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Most people have an innate desire to learn, and language is the primary tool for learning. Reading is an important mechanism for the delivery of information to the brain to be solidified as acquired knowledge. Reading is critical for your own personal and cultural development because it relates to so many factors in your life. The benefits are broad and significant. First, the mental stimulation of reading is vital for brain health. It is quite literally exercised for the brain. Synapses fire, neurotransmitters are released, and hormones begin circulating. Reading material that evokes an emotional response actually stimulates the brain to produce hormones specific to the physical expression of those feelings. Next, memory is improved by reading. When you read a novel, for it to make sense, you must remember different characters and plot elements. Keeping all of these things in play has your short-term memory working hard. This also requires, and so with repetition improves, the focus and concentration you need to follow the action through the course of the story. And don’t forget that the escapism offered by novels can also be an excellent stress management tool. Analytical skills are also engaged through reading. Stimulating novels keep you involved - trying to figure out where the story is going. Technical books, however, require that you reason out how all the different pieces of information come together as a concept, procedure, or system. Reading also improves writing ability as vocabulary and variations in sentence structure are introduced or reinforced. The bottom line is that reading to learn something new is better for your brain than simply reading for entertainment. Still, even an entertaining novel offers the mental stimulation you wouldn't find passively watching TV or streaming media. Contributor: Dr. Michael Trayford is a Board-Certified Chiropractic Neurologist and Founder of APEX Brain Centers in Asheville, NC. For more information, please visit https://apexbraincenters.com/cognitive-decline-asheville-nc/ . The opinions expressed by contributing authors are not necessarily the opinions of the Dementia Society, Inc. We do not endorse nor guarantee products, comments, suggestions, links, or other forms of the content contained within blog posts that have been provided to us with permission, or otherwise. Dementia Society does not provide medical advice. Please consult your doctor. www.DementiaSociety.org

For many of us, the words “medical alert” immediately brings to mind the campy 1980s television commercial where “Mrs. Fletcher” cries out her trademarked line. It is a grim reminder that, according to the National Safety Council, falls are the leading cause of accidental deaths among people seventy-five years of age and older. 1 Older adults fall when they lose their footing, trip on rugs, or miss a stair. Changes in balance, vision, and muscle tone, resulting from or in addition to medication side effects, are other risk factors. Dementia adds another layer of risk when your loved one no longer associates wet floors with falls, the odor of burnt food with fire, or connects landmarks to location. Caregivers worry about these and other safety issues. When a caregiver does not live nearby, these concerns become especially worrisome. There have been remarkable improvements in alert systems since the days of "I've fallen and cannot get up." Modern assistive technologies include a suite of smartphone apps communicating with video and other monitoring systems. These apps can notify a caregiver their loved one is less active than expected, has left a defined area, if a home appliance has not been turned on or off, even when their blood pressure has exceeded their normal range. Other kinds of assistive technologies help people in the earlier stages of Dementia stay in his or her home for as long as is possible. Video calling allows for virtual check-ins while smartphone apps and voice-activated assistants can remind people to take their medication. Some assistive technology systems use recorded verbal reminders, while others provide visual instructions and larger key-pad buttons. Therefore, it is crucial to choose a system or device that matches your loved one's ability to use them. Older, less advanced technologies continue to provide a safety net. Stand-alone GPS tracking devices can provide location information for your loved one, should wandering be an issue. Some states continue to provide a public service using television, radio, and the internet to broadcast missing person information. The value of simple medical identification bracelets or accessories shouldn’t be underestimated. They offer peace of mind that your loved one will receive appropriate care and assistance if in trouble. Assistive technologies, though they may keep your loved one as safe as is possible, they do not replace friends and family, a warm smile, a calming hug, or a gentle touch. Caregivers welcome the respite from unrelenting worry and stress assistive technologies can provide. However, ethical issues must be considered, including seeking informed consent to install assistive technologies in a person's home. The dignity of the individual, respect for privacy, as well as acknowledgment of his or her advance directives is other areas of ethical concern. For More Information: Silver Alert https://silveralertbill.com/ AARP. June 2018 Tech Solutions That Make Life Easier for Dementia Care. https://www.aarp.org/health/dementia/info-2018/technology-caregiving-dementia-patients.html Notes: 1. Slip, Trip and Fall Protection for Older Adults, https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/safety-topics/older-adult-falls (accessed March 26, 2016 - website link has since been changed) Content Contributor: Janet Yagoda Shagam, Ph.D., is a freelance medical and science writer and the author of " An Unintended Journey: A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia.", available through Amazon. Please visit our Author's page to learn more and find this title. The opinions expressed by contributing authors are not necessarily the opinions of the Dementia Society, Inc. We do not endorse nor guarantee products, comments, suggestions, links, or other forms of the content contained within blog posts that have been provided to us with permission, or otherwise. Dementia Society does not provide medical advice. Please consult your doctor. www.DementiaSociety.org

A crying baby elicits a predictable response from its parents or grandparents. An adult swoops in, lifts the baby in their arms, and snuggles, cradles, maybe even rocks the baby as the cries diminish, their breathing settles, the baby calms. As babies become children and even young adults, soothing and reassurance comes by way of hugs, pats on the back, a quick shoulder rub, or a hand laid on a forearm. These seemingly simple touches have enormous effects because they are hard-wired in human development. It should not be surprising then, that a physical contact is a vital tool for those caring for loved ones with Dementia. No matter one’s age, human touch enhances communication by expressing emotion and offering reassurance. In a scientific study, a “sender” was asked to convey a range of emotions - happiness, sadness, surprise, disgust, anger, fear, etc. – by touching the “receiver’s” forearm from behind a curtain. Receivers were able to accurately identify the emotion 48 - 83% of the time(1). No words spoken, no facial expressions visible – only variations in touch! As a caregiver, the suggestion “Let’s get ready to go” may be easier to accomplish if accompanied by a warm hand on a shoulder. A gentle touch by a caregiver can improve compliance with requests, and offer reassurance when fear or concern is detected. Human touch increases the feeling of wellbeing by decreasing cortisol levels (the "stress“ hormone) and increasing oxytocin levels (the “love” hormone). If our goal is to care, comfort, and protect our loved ones with Dementia, the power of simple touch cannot be ignored. From simple to professional, therapeutic massage intensifies the benefits of simple touch and introduces several more. Regular therapeutic massage lessens physical pain, decreases the physical symptoms of stress, reduces depression symptoms, improves immune function, and enhances attentiveness1. Because of these benefits, therapeutic massage should be on the menu of options for a loved one living with Dementia. Lastly, we must not overlook the value of social interaction and connectedness delivered by a caring human touch. Humans are, after all, social animals. No matter the advances in technology, it is clear that when the human touch is withheld, a void remains that cannot easily be filled with spoken words or digital screens. Note 1: Field, Tiffany. 2011. Developmental Review. (30) 2010 367-383. Touch for socioemotional and physical wellbeing: A review. Accessed May 29, 2020, from https://www.radboudcentrumvoormindfulness.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/artikel-4.pdf Contributor: Karen Ogden, DSA Team Member The opinions expressed by contributing authors are not necessarily the opinions of the Dementia Society, Inc. We do not endorse nor guarantee products, comments, suggestions, links, or other forms of the content contained within blog posts that have been provided to us with permission, or otherwise. Dementia Society does not provide medical advice. Please consult your doctor. www.DementiaSociety.org

In the United States, more than seven million people have mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or have dementia. According to Xueya Cai and colleagues, nearly half of these individuals have two additional chronic diseases that require them to take five or more medications.1 As a consequence of age-related decreases in kidney and liver function, older people tend to excrete medications at a slower rate and are therefore more likely to experience stronger, and not always reversible, drug-induced side effects. Another factor is the potential for complicated interactions with the other prescribed and over-the-counter medications that older people may take. Research indicates that as people age, they become more sensitive to drugs that act on the central nervous system.2 One group of medications, anticholinergics, have recently come under increased scrutiny. This class of drugs slows or prevents the transmission of nervous system information to and from the brain. Some commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as antihistamines for cold and allergy symptoms are anticholinergics. Prescription anticholinergic medications relieve symptoms associated with depression, muscle spasms, motion sickness, as well as those used to modify the behaviors associated with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is important to understand that memory loss and confusion along with dizziness or drowsiness may be symptoms of medication side effects, rather than dementia. Therefore, the clinician must receive from the patient or his or her family a list of ALL prescribed and over-the-counter medications, as well as any dietary supplements and herbals, he or she may take. Anticholinergics can also interfere with the effectiveness of medications used to slow memory loss or long-term use, putting people at higher risk for MCI and dementia later in life.1,3 One example is the drugs used to treat overactive bladder: the “gotta go gotta go” kind of urinary incontinence. Medications such as Detrol® and Cymbalta® slow transmission of nervous system information to and from the brain and thereby quiet the unrelenting sensation of “gotta go." The medications used to slow the memory loss associated with dementia do just the opposite. Drugs such as Aricept® and Namenda® increase communication between nerve cells in the brain. Taking both types of medications at the same time can worsen dementia. A Wake Forest University of Medicine study shows that nursing home patients receiving individual medications to modify dementia symptoms and improve continence lost the ability to perform basic living skills, such as dressing and feeding themselves, 50 percent faster than those receiving dementia medications alone. 4 Medications: Help, Hurt or Both? One must evaluate the overall risks and benefits of taking a medication known to affect the risk for dementia later in life or, in the short run, worsen the disease. Be sure to discuss with your doctor any concerns about taking a medication that may increase dementia risk. Do not stop taking prescribed or recommended over-the-counter medicines without first consulting with your doctor. Notes: 1. Cai Z, N Campbell et al, “Long-term Anticholinergic use and the Aging Brain”, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23183138 , (accessed April 25, 2016) 2. Drug-Induced Cognitive Impairment: Delirium and Dementia, http://www.worstpills.org/includes/page.cfm?op_id=459 (accessed, April 25, 2016) 3. Higher dementia risk linked to using of common drugs, GroupHealth Research Institute, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150126124721.htm (accessed April 25, 2015). 4. Dual Treatment to Treat AD Symptoms and Behaviors, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080430134230.htm (accessed, April 25, 2016) For Further Reading Medications to Avoid in the Elderly, https://geriatricscareonline.org/ProductAbstract/american-geriatrics-society-updated-beers-criteria-for-potentially-inappropriate-medication-use-in-older-adults/CL001 (accessed April 24, 2016 - website has since been relocated) Contributor: Janet Yagoda Shagam, Ph.D., is a freelance medical and science writer and the author of “An Unintended Journey: A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia.” Available through Amazon . The opinions expressed by contributing authors are not necessarily the opinions of the Dementia Society, Inc. We do not endorse nor guarantee products, comments, suggestions, links, or other forms of the content contained within blog posts that have been provided to us with permission, or otherwise. Dementia Society does not provide medical advice. Please consult your doctor . www.DementiaSociety.org

It can be difficult to separate the normal aging process from the progressive and steep declines typical of Dementia. Examples of genuinely age-related changes are thinning and graying hair, sagging skin, and alterations in vision, hearing, and taste. Other changes, such as heart disease and certain types of memory loss, are not a normal part of aging. The normal aging process may affect memory by changing the way the brain stores and retrieves information. While healthy aging does not affect long-term memory, it may affect short-term memory by making it difficult to remember such things as the name of a new acquaintance or misplacing keys or eyeglasses. Occasional word-recall difficulties, rather than frequent ones, are another indicator of healthy aging. How people evaluate isolated events as one way to distinguish normal memory lapses from those caused by dementia. At one time or another, everybody loses a car in a parking lot. We chalk up those moments of frustration to the number of look-alike cars or having our thoughts elsewhere with normal forgetfulness. A person who has Dementia is sure someone has moved the car. Name recall and word-finding are other ways to distinguish memory losses caused by the normal aging process from those resulting from Dementia. A person with occasional age-related memory difficulties might ask for a reminder or wait a moment for the right word to show up. A person with Dementia frequently has trouble finding and using the right word. To compensate, he or she may use either an awkward substitution or a description in place of the word. For example - a furry animal that purrs to replace the word “cat.” Further, there may be a noticeable decline in his or her capability to maintain a conversation. Clinicians use the term “impoverished “to describe the Dementia-related changes in language complexity and vocabulary. The ability to use household items is another indicator of Dementia. Most people find it annoying or frustrating when upgrading a home appliance to one that is heavy in technology or with new features. The source of annoyance often stems from changes in vision or the reduction in dexterity that arthritis may cause. However, people who have Dementia no longer know how to use their familiar dishwasher or drier. When considering whether a set of cognitive symptoms indicates Dementia or normal aging, one must evaluate whether the symptoms are a nuisance, problematic, or debilitating. This is best accomplished with the help of appropriate medical professionals and input from caregivers and loved ones. Contributor: Janet Yagoda Shagam, Ph.D. , is a freelance medical and science writer for the Dementia Society and the author of “ An Unintended Journey: A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia.” The opinions expressed by contributing authors are not necessarily the opinions of the Dementia Society, Inc. We do not endorse nor guarantee products, comments, suggestions, links, or other forms of the content contained within blog posts that have been provided to us with permission, or otherwise. Dementia Society does not provide medical advice. Please consult your doctor. www.DementiaSociety.org

Now more than ever, accessing helpful Dementia resources from home is essential. With an internet connection, a computer, and the proverbial click of a button, you can discover many free and low-cost dementia-help programs. We’ve rounded up our top five favorite Dementia help training and video libraries designed to inform and comfort people living with Dementia and their caregivers. Discover more about them below, including what you’ll learn, the cost (if any), and how to watch. (1) UCLA Caregiver Training Videos This online dementia help video library by UCLA is geared toward caregivers of people living with dementia. It covers various helpful topics that can make it easier to respond to common behaviors and scenarios. Each video has a written narrative featuring expert explanations and recommended caregiver responses. What you’ll learn: This comprehensive Dementia help video library walks you through everyday challenges for people living with Dementia, such as alcohol abuse, driving, lack of eating, and paranoid thoughts. Additional caregiver video topics include: Bathing Depression and apathy Hallucinations Home safety Sleep disturbances Taking medications Repetitive behaviors Cost: Free How to watch: Browse UCLA’s online video library and select your desired topic. Most videos are available with multi-language subtitles and English and Spanish audio. (2) Morningside Ministries Caregiver Training Videos Morningside Ministries is a San Antonio-based non-profit senior care organization dedicated to “caring for those who cared for us.” They provide care for more than 800 residents in assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation, retirement, and skilled nursing care. They’ve produced over 300 caregiver training videos since 2007, demonstrating their commitment to delivering quality and consistent resources. What you’ll learn: Morningside Ministries features an extensive Dementia help video library on various caregiving topics ranging from finding elder care and combatting loneliness to music therapy and the latest Alzheimer’s research. The video "The Difference Between Dementias" is particularly beneficial in helping caregivers understand the top four types of dementia. Cost: Free How to watch: Browse the Morningside Ministries video library to explore featured and other dementia help videos by topic. (3) Living with Dementia Five-Week Online Course Johns Hopkins School of Nursing offers a free, five-week online Dementia help course on living with Dementia. It’s geared toward health professionals and students, people living with Dementia, friends and family caregivers, and others interested in Dementia and quality care. The course’s goal is to explore the global challenge of living with Dementia for individuals, their families, communities, and society. What you’ll learn: Each of the five weeks in the course syllabus includes video segments and structured exercises and activities covering: Week 1: The Brain Week 2: The Person Week 3: The Home and Family Environment Week 4: The Caregiving Community Week 5: Social and Policy Changes Cost: Free to people who want access to the materials without earning a certificate. The fee is $49 for those who want to earn a certificate upon course completion. How to watch: Learn more about the dementia help course on the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing website and enroll at Coursera.org to access the videos. (4) The Dementia Action Plan Workshop Presented by founder and nationally recognized spokesperson Kevin Jameson, this approximately one-hour Dementia help video is a recorded live talk filmed with a studio audience at the Philadelphia PBS® station affiliate, WHYY-TV. What you’ll learn: This engaging Dementia help seminar covers what to know when dealing with Dementia, including straightforward and empowering steps for navigating life as a caregiver or the person living with Dementia. Cost: Normally a $9.95 mission-related donation, but please be our special guest and use promo code "FREE" to watch at no cost. How to watch: Click here to access this on-demand Dementia care planning workshop or contact us to request a free DVD . (5) Dementia Unplugged ™ Webinars Dementia Unplugged is a monthly educational and conversational webinar developed in cooperation with Jeannine Forrest, Ph.D., R.N. It offers dementia help and support for caregivers of people living with Dementia. What you’ll learn: Covering topics such as housing and living options, caregiver grief, meaningful activities in the home, agitation triggers, and responding to hallucinations and delusions, Dementia Unplugged is a well-rounded Dementia help forum where audience participation is encouraged. Cost: Free How to watch: Register to access the monthly sessions via Zoom on the first Mondays of every month at 10 am CST. Beyond the Dementia help, videos and training featured on this list, you can find dozens of helpful dementia videos available on our YouTube channel at no cost. We also, invite you to browse our extensive collection of media on our website, including feature films and documentaries for caregivers and people living with dementia to enjoy from the comfort and safety of your home.

Imagine your loved one is showing symptoms of cognitive decline or was diagnosed with Dementia. You need to investigate and understand more about what their future may look like and how you can support them as their loved ones. Say it's 1980. Where would you start? You might pick up the phone to talk with your friend whose mother had Dementia. Or you’d head to the public library. Pulling open the long drawers of the alphabetical card catalog, you would flip through the titles and copy call numbers of books that might help. Next, scan the shelves, find the books, peruse their table of contents, take them to a table, scan, read, and take handwritten notes. In 1995, you may supplement the card system with a computer that helps you find articles in physically bound periodicals stacked on library shelves. You may find yourself sitting in front of a boxy machine through which you view items stored on microfilm. These tasks take attention and patience, time, and persistence. Jump ahead to the year 2000. Computers have made their way into homes, schools, and public libraries. Instead of reading books and magazines, you search the internet for “Dementia” and read the resulting information- book excerpts, news articles, journal publications, credible scientific research, and statistics on your screen. Return to the present—a new Dementia diagnosis. So much has been learned and shared. So much information is available to you, so much so that it may feel overwhelming. Where do you start? Of course, all the printed resources remain available at your library and local bookstore. Streaming video content has become a fixture. Documentaries, non-fiction television series, university lectures, courses, and professional presentations are all available with a point and click. The key is to find sources that are credible and trustworthy. A great starting place is our website Dementia Society of America . In an easy-to-use format, it will guide you to the practical information a family member or caregiver needs to understand and manage day-to-day concerns while caring for a loved one with Dementia. Should you want to take a deep dive into the types of treatments for and current research on Dementia, the site will connect you to valuable, credible sources. One such source is the National Institute on Aging: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias page, compiled by the U.S. Health and Human Service Department. To examine specific topics like palliative care, agitation in your loved one, communication techniques, and so much more, explore the Dementia-specific programs offered at Dementia Unplugged . Hearing the thoughts and experiences of experts and practitioners in the field can make a lasting impression on your care and understanding of those with Dementia. This approach is not unlike that phone conversation you may have had in 1980. The difference is that the questions and the answers come from knowledgeable sources, experts, or first-hand experience. This mix of information and personal connection is informative and reassuring, like a conversation with a trusted friend. Finally, when it comes down to caregiving logistics, the Dementia Answers Directory will help you find the professionals and organizations who can help you along the way. Organized into categories of care needs, searchable by location or keyword, it connects you to the resources you’ll need. Like the Internet, the directory’s content will expand over time. Help and answers are available. You have options for how and where to find it; choose the media that works best for you. The journey is, after all, yours, but not yours alone. There is a community of people with the same worries, joys, challenges, and successes - ready to help you along the way. Contributor: Karen R. Ogden, Dementia Society of America, team member. Updated 2/1/2023 The opinions expressed by contributing authors are not necessarily the opinions of the Dementia Society, Inc. We do not endorse nor guarantee products, comments, suggestions, links, or other forms of the content contained within blog posts that have been provided to us with permission or otherwise. Dementia Society does not provide medical advice. Please consult your doctor. www.DementiaSociety.org

“I see trees of green- Red roses too, I see them bloom- For me and for you... “ “You may say I'm a dreamer, But I'm not the only one…” "Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River…" “Bye, bye Miss American Pie- Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry... ” “Born down in a dead man's town -The first kick I took was when I hit the ground…” “Woah, we're halfway there -Woah, livin' on a prayer -Take my hand, we'll make it I swear… " Surely while reading these lyrics, you experienced a trickle or a flood of memories or maybe the tingle of emotion not born of the present moment. You may recall a moment in time - where you were, who you were with, and what was going on. Or you may be transported back to a period in your life filled with joy, romance, frustration, even grief. How does this happen, and how can we harness that power to enrich and enliven the lives of those living with Dementia? Much academic study has focused on how background music affects cognitive processing. Because listening to music elevates arousal (or physiological activity), mood, and the listener’s enjoyment, cognitive performance is also increased.(2) Working memory is tasked with interpreting a series of sounds into the rhythms and melodies that make it music. This helps explain why memories associated with particular songs are often permanently etched in our brains – our cognitive processing was on overdrive when those memories were being recorded and transferred to long-term memory. Music and emotion are intertwined. Not only does heightened arousal fortify memories made while listening to particular pieces of music, but the same is also true for emotions. Increased blood flow to areas of the brain involved in generating and controlling emotions activates the functions of emotion, attention, and memory. (4) Further, consider how rhythm compels us to move. Slow dance with your partner, or the exuberance of singing and dancing with friends. We, as humans, are moved emotionally by music. (3) Early adulthood is filled with new emotions and experiences gained as we move towards independence- these experiences are a big part of how we see our “selves”. So it is not surprising that people most prefer and are most stimulated by music that was popular when they were young adults. Past romantic relationships and experiences with friends and family are most often recalled with the replay of music. (1) As Dementia progresses, using music to help individuals remember their vibrant, youthful “selves” can bring joy to caregivers and patients alike. When one hears a piece of music from years gone by, the pleasant memory and emotion can be experienced again and again. Recognizing that "remembered joy" in your loved one living with Dementia can be just the uplifting moment a caregiver needs. Dementia or not, you can transport back to happy times through music as a reprieve from everyday stresses and frustrations. It's free. It's easy. It’s fun. Do you remember when- we used to sing Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da, la te da? 1 Baumgartner, Hans. 1992. Remembrance of Things Past: Music, Autobiographical Memory, and Emotion, in NA - Advances in Consumer Research Volume 19: pp. 613-620. Accessed September 22, 2020, at https://www.acrwebsite.org/volumes/7363/ 2 Bottiroli, Sara et. al. Frontiers in Aging Neurosci., 15 October 2014. The cognitive effects of listening to background music on older adults: processing speed improves with upbeat music, while memory seems to benefit from both upbeat and downbeat music. Accessed September 22, 2020, at https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2014.00284/full 3 Proverbio, A. M. et al. The effect of background music on episodic memory and autonomic responses: listening to emotionally touching music enhances facial memory capacity. Sci. Rep. Accessed September 22, 2020, at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4606564/ 4 Lutz, Jäncke. Music, memory, and emotion. J Biol. 2008; 7(6): 21. Published online 2008 Aug 8. Accessed October 5, 2020, at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2776393/ Contributor: Karen R. Ogden, team member, Dementia Society of America. The opinions expressed by contributing authors are not necessarily the opinions of the Dementia Society, Inc. We do not endorse nor guarantee products, comments, suggestions, links, or other forms of the content contained within blog posts that have been provided to us with permission, or otherwise. Dementia Society does not provide medical advice. Please consult your doctor. www.DementiaSociety.org

Lewy body Dementia, or Dementia with Lewy bodies, is the second most common type of progressive dementia following Alzheimer’s disease. The disease is characterized by protein deposits in nerve cells in the brain regions that control thinking, memory, visual processing, and motor control. In this article, we’re taking a deep dive into Lewy body Dementia to explore its origins, symptoms, and treatments, and therapies that can help you or a loved one navigate your Dementia journey. Fact #1: Lewy body Dementia is one of the primary causes of Dementia in older adults. Usually beginning after age 50, Lewy body Dementia affects more than one million people in the United States. Experts have discovered that it appears to affect more men than women, making gender one of the primary risk factors. Other risk factors include advancing age and a family history of Lewy body dementia or Parkinson’s disease. Fact #2: Lewy body Dementia is named after the scientist Fredrich H. Lewy. While researching Parkinson's disease in the early 20th century, the German-born American neurologist Friedrich H. Lewy discovered abnormal protein deposits on the brain later called Lewy bodies. When these Lewy body proteins build up, they can disrupt the brain's normal functioning and cause problems with how the brain works, affecting memory, movement, thinking skills, mood, and behaviors. Fact #3: Lewy body Dementia is a progressive disease with a range of cognitive and physical symptoms. The symptoms of Lewy body Dementia emerge slowly and gradually worsen with time, making it a progressive disease. In the early stages, people living with this type of Dementia may experience mild symptoms that allow them to function relatively normally. As the disease advances, people may notice changes in alertness and attention or movement and posture, including confusion, hallucinations, and muscle stiffness. In the later disease stages, people living with Lewy body Dementia often depend on others for assistance and care. Fluctuating alertness and thinking functions Repeated visual hallucinations Parkinsonian symptoms REM sleep behavior disorder, where people act out dreams while sleeping Fact #4: Lewy body Dementia can be hard to diagnose. There is no single test to diagnose Lewy body Dementia. Doctors diagnose the disease by ruling out other conditions with similar symptoms. For instance, Lewy body disease shares similar symptoms with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, causing experts to speculate that it might be related. Lewy body Dementia diagnostic testing may include neurological and physical exams, mental ability assessments, blood tests, brain scans, and heart tests. In addition to the test findings, a Lewy body disease diagnosis requires a progressive decline in thinking abilities and two of the following: Fact #5: Currently, there is no cure for Lewy body Dementia, but treatments and therapies can help alleviate the symptoms. Doctors often use medications to help people living with Lewy body Dementia. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease medications can treat neurological and physical symptoms, while other medications can offer relief from sleep and movement problems. Some people living with Lewy body Dementia find non-drug approaches helpful, such as modifying the environment to reduce distractions, receiving soothing responses for reassurance, and following daily routines with simple tasks. Physical, occupational, speech, and mental health therapies can also play a role in symptom relief. Our Ginny Gives grant program provides other healing therapies that help people connect through art, music, dance, and touch. Fact #6: There are many supportive resources available to help people living with Lewy body Dementia and their families and caretakers. Our supportive resources provide much-needed information, local resources, and life-enrichment programs to enhance the lives of individuals and families affected by Lewy body and other types of Dementia, including: Truthful definitions to expand your vocabulary Care education to guide your decisions Dementia help resources to further your understanding and learn how to help Brain health information from reliable and trustworthy sources Relevant and topical streaming program for individuals and caregivers. No-fee memorial registration to pay tribute to a life well-lived To learn more about our programs and offerings that can help people living with Lewy body disease and other types of Dementia, contact us online or call 1-800-DEMENTIA (1-800-336-3684). Important Notice: Dementia Society of America (DSA) does not provide medical advice. The contents are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Many people find talking about their end-of-life wishes extremely uncomfortable. Yet, when asked, nearly everyone has strong convictions about their end-of-life care. Some might say, “Do everything possible to prolong or save my life." Others might say the same, so long as they have a "good quality of life." Your loved ones want what's best for you, but they cannot read your mind. Such difficult decisions require your guidance. Meaningful end-of-life choices require both introspection and research. For some, religion is their guide - for others, their decisions come from life experiences. Making decisions about treatments such as tube feeding and cardio resuscitation require that you learn why and when doctors may opt to use or not use these procedures. Palliative and hospice care is another facet of your end-of-life care. Another word for palliative care is comfort care. Patients continue to receive standard treatments for their conditions. However, as the disease progresses, patients receive increasing amounts of comfort care. An example of comfort care is using medication to relieve pain rather than treating the source of pain surgically. Hospice, an extension of palliative care, provides patients and their families care and support from a team of healthcare providers and counselors. Volunteers may give families time they need to attend to their personal needs and other matters. Palliative and hospice care are not, as many believe, "pull the plug." Rather, it indicates the recognition that a patient will not be cured of their condition, that it will ultimately cause their death. There are several ways to get the information you need to write realistic and meaningful end-of-life wishes. The Conversation Project is an initiative by a non-profit organization that provides tools for individuals to self-evaluate their end-of-life wishes. Downloadable guides provide helpful suggestions to prepare and initiate conversations with family members. 1 The advance directive, or a living will, is a set of instructions that details the types of medical and life-sustaining measures you may want. This document includes the instruction to "keep me clean, comfortable, and free of pain or discomfort so that my dignity is maintained, even if this care hastens my death." This last phrase gives permission to family members and clinicians to evaluate your wishes in the context of humane care. For example, it would be inhumane to give last-ditch cardio-resuscitation to a person who has severe osteoporosis as the procedure would crush the patient’s ribcage. Your advance directive is a legally binding document that requires your signature and the signature of at least one other witness or a certified notary depending on where you live. Advance directive forms are available from your healthcare provider, local agency on aging, or your state health department. Five Wishes is a product of the non-profit organization, Aging With Dignity.2 They designed an advanced directive template that also addresses personal, emotional, and spiritual issues in addition to meeting medical and legal criteria. Your family members must know where to find your end-of-life care documents. To make it as easy as possible, do not put your documents in a bank safety deposit box. Also, give a copy to your doctor so that he or she can include it in your medical records file. And yes, you may amend your end-of-life documents. Notes : 1. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement, http://www.ihi.org/Engage/Initiatives/ConversationProject/Pages/default.aspx (accessed, September 11, 2020) 2. Aging with Dignity, https://www.agingwithdignity.org/five-wishes (accessed September 11, 2020) For Further Reading: Frontline: Facing Death, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/facing-death/educational-module/decisions-near-end-life/ (accessed Sept 11, 2020) Content Contributor: Janet Yagoda Shagam, Ph.D., is a freelance medical and science writer and the author of " An Unintended Journey: A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia.", available through Amazon. Please visit our Author's page to learn more and find this title. The opinions expressed by contributing authors are not necessarily the opinions of the Dementia Society, Inc. We do not endorse or guarantee products, comments, suggestions, links, or other forms of content within blog posts provided to us with permission or otherwise. Dementia Society does not provide medical advice. Please consult your doctor. www.DementiaSociety.org

Let's talk about food, eating, and Dementia. A person's eating habits will change as their Dementia symptoms change. In the early stages, those living with Dementia may be able to prepare, consume, and enjoy their meals as they always had. But, they may not be able to recall the foods they ate with which meal on a given day. Middle stages of Dementia present different challenges. As symptoms progress and memory worsen, it may become difficult for the person to recall if or when they ate at all. Meals are skipped or repeated. Navigating the kitchen with all of its appliances, tools, cabinets, and drawers becomes nearly impossible. Failing memory may lead to eating utensils left on the table, unused. At this stage, the sense of smell may become impaired, altering taste and food preferences. Favorite foods become intolerable while an uncharacteristic interest in sweet or salty foods takes their place. Complicating the process, fine motor coordination involved in chewing and swallowing may deteriorate. Behavioral changes like hoarding and hiding food as well as eating non-food items such as soap can also develop in mid-stage Dementia. Over time, meals may become nothing more than cereal and milk. It remains important to encourage healthy eating habits, both for adequate nutrition and to maintain regularity. Still, recognize and respond to your loved one's food choices- prepare small amounts of their favorite snack foods, made available in a way that respects their independence. Later stages of Dementia may leave a person unable to recognize food nor know what to do with it. The person in your care may lose the ability to synchronize chewing, moving food to the back of the mouth, and then swallowing. Pocketing is a related difficulty that occurs when food accumulates between the teeth and cheek. Many methods used to help people with swallowing problems require an ability to follow and remember directions. Often the only solution is for you or other caregivers to hand-feed small amounts of soft or liquefied foods. Be sure to seek advice regarding the types of foods that work best, as well as receive instructions for safe hand-feeding methods and what to do if your loved one does gag and choke. For caregivers, how to address feeding problems may be the first of many end-of-life decisions. The immediate goals are to provide enough calories to prevent weight loss and malnutrition and to devise ways to prevent the aspiration of food into the lungs. Some doctors believe tube feeding is the best way to address this stage of decline. However, research shows that using feeding tubes in patients with late-stage Dementia neither prevents complications nor improves the quality of life. 1 Respect for and the preservation of your loved one's dignity figure into these decisions. While thin lines separate methods to maintain the quality of life, to save a life, and to prolong life -it is for each family of caregivers, hopefully, guided by a living will determine the appropriate path at the end of life. 1. Li, I, MD. "Feeding Tubes in Patients with Severe Dementia," American Family Physician http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0415/p1605.html , (accessed September 21, 2016). Content Contributor: Janet Yagoda Shagam, Ph.D., is a freelance medical and science writer and the author of " An Unintended Journey: A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia.", available through Amazon. Please visit our Author's page to learn more and find this title. (Content modified by K. Ogden, team member Dementia Society of America) The opinions expressed by contributing authors are not necessarily the opinions of the Dementia Society, Inc. We do not endorse nor guarantee products, comments, suggestions, links, or other forms of the content contained within blog posts that have been provided to us with permission, or otherwise. Dementia Society does not provide medical advice. Please consult your doctor. www.DementiaSociety.org

At one time or another, everyone has reason to feel isolated within their surroundings. Sometimes, people purposely isolate themselves to get the quiet time they need to focus and concentrate. Other times it is the circumstance, such as being the caregiver for a loved one, that causes isolation. People who seek isolation usually do not feel lonely. However, involuntary isolation can make people feel entrapped and very, very lonely. Feelings of loneliness can occur with or without the presence of other people. Parties and other social events can be lonely if the need for interaction and inclusion is not met. At the most basic level, loneliness is missing cues that remind us of who we are. There are many things caregivers can do to lessen their feelings of isolation and loneliness. First, self-reflection. Frequently, the family caregiver, believing he or she is the only one who can give their loved one the proper care, seems unable to accept offers of help from family members, friends, community, or faith-based organizations. When help is accepted, regularly scheduled getaways, hours or days long, can give caregivers the respite they need to relax, reconnect with friends, or participate in a favorite activity. People living with Dementia also experience isolation and loneliness. Friends and family may disappear, and with their disappearance, there are even fewer opportunities for socializing. Eventually, as the condition progresses, isolation and loneliness become inevitable. For those in the early stages of dementia, living life to its fullness - saying yes to life more than no - can help them cope with the emotions that come with their diagnosis. Join your loved one on their “I’ve always wanted to visit or do" lists. Do silly things together, and encourage activities that preserve family history. It is equally important to give your loved one the pleasure and challenge of arranging activities and extending invitations to family and friends. Doing so becomes a declaration of “I am still here.” With symptom progression, efforts to reduce isolation and feelings of loneliness require help from family, friends, and professional caregivers. Visits to their home or assisted living community or conversations by phone or video can help your loved one recall the roles he or she played within the extended family and community. Other ways include encouraging your loved ones to leave the confines of their room and spend time where people congregate in common-use areas. Interactions with babies, children, pets, and therapy animals may also reduce feelings of lonesomeness. Finally, opportunities for self-expression can help people living with Dementia to feel less isolated and alone. There are many simple ways that range from arts, crafts, and music activities to writing poetry and visiting a nearby nature preserve, to connect people who have Dementia to their authentic or most essential self. Content Contributor: Janet Yagoda Shagam, Ph.D., is a freelance medical and science writer and the author of " An Unintended Journey: A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia.", available through Amazon. Please visit our Author's page to learn more and find this title. (Content modified by K. Ogden, team member Dementia Society of America) The opinions expressed by contributing authors are not necessarily the opinions of the Dementia Society, Inc. We do not endorse nor guarantee products, comments, suggestions, links, or other forms of the content contained within blog posts that have been provided to us with permission, or otherwise. Dementia Society does not provide medical advice. Please consult your doctor. www.DementiaSociety.org