Triad Senior Day Out

Mark your calendar if you are in Louisville, KY for Tuesday, October 14, 2008. That day is the Triad Senior Day Out. It will be held at the Kentucky International Convention Center at 4th and Market. The event goes from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm. There will be health screenings, door prizes, entertainment, speakers, BINGO and information booths.

There is no charge for this event. A free lunch is provided for those who register before Sept 26th. Call 502-574-5092 for information to register.

You will find us during the day at the Aging In Place pavilion. We hope you will stop by and say hello.

Brain Scan Could Diagnose Alzheimer's 10 Years Before Symptoms

With use of a radioactive dye developed in Pittsburgh, doctors might be able to diagnose Alzheimer's disease 10 years before it strikes. Researchers in Finland have discovered that Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) will attach to brain proteins. In research studies, the compound was 90% effective in predicting the presence of beta amyloid plaques which are indicators of Alzheimer's disease. Amyloids can appear at least 10 years before the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms.

PiB was developed four years ago by Dr. Chester Mathis and Dr. William Klunk, both of the University of Pittsburgh to help diagnose Alzheimer's disease. However, until the ground-breaking Finnish study, the only way to positively validate a diagnosis of Alzheimer's was by post-mortem autopsy. The Finnish study is the first to verify an Alzheimer's diagnosis on live patients.

Using brain surgery patients as subjects, Finnish researchers injected dye intravenously then performed a brain image scan. Results were confirmed by conducting biopsies of tissue taken from the patients' brains during surgery. The new research on live patients may allow doctors to some day test patients for Alzheimer's in time to retard its development.

AM Warner Insurance Unveils New Website

We're excited here at AM Warner Insurance. Today we unveil our newly designed website. We've been working hard to make our website even more user-friendly and easier to navigate. Click here to check out the new AM Warner Insurance website.

At the top of our home page, you'll find a handy tab for each of the major insurance services we offer. With a click of the mouse you can access helpful web pages that provide valuable information in easy to understand terms, no confusing industry lingo or undecipherable acronyms. You'll also find answers to commonly asked questions and detailed descriptions of our services.

Easy to click topics at the top of each web page provide detailed information pertinent to that particular insurance service. For example, the Long Term Care Insurance tab offers topic choices on risks, payment options, coverage choices, and special information for business owners. We believe that education is the key to making wise decisions and strive to give you the information you need to make the best possible choices for your future.

We know you'll also like the handy left-hand navigation bar that appears on every page. It allows you to navigate to any area of our site from whatever page you're currently viewing. You can also access our blog, newsletter archive and other exciting features and resources from the left-hand navigation bar. While you're at our site, take a minute to sign up for our email newsletter. Just click the box on our home page.

At AM Warner Insurance, we specialize in long term care insurance and Medicare options. We also offer life insurance, dental plans, health insurance, hospital indemnity insurance plans, cancer insurance, and annuities. Our clients are important to us. We work hard to serve as a knowledgeable resource for our clients and pride ourselves on the personal service we provide. We never recommend something to our clients that we wouldn't offer our own family. At AM Warner Insurance, we treat you like family. To find out more about our services, contact AM Warner Insurance today. We look forward to serving you.

Specific Protein Form Linked to Alzheimer's Disease

Scientists may have discovered a new clue to the cause of Alzheimer's disease. A sticky protein called beta-amyloid clutters the brains of Alzheimer's victims. Researchers have been trying to determine whether the protein causes Alzheimer's or is a side effect of the memory-robbing disease. Scientists are also studying tangles of protein called tau as a potential cause.

In new research reported in the journal Nature Medicine, Harvard Medical School scientists found that rats injected with one particular form of beta-amyloid -- a two-molecule soluble form -- developed Alzheimer's. Injections of other forms of beta-amyloid -- one and three-molecule soluble forms and insoluble forms -- did not cause illness. Researchers believe this could be the reason why some people with beta-amyloid plaque in their brains do not develop Alzheimer's symptoms.

Rats injected with two-molecule soluble beta-amyloid showed impaired memory function, particularly for new behaviors. The density of their brain cells was also reduced by 47%. This is the first indication that a specific protein is related to Alzheimer's disease and spurs hope for a future cure.

Top Concerns of Seniors

Are your concerns the same as other seniors ages 63 to 80? Take a look below to see what others think.

• 80% of respondents were concerned with staying up to date on health care news
• 43% use physicians for healthcare information
• 25% use the Internet
• 22% use magazines
• 20% use newspapers
• 18% use television
• 69% were concerned with health and well being
• 22% said Alzheimer's disease is the top individual mental health condition
• 62% are concerned with maintaining health and mobility
• 55% work on maintaining an active lifestyle
• 55% are concerned about the affordability of prescription drugs
• 58% were concerned with their spiritual well being
• 45% want to be at peace before death
• 56% are concerned with receiving adequate care in old age
• 52% worry about personal finances
• 48% are concerned about maintaining social relationships
• 32% are dealing with depression
• 31% are dealing with loneliness

Source: http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/SeniorStats/6-08-23-SeniorCitizensMost.htm

White Elephant Sale for Alzheimer's This Saturday

This Saturday, August 23, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. we're holding a White Elephant Sale to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association. The sale will be held rain or shine at Eden Terrace, a Sunrise Senior Living Community, located at 901 Blankenbaker Parkway in Louisville. Eden Terrace is across from Southeast Christian Church which is generously allowing us to park in the church parking lot.

There will be something for everyone at the sale. Clothing, housewares, appliances, furniture and more. We'll even have tasty snacks and beverages available for purchase. So stop by Eden Terrace tomorrow and check out all the cool stuff. There's sure to be something there you'd love to take home.

At the sale you can also purchase tickets to the Alzheimer's Association raffle for a fabulous 42" Panasonic Flat Screen Plasma TV worth $1,000. Raffle tickets are only $5 for your chance to win a dream TV and support Alzheimer's at the same time!

Don't forget the Memory Walk on September 6. There's still plenty of time to support me in the walk with your tax deductible donation to the Alzheimer's Association.

To donate online with a credit card:

• Go to http://www.08louisvillememorywalk.kintera.org/
• On the top choice bar, click Find a Walker
• Enter my name, Allison Warner
• Click search
• Scroll down to my name and click on it
• Follow the prompts to enter your donation

To donate by check through the mail:

• Make your check payable to Alzheimer's Association
• Mail it to me at:
  Allison Warner
  4704 Miles Lane, Suite B
  Louisville, KY 40219

Please feel free to call me at 502-742-4979 if you have any questions or problems. I'm working to raise $3,000 for Alzheimer's this year and I'm nearly there. I'm hoping you will help me reach my goal. The Alzheimer's Association is a great cause, and I want to thank you in advance for your support.

Support Alzheimer's and Win a Flat Screen TV

In connection with our annual Memory Walk, AM Warner Insurance, Right at Home and Eden Terrace are sponsoring a raffle for a fabulous 42-inch Panasonic Flat Screen Plasma TV worth $1,000! Tickets are just $5 each and can be purchased by calling me at 502-742-4979. The drawing will be held on Friday, September 5, 2008.

The raffle is being made possible by the gracious donations of Medlink, the McMahon Group and Best Buy. This is your chance to help the Alzheimer's Association and possibly win your dream TV just in time for football season! Proceeds support Alzheimer's research and local residents struggling with Alzheimer's disease.

Don't forget the Memory Walk on September 6. There's still plenty of time to support me in the walk with your tax deductible donation to the Alzheimer's Association.

To donate online with a credit card:

• Go to http://www.08louisvillememorywalk.kintera.org/
• On the top choice bar, click Find a Walker
• Enter my name, Allison Warner
• Click search
• Scroll down to my name and click on it
• Follow the prompts to enter your donation

To donate by check through the mail:

• Make your check payable to Alzheimer's Association
• Mail it to me at:
  Allison Warner
  4704 Miles Lane, Suite B
  Louisville, KY 40219

Please feel free to call me at 502-742-4979 if you have any questions or problems. I'm working to raise $3,000 for Alzheimer's this year and I'm nearly there. I'm hoping you will help me reach my goal. The Alzheimer's Association is a great cause, and I want to thank you in advance for your support.

Early Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

Research at the University of Cincinnati indicates that losing your sense of smell may be the first sign of Alzheimer's disease. Relatively few brain cells are devoted to odor detection, so the loss of just a few can have a pronounced effect. Loss of smell doesn't necessarily indicate neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, but it does signal a need for evaluation by a doctor.

The 10 most common early warning signs of Alzheimer's are:

1. Recent memory loss that affects job skills
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks
3. problems with language
4. Disorientation of time and place
5. Poor or decreased judgment
6. Problems with abstract thinking
7. Misplacing things
8. Changes in mood or behavior
9. Changes in personality
10. Loss of initiative

If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, I urge you to talk to your doctor and see if you need to be evaluated for Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's disease affects 26 million people worldwide. I've been raising money for Alzheimer's research for the past seven years by walking in the Alzheimer's Memory Walk. I'll be walking again in a few weeks and invite you to sponsor me with a tax deductible donation to the Alzheimer's Association. Funds are used to support research and help local Louisville families struggling to cope with this debilitating disease.

There are two ways to contribute:

• Mail a check payable to the Alzheimer's Association to: AM Warner Insurance, 4704 Miles Lane, Suite B, Louisville, KY 40219
• Donate by credit card online by going to http://www.08louisvillememorywalk.kintera.org.
  Along the top choice bar, click Find a Walker Enter my name, Allison Warner, and click Search. Scroll down to my name and click on it. Then just follow the prompts.

If you have any questions or have trouble contributing online, please call me at 502-742-4979. I'd be happy to walk you through the process. Thank you for supporting the Alzheimer's Association and me. Together we can make a difference!

Don't Worry! Be Happy!

Laughter is the best form of medicine, they say. Though scientists haven't been able pinpoint why, studies show there's a lot of truth to the old saying. Many people are firm believers.

Many cancer patients say laughter helps them cope with pain. Laughter gives us an emotional boost that can decrease stress, anxiety and depression. Some think laughter strengthens relationships, that we achieve a special bonding when we laugh together that makes it easier to cope with life's troubles. At the very least it provides a welcome distraction. Nursing home residents in a Clemson University study requested less pain medication after watching I Love Lucy reruns. Slapstick comedy produced the best results, according to study leader, Clemson professor Fran McGuire.

Doctors do know that laughter can boost the immune system. "Laughter is just like a vitamin that you take every day," said Mary Bennett, director of Western Kentucky University's nursing program. "It's another one of those healthy behaviors that we all should do, like eating right and exercising."

"We hunger for humor. We long for laughter," said Sister Sue Tracy, a survivor of multiple cancers and Dominican nun in Grand Rapids, Michigan. That hunger has led to the formation of laughter clubs where people get together to tell jokes and puns and share a good belly laugh.

So next time you need a good laugh, tune in Lucy and Ethel or the Three Stooges, pick up a book by humor columnist Dave Barry, regale yourself with a Stephanie Plum adventure by comedic novelist Janet Evanovich, turn on Comedy Central, stay up and catch Jay Leno's opening monologue, read the jokes in Readers' Digest or go on the internet to your favorite joke site. You'll be happier if you have a good belly laugh every day!

New Auto Safety Features for Older Drivers

Auto manufacturers are working to meet the needs of the aging Baby Boomer generation. New safety features are being introduced to help older drivers continue to drive safely. If you or your parents are in the market for a new car, ask about the following safety features:

• Tilt and telescoping steering wheel. Adjustable steering columns alleviate neck and shoulder pain and allow you to position yourself a safe 10 inches from the front airbag (usually housed in the center of the steering wheel).
• Thicker steering wheel. The thicker steering wheel shown in some sports models is easier for arthritic or weak hands to grip.
• Mirrors with wide visibility. Wider visibility helps compensate for the more limited range of motion that occurs with aging. Drivers don't have to turn or crane their necks to check blind spots. If arthritis is a factor, consider power mirrors.
• Heated seats and lumbar support. Lumbar support helps prevent back aches while driving. Heated seats are comfy in cold weather and make driving more comfortable for arthritic drivers.
• Adjustable power seats. Six-way adjustable seats enable shorter drivers to see over the steering wheel. They also make it easier to get in and out of the car.
• Adjustable foot pedals. Adjustable pedals allow shorter drivers to reach the pedals while still maintaining a safe distance from the front airbag.
• Extendable sun visors. Great for shorter drivers, of course; and they cut the glare that can bother older eyes.
• Larger dash controls. Bigger is better as you age. Bigger controls are easier to see and easier to manipulate.
• Side safety lights. Front side lights illuminate the street as you're turning, making it easier to see where you're going.
• Four doors. Time to trade in that sports car. The lighter-weight doors on a sedan are easier to open and close and allow more room for entering and exiting the car in parking lots.

Memory Walk Supports Alzheimer's Research

The annual Alzheimer's Memory Walk is coming up September 6. I'm again raising money to help support research and help local families coping with Alzheimer's disease. I invite you to sponsor me in the Memory Walk by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Alzheimer's Association. You'll find complete sponsorship details in my August 4 post.

Alzheimer's disease strikes 500,000 Americans every year. Your contribution to the Alzheimer's Association will support critical research into the diagnosis, treatment and, someday, a cure for this disease. Scientists are working hard to find new ways to detect and treat Alzheimer's disease. Here are some of their latest findings:

• Seniors who exercise at least three days a week can reduce their risk of contracting Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia by 30% to 40%, researchers found. Only minimal exercise was required, and the results held true for people in all physical conditions. The study was conducted by the Group Health Cooperative Center for Health Studies in Seattle.
• The seeds of Alzheimer's and dementia are sown in middle age. Your risk of developing dementia increases significantly if you have high cholesterol (42%), high blood pressure (24%), diabetes (46%) or smoke (26%), according to a study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research. Having all four risk factors increases your risk by 237%. Controlling these risk factors obviously reduces your risk of dementia.
• Scientists have found that near-infrared light, undetectable by the human eye, can pass harmlessly through the skull and brain. They hope the process will allow them to pinpoint the plaques and tangles that signal Alzheimer's disease. Clinical trials are being conducted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs with Harvard Medical School and Boston University.
• A mild type of mental decline that often precedes Alzheimer's disease is more common than previously thought, new research indicates. Each year nearly 1 million older Americans slide from normal memory to mild impairment. Another half million develop full-blown Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. Findings were presented at the recent international conference on Alzheimer's in Chicago.
• Early exposure to lead has led to the development of brain plaque in monkeys in a 23-year experiment at the University of Rhode Island. While monkeys do not contract Alzheimer's disease, brain plaque is a suspected cause. A spokesman for the Alzheimer's Association cautioned lead-poisoning victims not to panic. He categorized the findings as another potential risk factor.
• Stanford University scientists have developed a test that is 90% effective in distinguishing Alzheimer's disease sufferers from those without the disease. The test was 80% effective in determining which patients with mild memory loss would develop Alzheimer's disease within the next 2 to 6 years. While further study and scientific validation must be conducted, researchers hope their work will lead to a predictive blood test for Alzheimer's disease.

Four Steps to Safer Healthcare

While patient safety is the goal of every healthcare professional, there are four important things you should do to make sure you get the safest healthcare possible:

1. Ask questions. Choose a doctor you feel comfortable talking to. Ask questions and make sure you get answers you understand. It helps some people to write down their questions before they go to the doctor so they don't forget what they want to ask. Consider take a relative or friend along to help ask questions and write down the doctor's instructions so you don't forget any important information. If you're unclear about something when you get home, call the doctor's office and ask to speak to the nurse for clarification.
2. Keep track of medications. Make a list of all the medications you take (some pharmacies will print you a list), including number of milligrams and dosage amounts. Make sure you also list any vitamins, supplements and herbal remedies you take. Note any drug allergies you have. Take this list with you every time you go to the doctor. If the doctor prescribes a new drug, ask about side effects, drug interactions and what to avoid while taking the medicine. When you pick up your prescription, make sure it's what the doctor prescribed and ask the pharmacist how to use it. Read all labels and warnings and call the pharmacist or your doctor's office if you have questions. If a refill looks different from previous prescriptions for the same medication, ask the pharmacist about it. Sometimes generic drugs by different manufacturers are different shapes or colors. But don't assume; ask the pharmacist first.
3. Get test results. If your doctor orders a test or procedure ask when to expect the results. If you don't hear from the doctor in the prescribed time, call and ask for the results. Never assume everything is fine if you don't hear anything. Make sure you understand test results and ask your doctor for an explanation if you don't.
4. Choose hospitals carefully. If you require hospital care, talk to your doctor about which hospital will best meet your health needs. Ask which hospital can provide the best care and results for your particular medical condition. Before you leave the hospital, make sure you understand instructions about follow-up care.

Drug May Halt Alzheimer's

Finally, there is hope on the horizon. An experimental drug may halt Alzheimer's disease, Singapore-based TauRx Therapeutics announced last week at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Chicago. Called Rember, the drug takes a new approach to treating Alzheimer's by breaking up the protein tangles that clog victims' brains. It's the first good news in a field battered by recent setbacks.

"These are the first very positive results I've seen" for stopping mental decline, said Marcelle Morrison-Bogorad, director of Alzheimer's research at the National Institute on Aging. "It's just fantastic."

Much testing is still to be done before the drug can be offered to patients. It is currently in the second of three developmental phases. Tests on human patients suggest that Rember can dissolve the tau protein tangles that destroy memory. Four Alzheimer's drugs are currently available to ease symptoms, but this is the first drug that shows promise of actually halting progression of the disease.

In a 19-month study of 321 patients, people taking a placebo lost an average 7% of their brain function in the first 6 months and continued to decline for the length of the study. People who took a moderate dose of Rember showed absolutely no decline at all over the entire 19-month study period.

The main chemical in Rember -- methylene blue -- is currently available in a different formulation as a prescription drug used to treat chronic bladder infections. Available since the 1930s, methlene blue predates formation of the Food & Drug Administration and has never been tested for safety or effectiveness.

Additional research is critically needed to combat Alzheimer's Disease. The illness afflicts more than 26 million people worldwide and is expected to reach epidemic proportions as the Baby Boomer generation ages. I have long been a supporter of the Alzheimer's Association and will participate in my 7th Memory Walk on Saturday, September 6. Last year I raised $2000 for Alzheimer's research. This year my goal is to raise $2500. I hope you'll support me by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Alzheimer's Association. Any size contribution will be appreciated. Here's how you can contribute:

• Send a check payable to Alzheimer's Association to:
  AM Warner Insurance, 4704 Miles Lane, Suite B, Louisville, KY 40219
• Donate online at http://www.08louisvillememorywalk.kintera.org/
  Click on Find a Walker, enter Allison Warner and click Search
  Scroll down to my name and click on it, then follow the prompts.
  If you have any problems, please call me at 502-742-4979 and I'll walk you through it.

Thanks in advance for your support. I love to have you join me on the 1 mile walk in September. The day is always sunny and we have a great time. Watch this space for more details later in the month.

Join Me in Fighting Alzheimer's Disease

As you may already know, I am a strong supporter of the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk. This will be my 7th year participating. Alzheimer's disease can be devastating, affecting not only the patient, but the entire family. It is the leading reason for long-term care, which is why I'm so passionate about helping to find a cure. Last year I raised $2000 for the Alzheimer's Association; my goal this year is $2500.

The Alzheimer's Association is the only national voluntary health organization dedicated to funding research to conquer Alzheimer's disease. The annual Memory Walk is the organization's largest fundraising event. In addition to funding national research, the walk provides funds for local services to afflicted individuals and their families.

I need your help! Please sponsor me for the Memory Walk by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Alzheimer's Association. Any size contribution will be greatly appreciated and will help in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. There are two ways to contribute:

• Mail a check payable to the Alzheimer's Association to:
  AM Warner Insurance, 4704 Miles Lane, Suite B, Louisville, KY 40219
• Donate by credit card online by going to http://www.08louisvillememorywalk.kintera.org
  Along the top choice bar, click Find a Walker
  Enter my name, Allison Warner, and click Search
  Scroll down to my name and click on it
  Follow the prompts

If you have any questions or have trouble contributing online, please call me at 502-742-4979. I'd be happy to walk you through the process.

The Louisville Memory Walk will be held on Saturday, September 6, so please make your contribution as early as possible. I invite you to walk with me. It's always a sunny day, the walk in only 1 mile, and we have a great time.

Thank you for supporting the Alzheimer's Association and me. Together we can make a difference!

Soothing Sunburns

Ahhhh, the idyllic vacation days of August. Hot, lazy days on the beach. Swimming and boating on crystal clear waters. Hiking through wildflower-strewn meadows. Vacation time is here again!

Hot days in the sun can take a toll on your skin. Just 10 minutes in the sun on a hot August day can result in sunburn. Even if all you're doing this month is weeding the garden and ferrying the kids to the pool or local park, a bad case of sunburn can put the kibosh on your plans and make life miserable for a few days. Prevention is worth a pound of cure, as my grandmother used to say. Slather on the sunscreen and repeat periodically. Even if you're wearing sunscreen that claims to be long-lasting or waterproof, you're safer if you reapply sunscreen every couple of hours. The higher the SPF number the better, particularly if for kids and seniors or if you have fair skin.

If the worst happens and you do get a sunburn, here are some suggestions for soothing sunburned skin:

• Take a cool shower or bath or apply cool compresses to burned areas. Adding baking soda or colloidal oatmeal to the bathwater will also help sooth the skin.
• Keep skin moist with lotion.
• Apply aloe vera gel to cool the skin and relieve pain.
• Adults can take an over-the-counter pain reliever.