One More Reason to Exercise

An estimated 35.6 million people live with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, a number that is predicted to double every 20 years. Research indicates that exercise can help stave off Alzheimer's disease and dementia. People who exercised at least mildly decreased their risk of developing dementia by 29% to 41%. Those who were very physically active decreased their dementia risk by 37% to 50%. Sounds like a good reason to get out there and take a walk.

Exercising your mind can also help keep dementia at bay. Researchers found that seniors in their 70s and 80s who exercised their cognitive skills every day by reading, writing, doing crossword puzzles, playing board or card games or participating in group discussions delayed dementia. In fact, each daily cognitive activity delayed dementia by two months. or more!

Alzheimer's Memory Walk Scrapbook

This year's annual Alzheimer's Memory Walk was tons of fun and a great success. More than 2,500 walkers strolled along Waterfront Park last Saturday. The sky may have been gray, but the rain held off and we had a great time. Walking with the beautiful Louisville skyline as a backdrop always makes for a pleasant morning, particularly when you're walking with good friends for a good cause. My team raised about $10,000, including $1600 at our annual yard sale and $1400 from the raffle. The plasma TV was won by Will Crawford.

I want to thank all my many supporters. Last year I raised $2,000 for Alzheimer's and my goal this year was to increase that amount by 50%. With your help, this year I was personally able to raise $3016 for Alzheimer's so far. Money raised goes to support Alzheimer's research and local families struggling with this difficult disease.

My sincere thanks to all of you who supported me and the Alzheimer's Association this year. Thanks for helping me reach my goal. Together we can do great things. I'm already looking forward to next year!

With thanks, Allison

(Left) The utterly fabulous Warner Insurance, Right at Home and Eden Terrace walking team arrive at the Memory Walk ready to strut their stuff.

(Right) Jeannie Locy (left),
president of Right at Home,
with Allison Warner, owner
of AM Warner Insurance.

Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk This Saturday

Are you ready to walk? The Alzheimer Association Memory Walk kicks off this coming Saturday, September 6 at 8:30 a.m. The walk will be held at beautiful Waterfront Park in Louisville. I hope you'll come out and join me. The walk is less than a mile, and the weather is always pleasant. Come on down and walk with me. It's good exercise for a good cause!

Alzheimer's disease affects more than 5 million Americans. It is one of the leading reasons people need long term care and one of the greatest expenses. Proceeds from the Memory Walk benefit national Alzheimer's research and local victims of Alzheimer's disease. I hope you'll support this most worthy cause.

This will be my 7th year participating in the Alzheimer's Memory Walk. My goal this year is to raise $3,000 for the Alzheimer's Association, but I need your help. Please support me in the Memory 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, and 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 hope you'll help me reach my goal. The Alzheimer's Association is a great cause, and I want to thank you in advance for your support.

And don't forget, there's still time to buy tickets to the Alzheimer's Association raffle. We're raffling off a fabulous 42-inch Panasonic Flat Screen Plasma TV worth $1,000. Tickets are just $5 each. Call me at 502-742-4979 to purchase. The drawing will be held on Friday, September 5.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

Free Memory Screenings Available Tomorrow

Of the many problems and diseases that can afflict us as we age, Alzheimer's disease -- the loss of memory and mental acuity -- is most feared by older Americans. Despite those fears, the overwhelming majority of people with memory concerns have never discussed their problems with their doctor. That's the finding of a recent survey conducted by the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.

Tomorrow, November 13, on National Memory Screening Day, sites throughout the country will offer free, confidential memory screenings in concert with the Alzheimer's Foundation. The annual event was initiated five years ago to raise public awareness about Alzheimer's Disease.

Last year 21,000 people participated in the free, confidential memory screenings at more than 700 health care sites across the country. Click here for more information and to locate a free screening site near you.

If you have questions or concern about memory loss, I urge you to attend a free, confidential memory screening tomorrow. There are many new treatments and techniques available now that can help and delay memory loss, but researchers say the earlier you start the better. Don't delay any longer. Do this for yourself and your loved ones.

Brain Games Ward Off Dementia

Brain health is the big new thing in senior health. People are living longer and they want to retain their full mental capacity as they age. Studies have found that there's a certain amount of truth to the adage "use it or lose it." Activities that force you to think quickly or switch from one type of brain activity to another (from reading to drawing, for example) appear to help ward off dementia.

Tuned into the fact that boomers are aging, game companies are starting to market brain games aimed at the growing senior market. Nintendo has come out with Brain Age which provides a changing series of activities that promote rapid calculation and rapid reading. Other game makers are jumping on the band wagon. On the internet you'll find lots of mind-bending sites to keep your brain active.

Here are some things you can do to keep your brain healthy and happy:

• Get out and exercise. Aerobic exercise pumps up your heart rate and sends more blood and oxygen to your brain.


• Lose those extra pounds. Obese middle-agers are twice as likely to develop dementia. High blood pressure and high cholesterol also increase your risk of dementia.


• Eat more brain food. Foods rich in antioxidants cleanse the brain of free radicals which can eat away at neuron connections. Add leafy veggies like spinach, broccoli and cauliflower to your diet. Don't forget antioxidant-rich fruits like blueberries, strawberries and cranberries. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish like trout and salmon also fight brain decay.


• Get on the computer. Brain specialists have developed brain training programs to give your neurons a good workout. Sold mostly to retirement communities but available to individuals, Posit Science offers BrainFitness for $395. A bit more affordable, MindFit can be downloaded from http://www.cognifit.com/ for $129.


• Play video games. Time to join the grandkids in front of the video screen and get your game on. Nintendo offers Brain Age and Mattel sells Radica Brain Games.


• Play online. Crank up the computer and visit an online brain gym for some cerebral exercise. Some good websites to try: BrainBuilder.com, Braingle.com, Eons.com, HappyNeuron.com and MyBrainTrainer.com.

"Bushy Brains" Function Longer and Better

Did you know that a healthy brain is like a fat bush with lots of slender, criss-crossing branches? That's the fascinating image drawn by reporter Lauran Neergaard of the Associated Press in an article explaining brain function and what happens to the brain as we age. (See our October 16, 2007 post.)

As we learn, branchlike tentacles grow from the ends of the brain's cells, like shoots sprouting from a seed, crossing and overlapping to create communication connections. The more we learn, the more branches and the more connections. In other words, we develop a "bushy" brain.

As we age, the brain cells (or seeds) don't die as they do in Alzheimer's Disease, but their branches often shrivel to skinny twigs. Without the multiple intertwining branches that enable communication, cells are less connected and have a harder time sending and receiving messages. For example, you may know someone's name but not be able to recall it.

Aging targets a different part of the brain's memory center, the hippocampus, than Alzheimer's. Interestingly, the brain has developed two methods of fighting the changes caused by aging. The curiosity, scientists say, is that brains are highly individual regarding which method they use to heal themselves and the extent to which healing occurs, if it does.

• Bushy brains. Some brains have developed so many connectors, or branches, that they remain largely unaffected by the ravages of age or even Alzheimer's damage. "Striking autopsy studies have found that between 20% and 40% of older people who displayed no confusion actually had brains riddled with Alzheimer's trademark plaques," wrote Neergaard. Apparently, their brains had developed so many connections that even the death of some neurons from Alzheimer's left plenty of neurons still able to maintain normal brain function. This ability of the brain to maintain function in the face of attack is called "cognitive reserve."
  


• By-pass brains. Some brains simply by-pass damaged or dead brain cells and neural pathways. If a pathway stops functioning, the brain finds an alternate pathway to maintain communication. "Brain scans show younger people tend to use different neural networks than older people when performing the same task," Neergaard wrote. Scientists speculate that when neural pathways break down as we age, the brain may seek out alternate routes used during our younger years. There is also evidence that the brain may build new pathways when old ones cease to function.

Can Science Put an End to "Senior Moments"?

As we age, some people's brains stay sharp, others get a little fuzzy. We're not talking about changes caused by dementia or Alzheimer's, just the normal wear and tear that happens over the years -- you know, what people euphemistically call "senior moments." My Grandmother was sharp as a tack until her death at 98. My Dad, now 83, seems to spend many of his days in a state of muzzy confusion, not certain what day it is, what happened yesterday or where he left things. Scientists want to know why age affects our brains differently.

As our population grays, the question becomes increasingly critical. Most people in their 60s today can easily expect to live into their mid-80s. Most people in their 50s will still be blowing out birthday candles well into their 90s. Improvements in health care insure that our bodies will keep on chugging; it's time science made sure our brains can keep up.

That was the focus of a recent gathering of brain specialists organized by the National Institute on Aging to explore promising research. "We need to understand how to defer normal cognitive aging ... the way we've invested in fighting heart disease and cancer," said Dr. Denise Park, director of the University of Illinois Center for Healthy Minds.

The only sure-fire method of maintaining mental acuity documented so far is physical exercise. Other promising options targeted for further study include:

• possible benefits of brain-training games like crossword puzzles and sudoku,
• medications that might strengthen neural networks in the brain, and
• methods for encouraging the brain to build new pathways when old ones disintegrate or are damaged by aging, a process that naturally occurs in some brains.

For now, get out there and walk or get some other physical exercise at least three times a week. In a study, 72 -year-olds who walked three times a week significantly improved brain activity. Brain scans showed activity levels similar to those of much younger adults. So what are you waiting for? Get moving!

Support the Alzheimer's Memory Walk

The Alzheimer's Memory Walk is coming up next Saturday, September 8. It will be my sixth year walking and my fifth year on the Louisville organizing committee. I am a strong supporter of the Alzheimer's Association. If you've read my last few blogs, you understand the need to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease and provide help its victims and caregivers.

The Louisville Memory Walk provides funds for local services to affected individuals and their families. It is our biggest fundraiser of the year.

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.

You may contribute in several ways:

• Send a check payable to the Alzheimer's Association to:
  AM Warner Insurance, Inc.
  4707 Miles Lane, Suite B
  Louisville, KY 40219
• Donate online at http://07louisvillememorywalk.kintera.org/. Click on sponsor participant and enter my name: Allison Warner. You can use a credit card or fill out an online check.

I invite you to join me for this year's Memory Walk on Saturday, September 8. You'll find full details on our website. It's always a pleasant, sunny day and the walk is an easy 1.3 miles. Meet me on the great lawn at Waterfront Park. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. Together, we can make a difference.

Thank you for your support, Allison Warner

Training Can Help Alzheimer's Caregivers

Simple training can significantly ease the burden for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients and help keep those patients out of nursing homes for an additional 1 1/2 years. The problem is most caregivers don't have the time to take the training.

More than 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease. One in eight people 65 and older are afflicted, one in two of those older than 85. By 2050, 16 million American's are projected to have the degenerative disease.

"I don't think society and policymakers have fully grasped the future magnitude of what we're up against," said Dr. Richard Suzman of the National Institute on Aging.

Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland) has introduced legislation that would give families a $3,000 federal income tax credit to offset some of the expenses and lost income of caring for a family member with Alzheimer's. Actual costs run from about $7,400 a year for moderate dementia to $17,700 for severe dementia.

At New York University's School of Medicine, 406 elderly people caring for a spouse with Alzheimer's were studied. Half received special training tailored to their family's particular needs. The other half received the standard Alzheimer's support: a list of Alzheimer's resources. Tracking the families for 17 years, study director Mary Mittleman found that trained caregivers were able to keep their loved ones out of a nursing home for an average of 1 1/2 years longer than those who received no training. With annual nursing home costs averaging $60,000, that's a family savings of $90,000 or more.

New Hope for Alzheimer's Patients

New research suggests that Alzheimer's Disease may be reversible if discovered and treated in an early enough stage. A new theory is emerging from multiple research laboratories around the world that refines the beta-amyloid theory that has dominated Alzheimer's research since the 1980s.

If the new theory proves correct, immunotherapy and antibody targeting of beta-amyloid proteins in the early stages of the disease could stop Alzheimer's in its tracks. It is hoped that the new theory will lead to the development of drug protocols that will alter and even arrest the disease process, not merely treat its symptoms. Alzheimer's Disease affects 5.1 million Americans, a figure that is projected to reach 7.7 million by 2030.

The new theory is based on recent findings on the behavior and nature of oligomers. Oligomers are early-stage beta-amyloid proteins. Research indicates that oligomers prevent people from forming new memories.

"It's like a hormone from the dark side that blocks the biochemistry of memory," explains William Klein, professor of neurobiology and physiology at Northwestern University's Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center.

For years researchers thought that oligomers caused brain cells to die. New research seems to indicate that it is the oligomers themselves that are toxic. In the past month researchers have discovered naturally occurring antibodies in human blood that selectively target oligomers. This suggests that Alzheimer's may be an immune deficiency disorder and that it may be possible to defend the body against Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative disorders that cause dementia.

Do You Have Caregiver Stress?

This hasn't been a good year for my Dad. After three trips to the hospital and a difficult two-month stint at a nursing home, he's home and we're caring for him. It's been particularly tough on my mom.

Dad's loss of physical and mental ability has placed an extra burden on Mom who's feeling the effects of aging herself. My sister made the comment, "You come into the world as a baby and you leave as a baby." In many ways that seems to be true. There is so little Dad can do for himself now that he relies on Mom for nearly everything. So much of her time and energy is devoted to helping Dad, there is little time left to meet her own needs. It's like when we were all children, except she's 60 years older now!

After a few months we noticed a change in Mom's behavior. Usually calm and pleasant, she started snapping at Dad, seemed tired and cranky all the time, couldn't concentrate, and wasn't feeling well. She had caregiver stress. We shipped her off to my sister's in another state for a week of fun and pampering. It did her a world of good. Mom returned refreshed, renewed and able to dig in again.

If you know a caregiver, you should know the signs of caregiver stress. I found this list of symptoms from the Alzheimer's Association particularly helpful:

• Denial about the disease and its effects on the person who's been diagnosed.
• Anger that there is no effective treatment or cure, or that the person has progressed beyond the possibility of cure.
• Social withdrawal from friends and activities that previously were pleasurable.
• Anxiety about facing another day and what the future holds.
• Depression begins to affect the ability to cope.
• Exhaustion makes it nearly impossible to complete necessary daily tasks.
• Sleeplessness caused by a never-ending list of concerns.
• Irritability leads to moodiness and triggers negative responses and reactions.
• Lack of concentration makes it difficult to perform familiar tasks.
• Health problems begin to take their toll, both mentally and physically.

If you are a caregiver and notice any of these symptoms, it's time to take a break. If family members can't cover while you take a little vacation, call local nursing homes. Many multi-level care facilities offer respite care. They'll care for your family member on a short-term basis -- a few days to a couple of weeks -- to give you a break. If you're a caregiver, don't neglect your own needs. You need to stay healthy and happy if you're going to care effectively for someone else.

Hormone Therapy May Forestall Dementia in Younger Women

If taken soon after menopause, new research suggests that hormone therapy may help protect women against dementia. However, if not started until you're older, the drugs can increase the risk of mental decline. While current medical wisdom says that hormone-replacement therapy will not protect you against diseases associated with aging, new findings suggest that the timing of treatment may be a key factor, particularly for heart attacks and dementia.

Released this month at a meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, experts cautioned that the new study is preliminary. More testing is required before recommending hormone therapy for younger women to stave off dementia. The study was conducted in conjunction with the massive Women's Health Initiative which tracked 7,153 women for breast cancer and heart disease.

In recent studies, there has been mounting evidence that women in their 50s who take hormones close to the onset of menopause may receive a greater benefit and confront less risk than older women. In the study, dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease, was reduced by half in women who took hormones before age 65. Past research has shown that women who take hormones after age 65 experience a 75% increased risk of dementia.

Loneliness Increases Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Loneliness and social isolation seem to be at the root of many of the horrific headlines in the news these days. We are social animals and depend on the affection, stimulation and reassurance of our fellows whether we are struggling teenagers, alienated adults, or just lonely seniors. Emotional isolation is a serious problem, particularly as we age. Our spouse dies, our friends start to die, our faculties fail us, we lose our independence, we may have to move in with family in a distant city far from everything we know, or we may have to move into a nursing home with complete strangers.

New research in the Archives of General Psychiatry has linked loneliness to an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Social isolation has already been associated with dementia. Living alone, having few friends, participating in few activities with others -- all are behaviors that can lead a person to separate from society and disassociate from life.

Experts define emotional isolation as being dissatisfied with social
interactions, social isolation as lacking them entirely.

In a four-year study that tracked 823 elderly individuals, researches found that people with a high degree of loneliness were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's symptoms. In some way as yet unexplained, loneliness damages the brain, leading to the development of Alzheimer's symptoms, researchers believe.

Loneliness and feelings of isolation are signs of clinical depression which can be successfully treated in 80% of cases. Unfortunately, too many older Americans think depression is a normal part of aging, something they can "handle," and never seek treatment. Depression is not a state of mind. You cannot talk yourself out of depression. It is a symptom of a chemical imbalance in the brain and is highly treatable with a combination of drug and counseling therapies. If you are feeling lonely, or if someone you know seems to have isolated himself, please take them to a doctor or mental health professional for help.