Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Sit Up Straight! Bad Posture Increases Risk of Nursing Home Admission

http://informtoperform.com/2013/05/10/avoid-bad-posture/

I have never really paid much attention to my posture. Occasionally, I have become aware of the fact that I am slouching in my chair at work or in the car but otherwise I feel reasonably good about my body alignment. New research is proving that sitting up straight could, in addition to other benefits, reduce my risk of ending up in a nursing home.

A study published in the Journals of Gerontology says that having poor posture can as much as quadruple a person's risk of ending up in a nursing home. Several different factors lead into this.
  1. Poor posture leads to weak muscles and bones. As balance decreases during a normal aging process, the risk of being seriously injured in a fall greatly increases.
  2. Poor posture limits our flexibility. A less flexible person is not able to exercise and maintain an active lifestyle. Seniors with active lifestyles typically have smoother, controlled movements and are therefore less likely to fall and end up in a nursing home.
  3. Bad posture leads to pain. Weaker muscles caused by bad posture many times lead to pain in the neck, back or legs. Often times, aches and pains like these are determined by how we sit and prevent us from being able to perform tasks for ourselves.
All in all, posture is a circular conversation. Those with bad posture will find themselves less able to exercise and maintain an active lifestyle due to their weaker muscles. Those with weaker muscles will find it more difficult to maintain good body posture. And around we go.

All in all, bad posture is both the harbinger and cause of an increased risk of nursing home admissions. So sit up straight!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Unconditional

Take three minutes and twenty three seconds out of your day and be in awe of love. This video is a beautiful picture of how we are called to love each other not only as spouses but as friends, neighbors, coworkers, strangers, and even enemies. We love because he first loved us. "You see God has loved us so unconditionally and I understand that God has put his love in my heart. And because I realize how much God has loved me that's how I too can love my lovely wife."

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Potential Cure For Baldness From Somewhere You'd Never Suspect


In a story almost too strange to report, scientists feel that they are on the verge of finding a cure for baldness.

About half of men over the age of 50 go bald or develop male pattern baldness. Some of us(ahem), don't make it to fifty years of age before we begin to reap tremendous savings on  hair products and combs. To this point, there are very few remedies that can address the problem. There are medications which can slow the loss. There are transplant procedures which move hair growing skin from other parts of the body to your noggin. But there are no real solutions to the issue of hair loss.

In new research which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists at the Columbia University Medical Center took their testing to a new level. Previously, most of the research being done involved transplanting hair follicles and attempting to make them grow. This yielded varying results which merited no real acclaim. So they decided to cultivate not just the follicles but the surrounding cells as well. Rather than transplanting singular follicles they cultured three dimensional spheres of cells and transplanted them upside down in human skin tissues.

This is where is gets a little bit weird.

They then grafted the human skin cells onto the backs of mice and were dazzled to see 5 of the 7 grafts produce hair that lasted at least six weeks. "The hairs were still small, but the researchers are encouraged because they used human skin that normally is completely hairless — the foreskins from circumcised babies. Essentially, they generated hair growth in cells that normally have no capacity for sprouting hair."


Yes, you read it right. I can't make this stuff up.


Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Poor Sleep May Increase Risk For Alzheimer's




What happens when we sleep? We dream. We recover. We plan. We rest. During this all important 'down time' our brains and our bodies are flushing out toxins and chemicals in a manner which is impossible while we are awake. This is one reason why people tend to feel lousy if they haven't gotten enough sleep. I can remember my mom insisting that I go to bed early the night before a big test in high school. I didn't appreciate it much then. Nowadays, I would kill for a nap or an early bedtime. George Bernard Shaw was right. "Youth is wasted on the young."


In a recent study at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, scientists have made some fascinating discoveries regarding sleep and Alzheimer's. One of the brain's critical functions during sleep is to rid itself of toxic chemicals and proteins. One of these toxic proteins, Beta-Amyloid, is the protein which leads to the plaques and tangles of Alzheimer's disease. After studying 70 patients, scientists found that those who slept less or had lesser quality sleep had higher levels of beta-amyloid present in their brains.

Now begins the chicken and the egg conversation. Scientists are not sure whether poor quality sleep is an early indicator of Alzheimer's or whether those people with poor sleep habits are placing themselves at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Those studies will almost certainly follow. For now, it should remind us all of the importance of getting a good night's rest.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2470255/Alzheimers-linked-poor-nights-sleep.html

Monday, October 14, 2013

Heavy Drinking Over Time Can Produce Alzheimer's-Like Symptoms


It might not be Alzheimer's. Part 1.

It's called the Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome and it is usually something that physicians look for in patients who have abused alcohol over long periods of time. However, you don't have to abuse alcohol to suffer from the affects of it.

Alcoholism causes thiamin deficiency. Thiamin is an essential vitamin in the brain which causes proper neuron function as well as aides in energy production. When there isn't enough thiamin present in the brain the neurons may become damaged and die.

 Individuals whose bodies don't absorb food nutrients properly are also at risk especially those who may have undergone surgery for obesity

"Most commonly, Wenicke-Korsakoff syndrome is seen in alcoholics because heavy drinkers typically are poor eaters. Alcohol also interferes with the proper absorption of nutrients from the digestive system."

Folks who suffer from Wernicke-Korsakoff will appear drunk even if they are not.

Symptoms include:
  • confusion
  • abnormal gait and eye movements
  •  hallucinations
  • vision problems
  • memory loss
  • imaginary remembered experiences
  • incoordination 
Treatment options:
As soon as someone is diagnosed with this condition they need to be hospitalized so that they can receive treatment such as a thiamin replacement. Much of what might have been lost can be recovered such as eye movement, coordination,  and vision problems. Unfortunately, the loss of memory and cognitive function is not usually helped by thiamin replacement.

Prevention:
The best idea to prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff is to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and not to abuse alcohol. If you follow that suggestion then doctors believe that your chances of ever developing the syndrome are virtually nonexistent. However, if you have any sort of malabsorption problems it might not hurt to have a conversation with your physician.

Friday, October 11, 2013

New Program Pairs Seniors with Dementia and Preschoolers

A special program in New York is pairing elders with dementia and young people. At a custom-designed facility in Mt.Kisco, New York, seniors who are struggling with dementia spend their days working with preschoolers. "The kids look right past the dementia, connecting instead with the people who have gotten lost underneath."


"My Little Friends," directed by Megan Mylan from David Shenk on Vimeo.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

A Possible Cure For Alzheimer's AND Parkinson's AND Huntington's?


Gone are the days of sensational headlines created only to assist newspaper hucksters in their quest sell the most copies. Well...wait...uhm...

News broke early this morning about an exciting discovery in the world of science. A chemical has been discovered which has been shown to stop brain deterioration. Let me say that again. The chemical stops the deterioration of the brain.

Every day it seems like there is someone new standing on a rooftop claiming that their vitamin or food additive or diet program or brain therapy is the next big thing in the fight against Alzheimer's. These outrageous claims are typically only rivaled by the ever-increasing list of foods, chemicals, technologies, and TV programs that we should avoid because they undoubtedly cause Alzheimer's. In Reality-ville, where I live most of the time, no one knows what causes Alzheimer's and no one knows how to stop it.

However, when all of the people who typically disregard Chicken Little start looking up at the sky it is worth taking notice.

In Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, something goes wrong with specific proteins in the brain. The brain's natural response to this foul up is to stop producing proteins. This "chemical helps brain cells ignore the broken proteins, keep functioning and stay alive."

Perhaps what is so exciting about this discovery are the potential ramifications of the chemical. While scientists are quick to caution that even if successful it could still be a decade before it is available, there is a distinct possibility that they have have found a way to beat Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's. And that is worth shouting about.

So EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24478942

Monday, October 7, 2013

Preventing Alzheimer's. Is It About to Become a Reality?


Scientists at the Center for Alzheimer's Research and Treatment at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston are about to embark on one of the most anticipated, longest Alzheimer's drug studies in history. The study will be conducted on 1,000 subjects over a three year period at a cost of well more than $100 million. They are just hoping they can find enough people.

The folks they are looking for must already have amyloid building up in their brains but aren't currently showing any symptoms of Alzheimer's. The idea is to treat the amyloid proteins with an experimental drug before they become toxic and turn into the dreaded plaques and tangles that scientists have been battling for years in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.

In order to find the 1,000 participants, the directors of the study anticipate that they will  need to screen about 5,000 people throughout the United States and Canada. They are also exploring the possibility of a site in Australia. To qualify, participants in the study must be at least 65 yrs old, willing to take a drug or placebo, willing to get a genetics test, willing to have a brain scan done twice a year, and willing to answer all kinds of questions about every facet of how they live their lives.

In previous clinical trials, the drug being tested showed promise in slowing the effects of mid-stage Alzheimer's symptoms. This success, in addition to the size and scope of the study, has turned a number of heads in the scientific community who will be watching the results very carefully.

One of the frustrating aspects of dealing with the disease is that most of the work is being done in the proverbial rear-view mirror. Since there is no way to predict where the disease will appear, scientists are forced to study patients who have already begun to manifest symptoms. The hope of this new study is that it will give doctors a glimpse at not only the effectiveness of the new drug but also a window into the way the disease develops. Perhaps it will at last show them how to prevent the disease from developing entirely. Perhaps.

http://capeandislands.org/post/new-study-will-test-possibility-preventing-alzheimers

Friday, October 4, 2013

The Heart of Home Instead








Allow me the privilege of bragging on my people for a moment.


From the beginning of my journey with Home Instead, I have been blessed to be surrounded with fantastic people. I have worked to intentionally create a culture in which exceeding the expectations of everyone you encounter is the way we do business. This is much easier to do when the people who comprise your family come already equipped with a heart for service. Despite six years of watching caregivers and office staff go above and beyond for their clients, there are still days like today when I come across someone doing something for a client that takes my breath away.

One of the clients we serve has an immediate family member who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. In this instance, it appears that the cancer was detected early enough to be treated successfully with surgery and chemotherapy. Nevertheless, anyone who's life has been touched by cancer can tell you that just hearing that ugly word is terrifying regardless of the prognosis for recovery. My thought upon hearing the news was that we need to send a nice 'get well soon' card and perhaps some flowers. Lenore, our staffing coordinator, had other ideas. She approached me about the possibility of putting together a chemo bag to be taken into the treatment room. Chemotherapy can be an hours long affair where many have nothing to do aside from reading a magazine and contemplating the ominous nature of their affliction. I told Lenore that a chemo bag sounded like a wonderful idea and that I was excited to see what she came up with.

When the bag was completed, it was a thing of beauty. Full of knick-knacks like crossword books, an aromatherapy shrug, comfy socks, peppermint candies, a throw blanket, etc. There was, however, one thing in the bag which didn't make any sense to me. Included in the collection was a package of plastic forks, spoons, and knives. What? I asked Lenore about this particular item and she was fully prepared to answer. "I did some research on some common side effects from chemotherapy. Many people complain about a metallic taste in their mouth which is only made worse by using regular forks and knives to eat. A lot of people have found that using plastic utensils during chemotherapy helps out tremendously. Is that ok that I put that in?"

Are you kidding me? A member of my office staff took it upon herself to not only put together a chemo bag for the family member of a client but actually did research into common side effects of chemotherapy and solutions. Wow.

That, dear readers, is the heart of Home Instead. That is the company that I always hoped we would be and that it seems we have indeed become. That is the way that we are called to love and care for the people of our community. Selflessly. Thoughtfully. Sincerely. That is Home Instead.

Thank you Lenore. I am proud to call you a member of our Home Instead family.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

One Thing That Made My Blood Boil


Government shutdown? Fine. Shut it down. At this point, I don't care for the politicians from either party but that is beside the point.

My heart warmed yesterday when I read the story of the World War II veterans who refused to be turned away by fences and barricades in their attempt to view the monument erected in their honor. "We stormed the beaches in Normandy. I think we can handle their fence." Bravo. There is no reason that these brave men should have been denied the opportunity to see their monument.

Honor Flight is a fantastic organization that coordinates and provides for trips such as these every day. An estimated 800 WWII vets pass away each day and the mission of Honor Flight is to make the dream of seeing the WWII memorial a reality for as many as possible. Honor Flight is a non-profit organization and there is no cost for a veteran to participate.

Over the next five days, Honor Flight has scheduled to bring an estimated 900 vets to view their memorial. Many of those trips may now be cancelled after learning late Wednesday that the vets could face arrest if they dare to cross the barricade again. When I first read the article my blood boiled. It sounded like something out of Les Miserables and not an actual policy of the federal government. I worked to calm myself and think of the ways that taking action like this may have been necessary. Breathe in. Breathe out. Calming thoughts. Whoosaaaa....

No good.

I became further incensed upon reading that in previous shutdowns the memorials and monuments had all been left open save the federal employees manning the various visitor's centers and information kiosks. That means that someone made the decision to hang signs and erect barricades. Additionally, the latest reports indicated that the WWII memorial in particular was now being guarded by eight mounted park officials. EIGHT. That is more staff than is typically required for a normal day of operation. Allow me to sum this mess up. The United States government decided to close the WWII memorial as a result of the government shutdown supposedly due to a lack of funding and then proceeded to erect barricades($$) and place mounted guards(more $$) throughout the park to protect it from the people who wanted to see it. It certainly seems that the government was more than willing to spend money in order to make a political point. When park officials were asked who had directed them to shut down the park and arrest any "trespassers" they responded- The White House Office of Management and Budget.

Silver Lining: Apparently, news of this story spread like wildfire since Wednesday evening when it first broke. At first, the White House ordered more barricades and fences to be erected and increased the number of parks employees who would be "protecting" the memorials from almost certain destruction at the hands of octogenarian heroes (please read sarcasm here). Once the Congress and Senate got wind of what was going on, members of both parties headed right over for some photo ops with the vets and to blame the others for causing the shutdown which was in theory preventing them from seeing their memorial. In the end, it seems that the crowds blatantly ignored what the politicians in Washington DC tried to do and enjoyed their day at the memorial. The Senators, Congressman, and President ended up looking like the petulant children that they are. The WWII veterans were treated with the respect that they deserve and the American people remembered that there are some things for which we don't the government's permission.

http://americanmilitarynews.com/2013/10/ww2-vets-face-arrest-for-visiting-their-memorial/