Search Results

Small brain abnormalities in specific regions are key hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease dementia. Don’t see what you need? Contact us today. Alzheimer's DONATE Learn its history and what Alzheimer's research has discovered so far. Also, consider investigating an Alzheimer's clinical trial here . Minor abnormalities, so-called amyloid plaques, and tau tangles that form in the brain and are found in specific locations throughout are two distinguishing hallmarks of Alzheimer's Disease Dementia. Advanced testing, such as PET scans, MRI, DNA, and spinal fluid analysis, can shed invaluable light on the probability of Alzheimer's. Alois Alzheimer was a German psychiatrist who discovered the pathological condition of Dementia and diagnosed the disease that bears his name. Alois was born in Marktbreit, Germany, in 1864 and showed an early aptitude for science. After obtaining his medical degree, he worked in hospitals in Frankfurt, where he met Auguste Deter, a 51-year-old woman suffering from progressive short-term memory loss. He was eventually able to isolate the pathological causes of severe Dementia, work so extensive that the condition became known as Alzheimer's disease. Source: click here . Today, it is believed that "Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of Dementia among older people. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities. AD begins slowly . It first involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. People with AD may have trouble remembering recent events or the names of people they know. A related problem, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), causes more memory problems than usual for people of the same age. Many, but not all, people with MCI will develop AD. In AD, symptoms get worse over time . People may not recognize family members or have trouble speaking, reading, or writing. They may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair. Later, they may become anxious or aggressive or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care, which can cause great stress for family members who must care for them. AD usually begins after age 60 . The risk goes up as you get older. Your risk is also higher if a family member has had the disease. No treatment can stop the disease. However, some drugs may help keep symptoms from worsening for a limited time." Source: click here . You may also be interested to r ead about the IDEA Study and how the results suggested that about a third of those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in the past, now, due to recent advancements in imaging , were found not to have Alzheimer's disease. Yes, they may have had significant cognitive impairments, but their cause was not necessarily Alzheimer's disease, and the treatment plan was altered accordingly. Source: click here . Lastly, a well-known study of nuns, lasting decades, has indicated that some individuals can live cognitively intact, showing no signs or clues to significant degenerative changes, despite having the hallmarks of a Dementia pathology seen at their autopsy. Source: click here . Click below on the various terms to learn more about both common and more rare conditions, syndromes and diseases, that can cause, or include symptoms leading to Dementia: Dementia-Like Conditions (that may be reversible); Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI); Alzheimer's Disease (AD or ALZ) Dementia; Mixed Dementia; Vascular Dementia; Young Onset Dementia; Lewy Body Dementia (LBD); Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD); AIDS Dementia Complex (ADC); Huntington's Disease with Dementia; Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with Dementia; Parkinson's Disease (PD) with Dementia; Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury (CTE) Dementia; Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with Dementia; Down Syndrome with Dementia; Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA); Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA); Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS) Dementia; Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (LATE);*** Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Dementia; Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD); Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP); CADASIL;*** Sanfilippo Syndrome*** Batten Disease (Childhood Dementia);*** Binswanger Disease.*** Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA)*** Various Childhood Dementias*** Adult-Onset Leukoencephalopathy*** Don't see what you're looking for? Please contact us. *** Takes you to a non-DSA website. Go back to Definitions | Click Here

Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L, CDP is an occupational therapist and the founder and owner of Day By Day Home Therapy. Advisory Council ◄ Back to Members | Rachel Wiley MS OTR L CDP Advisory Council Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L, CDP is an occupational therapist and the founder and owner of Day By Day Home Therapy . Rachel has been adjunct faculty in the occupational therapy departments at Thomas Jefferson University and Temple University. She also worked previously as the occupational therapist and Dementia Service Coordinator for the Pew Charitable Trust Grant with Jefferson Elder Care. Rachel is certified in Skills2Care® for caregivers of individuals with dementia and LSVT BIG for Parkinson's Disease. Rachel is also has an older adult NBCOT practice area of emphasis. She is a certified master trainer of Skills2Care® through Jefferson Elder Care and trains occupational therapists from around the country in the Skills2Care® program. She had the privilege of presenting at the Alzheimer's Association conferences in Pennsylvania and Delaware and was featured in a Philadelphia Inquirer article in 2017. Rachel attended Penn State University for her Bachelor's in Rehabilitation and Human Services and minor in Psychology and attended Thomas Jefferson University for her Master's in Occupational Therapy. She served as the Gerontology Chair for the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association's District V Board. Rachel has been working with individuals with dementia for over 10 years.

Request Complementary Dementia Society Aware Share Cards. Lewy Body, Alzheimer's, MCI, Vascular Dementia, Frontotemporal. Aware & Share Card Request Cards Please click here to complete our Contact form and provide us with the request in the Optional Message section to receive two complimentary cards. These are durable cards; the same card can be used again & again. Help us maintain our ability to share the love; please limit your request to 2 cards each time. Bulk order? Would you like to distribute cards to others? We do request a donation to help defray the costs. FRONT OF CARD BACK OF CARD

Request your free guide to get your questions answered related to Dementia. This information pack will help you take some of the fear out of Dementia. 1-800-DEMENTIA® ( 1-800-336-3684) Request Your Free Guide, "The Big Umbrella," in the Form Below First and Last Name Email Mobile Phone* Street Address City State ZIP Code By clicking send you will receive our occasional eNewsletter. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. Your details were sent successfully! Send DONATE ONLINE

Make a bequest, memorial, or other legacy contribution to support the mission of the Dementia Society of America Leadership Logo What does the Leadership Circle logo graphically represent? The circular arrow means taking action and creating forward motion. The circle is meant to communicate the whole interconnectedness of all things, all animals, and all people in our world, including the mind-body connection. The 3 separate colors, each with a distinct amount of "space" allocated to each, reflects proportionately the 3 pillars of our mission: Educate all , about all Dementias (bright purple); Provide quality-of-life programs (lighter purple); Recognize accomplishments and contributions to the betterment of the Dementia community at large (the lightest blue/purple). If you join the Leadership or Caring Circle you agree with the 10 DSA Principles , and you are willing to commit financially each year to see that those ideals are pursued and continued through the work of the Dementia Society of America.

​Attend our public workshops for educational learning experiences with factual, easy-to-understand concepts, and accessible information. Visit our website. Public Workshops Two educational learning experiences with factual, easy-to-understand concepts, and accessible information. DONATE Click image to watch & learn more. Click image to learn more. Go back to Education | Click Here

Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is a form of cognitive impairment that involves a progressive loss of language function. Primary Progressive Aphasia "Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a form of cognitive impairment that involves a progressive loss of language function. Language is a uniquely human faculty that allows us to communicate with each other through the use of words. Our language functions include speaking, understanding what others are saying, repeating things we have heard, naming common objects, reading, and writing. “Aphasia” is a general term used to refer to deficits in language functions. PPA is caused by degeneration in the parts of the brain that are responsible for speech and language. PPA begins very gradually and initially is experienced as difficulty thinking of common words while speaking or writing. PPA progressively worsens to the point where verbal communication by any means is very difficult. The ability to understand what others are saying or what is being read also declines. In the early stages, memory, reasoning, and visual perception are not affected by the disease and so individuals with PPA are able to function normally in many routine daily living activities despite the aphasia. However, as the illness progresses, other mental abilities also decline. Adults of any age can develop PPA, but it is more common in people under the age of 65. People with PPA can have a variety of different language symptoms and no two cases are exactly the same." Source: click here . Additional subtype information: click here . To download an Aphasia caregiver guide, please click here . Click below on the various terms to learn more about both common and more rare conditions, syndromes and diseases, that can cause, or include symptoms leading to Dementia: Dementia-Like Conditions (that may be reversible); Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI); Alzheimer's Disease (AD or ALZ) Dementia; Mixed Dementia; Vascular Dementia; Young Onset Dementia; Lewy Body Dementia (LBD); Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD); AIDS Dementia Complex (ADC); Huntington's Disease with Dementia; Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with Dementia; Parkinson's Disease (PD) with Dementia; Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury (CTE) Dementia; Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with Dementia; Down Syndrome with Dementia; Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA); Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA); Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS) Dementia; Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (LATE);*** Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Dementia; Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD); Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP); CADASIL;*** Sanfilippo Syndrome*** Batten Disease (Childhood Dementia);*** Binswanger Disease.*** Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA)*** Various Childhood Dementias*** Adult-Onset Leukoencephalopathy*** Don't see what you're looking for? Please contact us. *** Takes you to a non-DSA website. Go back to Definitions | Click Here

Join the Dementia Society of America’s Leadership Circle to expand awareness of dementia and Alzheimer’s, creating a brighter future for those affected. Leadership Circle Leadership is Action. Leadership is a Big Vision. Leadership is a Perspective. Leadership is a set of Principles. Dementia Society of America's Leadership Circle brings like-minds together to make a meaningful difference! The only way to do that is to invest in the future, a new world! A world of love and care that is person-centered, a world that is built upon the notion that at some point, the only thing that really matters is quality, not quantity, of life. Click here to learn about the meaning of the Leadership Circle logo. 10 Leadership Circle Principles We are all connected in the circle of life; We are considered alive inside, even if our ability to outwardly communicate is hampered by Dementia or other conditions; I/we wish to touch with love, think with the heart, feel with the mind, and express appreciation with a simple smile; I/we seek to understand all Dementias as much as possible; I/we seek to prevent all Dementias with a holistic approach; I/we desire to detect and prevent cognitive impairment early; I/we treat others with a person-centered care approach; I/we want personal end-of-life choices to be respected by family, friends, and healthcare professionals; I/we speak openly and with compassion about all people, and about all forms of Dementia; I/we create the best possible tomorrow by taking the most meaningful actions today! CLICK HERE TO ASK ABOUT JOINING Annual individual/family contributors are Supporters. Annual corporate contributors are Sponsors. Annual Leadership Circle Levels are: BRONZE $1,000+ SILVER $2,500+ GOLD $5,000+ PLATINUM $10,000+ By joining with us and becoming an on-going Leadership Circle Supporter or Sponsor , you will demonstrate an eagerness and earnestness to provide: Dementia education for all; great quality-of-life programs for all; recognition to wonderful caregivers and care partners; accolades upon innovators and innovations that assist with personal Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), Dementia care management, and enhanced cognitive health. At every level you will receive a beautiful Leadership Circle recognition certificate (personally signed by the DSA president), that you can display to show your support. We may also like to recognize you publicly, unless you specifically tell us in writing that you would like to remain anonymous . Please learn more by clicking here . CLICK HERE TO ASK ABOUT JOINING

The Dementia Society of America is seeking to better understand the meaningfulness of cannabis, CBD, and THC for those living with Dementia. If you are interested in working with us, contact us today! Cannabis Medical Marijuana & Mushrooms The Dementia Society of America is seeking to understand better the meaningfulness of cannabis, CBD, THC, aka medical marijuana, and mushrooms (psychedelics) as it relates to symptom management and intervention for those living with various forms of Dementia. In the meantime, here are a few additional perspectives to review and consider. Thank you. U.K. Alzheimer's Society Comments CNN Feature Story CNBC Feature Story Canadian Coalition for Seniors Insight into U.S. Patent #663057 UPenn - Can Psychedelics Help Patients with Dementia?

Our programs bring much-needed education, local resources, and life enrichment to individuals and families impacted by Dementia. Donate today! Ways to Donate Click on any of the links below to learn more, or donate... Donate by Check- get our mailing address & check the donation form. Donate Online - use your credit or debit card to contribute. Create a Facebook Fundraiser Use PayPal to donate. Venmo @DementiaSociety Text "GiveNow" to 707070. Use Bitcoin to donate crypto: BTC, ETH, LTC & more. Network For Good- donate through this platform. CharityProud - donate through this platform. Use JustGiving.org to donate or fundraise. Combined Federal Campaign #68147. Donate Stock Use your Donor Advised Fund at Schwab, Fidelity, or BNY Mellon. Make a Lasting Legacy through your Will , Estate Planning, Insurance. Classy.org- create an Event, Group, or Peer-to-Peer fundraiser. Employer matching donations. Create party invites through eVite and add a donation option. Give with Bing- use Bing as a search engine & Microsoft donates. Amazon Smile- donation made with most Amazon purchases. Donate cars- trucks, boats, RVs, and more. eBay- you can sell your items to benefit the Dementia Society. Shop online with iGive at 1,500+ retailers like Macy's & more. Use the PayPal Giving Fund platform to donate. Use GoodWorld's #donate on Twitter to donate. Donate through the EverLoved.com platform. Value Guide for Donated Goods. IRS Form Info for non-cash donations over $500. Anchor 1 Dementia Society, Inc., doing business as Dementia Society of America, is a nonprofit organization incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and registered with the IRS as a nonprofit 501(c)(3). Your contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Please consult your tax advisor. Please view our IRS Determination Letter here. Back to Donate

Helping families facing Alzheimer's disease, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body, FTD, MCI, and more through education, research, and life enrichment. Dementia Society of America DONATE NOW REQUEST FREE GUIDE

c344b074-4c91-4c43-bbe7-4f7f22c05613 Blog Author ◄ Back to Authors | Janet Shagam Ph.D. Janet Shagam, Ph.D., is an experienced medical and science writer known for explaining complex and emotionally sensitive topics clearly. She is also a former family caregiver herself. Using both personal narrative and well-researched, expert-verified content, she guides readers through the often-confusing and challenging world of dementia care. Janet carefully escorts caregivers through the basics of dementia as a brain disorder, its accompanying behaviors, the procedures used to diagnose and stage the disease, and the legal aspects of providing care for an adult who is no longer competent. She also covers topics not usually included in other books on dementia: family dynamics, caregiver burnout, elder abuse, incontinence, finances and paying for care, the challenges same-sex families face, and coping with the eventuality of death and estate management.