NOTE FROM USA2

We will not be publishing on Monday, September 3, 2018 in observance of Labor Day. 

MUST READS

An August 31, 2018 News Medical Life Sciences article reported that a new study shows that stroke patients experience a two-fold increased risk of developing dementia later in life. Researchers looked at data from 3.2 million stroke cases and analyzed several factors associated with increased dementia risk including hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. According to the article, “The association uncovered by this study will therefore be very important in directing attention towards the possibility that better stroke preventive measures and improved care after a stroke might prevent dementia. More research is urgently needed in this area.”

YOUTH FOCUS

An August 22, 2018 NJ.com article looked at efforts to inspire future generations to care about their brain health. To these ends, the Brain Projectcampaign advocates for younger people to adopt brain-healthy lifestyles early on, and continue into middle age. According to the article, “The awareness campaign comes at a time of growing concern that teenagers, young adults and people in middle age are slipping into unhealthy habits that could make them prime candidates for dementia in their 60s and 70s. Junk food. Fast food. Obesity. Way too much time sitting sedentary in front of a computer screen. Lack of sleep. The high-stress, hurried pace of life these days.”

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

According to an August 30, 2018 EurekAlert! release, scientists found that heteractis magnifica sea anemones contain neuroprotective peptides (Kunitz-type peptide HMIQ3c1) that slow down the inflammation process and the deterioration of neurons causing Alzheimer's disease. “While the inflammation process is a normal reaction of a body to any injury, infection, or other external influence, chronic inflammation can cause many serious disorders - not only the Alzheimer's, but also Parkinson's disease, arthritis, pancreatitis, cancer, and other diseases. Proteases are ferments that destroy proteins. They play an important role in the inflammation process and therefore are amidst the most desired targets for new anti-inflammatory medicinal drugs,” said Elena Leychenko, a senior research associate at PIBOC (the Far Eastern Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences).

CAREGIVING CORNER

An August 24, 2018 Careliving blog post by Kim Campbell, wife of the late legendary country singer Glen Campbell, talked about how Glen learned to live in the “now.” According to the post, “As the disease worsened and progressively robbed Glen of his memory and other basic functions, time was no longer something he thought or worried about. Whether he wanted to or not, he began to live in the moment – always in the “now.” I, however, was painfully aware of every hour, day, week and month as they flew by. I felt as if I was aging alone, and given the stress from being a caregiver… rapidly!”

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

An August 30, 2018 The Inquirer article spotlighted the new book, “Better Living with Dementia,” which advocates for a multidisciplinary approach to dementia care that emphasizes how professionals, family caregivers and society can support people with dementia in their homes and communities. According to the article, “Hodgson [author] said that medical professionals are "typically very deficit-focused."  They look for weaknesses that can be fixed.  Given the lack of treatments for dementia, she said, it makes more sense to find "preserved strengths" and help patients use them as long as possible.  Strategies that focus on using strengths to create meaningful activities can decrease social isolation, agitation and boredom.”