ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:
Good morning,
So I decided to talk today about something that many of us baby boomers don't want to talk about. Forgetfulness. Yes that is an ugly word. We are so frightened of that word. If we are starting to forget does that mean we are getting dementia which can turn into the dreadful Alzheimer's? So I looked up forgetting on Wikipiedia:
Forgetting (retention loss) refers to apparent loss of information already encoded and stored in an individual's long term memory. It is a spontaneous or gradual process in which old memories are unable to be recalled from memory storage. It is subject to delicately balanced optimization that ensures that relevant memories are recalled. Forgetting can be reduced by repetition and/or more elaborate cognitive processing of information. Reviewing information in ways that involve active retrieval seems to slow the rate of forgetting.
I know that when I can't find something I get scared. I took care of my father in law Joe with his Alzheimer's and I begin to wonder if I am getting the same thing.
Forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging. As we get older, changes occur in all parts of the body, including the brain. As a result, some of us may notice that it takes longer to learn new things, we don’t remember information as well as we use to, or we seem to misplace things like our car keys. These usually are signs of mild forgetfulness, not serious memory problems.
We can do things to maintain our memory and mental skills.
Make a to do list.
Plan and put notes on the calendar.
Some form of exercise is needed like walking 30 minutes a day to keep your brain active.
Find ways to relieve stress and depression.
Eat healthy.
On a more personal note, my car is in the shop and I had to use my son in laws car the other day and my daughters car today. I asked where the lights and cruise control were and I remembered when I drove these foreign cars to work. It is the little things that can make or break your day.
Have a great day.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Monday, February 7, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Alzheimer's Blogging:
A world without Alzheimer's begins with your voice.
Learn how you can help continue the momentum
Even with Alzheimer advocacy victories such as the historic passage of the National Alzheimer's Project Act and all-important wins on state and local levels nationwide, we must maintain the momentum in leading our country toward overcoming the Alzheimer crisis. The Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum is the premier experience to learn how advocates can continue to successfully fight for these issues with our legislators.
The Forum is designed to help you hone your advocacy skills – not just for visiting elected officials on Capitol Hill, but also as you return home. The program will teach you about our legislative priorities, our critical messages and how to deliver these messages to key decision makers. You will learn about how to engage your local legislators and how to use a wide variety of resources in your communities to encourage more people to join with us as Alzheimer advocates.
Plan on attending the Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum. Visit www.alz.org/ forum for program information and to register online.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
A world without Alzheimer's begins with your voice.
Learn how you can help continue the momentum
Even with Alzheimer advocacy victories such as the historic passage of the National Alzheimer's Project Act and all-important wins on state and local levels nationwide, we must maintain the momentum in leading our country toward overcoming the Alzheimer crisis. The Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum is the premier experience to learn how advocates can continue to successfully fight for these issues with our legislators.
The Forum is designed to help you hone your advocacy skills – not just for visiting elected officials on Capitol Hill, but also as you return home. The program will teach you about our legislative priorities, our critical messages and how to deliver these messages to key decision makers. You will learn about how to engage your local legislators and how to use a wide variety of resources in your communities to encourage more people to join with us as Alzheimer advocates.
Plan on attending the Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum. Visit www.alz.org/ forum for program information and to register online.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Sunday, January 30, 2011
ALZHEIMER'E BLOGGING:
BABY BOOMER REPORT:
Starting this year, more than 10,000 baby boomers a day will turn 65. As these baby boomers age, one of out of eight of them will develop Alzheimer's — a devastating, costly, heartbreaking disease. Increasingly for these baby boomers, it will no longer be their grandparents and parents who have Alzheimer's — it will be them.
"Alzheimer's is a tragic epidemic that has no survivors. Not a single one," said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. "It is as much a thief as a killer. Alzheimer's will darken the long-awaited retirement years of the one out of eight baby boomers who will develop it. Those who will care for these loved ones will witness, day by day, the progressive and relentless realities of this fatal disease. But we can still change that if we act now."
According to the new Alzheimer's Association report, "Generation Alzheimer's," it is expected that 10 million baby boomers will either die with or from Alzheimer's, the only one of the top 10 causes of death in America without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression. But while Alzheimer's kills, it does so only after taking everything away, slowly stripping an individual's autonomy and independence. Even beyond the cruel impact Alzheimer's has on the individuals with the disease, Generation Alzheimer's also details the negative cascading effects the disease places on millions of caregivers. Caregivers and families go through the agony of losing a loved one twice: first to the ravaging effects of the disease and then, ultimately, to actual death.
"Most people survive an average of four to six years after a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, but many can live as long as 20 years with the disease," said Beth Kallmyer, senior director of constituent relations for the Alzheimer's Association. "As the disease progresses, the person with dementia requires more and more assistance with everyday tasks like bathing, dressing, eating and household activities. This long duration often places increasingly intensive care demands on 11 million family members and friends who provide unpaid care, and it negatively affects their health, employment, income and financial security."
Dr. John Torres offers his insights. http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/baby-boomer-report check out this video
The report offers very personal glimpses into the lives of families who are in the throes of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease, including a son who struggles to change the diapers of the mother who changed his as an infant, and a husband who watches his wife's fascination with the "lady in the mirror," not realizing the lady in the mirror is her.
In addition to the human toll, over the next 40 years Alzheimer's will cost the nation $20 trillion, enough to pay off the national debt and still send a $20,000 check to every man, woman and child in America. And while every 70 seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer's disease today, by 2050 someone will develop the disease every 33 seconds — unless the federal government commits to changing the Alzheimer trajectory.
"Alzheimer's, with its broad-ranging impact on individuals, families, Medicare and Medicaid, has the power to bring the country to its financial knees," said Robert J. Egge, Alzheimer's Association vice president of public policy. "But when the federal government has been focused, committed and willing to put the necessary resources to work to confront a disease that poses a real public health threat to the nation, there has been great success. In order to see the day where Alzheimer's is no longer a death sentence, we need to see that type of commitment with Alzheimer's."
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/
BABY BOOMER REPORT:
Starting this year, more than 10,000 baby boomers a day will turn 65. As these baby boomers age, one of out of eight of them will develop Alzheimer's — a devastating, costly, heartbreaking disease. Increasingly for these baby boomers, it will no longer be their grandparents and parents who have Alzheimer's — it will be them.
"Alzheimer's is a tragic epidemic that has no survivors. Not a single one," said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. "It is as much a thief as a killer. Alzheimer's will darken the long-awaited retirement years of the one out of eight baby boomers who will develop it. Those who will care for these loved ones will witness, day by day, the progressive and relentless realities of this fatal disease. But we can still change that if we act now."
According to the new Alzheimer's Association report, "Generation Alzheimer's," it is expected that 10 million baby boomers will either die with or from Alzheimer's, the only one of the top 10 causes of death in America without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression. But while Alzheimer's kills, it does so only after taking everything away, slowly stripping an individual's autonomy and independence. Even beyond the cruel impact Alzheimer's has on the individuals with the disease, Generation Alzheimer's also details the negative cascading effects the disease places on millions of caregivers. Caregivers and families go through the agony of losing a loved one twice: first to the ravaging effects of the disease and then, ultimately, to actual death.
"Most people survive an average of four to six years after a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, but many can live as long as 20 years with the disease," said Beth Kallmyer, senior director of constituent relations for the Alzheimer's Association. "As the disease progresses, the person with dementia requires more and more assistance with everyday tasks like bathing, dressing, eating and household activities. This long duration often places increasingly intensive care demands on 11 million family members and friends who provide unpaid care, and it negatively affects their health, employment, income and financial security."
Dr. John Torres offers his insights. http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/baby-boomer-report check out this video
The report offers very personal glimpses into the lives of families who are in the throes of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease, including a son who struggles to change the diapers of the mother who changed his as an infant, and a husband who watches his wife's fascination with the "lady in the mirror," not realizing the lady in the mirror is her.
In addition to the human toll, over the next 40 years Alzheimer's will cost the nation $20 trillion, enough to pay off the national debt and still send a $20,000 check to every man, woman and child in America. And while every 70 seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer's disease today, by 2050 someone will develop the disease every 33 seconds — unless the federal government commits to changing the Alzheimer trajectory.
"Alzheimer's, with its broad-ranging impact on individuals, families, Medicare and Medicaid, has the power to bring the country to its financial knees," said Robert J. Egge, Alzheimer's Association vice president of public policy. "But when the federal government has been focused, committed and willing to put the necessary resources to work to confront a disease that poses a real public health threat to the nation, there has been great success. In order to see the day where Alzheimer's is no longer a death sentence, we need to see that type of commitment with Alzheimer's."
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/
Thursday, January 27, 2011
ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:
Good Afternoon. This segment today will not be about Alzheimer's but about our elderly parents and how to keep cost down.
Today on my ambulance we got a call for a 67 yr old female that needed to go to the heart hospital to get her pacemaker checked. We found her roaming the halls in with her walker and asked why an ambulance ($800.00) is taking her instead of a wheel chair van ($150.00).
They didn't seem to know and when they heard about the price difference they were upset that she would get a bill for this much money. Please it is important to know what the costs are going to be before you send someone out in an ambulance if it really isn't necessary.
The good thing is I talked to one of the techs and they told me that someone can come out to check these devices at the patients home or nursing home. They said to call St Jude Medical at 1-800-722-3423. Best of all there is no charge. It is FREE.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Good Afternoon. This segment today will not be about Alzheimer's but about our elderly parents and how to keep cost down.
Today on my ambulance we got a call for a 67 yr old female that needed to go to the heart hospital to get her pacemaker checked. We found her roaming the halls in with her walker and asked why an ambulance ($800.00) is taking her instead of a wheel chair van ($150.00).
They didn't seem to know and when they heard about the price difference they were upset that she would get a bill for this much money. Please it is important to know what the costs are going to be before you send someone out in an ambulance if it really isn't necessary.
The good thing is I talked to one of the techs and they told me that someone can come out to check these devices at the patients home or nursing home. They said to call St Jude Medical at 1-800-722-3423. Best of all there is no charge. It is FREE.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Alzheimer's Blogging:
Today was a little discouraging on my ambulance as I get this call for a 90 yr old male with severe agitation. I get to the nursing home, and the nurse tells me that my patient is in his wheel chair and is agitated. He won't stay still or stay in his wheel chair so we are to take him to the hospital because they can not manage him. She also tells me she has been giving him ativan every 3 hrs to control him and it isn't working.
Please if you have a loved one with dementia/Alzheimer's educate yourself about this disease. I got this call at eight pm. If you know anything about Alzheimer's they go through something called sun downing.
'Sun downing' is when a person with dementia is particularly restless, confused and insecure in the afternoons and evenings. Some strategies can help a patient and their carer including gentle exercise, routine, comforting items or medication.
I am not sure what they want the emergency room to do with this. And it broke my heart to take him. I was gentle with him, conversing, and taking vitals quickly so I would not agitate him any further. I thought of my father in law, only I kept him at home, and would have to walk away from him if he got me aggravated.
Please check out Alzheimer's Association site. They have lots of information to help educate anyone with this terrible disease. And remember they didn't ask for this disease. Please be kind.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Today was a little discouraging on my ambulance as I get this call for a 90 yr old male with severe agitation. I get to the nursing home, and the nurse tells me that my patient is in his wheel chair and is agitated. He won't stay still or stay in his wheel chair so we are to take him to the hospital because they can not manage him. She also tells me she has been giving him ativan every 3 hrs to control him and it isn't working.
Please if you have a loved one with dementia/Alzheimer's educate yourself about this disease. I got this call at eight pm. If you know anything about Alzheimer's they go through something called sun downing.
'Sun downing' is when a person with dementia is particularly restless, confused and insecure in the afternoons and evenings. Some strategies can help a patient and their carer including gentle exercise, routine, comforting items or medication.
I am not sure what they want the emergency room to do with this. And it broke my heart to take him. I was gentle with him, conversing, and taking vitals quickly so I would not agitate him any further. I thought of my father in law, only I kept him at home, and would have to walk away from him if he got me aggravated.
Please check out Alzheimer's Association site. They have lots of information to help educate anyone with this terrible disease. And remember they didn't ask for this disease. Please be kind.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Monday, January 24, 2011
Alzheimer's Blogging:
Ruling out Alzheimer's:
Two new chemicals that could revolutionize our ability to diagnose dementia correctly are near final approval. The similar chemicals, florbetapir by Ely Lilly and flutemetamol from GE, will be the first imaging agents to offer a practical way to help detect signs of amyloid plaque in the brain.
Only 60% of people with dementia suffer from Alzheimer's, though doctors may be quick to diagnose any signs of dementia as Alzheimer's. While doctors use brain scans and mental exercise tests to determine when a patient probably has the disease, a definitive diagnosis can currently be made only through an autopsy after death. This reality sometimes results in a dangerous misdiagnosis. For example, some types of dementia are reversible and a misdiagnosis of Alzheimer's can result in missing the opportunity to reverse the dementia. Another example is Lewy Body dementia, which is initially misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's 80% of the time. This may result in the dangerous prescribing of antipsychotics, helpful in Alzheimer's but potentially lethal in Lewy Body dementia.
This new type of brain scan could quickly rule out an Alzheimer's diagnosis.
What's holding these imaging agents back are the FDA's “major concerns” about the lack of standardized tools to decipher the results of this new type of brain scan and their significance to patient health.
The FDA just handed down its opinion on the first agent, florbetapir, also known by the brand name Amyvid. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee decided in a 13-3 vote that it could not yet approve Amyvid™ (florbetapir). At the same time, they voted unanimously (16-0) to recommend approval of Amyvid conditional on a reader training program that demonstrates better reader accuracy and consistency. That is to say, the scans were useful but doctors need to improve how they read and interpret the scans before this imaging agent can be rolled out for prime time. The FDA supported that the scans were essentially effective and there were no significant safety concerns.
The FDA committee also agreed that a negative scan would be useful in ruling out Alzheimer's. In an Amyvid statement, the FDA's committee found Amyvid "clinically useful in indicating that Alzheimer's pathology is unlikely to be the cause of a patient's cognitive decline."
Amyvid was developed by Avid Radiopharmaceuticals. Ely Lilly acquired Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc. in December 2010. Amyvid was the first beta-amyloid imaging compound to enter multi-center, investigational new drug (IND) clinical studies in the United States. Amyvid was recently assigned priority review designation by the FDA.
The committee is a key hurdle but it is up to the FDA to offer final approval. The FDA considers the committee's recommendations. They take the advice of their Advisory Committees into consideration when reviewing investigational drugs, but are not bound by their recommendations.
"We appreciate the careful and thoughtful review of our data today by the Committee," said Daniel M. Skovronsky, M.D., Ph.D., CEO, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc. "We are encouraged that they recommended a clear path toward approval."
I found this article on Alzheimer's Weekly.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/
Ruling out Alzheimer's:
Two new chemicals that could revolutionize our ability to diagnose dementia correctly are near final approval. The similar chemicals, florbetapir by Ely Lilly and flutemetamol from GE, will be the first imaging agents to offer a practical way to help detect signs of amyloid plaque in the brain.
Only 60% of people with dementia suffer from Alzheimer's, though doctors may be quick to diagnose any signs of dementia as Alzheimer's. While doctors use brain scans and mental exercise tests to determine when a patient probably has the disease, a definitive diagnosis can currently be made only through an autopsy after death. This reality sometimes results in a dangerous misdiagnosis. For example, some types of dementia are reversible and a misdiagnosis of Alzheimer's can result in missing the opportunity to reverse the dementia. Another example is Lewy Body dementia, which is initially misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's 80% of the time. This may result in the dangerous prescribing of antipsychotics, helpful in Alzheimer's but potentially lethal in Lewy Body dementia.
This new type of brain scan could quickly rule out an Alzheimer's diagnosis.
What's holding these imaging agents back are the FDA's “major concerns” about the lack of standardized tools to decipher the results of this new type of brain scan and their significance to patient health.
The FDA just handed down its opinion on the first agent, florbetapir, also known by the brand name Amyvid. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee decided in a 13-3 vote that it could not yet approve Amyvid™ (florbetapir). At the same time, they voted unanimously (16-0) to recommend approval of Amyvid conditional on a reader training program that demonstrates better reader accuracy and consistency. That is to say, the scans were useful but doctors need to improve how they read and interpret the scans before this imaging agent can be rolled out for prime time. The FDA supported that the scans were essentially effective and there were no significant safety concerns.
The FDA committee also agreed that a negative scan would be useful in ruling out Alzheimer's. In an Amyvid statement, the FDA's committee found Amyvid "clinically useful in indicating that Alzheimer's pathology is unlikely to be the cause of a patient's cognitive decline."
Amyvid was developed by Avid Radiopharmaceuticals. Ely Lilly acquired Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc. in December 2010. Amyvid was the first beta-amyloid imaging compound to enter multi-center, investigational new drug (IND) clinical studies in the United States. Amyvid was recently assigned priority review designation by the FDA.
The committee is a key hurdle but it is up to the FDA to offer final approval. The FDA considers the committee's recommendations. They take the advice of their Advisory Committees into consideration when reviewing investigational drugs, but are not bound by their recommendations.
"We appreciate the careful and thoughtful review of our data today by the Committee," said Daniel M. Skovronsky, M.D., Ph.D., CEO, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc. "We are encouraged that they recommended a clear path toward approval."
I found this article on Alzheimer's Weekly.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/
Thursday, January 20, 2011
ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:
Today is my husbands Birthday - 58yrs young. Today would also have been my father in laws birthday and if he were alive he would be 85yrs today. Funny how life plays with us. One of my daughters had her second child born on the 17 of this month. That makes for me and Jimmy our seventh grandchild. I don't feel that old, yet today my husband texted to me he couldn't believe how old he is getting. We are suppose to grow old gracefully. We had our chance when we were young and now we are to give that life to our kids and be there for them. I thank my lucky stars that we have our health, and our minds yet. I work on this ambulance and see to often people my age with such health problems and hurting just to get around. Plus every time I forget something or my husband forgets something I can't help but wonder if dementia is starting to creep up on us. They say you are only as old as you feel. If that were true I would still be in my thirties. I love playing like a new mama when ever I babysit my grand babies and I love running or walking fast 2 miles a day. Plus I am also back in time as I exercise with Richard Simmons. But I know my mind isn't as sharp as it use to be. I find myself forgetting something, which eventually pops up a few hours later. ugh!
Thank you God for the life you have given to us. For your grace and promise. Help us each day to live like you, with love, patience and kindness for everyone around.
Please remember if you are living with a loved one with Alzheimer's make sure you get into a good support group. If you can't find one check out this link - http://alz.org/apps/findus.asp pick the state and the closest chapter to you. Also remember if you don't take care of yourself, how can you take care of your loved one. Don't get to stressed out. After all you are only human. Please get respite care and take a short break. Don't beat yourself up, get help.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Today is my husbands Birthday - 58yrs young. Today would also have been my father in laws birthday and if he were alive he would be 85yrs today. Funny how life plays with us. One of my daughters had her second child born on the 17 of this month. That makes for me and Jimmy our seventh grandchild. I don't feel that old, yet today my husband texted to me he couldn't believe how old he is getting. We are suppose to grow old gracefully. We had our chance when we were young and now we are to give that life to our kids and be there for them. I thank my lucky stars that we have our health, and our minds yet. I work on this ambulance and see to often people my age with such health problems and hurting just to get around. Plus every time I forget something or my husband forgets something I can't help but wonder if dementia is starting to creep up on us. They say you are only as old as you feel. If that were true I would still be in my thirties. I love playing like a new mama when ever I babysit my grand babies and I love running or walking fast 2 miles a day. Plus I am also back in time as I exercise with Richard Simmons. But I know my mind isn't as sharp as it use to be. I find myself forgetting something, which eventually pops up a few hours later. ugh!
Thank you God for the life you have given to us. For your grace and promise. Help us each day to live like you, with love, patience and kindness for everyone around.
Please remember if you are living with a loved one with Alzheimer's make sure you get into a good support group. If you can't find one check out this link - http://alz.org/apps/findus.asp pick the state and the closest chapter to you. Also remember if you don't take care of yourself, how can you take care of your loved one. Don't get to stressed out. After all you are only human. Please get respite care and take a short break. Don't beat yourself up, get help.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
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