Mild Cognitive Decline Tied to Early Onset Alzheimer's

A new study links Alzheimer’s disease’s onset to mild declines in cognitive ability.  A team at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, autopsied the brains of people with mild cognitive impairment, those with probable Alzheimer’s, and those who were cognitively normal.  In the brains of the people with mild cognitive impairment, the same plaques and tangles found in patients with Alzheimer’s disease were present, although in less severity and confined to a specific area.  Researcher Dr. Joseph Parisi said of the study’s importance, “It provides an anatomical basis for the clinical condition of mild cognitive impairment and shows there are structural changes in the brains of people who may develop Alzheimer’s disease.”  To access more information on the article, visit http://archneur.ama-assn.org.

Risk of Alzheimer's Reduced by 40% With Diet

Annals of Neurology (June 2006)

"Eating a Mediterranean diet cuts the risk of Alzheimer's disease by up to 40%." In one of the largest studies of the impact of food and drink on mental decline, researchers found that eating a Mediterranean diet cuts the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by up to 40%. The diets of people in southern France, Italy, and Spain are rich in olive oil and red wine, which help protect against heart disease and high blood pressure and may prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Study participants who only partially followed a Mediterranean diet had a reduced risk of 15% to 20%.  To view the study, visit http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jhome/76507645.

Socializing Reduces Cognitive Impact of Alzheimer's

A study conducted at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, found that having close friends and staying in contact with family members offers a protective effect against the damaging effects of Alzheimer’s disease. The amount of Alzheimer’s disease pathology and cognitive performance changed with the size of a person’s social network; the more support from family and friends, the less cognitive impact of the disease. For more information, visit http://www.rush.edu.

Alzheimer's Treatment Shows Promising Results

"People with mild to moderate Alzheimer's treated with cholinesterase inhibitors showed significantly greater improvement."A class of drugs known as cholinesterase inhibitors is the primary U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Until now, the effectiveness of these drugs has been hard to prove conclusively using traditional measures of a person’s mental abilities. In a study involving 130 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, doctors found that patients treated with cholinesterase inhibitors showed significantly greater improvement in reaching their goals than those who received a placebo.  Visit http://thechronicleherald.ca/ for more information.

Completing 1/4-Mile Walk May Predict Death, Poor Health

According to a new study, the ability to walk 400 meters, or about a quarter-mile, was an important determinant not only of whether older adult participants would be alive six years later but also how much illness and disability they would experience within that timeframe. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, and their collaborators monitored study participants, ages 70 to 79, for about six years.  Their data concluded that staying physically active in one’s 70s reaps rewards for future health in his or her 80s, in terms of living longer and reducing his or her risk of cardiovascular disease and disability.  For more information on the study, visit http://jama.ama-assn.org.

Tai Chi Increases Physical Fitness & Decreases Falls

Life Services Network Week's News (April 2006)

"Tai chi was found to significantly improve balance, flexibility, and muscular strength in older adults."

Two recent studies confirm the powerful effects of tai chi on improving physical fitness and decreasing falls among older adults. Tai chi is a martial art that uses slow movements to improve balance and coordination.  The first study monitored 39 Chinese adults whose average age was 65.7 years and who had at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor. The researchers found that among those who took tai chi classes three times a week significantly improved balance, flexibility, and muscular strength and endurance.  In the second study, participants who had fallen at least once within the prior year tried tai chi and significantly improved their time to complete three chair rises, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and resting heart rate.   Access the following links for more information on these studies; Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine: http://www.alternative-therapies.com and The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences: http://biomed.gerontologyjournals.org.

Exercise Helps Relieve Depression After Stroke

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the average duration of major depression in people who have suffered a stroke is just under a year.  Recognizing that physical activity has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression, researchers followed 100 stroke survivors whose average age was 69.8 years, who were living in their homes, and who had completed acute rehabilitation therapy. The participants exercised in a progressive program emphasizing balance, strength, endurance, and arm function for three months and found that exercise may contribute to an improved quality of life. For more information, visit http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0002-8614.

Obese Older Adults Incur Significant Medical Costs

Not only do obese older adults suffer tremendous physical consequences, but a study found that their lifetime financial costs increase significantly as well.  The study reports that a 70-year-old obese person incurs $39,000 in additional medical costs compared with costs for a peer who is not obese.  Furthermore, Medicare will spend about 34% more on an obese person than on someone of normal weight.  To access the full article, visit http://www.uptilt.com/content/18849/PFP/March/Obesity.pdf.

Weight-Loss in Obese Older Adults Reduces Frailty

A new study shows that moderate weight-loss in obese older adults helps improve physical function and combats frailty.  Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, studied adults in their 60s and 70s who were able to achieve moderate weight-loss through diet and exercise.  These groups of frail, obese, older participants were randomly assigned to 26 weeks of diet and exercise, or no treatment. Physical functioning and health-related quality of life increased and frailty decreased in the treatment group.  For more information, visit http://archinte.ama-assn.org.

Catheters and IVs Present Danger, Warns JCAHO

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) issued a warning to long-term care organizations to be aware that catheter and tubing misconnections occur frequently and often have deadly consequences.  The important warning signs of a possible misconnection include having to force-fit tubes together or having to use an adaptor. Some of the steps organizations can take to reduce risk include rechecking connections and tracing all tubes and catheters back to their sources when a resident arrives from another health care setting.  To read the warning in full, log onto http://www.jointcommission.org.

U.S. Ranks Last in Patient Safety Among Nations

The U.S., despite spending the most per capita on health care, ranks lower on measures of care according to two reports released by the Commonwealth Fund.  Surveys of adults’ health care experiences in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, and the U.K. found that America ranked last for equity, efficiency, patient safety, and patient centeredness, and ranked third for timeliness of care.  For more information, visit http://www.cmwf.org.

New Guidelines on Lifting & Moving Residents

Life Services Network Week's News (April 2006)

Safe Lifting and Movement of Nursing Home Residents is a new guide available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that incorporates research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Veteran’s Health Administration (VHA), and the University of Wisconsin. The guide addresses topics such as the challenges of lifting residents in nursing homes, the benefits and costs of a safe resident-lifting program, and frequently asked questions about these processes.   To download the guide, visit http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2006-117.

Female Caregivers & Helpful Work Benefits

According to an Indiana University study, women who become caregivers for ill or disabled family members are more likely to leave their jobs altogether than reduce their hours, although unpaid family leave, of all family-friendly benefits, proved most useful in helping caregivers keep their jobs.  More than 2,000 women participated in the study, and while benefits such as flexible hours, paid vacation, and sick days helped middle-aged women remain employed, only unpaid leave made a significant difference for caregivers. None of the benefits eased the caregivers’ psychological distress.  Log on to  http://roa.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/28/3/359 to read the full article.

Report on Improvement in Caregiving Released

A new report is available from the National Center on Caregiving at Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) and calls for a significant improvement in assessing family caregivers’ support and needs.  The caregiver assessment is an essential component of comprehensive care for frail older adults and adults with chronic, disabling conditions or dementia. The report comes in two parts; Volume 1, Caregiver Assessment: Principles, Guidelines and Strategies for Change is downloadable at http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content/

pdfs/v1_consensus.pdf.  Volume 2, Caregiver Assessment: Voices and Views from the Field is downloadable at http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content/

pdfs/v2_consensus.pdf.

Print Instructions: On your tool bar, click "File" and select "Page Setup."  Under "Orientation" select "Landscape"; then click "ok." Print as you normally do.

End-of-Life Care Preferences Change With Time

A new study reveals that older adults change their preferences for end-of-life care over time and are more willing to accept treatment resulting in physical disability than treatment resulting in cognitive disability.  Yale School of Medicine researchers conducted in-home interviews with 226 people ages 60 and older who suffered from cancer, congestive heart failure, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and found, over time, that patients’ rating of acceptable treatments changed as they declined in their ability to perform activities of daily living.  To read the full article, visit http://archinte.ama-assn.org.

U.S. Census Bureau Reports on Aging Americans

U.S. Census Bureau (April 2006)

"By 2030, almost one out of five Americans will be 65 years or older." A 243-page report released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Aging Americans found rapidly changing demographic trends among older adults and reports on five key areas: growth of the older population; longevity and health; economic characteristics; geographic distribution; and social and other characteristics.  Among the trends included in the report were that the U.S. population of people ages 65 and older is expected to double in size within the next 25 years.  This means that by 2030, almost one out of five Americans, or 72 million people, will be 65 years or older. To download the report, visit http://www.census.gov/prod/2006pubs/p23-209.pdf.

Free Eye Exams Combat AMD

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects more than 10 million Americans and is the leading cause of blindness among older adults.  The warning signs of AMD include blurry, faded, or distorted vision.  Early detection and treatment are key to preventing blindness.  EyeCare America’s Seniors EyeCare Program provides a free exam and up to a year of treatment.  It’s offered to citizens or legal residents ages 65 and older who have not seen an eye doctor in three or more years and who do not belong to an HMO insurance plan or their local Veterans Affairs (VA) office.  Call (800) 222-3937 for details.

Older Adults Frequent Targets of Fraud, Scams

"Studies show that fraudulent telemarketers direct as much as 80% of their calls to older adults." The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) wants to help older adults avoid being victims of fraud.  Studies show that fraudulent telemarketers direct as much as 80% of their calls to older adults, and the NCPC warns that offers from telemarketers and home improvement companies “too good to be true” usually are. Older adults should ask for details in writing so they can make an informed decision, and they should never give out personal information over the phone or Internet, particularly if a credit card or Social Security number is requested “up front.”  For more information, go to http://ncpc.org.