The Meaning of Life

As I sit down to write this post, I am not really sure how to begin. I am not really sure what content will fill this space. I don't really know how I will bring it to a close.

I know that I want to say something that will affect people positively. I want to make a difference.

I suppose I could move on if things become difficult; if the words to fill the page elude me. But I feel that I have something to contribute and I don't think I can or should move on until I have finished the task at hand.

At Home Instead Senior Care, we believe in a culture of life. We believe in living life on your own terms and aging according to your wishes. We believe in making the most out of each and every day which has been given. That belief is what drives us to serve families the way we do. That belief brings patience and understanding to us in the midst of sometimes difficult circumstances and family dynamics. We want to make the world a better place. We believe that we have something to contribute.

Despite our commitment to life, we are never far removed from death. The conclusion of life is something we face often. In those moments, we take great comfort in the work that we did. We console each other in the knowledge that, for however brief a time we were a part of their story, we made that person's world a better place. Still, it isn't easy. Loss never is.

Throughout the many journeys we have been a part of, we have stood by as the people and families we cared for endured tragic things. We have watched people battle painful chronic conditions. We have seen people become prisoners in their own bodies due to ALS or Parkinson's. We have watched as a person stricken with Alzheimer's slowly fades until the moment they no longer recognize their own reflection in the mirror. Friends have been taken from us far too early and without any warning. In each case there is requisite separation. 'Just part of the business we're in,' we tell ourselves. But that truth is a lie. If it weren't, we wouldn't be any good at what we do.The reality is that losing people hurts. Watching people suffer hurts. Saying goodbye hurts. Death hurts.

Over the last several weeks, the media has been highlighting the story of woman in Oregon who has chosen to end her own life on November 1st rather than fight an aggressive type of brain cancer. Many have hailed her decision as brave. At first glance, I guess I can see that. After all, we believe in living life on your own terms. Shouldn't that include dictating the terms of its end?

But the more I reflect on her decision, the sadder I become. How sad that because of the suffering set before her, she believes that the best decision is to avoid the pain completely. That is and should be her right- both legally and ethically. Still I can't help but think about the innumerable ways in which my life has been blessed by those around me who have endured unimaginable difficulty. In moments of personal trial, I find myself bolstered by reflecting on their courage and bravery in facing those challenges. Those are my heroes.

There is a pervasive myth in our society that beating a disease is the same as winning. The reality is that some diseases, some conditions are still and perhaps always will be incurable. Life itself is the ultimate terminal condition. Facing death, despair is understandable. Choosing to avoid that struggle is pragmatic. Bravery, however, is rarely the reasonable choice.

Each day brings with it an opportunity to create, to share, to laugh, to love, to serve. While we may not know exactly which words will fill the page, we still choose to write because we believe that we have something to give. We are here for a reason. We have a purpose.

Sometimes we fight to win. Other times we win simply because we fight. In both instances, we affect the world around us. We make a difference.

I do not know how my individual story will end but I choose to put words on the page because I believe I have something to contribute. I am grateful for all those around me who have chosen to fight and in so doing made the world a better place.

"This is my quest, to follow that star.

No matter how hopeless, no matter how far.

To fight for the right, without question or pause

To be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause.

And the world will be better for this, that one man scorned and covered with scars

Still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable star."

The Impossible Dream- Man of La Mancha

Study Shows That Being Bilingual Delays The Onset of Dementia

In one of the largest studies of its kind, scientists have concluded that being bilingual can delay the onset of several different types of dementia by an average of four and a half years.

The benefits of speaking two languages is not a new concept. The collective benefits of bilingualism are described as "an improved executive function." Broken down, those functions include: memory, focus, planning, and problem solving. The study shows that the benefits apply to many types of dementia including Alzheimer's, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.

The study, published in the journal Neurology, was conducted in Hyderabad, India and included 648 patients from a local hospital memory clinic. Many feel that conducting the study in Hyderabad lends tremendous credibility to the results. That particular region of India is a cultural melting pot where many different languages are spoken. All of the subjects of the study would have been surrounded by different languages their entire lives with some choosing to work towards fluency. It was the fluency that made the difference.

The authors of the study explain that "the constant need of a bilingual person to selectively activate one language and suppress the other is thought to lead to a better development of executive functions and attentional tasks." In short, having to choose between two languages makes our brains stronger.

But before you run out and buy the Rosetta Stone programs for every language from Aari to Zyphe, the study does suggest that there is no apparent benefit to speaking more than two languages. So pick two and stick with 'em!

For more on this study:

http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2013/11/06/01.wnl.0000436620.33155.a4

New Blood Test Predicts Alzheimer's Disease

The Alzheimer's world was rattled yesterday by the news of a study which claimed to be able to predict who will get Alzheimer's disease. Like all such studies, there are many more tests which will need to be conducted. However, this test proved accurate for 90% of subjects tested.

90%

That is a huge number. Even if this test ultimately proves not to be able to state which individuals will suffer from the tragedy of losing themselves, it certainly seems that this new test will at least be able to alert folks who are at a higher risk of contracting the disease.

In answering the question of who will get Alzheimer's, scientists have now raised another and perhaps more difficult question: Would you want to  know?

For years, one of the more tragic elements of Alzheimer's and dementia has been its "Russian Roulette-ish" nature. Each passing year brings with it the guarantee of entering into a higher risk category. Like the click of an empty chamber, each birthday draws us closer and closer to the moment when the odds are stacked against us. By the age of 80, roughly half of all Americans will develop Alzheimer's disease.

Up until now it has been impossible to predict who will get Alzheimer's disease. Certain family indicators and/or injuries could raise the stakes but other than that the disease seems to pick its victims at will. You. You. Not you. Not you. You. Me.

There are currently no effective treatments, no vaccines or preventative methods. There is currently no cure.

So would you want to know?

For more information on this story:

The Truman Show

'What if everything you knew to be true turned out to be a lie?'

Such was the question that the movie The Truman Show posed. In the film, the main character lives in a completely fabricated reality. Everything from the relationships he shares to the experiences he has are elaborately scripted and engineered products intended to please a watching television audience. Truman's entire life is lived inside the bubble of a giant dome which houses his "town." His friends, his family, even his wife are all actors, paid to play their part. Ultimately, this ruse is revealed to be nothing more than a cruel ploy to produce a television show. But what if the intentions behind a hoax were more honorable?

In the Netherlands, they have sought to answer that question.

In 2009, Hogeweyk, or Dementiaville as it has become known, opened its doors in the town of Weesp in the Netherlands. A first of its kind Alzheimer's housing concept, Dementiaville creates a world that closely resembles reality but keeps Alzheimer's and dementia patients safe. From the outside, Dementiaville looks like an ordinary town. There are shops, streets, salons, and even restaurants all designed to fabricate a normal life experience. Yet it is a fully enclosed and secure environment for the residents inside.

The living quarters within the village are designed to cater and feel completely normal to persons coming from a wide range of backgrounds. Each apartment is meticulously decorated in specific genres and is occupied by 6-8 persons including plainclothes caretakers who pass as normal residents of the village. A person of means would live in an upscale or "Goois" genre apartment thus making the transition from their authentic lives more amenable. When the resident of that apartment began to need assistance in certain areas of daily life, one of their roommates would be willing to lend a hand. Little would the resident know that their assistance would actually be coming from a qualified caregiver posing as a roommate in order to stave off any appearance of an abnormal existence.

The statistics regarding Alzheimer's and dementia are as staggering as they are tragic. While there are occasionally reports of some new wanderdrug or miracle cure on the horizon, reality for families currently dealing with this tragedy is that there is very little that can be done. Hogeweyk changes that reality. Families are now free to consider a whole new world of possibilities for the people they care most about. It may be a completely fabricated existence but to the residents of Dementiaville, it is home.

Three Easy Ways To Assess Your Risk for Alzheimer's

I don't spend much of my time worrying about whether I will one day develop dementia. Even as close to the disease as I daily find myself, I refuse to spend my life paralyzed by the fear of something that I have little to no control over. Certainly, there are a million studies that point to different risk factors, warning signs, or foods to avoid in order to maintain optimal mental health; I don't put much stock in their validity. First saccharin was the culprit. Recently, the devil has been discovered in everything from buttered popcorn to drinking water from a garden hose. My wife silently judges me every morning as I sweeten my coffee with Splenda.

Nevertheless, there are three things which have been consistently found to be accurate indicators Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

1. Firm Handshake-

The cardiovascular issues that wreak havoc on the brain also weaken muscles in the extremeties. Any region of the body to which blood is not adequately flowing will necessarily weaken over time. This is readily apparent in one of the most common cultural greetings in this country: the handshake. Research by the American Academy of Neurology has shown that people with a firm handshake are 42% less likely to suffer from a stroke which can lead to certain types of dementia. My personal research has additionally shown that people with painfully weak, dead-fish handshakes are socially awkward and generally creepy to encounter.

2. Slow Walkers-

The number of different stimuli your brain must process during a physical activity such as walking is staggering. If you are a person who naturally lags behind while walking in a group it might be because your brain is already struggling to keep up the pace. A Boston University study found that people with a slower walking speed were 1.5 times more likely to develop dementia than their faster peers. This theory does not apply in New York City where any slower pedestrians are typically run over by taxis and therefore culled from the sample.

3. Sleeplessness-

A study by the Washington University School of Medicine in St.Louis found that lack of sleep can be an accurate indicator for Alzheimer's and dementia. The brain uses sleep as an opportunity to flush the toxins and proteins that can eventually lead to Alzheimer's. It therefore stands to reason that persons who get a healthy amount of sleep are less likely to be at risk for stroke and dementia. But just because you go to bed early doesn't mean that you are necessarily well rested. Many study participants who reported 8 hours of sleep were actually only getting around six actual hours of sleep due to both internal and external interruptions. So when an exhausted mother rolls over to her snoozing husband and says "If that baby doesn't stop crying and go to sleep, I just might lose my mind," she is more right than she probably realizes.

What To Do When They Don't Know That They Don't Know

Alzheimer's is a dark and cruel disease. It takes from people the one thing that they never consider losing: who they are. For most of our clients battling this disease, the decline is gradual. Over a period of years they become aware that their faculties are failing them more and more frequently. Things they used to know become harder and harder to recall and then vanish completely from their minds. While the toll exacted by this tragic final chapter to some lives' journeys is primarily taken on the life of the patient, the painful difficulties it presents for surrounding loved ones can be equally heartbreaking.

Ronald Reagan once joked about his own diagnosis. "The nice thing about Alzheimer's disease is that you meet so many new friends." This cheerful disposition is not uncommon. For many, the disease begins as nothing more than an increasing forgetfulness; easily to explain and comprehend. For others, there is no awareness of what is happening. These individuals present the greatest challenge to their families in a multitude of ways.

One of our clients who passed away from complications of this disease was a friend of mine.  He was a man with an amazing intellect who, to the very end, could recall intricate details of some aspects of his amazing life. However, he couldn't tell you where his wife was. The fact that she died some ten years before was lost to him. Each day he would ask for her. Each day his family was faced with a cruel dilemma. They could either lie to their father or tell him the truth. While telling him the truth seemed to be the right thing to do, doing so meant that he would relive the tragedy of losing his partner of 45 years. Each time he was told was the first time he heard the news. Eventually, his family got into the habit of just telling him that she had gone out to the store and would be back in a few minutes. His memory of her never waited that long.

For an Alzheimer's patient, truth is relative. There is no right or wrong answer. For an Alzheimer's patient, life exists increasingly in the here and now. Our challenge as family members and loved ones is to attempt to join them wherever they are in that journey. We train our caregivers with that goal in mind. The objective of every day is not to bring a client up to speed on current events. We do not seek to heroically pull someone from the jaws of Alzheimer's. Moments of radical clarity will happen occasionally and we celebrate them when they present themselves. But for all the other moments, for the rest of the days, our goal is to figure out where a client is and meet them there.

When a 93yr old woman tells me on a cold January morning that she needs to get her shoes on, her lunch packed and her backpack ready so that she doesn't miss the bus to school, my challenge should never be to convince her that the bus is not coming. My challenge should be to figure out how to get on that bus with her, even if only in her mind.

Dementia Dogs to the Rescue!

I love dogs. There is something about the unconditional love and acceptance that a dog gives that warms my heart. In senior care, many communities have begun to realize the benefits that dogs bring to their residents. Some facilities house a dog that lives on site and others will encourage outsiders to bring dogs in to visit their residents. In either instance, residents brighten up immediately whenever a dog walks into the room.

Increasingly, dogs are being used for a number of different service purposes. Dogs for the Disabled, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Dogs for Veterans, all offer tremendous benefits to their participants. At the Glasgow School of the Arts in Scotland, students came up with the idea of applying the concept of service dogs to dementia treatment. With help from Dogs for the Disabled, Alzheimer Scotland, and Guide Dogs Scotland, the students' idea is now becoming a reality.

'Dementia Dogs' are able to provide their owners with reminders to take their medications, they can help them wake up in the morning, etc. Additionally, one of the things that people with dementia suffer from is a difficulty communicating. The dogs don't mind if you tell the same story again or if your words don't come out in just the right order which makes them perfect companions. Dogs are also creatures that thrive on routine. And routine, for a person struggling with dementia, is tremendously important. Put it all together and you have a match made in heaven...or Scotland.





For more on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23270822

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."

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

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.

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

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

Yes, I Am a Total Nerd.

I have never shied away from my identity as a nerd. My wife enjoys teasing me about many of the idiosyncrasies that comprise this peculiar person that I am. In high school, one of my best friends and I defiantly drove across the Texas desert with the sunroof open in my Saturn SC2, blaring the soundtrack to Apollo13 so loudly that one of the rear speakers blew out during the launch sequence. Rebels. I own, and have listened to frequently, John Tesh's Live at the Red Rocks album. Hardcore. Within the last twenty four hours, I have worked out to the pounding rhythms of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park With George. When I was a given a Sony Discman for my birthday many years ago, my first two CD purchases were Beethoven's 5th Symphony and Kenny G. (Ok I guess that one may have taken it a bit too far.) If my wife were contributing to this I have no doubt that she would have several descriptive scenarios to add. Regardless, I am in fact a nerd.

It stands to reason that I get excited about nerd things. For instance, Home Instead Senior Care has just launched an Alzheimer's and Other Dementia app for iphone users which is AMAZING. As you may or may not know, September is World Alzheimer's Awareness Month and we have been out doing our best to educate the masses. Our family caregiver educational program not only highlights the different types of dementia but prepares families for "real world" situations that they face each and every day. While it may be frustrating to listen to someone with dementia tell the same story over and over again we found that most of our families really just needed help with things like getting their loved one to take a bath. This new app is beautifully organized to give families quick information when they are facing difficult behaviors. The situations are all laid out by category and contain quick tips and suggestions when those difficult moments arise. Additionally, there are great opportunities to leave feedback, encouragement, and tips of your own for other caregivers who are facing some of the same challenges.

This app is an extension of a new book, Confidence to Care: A Resource for Family Caregivers Providing Alzheimer's Disease or Other Dementias Care at Home, which was written by my good friend Molly Carpenter. Molly has been at the forefront of Home Instead's pioneering work on Alzheimer's education. It is exciting to be a part of a company that is not only putting out phenomenal free resources in the fight against Alzheimer's but also to be a part of a company that recognizes the many different vehicles which must now carry information to the public. Nerds everywhere rejoice! There's now an app for that.

Facebook Can Lead to Depression

Forgive me father for I have sinned. I have joined the despised group of technological addicts who can go nowhere and do nothing without the company of their smart phone. I really don't know how it all happened. Not so very long ago, I had a dumbphone. Facebook was something that I would check on an actual computer at the end of the day to see what my friends had been up to. Suddenly, I find myself thrilled to see the "New Stories" graphic flash across the top of my iphone screen. What wonderful update could my network of friends have for me that wasn't available 13 minutes ago? A funny link? Another low quality picture of someone else's kid complete with their assertion that he/she is the cutest kid ever? Or a request for me to unfriend you? (By that I mean an invitation to play Candy Crush Saga. I will unfriend you. Seriously.) Facebook is sort of like a car accident. Appauling or not, passersby can't help but stop and stare. Twitter is the same accident only with a traffic cop urging everyone, "Move along, only 140 characters, nothing to see here."

The senior population is among the fastest growing demographics on social media. During the summer months, I teach "Facebook for Non-Teenagers" classes at the local senior centers. I thought I was offering a public service but according to new research I could potentially be opening a window  of despair. A study conducted jointly by two German Universities found that facebook can cause envy and trigger feelings of loneliness and depression. "The researchers found that one in three people felt worse after visiting the site and more dissatisfied with their lives, while people who browsed without contributing were affected the most." If the conclusions of the research are accurate then people who have nothing to contribute should stay off of facebook for their own good.

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/22/facebook-study-envy_n_2526549.html

Grande Pumpkin Spiced Latte and a Healthy Brain

If you are a coffee aficionado, or are married to one as I am, you will no doubt have seen the ubiquitous social media postings about the return of fall in the form of the Pumpkin Spiced Latte to your neighborhood coffee shop. Nevermind that it is still blisteringly hot here in Chapel Hill, coffee addicts swarm in order to obtain a steaming reminder that fall is right around the corner. In an effort to improve my health, I have recently stopped drinking coffee but after reading a recent article about the health benefits of my former morning nectar I am reconsidering my choice.

Coffee has been shown in several notable studies to lessen the effects of Alzheimer's Disease, reduce the occurrence of Parkinson's Disease, stave off dementia, help you to live longer and is the number one source of antioxidants in the US diet. Perhaps the sugar laden Pumpkin Spiced Latte is not the optimal vehicle to obtain this panacea of health benefits but far be it from me to pour cynicism on someone cup of sunshine. Cheers!

http://blog.positscience.com/2013/07/19/5-surprising-brain-benefits-of-drinking-coffee/

Alzheimer's and Red Meat

A recent study published in Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease suggests that higher levels of iron in the body may contribute to Alzheimer's disease. While the study utilized a relatively small sample size, researchers believe that the iron may trigger a tissue breakdown associated with the disease. There are three things specifically mentioned as a way to address the elevated iron levels. The researchers suggest  that people reduce or stop red meat consumption, reduce or stop iron supplements, or that women have hysterectomies before menopause.

http://www.counselheal.com/articles/6463/20130822/red-meat-linked-alzheimers-disease.htm

Remember to Have a Cup of Hot Cocoa with Grandma

There is something nostalgic about the image of sitting down and having a cup of hot cocoa with grandma. Even though most of the hot cocoa I have consumed in my life has been done as an effort to stave off hypothermia during Boy Scout campouts, there is still something about the image of grandma fixing a cup of cocoa that is strangely comforting. As it turns out, perhaps my subconscious was trying to send me messages about improving cognitive function in seniors. My subconscious is, after all, very intelligent and concerned with matters of seniors and memory retention. I digress.

A new study has shown that seniors who consume an average of two cups of hot cocoa a day shown a slight improvement in their cognitive function. The sources releasing this study are quick to point out that drawing factual conclusions at this point would be unwise due to the small sample size and the relatively small differentiation they observed between the two groups studied. The scientists expressed concern that this in no way advocates the consumption of hot cocoa and cautioned against the dangers of obesity brought about by the needless consumption of hot cocoa with regards to cognitive function. Killjoys.

We could wait to have a cup of hot cocoa with grandma until the results of the study have been more fully flushed out. As for me and my house, we will take no chances by minimizing our chocolate intake until slow-poke scientists finish their work. Hot chocolate for all!

Below you will find a link to my favorite hot cocoa recipe. I recommend adding in a dash of cayenne and subbing in bittersweet chocolate chips for half of the chips it calls for. Salud!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/semi-homemade-cooking-with-sandra-lee/the-best-hot-chocolate-ever-recipe/index.html

 

New Study- Breastfeeding Reduces Risk of Alzheimer's

My wife and I have been blessed with six sons. We have been further blessed that she has been able to breast-feed all of them. The benefits of breastfeeding are multiple. While there are those who may exaggerate those benefits and those who may downplay them, the scientific evidence is fairly convincing. Breastfed babies have been shown to have a reduced risk of ear infections, stomach viruses, respiratory infections, atopic dermatis, asthma, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, childhood leukemia and a gastrointestinal disease in preterm infants known as necrotizing enterocolitis. There are also many who believe that breastfeeding increases a child's intelligence. For the mother, breastfeeding is reported to reduce the occurrences of postpartum depression, certain types of cancer, hypertension and diabetes. All things considered, breastfeeding is a very good thing.

A new report released in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease shows that breastfeeding may also lower a woman's risk of Alzheimer's disease. While it is a fairly small group that the study researched, the results are eye popping. Women who breastfed at some point in their lives showed a 64% reduction in their risk of Alzheimer's when compared to those who had children but didn't breast-feed.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57597014/breast-feeding-may-lower-moms-risk-of-alzheimers-disease/

Let's Talk About Sex...in Nursing Homes.

Sexuality is an exciting topic at any age. Thanks in no small part to the daily dose of sexuality we ingest through television and media, the drugs constantly offering to help us have better sex, and the societal mentality that defines people according to who they have sex with, we think about sex a lot. One place, however, you might not spend a great deal of time thinking about sex in is a nursing home. Times they are a-changing.

Seniors today are far more active than they have ever been before. They are living longer, fuller lives. While many of the senses may dull or fail with old age, the sense of touch remains intact. Seniors have desires and seniors are having sex.

A conversation with any worker in an assisted living community will confirm this fact if you have any doubt. When the families are through visiting, the room swaps begin. This has brought about some difficult ethical questions to answer for administrators in facilities and communities. Do they have the legal power to stop consensual sex between adults? At what point is sex no longer consensual with regards to dementia?

There are examples on both sides of the debate. On the more conservative side is an example out of Iowa where to two seniors with dementia were caught having sex on Christmas day. Administrators and nurses were fired and lambasted as public examples of negligence. Charges were filed by the family against the facility for failing to prevent the rape of one resident by another. Eventually, both of the residents in question passed away as did the lawsuit. The administrators never worked in senior care again; the scarlet letter of a new era. In the Bronx, there is a nursing home with an entirely different take on the issue which is making headlines. At this home, the administrator brags that his staff "actively encourages and supports sex and intimacy among its residents. Our position is very strongly that consenting adults who have capacity, this is a civil right of theirs. They do not give up a civil right simply because they are in need of nursing care in a facility. And that our obligation as a nursing facility is to encourage their civil rights, as we would do with respect to voting."

No matter where you fall on this issue, the reality is that seniors are having sex more than probably ever before. With the rapidly increasing numbers of this demographic and the rise of seniors who are struggling with dementia, this is a conversation that needs to be had.

Low Testosterone Shown To Increase Risk For Parkinson's

In a recent study, a drop in the testosterone levels of male mice caused them to manifest symptoms that appear to be very similar to those found in Parkinson's Disease. Male testosterone levels typically peak in the mid-30's and then decline around 1% each year thereafter. The decline can be made more sudden by other factors such as stress or other life events. Low testosterone has also been linked to an increased risk for Alzheimer's. Given that men are already known to be 1.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson's, the link to lower testosterone levels seems to make a lot of sense.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/17863/20130728/mouse-study-shows-link-between-low-testosterone.htm