Alzheimer's Stages

Experimental Drug..

noreply@blogger.com (Savvy Shopper) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:09:00 +0000

An experimental Alzheimer's drug being developed by Roche Holding AG is showing promise in a small early-stage study, the Swiss drugmakers said Monday.

"These results and especially the rapidity of the effects observed on amyloid removal are very encouraging and pave the way for the development of a novel treatment for Alzheimer's disease," Luca Santarelli, head of Roche's global neuroscience disease division, said in a statement reported by Fox News.

The drug, called Gantenerumab, removed plaques from the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients, according to Fox News. Many researchers suspect the build-up of such plaques may be a cause of the disease, although the theory has yet to be proven.

The Phase 1 study of 16 Alzheimer's patients tested the drug at two doses against a placebo over a period of six months, Fox News reports.

Ganenerumab is a biotech drug designed to bind to amyloid plaques in the brain and remove them, Fox News reports. It's being used at the early stages of Alzheimer's in hopes that it can slow progression of the disease while patients are still able to function.

While companies are developing Alzheimer's treatments focused on the disease in its later stages, Roche is approaching the disease much earlier.

"We know amyloud accumulates for 15 years before dementia, so why should you wait to remove it," Santarelli told Reuters in an interview earlier this year.

The next step will be to investigate whether removal of brain amyloid clinically benefits the patients and if doses of the drug are safe, Roche told Fox News.

Improve Detection of Alzheimer's

noreply@blogger.com (Savvy Shopper) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:04:00 +0000

Steps To Improve Detection of Alzheimer’s

By RICK NAUERT PHD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on October 11, 2011

A new Mayo Clinic study suggests new methods to improve identification of individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
As technology and scientific methods have improved, detection of the disease before an individual shows outward signs of cognitive problems has become important.
The task of determining early-onset Alzheimer’s is challenging for physicians and researchers, in part, because they have not been using common and specific terms to describe the disease’s initial phases.
The new study recommends adding categories to more effectively identify and treat people and give researchers standard definitions to work with.
Mayo researchers assessed new guidelines for preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that were recently published by a working group formed by the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association (NIA-AA).
The group’s work marked the first attempt to define criteria for Alzheimer’s preclinical phase — the long time period in which Alzheimer’s pathology and biomarkers of that pathology become abnormal, while subjects remain clinically asymptomatic.
The guidelines represented a significant step forward because evidence increasingly suggests this early phase is the best time to treat the disease.
The Mayo researchers concluded, however, that the three stages defined by the workgroup are not sufficient to describe all cognitively normal elderly patients. They recommend adding two more groups.
“The important guidelines developed by the NIA-AA workgroup were a vital step in clarifying the progression of this devastating disease and aiding in earlier diagnosis,” says lead author Clifford R. Jack, Jr., M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurologist.
“Our study builds on that work by recommending two additional sub-groups that merit attention.”
In addition to stages 1, 2 and 3 identified by the NIA-AA workgroup, the authors suggest two additional categories:

Stage 0: Patients with normal biomarkers and no evidence of cognitive impairment. An estimated 43 percent of all cognitively normal elderly people would be classified as Stage 0.
SNAP patients: Those with “suspected non-AD pathophysiology.” Such patients have normal brain amyloid imaging studies, but abnormal neurodegeneration biomarkers. An estimated 23 percent of cognitively normal elderly patients would fall into the SNAP category.

“Without the additional categories we recommend, more than half of all preclinical AD patients would be ‘forced’ into a category that was not descriptive of their current state,” says co-author Ronald C. Petersen, M.D., Ph.D.
“By more clearly defining the stages of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease and categories of elderly subjects who should not be classified as preclinical AD, we can improve its diagnosis and help in the management of this devastating disease.”
The study is published in this month’s issue of the Annals of Neurology.
Source: Mayo Clinic

Caring for Dementia and Alzheimer's: A Personal Story

noreply@blogger.com (Savvy Shopper) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:17:00 +0000

Meet Larry and Jill Ellis of Denver, Colo., winners of Homewatch CareGivers' Family Caregiver of the Year Award in Denver. The Ellis family has been through the ringer when it comes to dementia and depression, and while their story provides inspiration for families in similar situations, it also reminds us that caring for parents with Alzheimer's has taken a toll on the entire family.
"It was difficult, but I could not imagine caring for our parents any differently"
Alzheimer's is a maddening disease, not only for the afflicted, but for their family care giver as well. In a recent study, the Alzheimer's Association estimates that more than 65 percent of care giving spouses die before their Alzheimer's-afflicted husband or wife. While dealing with dementia in others, almost 30 percent of family care givers suffer from clinical depression and emotional stress.

In October of 2007, Larry visited his parents, Harry and Freddy Sue, in Texas and found a sad scenario of recognizable symptoms of Alzheimer's. The house was a mess it appeared that neither parent was able to clean or even do laundry on a regular basis. His mother was clinically depressed from taking care of a husband. "It was a dangerous situation for them," Larry said during a recent interview. "His dad would turn on the burner on the stove and then forget about it. And in spite of the fact that the pan would burn and smoke, he would not even hear the smoke alarm." Steps were taken immediately to move Larry's parents, who were showing signs of dementia, into an assisted living residence in Denver, where they could be cared for around the clock.

In 2008, the Ellises traveled to Florida to check on Jill's parents, John and Jeannette (Jenny) Senning, who had recently moved to an independent living facility. What they found was eerily similar to what Larry had discovered with his parents Jill's father, who was battling Alzheimer's, had no clue who Jill was. Her mother had been in bed for three weeks, immobilized by a profound feeling of helplessness.

As with Larry's mother, Jenny was clinically depressed as a result of trying to care for John on her own. Managing dementia related situations such as John nearly swallowing hearing aid batteries thinking they were his pills became to much to handle alone. Additionally, John would not let anyone help him if he did not know them, thus putting the full weight of resp onsibility to address his symptoms of Alzheimer's onto the shoulders of his wife. As a result of Jenny's unresolved depression and deteriorating health, Jill made a snap decision to bring her parents to Denver. After stabilizing their health, a family decision was made to build a new wing on their home to make the assisted living transition easier.
"It was difficult, but I could not imagine caring for our parents any differently," said Jill. "We love having our family close to us and in our lives every day, which is one of the reasons we moved them to Denver from Texas and Florida when things started breaking down for John and Harry, in terms of their dementia."

With both sets of parents under their close care, however, Larry and Jill quickly realized the difficulty of tending to aging parents who are dealing with dementia. Having no experience with Alzheimer's home care, the Ellises reached out to Roger Rhodes, owner of Homewatch CareGivers of southwest Denver. Rhodes had recently given a Pathways to Memory seminar at a local church that the Ellises attended. According to Larry, the information Rhodes provided them at the seminar and in follow-up discussions was "shocking."

"We were only marginally prepared for all the decisions we faced," Larry said. "Roger provided us with a checklist, which served as a road map of what to watch out for and the difficult decisions we were facing. Jill and I have made those decisions as needed, every day, over many months and years, and they continue to be made." According to Larry, Rhodes helped direct the Ellises to a specific elder law expert who helped them prepare the legal documents to make financial management easier, provided them with awareness regarding Alzheimer's aid and attendance, and helped them understand the world of home-health assistance. "That was a huge learning experience," Larry said. "We had no idea the plethora of problems that we would face with my dad being uncooperative in his dementia, and even getting hostile at times."

Jill's mother has experienced a reawakening as her depression disappeared, because she is no longer alone while trying to care of her husband's symptoms of dementia. She now seeks tennis partners, conducts most of the cooking for the Ellis family, and manages her hu ge flower and vegetable garden in spare time. Sadly, Jill's father, John, lost his battle with Alzheimer's, passing away in January 2010.

Larry's mother, however, has been through a hip replacement, pacemaker installation and most recently, a broken wrist which occurred in the hospital during physical therapy. His father, meanwhile, continues to struggle under the weight of his own dementia. According to Larry, his father has "lost all inhibitions and is far more impulsive than in his earlier life."

During a typical week, Larry is forced to deal with his father's dementia head-on. On any given day, Harry might open a bank account and start writing bad checks, or be seen by others conducting himself with inappropriate public behavior. His hygiene has slipped, and he chews tobacco, leaving a trail of tobacco behind wherever he goes, forcing the Ellises to clean their carpets frequently.

The Ellis family continues to plow forward without usi ng much outside assistance, minus a four-month rehabilitative stretch where Larry's mother needed someone to administer medication while Larry and Jill were at work. In addition to Jill's mother providing assistance by providing needed energy and serving as the family cook, the Ellis' adult children also serve as caregivers." One cannot do this alone and stay sane," said Larry. "Jill and I get away as often as we can, hopefully at least once a month and go to our little mountain cabin near Estes Park, leaving our kids in full command. Without that, we could not manage."

Despite all the extra time and work required not to mention the emotional burden the Ellises say it is worth it to be able to ensure that their parents are cared for and loved in their final stages of life and Alzheimer's. The Ellis family agreed to share their story with us because they want to encourage others to take part in the lives of their own aging family members, and hope to help other baby boomers realize that they, too, can make a tremendous difference in their family members' quality of life.

"Our friends can't comprehend taking the steps we have taken, but for my parents, their quality of life is so much better in Denver than it was in Texas," Larry said. "The move made perfect sense to us."

Navigating the Alzheimer's Care Maze

noreply@blogger.com (Savvy Shopper) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 17:39:00 +0000

The Ultimate Alzheimer's Team
"In today's complex healthcare landscape, the challenges of keeping up with doctor's appointments, laboratory tests, and medication schedules, as well as all with the unique issues of caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease often seem insurmountable," Teresa Treiger, president of Case Management Society of America explains. Finding the right team of professionals to optimize care can help, and is essential in the well being of both the person diagnosed and their family members. Here's where to begin:

Primary care physicians can detect dementia based on the general signs and symptoms, but a neurologist or Alzheimer's specialist is better equipped to provide focused and thorough care of patients with dementia. Neurologists specialize in the brain and nervous system, and many neurologists concentrating on dementia become Alzheimer's specialists.

A psychologist can help those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias cope with emotiona l problems. According to the Alzheimer's Association, psychologists offer individual, family and group therapy sessions, as well as coaching successful emotional interaction between the diagnosed individual and their loved ones. A geriatric psychiatrist can help treat depression and certain symptoms of dementia specifically in the person diagnosed.

A geriatric care manager or case manager is an essential part of the Alzheimer's team. According to the Alzheimer's Association, this person will provide assistance for you and your loved one in finding resources, making decisions and managing the stress that comes from diagnosis and everyday living. They can also assist in making a care plan for your loved one, with the collaboration of other healthcare team members. They may be a social worker, nurse, counselor or gerontologist, a person specializing in social, psychological and biological aspects of aging. "Case managers are adept at working with complexly ill peopl e and their families because of both clinical knowledge and healthcare business experience. We have a unique global perspective as to what is going on with the person, as well as how to relate to other clinical professionals and health insurance plans to ensure the patient receives the right care at the right time, and in the right setting," Treiger adds.

An occupational therapist can help the person diagnosed with dementia change activities or environments so they can engage in daily activities, such as eating, dressing and bathing, notes the Alzheimer's Association. They can also help family members adapt care giving for safety and efficiency.

Home care specialists provide personal and companion care in the home. Their assistance supplements the gaps in self-care ability experienced by an individual diagnosed with dementia, as well as supports family care giving. Home care helps those living with dementia with grooming, bathing, dressing, cooking, cleaning, running errands, making medical appointments, and much more.
Appointing a Designated Family Care Giver
As you can see, the group of professionals that someone diagnosed with dementia works with on a regular basis is complex. It's important that the patient and care giving network decide on one main point-of-contact soon after diagnosis, as this ensures communication from the professionals to the diagnosed individual and other family members is streamlined and efficient. This person can be the patient's health care proxy, a person appointed by the patient to make healthcare decisions in the event s/he is no longer able to. "The care of an Alzheimer's patient is quite intricate. A specified point-of-contact helps simplify communication," Treiger notes. "This is extremely important to the care team, because it helps decrease the chance of mixed messaging or misguided perceptions in what has been communicated, and thereby can improve the quality of healthcare."

For optimal communication and care taking, the chosen point of contact must be proactive in exploring the best options for the patient with members of the care team. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, discussing the diagnosis, progression, treatment choices, and goals of Alzheimer's disease care among the patient (especially in the early stages), the selected family member and the entire care team is essential. Keeping the care plan consistent with individual values, preferences, culture, educational level and abilities makes certain that everyone involved feels honored, respected, and is clear about the journey ahead.
The Financial Aspects of Care
Some care resources may not be covered by insurance, so a thorough understanding of financial impact of needed care is important. This is a conversation that family members should have regardless of when a loved one is diagnosed, but it is often overlooked and left to happen during a crisis situation. However it happens, there needs to be a clear agreement within the family of what financial resources are available. Understanding the patient's insurance benefits is important, so the primary family care giver should familiarize themselves with the information.

A health insurance case manager can help assess, plan and advocate the best benefits for a patient on an individual basis. If available, request one immediately, and maintain regular communication throughout the care giving process. This will ensure that you're providing the appropriate information to the insurance company, so they can review and approve necessary services and care promptly. If an insuranc e company doesn't offer case management support, the patient or family care giver should consider hiring an independent case manager in order to ensure the patient has an advocate, although this is usually an out-of-pocket expense.
Finding a Team in Your Area
Because the patient has freedom of choice for care, understanding the available community resources is essential. Physicians, nurses and social workers are always great references for care resources. Employers, elder services, churches, veteran groups and social service departments should also be evaluated for optimal options.

The importance of clinical trials

noreply@blogger.com (Savvy Shopper) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:24:00 +0000

Importance of clinical trials

Clinical trials are the engine that powers medical progress. Through clinical trials, researchers test new ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Without clinical trials, there can be no new treatments or cures.

Over the last 15 years, scientists have made enormous strides in understanding how Alzheimer's disease affects the brain. Currently, the drugs available for the treatment of Alzheimer's only temporarily improve the symptoms of the disease; they do not stop the damage to brain cells that causes Alzheimer's to progress. But scientists believe that in the near future, therapies and treatments that slow or stop the progression of the disease will be available.

Ground-breaking research is going on that could have a measurable impact on the lives of current and future Alzheimer's patients. But a lack of volunteers for Alzheimer's clinical trials is significantly slowing down this research and the development of new Alzheimer's treatments. Recruiting and retaining trial participants is now the greatest obstacle, other than funding, to developing the next generation of Alzheimer's treatments.

Participation in clinical studies provides an opportunity to advance and accelerate medical research and to contribute to the better health of future generations. Use the Alzheimer's Association TrialMatch service above to find a clinical trial now. READ MORE: