MUST READS

A March 25, 2020 AARP article pointed to the new realities caregivers are facing during this unique time of heightened uncertainty, now that health care providers’ time is limited because of the coronavirus. Additional caregiving burden may trigger new opportunities for caregivers to embrace telemedicine, turn to alternative providers, and trust their own judgment. According to the article, “You already know your care recipient — eating habits, pallor, moods and thinking skills — better than any provider ever will. Be the expert eye on his or her appearance and behavior. Be the master of the pillbox. Trust that you can be an effective extension and partner of our hard-pressed health care providers.”

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

A March 25, 2020 Health Day article looked at the link between untreated sleep apnea and heightened risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. French researchers from the Cyceron Center in Caen utilized portable home sleep trackers and found that around three-quarters of participants had sleep disorders, which is associated with early brain structure changes leading to AD. According to the article, “Chételat and her team suggested that their findings "highlight the need to treat sleep disorders in the older population," even in the absence of any obvious signs of dementia or Alzheimer's. But is it actually clear that a sleeping disorder can directly cause Alzheimer's risk to go up? Or that by tackling and treating something like sleep apnea one might effectively lower long-term dementia risk?” Also covered by UPI.

FEEL GOOD STORY OF THE DAY

A March 25, 2020 Fox 8 video spotlighted chef James Miller, who sings to residents of Kemper House who have Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. This is especially important in light of the coronavirus restrictions which dictate that residents cannot have visitors. Music has been shown to be beneficial for people with dementia.