The Tangled Neuron

Another Video, Another Grim Portrayal

2009-11-04T07:18:50-05:00

Last month, a group of people with memory loss, their families and doctors successfully petitioned the French Alzheimer’s Association to drop plans to promote a video of people who appeared to have very advanced dementia in dire situations. This week,...

German Institute Cites Lack of Evidence for Alzheimer's Treatments

2009-10-29T20:04:33-04:00

The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare has issued a new report on Alzheimer's treatments. Comissioned by the German government, the report concludes: there is not enough proof that memantine (sold as Namenda in the U.S.) is effective in...

Brain Fitness Trial Online

2009-10-27T18:02:45-04:00

Brain fitness is a controversial topic. Can you really prevent or slow memory loss by "training your brain?" Do improved scores on brain fitness programs translate to improved functionality in everyday life? There's not enough evidence to answer these questions....

Richard Taylor's New DVD

2009-10-26T11:52:02-04:00

I just watched Richard Taylor’s new DVD “Be With Me Today.” The DVD is from his presentation to professionals at the Person-Centered Dementia Care Conference in Atlanta. In the 51 minute video, he talks about what caregivers (family and professional)...

Q & A with John Zeisel, Author of I'm Still Here

2009-10-07T09:37:38-04:00

Last spring, I read a book by John Zeisel, Ph.D. called I'm Still Here: A Breakthrough Approach to Understanding Someone Living with Alzheimer's . I liked how the book emphasized that some memories and abilities can remain intact in people...

Taking Memory Loss in Stride

2009-10-05T16:36:56-04:00

Gina Wilson Gina Wilson was visiting her sister in California six years ago when she developed a bad headache. She thought it was just another one of her migraines. Back home in Florida, Gina stayed in bed for several days....

The French Alzheimer's Association Drops Plans for Video

2009-09-12T15:10:38-04:00

Marcel Brasey recently emailed to tell me about a video called “Fortunately” that the French Alzheimer’s Association planned to air on television and on their web site. The video seems to show people with very advanced dementia in dire situations....

Access to Potential Alzheimer's Treatments Outside of Clinical Trials

2009-09-09T12:09:55-04:00

Summary: The FDA’s “Expanded Access to Investigational Drugs for Treatment Use” rule provides a way for patients who can’t participate in clinical trials to gain access to potential treatments not yet approved by the FDA. Despite optimistic headlines about Alzheimer’s...

The Voices of People with Dementia

2009-08-13T14:42:10-04:00

DASN (Dementia Advocacy and Support Network) International is an online support group for people with dementia. Thanks to one of its members, Morris Friedell, for pointing out an article in the February 2008 edition of Dementia about a small study...

Mild Cognitive Impairment Symposium: What Do Autopsy Studies Tell Us?

2009-08-08T13:15:59-04:00

Joseph Parisi, MD In a previous post, I wrote about donating your brain. With brain donation, a patient can make a contribution to research, and the patient’s family typically receives a copy of the autopsy report at no charge. Autopsy...

New Memory Loss Site (Portuguese)

2009-07-26T14:30:28-04:00

Judy Robbe runs support groups and works towards improving the quality of life for people with dementia and their families in Brazil. If you speak Portuguese, check out her beautiful new site Harmonia de Viver.

Brain Donation: Q & A with Nancy Teeten at USF's Byrd Institute

2009-07-26T13:13:41-04:00

Raelynn Wapinnsky, Nancy Teeten, LCSW, CAP, and Emelyne Cherenfant, MSW, LCSW When my father died, we found it difficult to donate his brain for research, and to request an autopsy. Some of that difficulty was because we hadn’t made arrangements...

Are We Stifling the Voices of People with Dementia?

2009-07-23T14:38:49-04:00

When my father was in his late 60s, he started having trouble finding words. As his memory and thinking went downhill, so did his speech. I knew it frustrated him, and sometimes I jumped in with a suggestion when he...

Marcel Brasey's Speech at an Alzheimer's Conference

2009-07-14T17:55:16-04:00

Marcel Brasey Ten years ago, Marcel Brasey was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at age 54. He maintains a French-language website called Survivre avec une maladie d’Alzheimer about his experiences, thoughts and philosophies. Last month, he traveled from his home in Geneva,...

Memory Loss and Home Safety

2009-07-10T12:56:56-04:00

Heather Black, MS, CCC, SLP & Jack Partington, MA, PT If you’ve been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, or just have some mild memory loss, simple changes around the house can make your life safer and easier. This was...