s, assessing them for complexity of language and grammar.

The study showed that language scores were 20% higher in women without memory problems than those with signs of a malfunctioning memory.

The grammar score did not show any difference between the two groups.

Lead Researcher Dr Juan Troncoso said: "Despite the small number of participants in this portion of the study, the finding is a fascinating one."

"Our results show that an intellectual ability test in the early 20s may predict the likelihood of remaining cognitively normal five or six decades later, even in the presence of a large amount of Alzheimer's disease pathology."

Brain Cell Growth

The study also found that brain cells were largest in women who retained a normal memory despite showing signs of disease in their brains.

The Researchers said this suggested that a growth in brain cells might be part of the body's early response to the onset of dementia, and this might help to prevent memory impairment.

Dr Troncoso said: "Perhaps mental abilities at age 20 are indicative of a brain that will be better able to cope with diseases later in life."

Dr Susanne Sorensen, Head of Research at the Alzheimer's Society, said: "It is interesting that the nuns in the study with better language skills in their youth avoided memory problems in later life."

"However, the research is in a very small, select group and it would be difficult to say at this stage if language skills could really predict dementia."

Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "One possible implication of this study is that an intellectual ability test in the early 20s may predict the likelihood of remaining cognitively normal five or six decades later.

"However, prominent exceptions exist, including Authors like Terry Pratchett and Iris Murdoch, who developed dementia despite their linguistic brilliance."

(Source: BBC News, July 8, 2009)

Saturday, 25 July 2009 : Alzheimer's Caregivers Sharing Session & Talk on "A Holistic Approach to Management of Dementia"

2009-07-08T02:16:00.005+08:00

Dear Members/Public,

ADFM KL-PJ AD Caregivers Support Group Committee is having a Caregivers Sharing Session and Talk on “A Holistic Approach to Management of Dementia” on 25 July 2009.

The Agenda:

Day/Date: Saturday, 25 July 2009
Time: 2:00pm
Venue: Rumah Alzheimer’s, PJ Day Care Centre, No. 6, Lorong 11/8E, Section 11, 46200 Petaling Jaya

Program:

2:00 pm - Registration of Attendance.
2:30 pm - Talk on “A Holistic Approach to Management of Dementia” by Dr Daniel Zainal Abdul Rahman.
3:15 pm - Caregivers Sharing Session – Dr Daniel Zainal Abdul Rahman, Jasmin & Christin from ADFM PJ & Taman Seputeh Day Care Centre will facilitate the sharing , and Q&A Session.
4:00 pm - Light refreshment.

Kindly confirm your attendance to:

ADFM Secretariat, Kath Leong /Janet Low at Tel: 603 – 7956 2008 / 7958 3008 OR Email to: adfmsec@streamyx.com

OR you can register online with the ADFM National Alzheimer's Caregivers Online Network (NACON) at: adfmcaregivers@gmail.com

(1) CARE-GIVERS SHARING SESSION

Alzheimer’s Caregivers are encouraged to participate in the Sharing Session. This is the occasion for the Care-givers to come forward to get acquainted with each other, seek support and assistance, and share their experiences.

Dr Daniel Zainal, Jasmin & Christine will be around to attend to you.

(2) SYNOPSIS – A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT OF DEMENTIA

Dr Daniel Zainal Abdul Rahman in his presentation will cover the causes of Dementia, Symptoms and Signs Management.

SPEAKER’S PROFILE

Dr Daniel Zainal Abdul Rahman, a Consultant Psychiatrist, with 25 years experience as a Clinician and Head of Department in various government hospitals. Dr Zainal is currently in the private sector running clinics sessions mainly at Pantai Medical Centre (Bukit Pantai), Hospital Tawakkal, Tropicana Medical Centre (Kota Damansara), Hospital Pusrawi, and a clinic specializing in drug–substitution therapy. His clinical experience covers the whole spectrum of psychological/psychiatric disorders.

Dr Daniel Zainal is a qualified clinical hypnotherapist from the London College of Clinical Hypnosis (LCCH), and an affiliate member of the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis (BSCH ) and have attended various workshops on areas related to clinical hypnotherapy run by LCCH.

From: ADFM KL-PJ Alzheimer's Caregivers Support Group Committee