11 Temmuz 2012 Çarşamba
10 Temmuz 2012 Salı
9 Temmuz 2012 Pazartesi
Dementia Must Be A Global Health Priority - World Health Organization | Alzheimer's Reading Room
A report released today by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) calls upon governments, policymakers and other stakeholders to make dementia a global public health priority.via alzheimersreadingroom.comRead more in the Alzheimer's Reading Room -- Dementia Must Be A Global Health Priority - World Health Organization
Alzheimer's Reading RoomThis new report provides the most authoritative overview of the impact of dementia worldwide.
Dementia: A Public Health Priority To prepare the report, the World Health Organization and ADI commissioned reports from four working groups of experts and sought additional inputs from nearly two dozen international contributors and more than 20 expert reviewers.
In addition to valuable best practices and practical case studies from around the world, it contains the most comprehensive collection of data, including hard-to-get statistics, thereby dramatically underscoring that this is truly a global problem and not just a “disease of the industrial world.”
Obama Administration Presents National Plan to Fight Alzheimer’s Disease | Alzheimer's Reading Room
“This is a national plan—not a federal one, because reducing the burden of Alzheimer’s will require the active engagement of both the public and private sectors.”via alzheimersreadingroom.com
Alzheimer's Reading Room
The plan, presented today at the Alzheimer’s Research Summit 2012: Path to Treatment and Prevention, was developed with input from experts in aging and Alzheimer’s disease issues and calls for a comprehensive, collaborative approach across federal, state, private and non-profit organizations.
More than 3,600 people or organizations submitted comments on the draft plan.
I would be interested in your comment on the HHS’ new website, www.alzheimers.gov . The website offers resources and support to those facing Alzheimer’s disease and their friends and family.
You can comment in the Add New Comment box below this article.
Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room
Obama Administration Presents National Plan to Fight Alzheimer’s Disease
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released an ambitious national plan to fight Alzheimer’s disease.The plan was called for in the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) which President Obama signed into law in January 2011.
The National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease sets forth five goals, including the development of effective prevention and treatment approaches for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias by 2025.
In February 2012, the administration announced that it would take immediate action to implement parts of the plan, including making additional funding available in fiscal year 2012 to support research, provider education and public awareness.
Today, the Secretary announced additional specific actions, including the funding of two major clinical trials, jumpstarted by the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) infusion of additional FY 2012 funds directed at Alzheimer’s disease; the development of new high-quality, up-to-date training and information for our nation’s clinicians; and a new public education campaign and website to help families and caregivers find the services and support they need.
To help accelerate this urgent work, the President’s proposed FY 2013 budget provides a $100 million increase for efforts to combat Alzheimer’s disease. These funds will support additional research ($80 million), improve public awareness of the disease ($4.2 million), support provider education programs ($4.0 million), invest in caregiver support ($10.5 million), and improve data collection ($1.3 million).
“These actions are the cornerstones of an historic effort to fight Alzheimer’s disease,” Secretary Sebelius said. “This is a national plan—not a federal one, because reducing the burden of Alzheimer’s will require the active engagement of both the public and private sectors.”The plan, presented today at the Alzheimer’s Research Summit 2012: Path to Treatment and Prevention, was developed with input from experts in aging and Alzheimer’s disease issues and calls for a comprehensive, collaborative approach across federal, state, private and non-profit organizations. More than 3,600 people or organizations submitted comments on the draft plan.As many as 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease and that number is likely to double in the coming years. At the same time, millions of American families struggle with the physical, emotional and financial costs of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.
The initiatives announced today include:
Research -- The funding of new research projects by the NIH will focus on key areas in which emerging technologies and new approaches in clinical testing now allow for a more comprehensive assessment of the disease. This research holds considerable promise for developing new and targeted approaches to prevention and treatment. Specifically, two major clinical trials are being funded. One is a $7.9 million effort to test an insulin nasal spray for treating Alzheimer’s disease. A second study, toward which NIH is contributing $16 million, is the first prevention trial in people at the highest risk for the disease.
Tools for Clinicians -- The Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded $2 million in funding through its geriatric education centers to provide high-quality training for doctors, nurses, and other health care providers on recognizing the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and how to manage the disease.
Easier access to information to support caregivers -- HHS’ new website, www.alzheimers.gov, offers resources and support to those facing Alzheimer’s disease and their friends and family. The site is a gateway to reliable, comprehensive information from federal, state, and private organizations on a range of topics.
Visitors to the site will find plain language information and tools to identify local resources that can help with the challenges of daily living, emotional needs, and financial issues related to dementia. Video interviews with real family caregivers explain why information is key to successful caregiving, in their own words.
Awareness campaign -- The first new television advertisement encouraging caregivers to seek information at the new website was debuted. This media campaign will be launched this summer, reaching family members and patients in need of information on Alzheimer’s disease.
Today’s announcement demonstrates the Obama administration’s continued commitment to taking action in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
In 2013, the National Family Caregiver Support Program will continue to provide essential services to family caregivers, including those helping loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease. This program will enable family caregivers to receive essential respite services, providing them a short break from caregiving duties, along with other essential services, such as counseling, education and support groups.
For more information on the national plan to address Alzheimer’s disease, visit: www.alzheimers.gov.
__________________________National Alzheimer’s Project Act http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/napa/
National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/napa/NatlPlan.shtml
Alzheimers.gov http://www.alzheimers.gov
More Insight and Advice from the Alzheimer's Reading Room
Dotty is Still With, 7:13 AM, You Who I'm Awake You Know
Was Alzheimer's an automatic death sentence? No, it was not.via alzheimersreadingroom.com
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Right now Dotty is still with us. I'm going to spare you some of the details, but Dotty has stopped urinating.
This comes as no surprise as the amount of liquid intake yesterday was at the minimum.
It seems to me as if Dotty's body is shutting down in an orderly, yet slow, progression. Her spirit has yet to soar out of her body.
Yesterday can best be described as hair raising. None of this was caused by Dotty.
Continued on the Next Page
Alzheimer's and Anesthesia
By Sydney S. Farrier, LCSW
Sydney S. Farrier
How often have you heard the comment about an older person who recently underwent a major surgery, "She was fine until she had that (hip surgery, knee replacement, cardiac surgery, etc) but now she seems confused."
This week I was visiting with an attractive woman in her 80's who had a knee surgery under a general anesthesia a couple of years ago. About six months after the first surgery, another surgery with general anesthesia had to be done due to some problems with the knee. She stated she has never recovered.
Her knee is fine, but the cognitive problems she experienced following these surgeries has resulted in her having to give up her home and the gardening she loved, move to a retirement community near her daughter, forgo driving, and lose the sense of independence she so valued.
Both she and her daughter believe the two general anesthesia significantly contributed to her cognitive changes. She is angry that the possibility for cognitive changes was never discussed with her.
Continue Reading Alzheimer's and Anesthesia
 The Alzheimer's Action Plan |  300 Tips for Making Life Easier |
Alzheimer's Disease -- Advice and Insight
- What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia?
- 100 Good Reasons to Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room
- About the Alzheimer's Reading Room
- Alzheimer's Disease and the Five Stages of Grief
- What is Alzheimer's? What are the Eight Types of Dementia?
- Alzheimer's Disease CareGiving -- Insight and Advice (20 articles)
- Test Your Memory for Alzheimer's Disease (5 Best Self Assessment Tests)
- Communicating in Alzheimer's World
- Worried About Alzheimer's Disease -- You Should Be
- Does the Combination of Aricept and Namenda Help Slow the Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Disease Patients
- Alzheimer's Disease Statistics
- Is it Really Alzheimer's Disease or Something Else?
- Ten Symptoms of Early Stage Alzheimer's Disease
- Ten Tips for Communicating with an Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
Are We Near a Tipping Point in Alzheimer's Disease?
By 2015 to 2020, somewhere in there, there's a tipping point where our healthcare system will collapse under Alzheimer's alone. There is no tipping point right now for saying we have a drug that will prevent this disease.via alzheimersreadingroom.com
Alzheimer's Reading Room
"The first drugs that we tried didn't do it. There were those who then cried, "You're doing the wrong thing." They wanted to throw out the baby with the bathwater: "You got the wrong target. See, you're chasing the wrong ghost here."
Rudy Tanzi No, the drugs were bad.
The amyloid is the target. You don't throw amyloid away."
Continued on the Next Page
8 Temmuz 2012 Pazar
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Dotty is not agitated and is not acting crazy. Occasionally, she might call out mom, mom.via alzheimersreadingroom.com
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Good morning, afternoon, evening or night, depending on where you are.
Dotty Dotty is still with us. She seems to be comfortable. However, she is not moving at all. She does have a cough. It is sporadic, and we have some medication for the cough.
Yesterday, she only ate a few teaspoons of chicken broth and a bit of water melon. I continue to get water and Boost into her. She is still peeing quite a bit and the liquid is definitely moving through her.
Her urine was okay late last night. I am getting ready to change her shortly. This has been a real chore. Nevertheless it gets done. I'll update how this goes later today.
Continued on the Next Page
Dotty is Still With, 7:13 AM, You Who I'm Awake You Know
Was Alzheimer's an automatic death sentence? No, it was not.via alzheimersreadingroom.com
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
This comes as no surprise as the amount of liquid intake yesterday was at the minimum.
It seems to me as if Dotty's body is shutting down in an orderly, yet slow, progression. Her spirit has yet to soar out of her body.
Yesterday can best be described as hair raising. None of this was caused by Dotty.
Continued on the Next Page
Alzheimer's and Anesthesia
By Sydney S. Farrier, LCSW
Sydney S. Farrier
How often have you heard the comment about an older person who recently underwent a major surgery, "She was fine until she had that (hip surgery, knee replacement, cardiac surgery, etc) but now she seems confused."
This week I was visiting with an attractive woman in her 80's who had a knee surgery under a general anesthesia a couple of years ago. About six months after the first surgery, another surgery with general anesthesia had to be done due to some problems with the knee. She stated she has never recovered.
Her knee is fine, but the cognitive problems she experienced following these surgeries has resulted in her having to give up her home and the gardening she loved, move to a retirement community near her daughter, forgo driving, and lose the sense of independence she so valued.
Both she and her daughter believe the two general anesthesia significantly contributed to her cognitive changes. She is angry that the possibility for cognitive changes was never discussed with her.
Continue Reading Alzheimer's and Anesthesia
| The Alzheimer's Action Plan | 300 Tips for Making Life Easier |
Alzheimer's Disease -- Advice and Insight
- What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia?
- 100 Good Reasons to Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room
- About the Alzheimer's Reading Room
- Alzheimer's Disease and the Five Stages of Grief
- What is Alzheimer's? What are the Eight Types of Dementia?
- Alzheimer's Disease CareGiving -- Insight and Advice (20 articles)
- Test Your Memory for Alzheimer's Disease (5 Best Self Assessment Tests)
- Communicating in Alzheimer's World
- Worried About Alzheimer's Disease -- You Should Be
- Does the Combination of Aricept and Namenda Help Slow the Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Disease Patients
- Alzheimer's Disease Statistics
- Is it Really Alzheimer's Disease or Something Else?
- Ten Symptoms of Early Stage Alzheimer's Disease
- Ten Tips for Communicating with an Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
Hospital Stays Can be Catastrophic for Alzheimer's Patients
Alzheimer’s patients experience adverse outcomes, delirium
These findings are reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The state of acute confusion and disorientation known as delirium can stem from a serious illness, surgery or infection, and often develops while patients are in the hospital.
Now a new study confirms that for patients with Alzheimer's disease, hospitalization and delirium pose a particular risk and can lead to adverse outcomes, including hastened cognitive decline, institutionalization and death.
Led by researchers at Harvard Medical School affiliates Hebrew SeniorLife and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), the study appears in the June 19 on-line issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
"Evidence has shown that older patients with Alzheimer's disease [AD] are much more likely to be hospitalized than other older patients," says lead author Tamara Fong, MD, PhD, assistant scientist in the Aging Brain Center, Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife and Assistant Professor of Neurology at BIDMC. "Because our previous research had found that AD patients experienced a three times faster decline in mental function if they had experienced delirium, we wanted to determine if AD patients who are hospitalized are at greater risk for poor outcomes than AD patients who are not hospitalized, and if there is any additive negative outcome when hospitalized AD patients develop delirium."
The researchers, therefore, analyzed the records of 771 patients over age 65 who were examined between 1991 and 2006 at the Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Registry (MADRC), a clinical registry based at Massachusetts General Hospital.
"We looked at patients with and without hospitalizations who were seen at least three times in the MADRC during the study interval period," says Fong.
The authors additionally analyzed data from medical records and other data sources, including Medicare and the Social Security Death Index, to determine outcomes of hospitalization and delirium.
As predicted, their findings showed that in patients with Alzheimer's disease, any hospitalization was associated with increased risks for institutionalization, cognitive decline and death, and for those patients who developed delirium, there was an incremental increase in risk for these adverse outcomes, even after controlling for other cofactors.
"Among the hospitalized Alzheimer's patients, a substantial proportion of risk for adverse outcomes could be attributed to delirium, including 6.2 percent of deaths, 15.2 percent of institutionalization, and 20.6 percent of cognitive decline," says Fong. "The bottom line is that delirium can be a big problem for patients with AD," she adds.There are, however, effective prevention strategies for delirium for hospitalized elders, notes Fong.
These include the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP), a patient care program designed to prevent delirium by keeping hospitalized older people oriented to their surroundings, meeting their needs for nutrition, fluids and sleep, and keeping them mobile within the limitations of their physical conditions.
"Going forward, we plan to conduct formal studies to determine if these types of interventions can help improve outcomes for this vulnerable group of patients," she explains.Adds senior author Sharon Inouye, MD, PhD, Director of the Aging Brain Institute at HSL, Harvard Medical School Professor of Medicine at BIDMC,
"Our confirmation that hospitalization and delirium play important roles in adverse outcomes may ultimately influence care and management of patients with AD.___________________________________________
Interventions to prevent hospitalization and hospital-associated delirium may be appropriate for all patients with AD. The cost savings to Medicare would be far greater than the amount from current treatment options for AD."
This study was funded by grants from the National Institute on Aging and the MADRC.
Study coauthors include the following investigators from the Aging Brain Center, Institute for Aging Research, HSL: Sharon K. Inouye, MD, PhD (senior author), Richard N. Jones, ScD, Doughlas Tommet, MS, Alden L. Gross, PhD, MHS, Daniel Habtemariam, BA, and Eva Schmitt, PhD; BIDMC Investigator Edward R. Marcantonio, MD, SM; and MGH Investigator Liang Yap, PhD.
About the Institute for Aging Research
Scientists at the Institute for Aging Research seek to transform the human experience of aging by conducting research that will ensure a life of health, dignity and productivity into advanced age.
About Hebrew SeniorLife
Founded in 1903, Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a recognized national leader in the field of senior care dedicated to rethinking, researching and redefining the possibilities of aging. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit www.hebrewseniorlife.org
About Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a patient care, teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School and ranks third in National Institutes of Health funding among independent hospitals nationwide. For more information, visit www.bidmc.org .
More Insight and Advice for Caregivers
- Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?
- Test Your Memory for Alzheimer's (5 Best Self Assessment Tests)
- What is Alzheimer's Disease?
- What is Dementia?
- What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
- Communicating in Alzheimer's World
- How the Loss of Memory Works in Alzheimer’s Disease, and How Understanding This Could Help You
- Learning How to Communicate with Someone Suffering From Alzheimer's Disease
- Alzheimer's World -- Trying to Reconnect with Someone Suffering from Alzheimer's Disease
- Does the Combination of Aricept and Namenda Help Slow the Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Patients
- About the Alzheimer's Reading Room
Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room
Baby's 1st Post-Surgery UTI And Needs Hospitalization
Long story cut short, Baby was braver this time. She screamed and bawled for a short while when the paed inserted the IV line on her left hand. It was quite a fast one and took under 15 minutes for everything to be completed - finding the vein, IV line inserted and hand bandaged. In the past, her doctors needed at least half an hour to over an hour to fix the line. Baby even allowed the doctor to carry her after the procedure, which was very, very uncommon of her to allow a doctor / nurse to carry her, what more the doctor who had just poked her, swaddled her so tightly with a cloth and caused her so much pain. I guess preparing her mentally before the procedure helped.
Before she went into the procedures room, while we were waiting in our room for the doctor to arrive, I told her this "Baby, the doctor will give you an injection on your hand. There will be very little pain, please don't cry ok? Mummy will wait for you outside the room. Mummy can't go in. You don't cry ok? Mummy loves you" Baby nodded her head and smiled!
Baby has to be in the hospital again for her 2nd antibiotics jab for today. She needs another jab at 10:30pm tonight.
7 Temmuz 2012 Cumartesi
Obama Administration Presents National Plan to Fight Alzheimer’s Disease | Alzheimer's Reading Room
“This is a national plan—not a federal one, because reducing the burden of Alzheimer’s will require the active engagement of both the public and private sectors.”via alzheimersreadingroom.com
Alzheimer's Reading Room
More than 3,600 people or organizations submitted comments on the draft plan.
I would be interested in your comment on the HHS’ new website, www.alzheimers.gov . The website offers resources and support to those facing Alzheimer’s disease and their friends and family.
You can comment in the Add New Comment box below this article.
Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room
Obama Administration Presents National Plan to Fight Alzheimer’s Disease
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released an ambitious national plan to fight Alzheimer’s disease.The plan was called for in the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) which President Obama signed into law in January 2011.
The National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease sets forth five goals, including the development of effective prevention and treatment approaches for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias by 2025.
In February 2012, the administration announced that it would take immediate action to implement parts of the plan, including making additional funding available in fiscal year 2012 to support research, provider education and public awareness.
Today, the Secretary announced additional specific actions, including the funding of two major clinical trials, jumpstarted by the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) infusion of additional FY 2012 funds directed at Alzheimer’s disease; the development of new high-quality, up-to-date training and information for our nation’s clinicians; and a new public education campaign and website to help families and caregivers find the services and support they need.
To help accelerate this urgent work, the President’s proposed FY 2013 budget provides a $100 million increase for efforts to combat Alzheimer’s disease. These funds will support additional research ($80 million), improve public awareness of the disease ($4.2 million), support provider education programs ($4.0 million), invest in caregiver support ($10.5 million), and improve data collection ($1.3 million).
“These actions are the cornerstones of an historic effort to fight Alzheimer’s disease,” Secretary Sebelius said. “This is a national plan—not a federal one, because reducing the burden of Alzheimer’s will require the active engagement of both the public and private sectors.”The plan, presented today at the Alzheimer’s Research Summit 2012: Path to Treatment and Prevention, was developed with input from experts in aging and Alzheimer’s disease issues and calls for a comprehensive, collaborative approach across federal, state, private and non-profit organizations. More than 3,600 people or organizations submitted comments on the draft plan.As many as 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease and that number is likely to double in the coming years. At the same time, millions of American families struggle with the physical, emotional and financial costs of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.
The initiatives announced today include:
Research -- The funding of new research projects by the NIH will focus on key areas in which emerging technologies and new approaches in clinical testing now allow for a more comprehensive assessment of the disease. This research holds considerable promise for developing new and targeted approaches to prevention and treatment. Specifically, two major clinical trials are being funded. One is a $7.9 million effort to test an insulin nasal spray for treating Alzheimer’s disease. A second study, toward which NIH is contributing $16 million, is the first prevention trial in people at the highest risk for the disease.
Tools for Clinicians -- The Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded $2 million in funding through its geriatric education centers to provide high-quality training for doctors, nurses, and other health care providers on recognizing the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and how to manage the disease.
Easier access to information to support caregivers -- HHS’ new website, www.alzheimers.gov, offers resources and support to those facing Alzheimer’s disease and their friends and family. The site is a gateway to reliable, comprehensive information from federal, state, and private organizations on a range of topics.
Visitors to the site will find plain language information and tools to identify local resources that can help with the challenges of daily living, emotional needs, and financial issues related to dementia. Video interviews with real family caregivers explain why information is key to successful caregiving, in their own words.
Awareness campaign -- The first new television advertisement encouraging caregivers to seek information at the new website was debuted. This media campaign will be launched this summer, reaching family members and patients in need of information on Alzheimer’s disease.
Today’s announcement demonstrates the Obama administration’s continued commitment to taking action in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
In 2013, the National Family Caregiver Support Program will continue to provide essential services to family caregivers, including those helping loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease. This program will enable family caregivers to receive essential respite services, providing them a short break from caregiving duties, along with other essential services, such as counseling, education and support groups.
For more information on the national plan to address Alzheimer’s disease, visit: www.alzheimers.gov.
__________________________National Alzheimer’s Project Act http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/napa/
National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/napa/NatlPlan.shtml
Alzheimers.gov http://www.alzheimers.gov
More Insight and Advice from the Alzheimer's Reading Room
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Dotty is not agitated and is not acting crazy. Occasionally, she might call out mom, mom.via alzheimersreadingroom.com
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Good morning, afternoon, evening or night, depending on where you are.
Dotty Dotty is still with us. She seems to be comfortable. However, she is not moving at all. She does have a cough. It is sporadic, and we have some medication for the cough.
Yesterday, she only ate a few teaspoons of chicken broth and a bit of water melon. I continue to get water and Boost into her. She is still peeing quite a bit and the liquid is definitely moving through her.
Her urine was okay late last night. I am getting ready to change her shortly. This has been a real chore. Nevertheless it gets done. I'll update how this goes later today.
Continued on the Next Page
Dotty is Still With, 7:13 AM, You Who I'm Awake You Know
Was Alzheimer's an automatic death sentence? No, it was not.via alzheimersreadingroom.com
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
This comes as no surprise as the amount of liquid intake yesterday was at the minimum.
It seems to me as if Dotty's body is shutting down in an orderly, yet slow, progression. Her spirit has yet to soar out of her body.
Yesterday can best be described as hair raising. None of this was caused by Dotty.
Continued on the Next Page
Alzheimer's and Anesthesia
By Sydney S. Farrier, LCSW
Sydney S. Farrier
How often have you heard the comment about an older person who recently underwent a major surgery, "She was fine until she had that (hip surgery, knee replacement, cardiac surgery, etc) but now she seems confused."
This week I was visiting with an attractive woman in her 80's who had a knee surgery under a general anesthesia a couple of years ago. About six months after the first surgery, another surgery with general anesthesia had to be done due to some problems with the knee. She stated she has never recovered.
Her knee is fine, but the cognitive problems she experienced following these surgeries has resulted in her having to give up her home and the gardening she loved, move to a retirement community near her daughter, forgo driving, and lose the sense of independence she so valued.
Both she and her daughter believe the two general anesthesia significantly contributed to her cognitive changes. She is angry that the possibility for cognitive changes was never discussed with her.
Continue Reading Alzheimer's and Anesthesia
| The Alzheimer's Action Plan | 300 Tips for Making Life Easier |
Alzheimer's Disease -- Advice and Insight
- What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia?
- 100 Good Reasons to Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room
- About the Alzheimer's Reading Room
- Alzheimer's Disease and the Five Stages of Grief
- What is Alzheimer's? What are the Eight Types of Dementia?
- Alzheimer's Disease CareGiving -- Insight and Advice (20 articles)
- Test Your Memory for Alzheimer's Disease (5 Best Self Assessment Tests)
- Communicating in Alzheimer's World
- Worried About Alzheimer's Disease -- You Should Be
- Does the Combination of Aricept and Namenda Help Slow the Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Disease Patients
- Alzheimer's Disease Statistics
- Is it Really Alzheimer's Disease or Something Else?
- Ten Symptoms of Early Stage Alzheimer's Disease
- Ten Tips for Communicating with an Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
Hospital Stays Can be Catastrophic for Alzheimer's Patients
Alzheimer’s patients experience adverse outcomes, delirium
These findings are reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The state of acute confusion and disorientation known as delirium can stem from a serious illness, surgery or infection, and often develops while patients are in the hospital.
Now a new study confirms that for patients with Alzheimer's disease, hospitalization and delirium pose a particular risk and can lead to adverse outcomes, including hastened cognitive decline, institutionalization and death.
Led by researchers at Harvard Medical School affiliates Hebrew SeniorLife and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), the study appears in the June 19 on-line issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
"Evidence has shown that older patients with Alzheimer's disease [AD] are much more likely to be hospitalized than other older patients," says lead author Tamara Fong, MD, PhD, assistant scientist in the Aging Brain Center, Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife and Assistant Professor of Neurology at BIDMC. "Because our previous research had found that AD patients experienced a three times faster decline in mental function if they had experienced delirium, we wanted to determine if AD patients who are hospitalized are at greater risk for poor outcomes than AD patients who are not hospitalized, and if there is any additive negative outcome when hospitalized AD patients develop delirium."
The researchers, therefore, analyzed the records of 771 patients over age 65 who were examined between 1991 and 2006 at the Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Registry (MADRC), a clinical registry based at Massachusetts General Hospital.
"We looked at patients with and without hospitalizations who were seen at least three times in the MADRC during the study interval period," says Fong.
The authors additionally analyzed data from medical records and other data sources, including Medicare and the Social Security Death Index, to determine outcomes of hospitalization and delirium.
As predicted, their findings showed that in patients with Alzheimer's disease, any hospitalization was associated with increased risks for institutionalization, cognitive decline and death, and for those patients who developed delirium, there was an incremental increase in risk for these adverse outcomes, even after controlling for other cofactors.
"Among the hospitalized Alzheimer's patients, a substantial proportion of risk for adverse outcomes could be attributed to delirium, including 6.2 percent of deaths, 15.2 percent of institutionalization, and 20.6 percent of cognitive decline," says Fong. "The bottom line is that delirium can be a big problem for patients with AD," she adds.There are, however, effective prevention strategies for delirium for hospitalized elders, notes Fong.
These include the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP), a patient care program designed to prevent delirium by keeping hospitalized older people oriented to their surroundings, meeting their needs for nutrition, fluids and sleep, and keeping them mobile within the limitations of their physical conditions.
"Going forward, we plan to conduct formal studies to determine if these types of interventions can help improve outcomes for this vulnerable group of patients," she explains.Adds senior author Sharon Inouye, MD, PhD, Director of the Aging Brain Institute at HSL, Harvard Medical School Professor of Medicine at BIDMC,
"Our confirmation that hospitalization and delirium play important roles in adverse outcomes may ultimately influence care and management of patients with AD.___________________________________________
Interventions to prevent hospitalization and hospital-associated delirium may be appropriate for all patients with AD. The cost savings to Medicare would be far greater than the amount from current treatment options for AD."
This study was funded by grants from the National Institute on Aging and the MADRC.
Study coauthors include the following investigators from the Aging Brain Center, Institute for Aging Research, HSL: Sharon K. Inouye, MD, PhD (senior author), Richard N. Jones, ScD, Doughlas Tommet, MS, Alden L. Gross, PhD, MHS, Daniel Habtemariam, BA, and Eva Schmitt, PhD; BIDMC Investigator Edward R. Marcantonio, MD, SM; and MGH Investigator Liang Yap, PhD.
About the Institute for Aging Research
Scientists at the Institute for Aging Research seek to transform the human experience of aging by conducting research that will ensure a life of health, dignity and productivity into advanced age.
About Hebrew SeniorLife
Founded in 1903, Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a recognized national leader in the field of senior care dedicated to rethinking, researching and redefining the possibilities of aging. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit www.hebrewseniorlife.org
About Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a patient care, teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School and ranks third in National Institutes of Health funding among independent hospitals nationwide. For more information, visit www.bidmc.org .
More Insight and Advice for Caregivers
- Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?
- Test Your Memory for Alzheimer's (5 Best Self Assessment Tests)
- What is Alzheimer's Disease?
- What is Dementia?
- What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
- Communicating in Alzheimer's World
- How the Loss of Memory Works in Alzheimer’s Disease, and How Understanding This Could Help You
- Learning How to Communicate with Someone Suffering From Alzheimer's Disease
- Alzheimer's World -- Trying to Reconnect with Someone Suffering from Alzheimer's Disease
- Does the Combination of Aricept and Namenda Help Slow the Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Patients
- About the Alzheimer's Reading Room
Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room
5 Temmuz 2012 Perşembe
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Dotty is not agitated and is not acting crazy. Occasionally, she might call out mom, mom.via alzheimersreadingroom.com
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Good morning, afternoon, evening or night, depending on where you are.
Dotty Dotty is still with us. She seems to be comfortable. However, she is not moving at all. She does have a cough. It is sporadic, and we have some medication for the cough.
Yesterday, she only ate a few teaspoons of chicken broth and a bit of water melon. I continue to get water and Boost into her. She is still peeing quite a bit and the liquid is definitely moving through her.
Her urine was okay late last night. I am getting ready to change her shortly. This has been a real chore. Nevertheless it gets done. I'll update how this goes later today.
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Dotty is Still With, 7:13 AM, You Who I'm Awake You Know
Was Alzheimer's an automatic death sentence? No, it was not.via alzheimersreadingroom.com
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
This comes as no surprise as the amount of liquid intake yesterday was at the minimum.
It seems to me as if Dotty's body is shutting down in an orderly, yet slow, progression. Her spirit has yet to soar out of her body.
Yesterday can best be described as hair raising. None of this was caused by Dotty.
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Alzheimer's and Anesthesia
By Sydney S. Farrier, LCSW
Sydney S. Farrier
How often have you heard the comment about an older person who recently underwent a major surgery, "She was fine until she had that (hip surgery, knee replacement, cardiac surgery, etc) but now she seems confused."
This week I was visiting with an attractive woman in her 80's who had a knee surgery under a general anesthesia a couple of years ago. About six months after the first surgery, another surgery with general anesthesia had to be done due to some problems with the knee. She stated she has never recovered.
Her knee is fine, but the cognitive problems she experienced following these surgeries has resulted in her having to give up her home and the gardening she loved, move to a retirement community near her daughter, forgo driving, and lose the sense of independence she so valued.
Both she and her daughter believe the two general anesthesia significantly contributed to her cognitive changes. She is angry that the possibility for cognitive changes was never discussed with her.
Continue Reading Alzheimer's and Anesthesia
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Hospital Stays Can be Catastrophic for Alzheimer's Patients
Alzheimer’s patients experience adverse outcomes, delirium
These findings are reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The state of acute confusion and disorientation known as delirium can stem from a serious illness, surgery or infection, and often develops while patients are in the hospital.
Now a new study confirms that for patients with Alzheimer's disease, hospitalization and delirium pose a particular risk and can lead to adverse outcomes, including hastened cognitive decline, institutionalization and death.
Led by researchers at Harvard Medical School affiliates Hebrew SeniorLife and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), the study appears in the June 19 on-line issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
"Evidence has shown that older patients with Alzheimer's disease [AD] are much more likely to be hospitalized than other older patients," says lead author Tamara Fong, MD, PhD, assistant scientist in the Aging Brain Center, Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife and Assistant Professor of Neurology at BIDMC. "Because our previous research had found that AD patients experienced a three times faster decline in mental function if they had experienced delirium, we wanted to determine if AD patients who are hospitalized are at greater risk for poor outcomes than AD patients who are not hospitalized, and if there is any additive negative outcome when hospitalized AD patients develop delirium."
The researchers, therefore, analyzed the records of 771 patients over age 65 who were examined between 1991 and 2006 at the Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Registry (MADRC), a clinical registry based at Massachusetts General Hospital.
"We looked at patients with and without hospitalizations who were seen at least three times in the MADRC during the study interval period," says Fong.
The authors additionally analyzed data from medical records and other data sources, including Medicare and the Social Security Death Index, to determine outcomes of hospitalization and delirium.
As predicted, their findings showed that in patients with Alzheimer's disease, any hospitalization was associated with increased risks for institutionalization, cognitive decline and death, and for those patients who developed delirium, there was an incremental increase in risk for these adverse outcomes, even after controlling for other cofactors.
"Among the hospitalized Alzheimer's patients, a substantial proportion of risk for adverse outcomes could be attributed to delirium, including 6.2 percent of deaths, 15.2 percent of institutionalization, and 20.6 percent of cognitive decline," says Fong. "The bottom line is that delirium can be a big problem for patients with AD," she adds.There are, however, effective prevention strategies for delirium for hospitalized elders, notes Fong.
These include the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP), a patient care program designed to prevent delirium by keeping hospitalized older people oriented to their surroundings, meeting their needs for nutrition, fluids and sleep, and keeping them mobile within the limitations of their physical conditions.
"Going forward, we plan to conduct formal studies to determine if these types of interventions can help improve outcomes for this vulnerable group of patients," she explains.Adds senior author Sharon Inouye, MD, PhD, Director of the Aging Brain Institute at HSL, Harvard Medical School Professor of Medicine at BIDMC,
"Our confirmation that hospitalization and delirium play important roles in adverse outcomes may ultimately influence care and management of patients with AD.___________________________________________
Interventions to prevent hospitalization and hospital-associated delirium may be appropriate for all patients with AD. The cost savings to Medicare would be far greater than the amount from current treatment options for AD."
This study was funded by grants from the National Institute on Aging and the MADRC.
Study coauthors include the following investigators from the Aging Brain Center, Institute for Aging Research, HSL: Sharon K. Inouye, MD, PhD (senior author), Richard N. Jones, ScD, Doughlas Tommet, MS, Alden L. Gross, PhD, MHS, Daniel Habtemariam, BA, and Eva Schmitt, PhD; BIDMC Investigator Edward R. Marcantonio, MD, SM; and MGH Investigator Liang Yap, PhD.
About the Institute for Aging Research
Scientists at the Institute for Aging Research seek to transform the human experience of aging by conducting research that will ensure a life of health, dignity and productivity into advanced age.
About Hebrew SeniorLife
Founded in 1903, Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a recognized national leader in the field of senior care dedicated to rethinking, researching and redefining the possibilities of aging. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit www.hebrewseniorlife.org
About Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a patient care, teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School and ranks third in National Institutes of Health funding among independent hospitals nationwide. For more information, visit www.bidmc.org .
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Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room
Baby's 1st Post-Surgery UTI And Needs Hospitalization
Long story cut short, Baby was braver this time. She screamed and bawled for a short while when the paed inserted the IV line on her left hand. It was quite a fast one and took under 15 minutes for everything to be completed - finding the vein, IV line inserted and hand bandaged. In the past, her doctors needed at least half an hour to over an hour to fix the line. Baby even allowed the doctor to carry her after the procedure, which was very, very uncommon of her to allow a doctor / nurse to carry her, what more the doctor who had just poked her, swaddled her so tightly with a cloth and caused her so much pain. I guess preparing her mentally before the procedure helped.
Before she went into the procedures room, while we were waiting in our room for the doctor to arrive, I told her this "Baby, the doctor will give you an injection on your hand. There will be very little pain, please don't cry ok? Mummy will wait for you outside the room. Mummy can't go in. You don't cry ok? Mummy loves you" Baby nodded her head and smiled!
Baby has to be in the hospital again for her 2nd antibiotics jab for today. She needs another jab at 10:30pm tonight.