Sing-a-long to start your day!
ACA friend and Alzheimer’s advocate, Don Wendorf teamed up with Rev. Drexel Rayford (UAB Pastoral Care) to record some singalong videos for anyone who needs some fun! Links are below or you can find them on Youtube under “Don and Drexel”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-7bWAOrrDE.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=don+and+drexel.
Rita Jablonski is providing a live facebook chat for caregivers, Monday, March 23, at 6:30. Sign up here:
https://facebook.com/events/s/live-help-for-dementia-caregiv/665246347636604/?ti=icl. Visit her blog to read more about COVID-19 and caregiving. COVID-19 and Dementia Caregiving Tips by Dr. Rita Jablonski.
Here’s the latest Alzheimer’s News:
A March 8, 2020 The Advocate Alzheimer’s Q&A asked about the potential benefits of spiritual practice for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
According to a March 17, 2020 Physicians Weekly article, a new survey of American Society of Anesthesiology members found that few US anesthesiologists report preoperative screening for dementia, or postoperative screening for delirium, among older adults. “Patients with cognitive impairment and frailty can have better recovery and fewer complications if the condition is recognized and used to tailor their perioperative care”.
March 6, 2020 Being Patient Perspectives video interview, Founder Deborah Kan spoke with Arthena Caston, who has early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. As an African-American, Caston is around 14% more likely to develop AD than her white counterparts, and also more likely to be misdiagnosed. Her mission is to advocate for joyful living with Alzheimer’s. Caston spoke about the stigma, “I’ll be the first to say that I didn’t want anybody to know, I just kind of wanted to keep it a secret.”
A February 26, 2020 Next Avenue article looked at applying the Montessori method of teaching to people with dementia both in residential and home-based settings. The method stresses self-directed, meaningful activities based on a person’s interests, as opposed to completing tasks.
UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Applauds Passage of the Families First Act, but Urges Action to Provide Paid Leave for Family Caregivers: Advocates commend Congress on the speedy passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201), but called for continued action to provide paid leave for family caregivers. This legislative package, passed by Congress with broad bipartisan support and signed into law by President Trump, increases funding for Medicaid, provides initial income security for individuals and businesses, strengthens food security programs, and improves patient access to coronavirus testing at no cost. A recent survey by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s found that two in three dementia caregivers think Congress should make paid family and medical leave a priority. While this legislation provides emergency paid sick leave for employees “caring for an individual subject or advised to quarantine or isolation” including seniors, the Families First Act stops short of expanding paid leave for individuals who have lost access to home health providers and adult day centers. This is of particular concern to the nearly 60 percent of dementia caregivers who provide care while balancing work obligations.
In a March 16, 2020 Being Patient Brain Talks, Founder Deborah Kan interviewed Dr. Albert Garcia-Romeu of Johns Hopkins University about the possibility of using psychedelics, including LSD, ayahuasca, psilocybin, DMT and mescaline, to treat Alzheimer’s disease and affect brain health. Such drugs have been off limits for decades, but are now starting to come into the research forefront. According to Garcia-Romeu, “These types of drugs… we know that they do produce changes in both brain function and structure… When you start to look at the animal literature in particular, there’s a very good basis to suggest that when used appropriately, psychedelics can actually enhance learning, enhance cognitive function… We’re seeing things around working memory, object consolidation, fear memory… You can actually improve the memory and learning process.”
According to a March 15, 2020 New Atlas article, University of Pennsylvania scientists found a signaling pathway, PERK (PKR-like ER kinase), that regulates sleep and controls protein aggregations commonly associated with neurodegeneration. This adds to the growing body of research linking poor sleep to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
A March 13, 2020 Medical Xpress article looked at chronic brain inflammation and its link to progressive memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome.
A March 13, 2020 Being Patient article spotlighted the start of Biogen’s new EMBARK re-dosing trial of the Alzheimer’s disease treatment aducanumab. Jeff Borghoff, who has mild AD and participated in the original phase 3 trial, is the first participant in this new trial to receive an infusion.
A March 1, 2020 The Advocate Alzheimer’s Q&A asked if multisensory therapies may be beneficial behavioral interventions for people who have Alzheimer’s disease. A review concluded that most kinds of sensory stimulation reduced agitation, anxiety, aggression and depression, helped cope with negative emotions and behaviors, and improved quality of life for people with AD.
Calendar:
Stay tuned! Our regular schedule of support groups, education events and fundraisers will resume as soon as possible!!