BRAIN HEALTH

A February 6, 2019 Next Avenue article looked at ways to have positive effects on brain health. A 2017 Lancet Commission report concluded that a third or more of dementia cases can be delayed or prevented by addressing lifestyle factors, including cognitive training, sleep, nutrition, exercise, and novelty, high engagement, mental challenge and enjoyableness of life. ““The very term ‘age-related memory loss’ may be a misnomer,” says neurologist Dr. Richard Isaacson, an Alzheimer’s specialist at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. Time and genetics alone don’t erode brain functions. How we spend our lives managing the modifiable risk factors that affect our genes is highly significant for our brain health.”

YOUTH FOCUS

A February 9, 2019 MWTV NBC 15 broadcast segment spotlighted Girl Scout and 11th grader Alex Janis, who is using her cookie sales money to buy programmable One Button Radios for people with Alzheimer’s disease. Her own grandfather has AD, and music is a major comfort for him. “When I see their faces when we play the music and knowing that I can make it so they can play the music whenever they want and hear that music that makes them feel so good- that just feels amazing,” said Janis.

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

According to a February 8, 2019 Cleveland.com article, there is conflict between the Ohio medical marijuana law for caregivers and federal law. The state law allows the caregiver to administer marijuana to only two patients. “But for medical marijuana, at least from our understanding, it’s common that you would have a recommendation where you would take it daily and you might take it multiple times a day. So it’s a challenge in the way the law is written to figure out how a resident in a long-term care facility who is not capable of self-administering could have medical marijuana,” said Mary Cavanaugh of KemperHouse Northeast Ohio memory care facility.

CAREGIVING CORNER

A February 9, 2019 Log Cabin Democrat opinion piece by Norma Jane Casey Varner, who is caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, gave suggestions on how to help caregivers relate to people with AD. According to Varner, “Ask, “How are you?” Say hello, and greet them warmly. My loved one really understands more than most people know. A warm smile and a friendly hand on the shoulder is a great comfort to both of us. My loved one knows if you are being “ugly” or “nice” to them. Say, “We love you and will pray for you.””

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

Sign-up for the free “Clinical Trials 101: Understanding How Clinical Trials Work to Find the Right Fit For You” live video session with Antidote Technologies. February 27, 2019 at 3pm (EST). Register here.  

Enter a friend or family member, who is a caregiver for a loved one with a chronic illness, disease or injury, in the Family Caregiver of the Year Award. Submit a nomination by March 15, 2019. Five winners will be featured on CareGiving.com and in a podcast, and receive free registration to the Fourth Annual National Caregiving Conference in Chicago, November 7-10, 2019.