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Can your job impact your risk of cognitive decline?
A new study suggests that the type of work on does over the course of their life could impact their risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
The study, published in Neurology, tracked and analyzed the health and occupational data for 7,000 Norwegians over a roughly 30-year period. The individual’s occupation was categorized by researchers based upon its cognitive demand: for example, a factory…
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Marking Dad's birthday in a special place
I had a work trip this week that took me to New York City for the day. It just so happened to fall on what would have been my father’s 92nd birthday. It was nice to be able to mark the occasion in the first city my father lived in after immigrating to America.
While it’s been almost 70 years since my father walked the streets of the Big Apple, the city’s nonstop energy remains. I can only…
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Alzheimer’s Society facing criticism over 'The Long Goodbye'
A short film by the UK-based Alzheimer’s Society has generated a wide range of strong emotions from those with dementia and their families. In addition to the original video campaign embedded above, there is also an extended cut version and a profile of a couple who faced a heartbreaking FTD diagnosis.
The crux of the criticism comes from the film’s fatalistic point of view, framing dementia as…
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Embracing our loved one's eccentricities
I recently had a poem about my mother’s infamous shopping lists published. You can read “Her Lists” at The Prose Poem.
My mother’s lists were like a look inside her busy bee brain. It may have seemed like an oxymoron, but my mother’s chaotic organization style worked for her. That was fine until I became her caregiver and then I was the one responsible for interpreting her wacky roadmap.
I…
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2024 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
The 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures has been released by the Alzheimer’s Association. One major fact that jumped out to me was the topline figure. For years, it’s been over 6 million people in America are living with Alzheimer’s. Now we are at the 7 million threshold.
Here are other major takeaways from the report:
1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia
Alzheimer’s…
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New study sheds new light on cognitive decline's impact on speech functions
Changes in speech and word recall can be among the earlier signs of cognitive decline. We’ve all experienced this, no matter what the age: “It’s on the tip of my tongue!” While not always a precursor to Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, it’s important to recognize changes and talk to your doctor about them.
A recent study, albeit with a small sample size of 125, shed new light on what is a…
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Being an only child and caregiver to your parents
With my parents before my father moved into a memory care center.
The Wall Street Journal published an article recently about the beginning of an only child boom and its impact on caregiving. As an only child, I could relate all too well to the main subject of the article. I felt overwhelmed many times during my caregiving journey, and felt the crushing weight of making life or death medical…
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Wendy Williams diagnosed with FTD, aphasia
Embed from Getty Images
Former talk show host Wendy Williams recently revealed that she has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The update on her medical condition was provided as a new documentary about Williams and her whereabouts since leaving her talk show aired and generated a great deal of controversy.
I watched the documentary, “Where is…
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Remembering Wendy Mitchell, who shared her dementia experience with candor, compassion
I was saddened to learn that Wendy Mitchell, who so generously and insightfully shared her experience living with dementia through her blog and books, died this week. However, I take solace in knowing that Mitchell left this world in a way that honored the agency she still had over her own life.
I mostly knew Mitchell through her blog, Which me am I today? The blog’s title captures the dementia…
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How creating GenAI prompts reminds me of dementia communication
For the past year, I’ve immersed myself in the emerging generative AI technologies. Mostly for my job, but also for my personal curiosity. Every industry is being impacted by AI, including caregiving. If you’ve followed any of the AI discussion, you’ll know that while the technology offers great potential in certain areas, it also can produce errors, which are referred to as…
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Study explores link between vision issues and Alzheimer's disease
A recent study published in The Lancet takes a closer look at a specific vision issue that previous research suggests has a link to Alzheimer’s disease.
The new meta analysis reviewed previous research studies on posterior cortical atrophy. The rare condition causes damage to an area of the brain that results in visual impairment. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, symptoms can include…
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Controversial Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm to be discontinued by Biogen
The rocky road that the Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm experienced on its way to FDA approval was considered a hard-fought victory by proponents, but skeptics and critics may feel redeemed as Biogen announced Jan. 31 that it will discontinue production and research of the controversial drug.
Biogen’s announcement to abandon Aduhelm comes just two and a half years after the drug received accelerated…
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Accessible writing for those with dementia can benefit us all
Dementia can make many daily tasks difficult, if not impossible. One of those tasks is reading. My father was an avid reader throughout his life so as his dementia progressed, his one true hobby and passion in life was rudely stolen from him.
Reading skills are necessary to navigate daily life beyond reading for pleasure. Being able to interpret signs, recipes, instruction manuals, etc. all take…
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Can robots help those with dementia engage with past and present?
Social robots have been met with an understandable level of skepticism by elder care advocates. Can generative AI take such technology to the next level? A recent Wired article highlighted interesting developments in this field. Instead of focusing on robots substituting for human companionship or serving as a virtual caretaker, a group of researchers are developing robots “for the soul.”
One…
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Keeping your loved ones with dementia warm and safe during winter weather
The new year has started off with a blast of winter weather that is impacting a large portion of the U.S. The frigid temperatures are a sobering reminder to take special precautions if you are caring for someone with dementia.
Each year, cases are reported of those with dementia wandering away from home and dying from exposure during the winter. My dad was a dementia wanderer, so these tragic…
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New year, new opportunities for caregivers
Happy New Year! I hope you and your loved ones had a good holiday season. While we enter another year fraught with tension on many fronts, one way to harness anxiety is by focusing on positive actions you can take to make a difference.
Such actions can come in many forms. Maybe this is the year you finally join a caregiver support group. It’s an election year so perhaps you join forces with a…
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Happy Holidays
Wishing you and your family a peaceful and restful holiday season. The cats managed to negotiate with Santa Claus and get a gift early. I would love to be a cat with my very own soft, cozy house for endless naps!
For those grieving this holiday season, I fully understand and send you supportive and healing energy.
If you need last-minute gifts, you can get the e-book version of my award-winning…
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