Clinical physiology tests for memory problems

There is something which bugs me about clinical physiology testing for memory problems, and no matter how I look at it, and no matter who I ask, no one can give a straight answer.

In Lewy body dementia like many other people I no longer use the mini mental test. I use a different type which is longer.

You get asked the usual questions about where you are and where you live etc, and then you are told a short story about someone, name address, town and county, which you are asked to remember.

After a while you are asked to repeat it all. If you get stuck you are given prompts, and no matter whether have forgotten the answer or not you have to pick one answer. 

This always gets me because I cannot remember things like this. 

If you are lucky enough to pick the right answer by sheer fluke you get a good mark, but what does this prove, if at the end of the day it is a guess and nothing else.

But what is the point of giving us prompts, if we do not remember the answer anyway. We do not get prompts in daily life, we have to struggle on trying to remember things without support.

In my job I had many exams which were sometimes multi choice, similar to this in many ways, but you either passed or failed. 

You had to know the correct answer and nothing else.

There are many times in life where you hear something, then in a few moments it's all gone, so can someone please tell me what thus achieves as many people with dementia have said that they feel the test is very upsetting and does not prove anything to them.

I go from day to day trying to get on with my life, with my memory problems, no one can prompt me because they simply do not know what I was trying to think through. 

There are times when I think of my short term memory problems, I do wonder if there is something else causing this or if it's a mixed type of dementia.

That is something for the consultant to decide when I go back again in the future. 

Art work and dementia

Artwork is supposed to be very therapeutic for people with dementia, and I once went to a local branch where a local professional artist had three very large pictures on the wall, and left them for all of the clients to look at.

As they were all modern art and something many find difficult to work out, it took some time before people started to speak about what they could see in the pictures.

I confess that I was not impressed at first, then realised that these people could all see different things, from the same picture and after a while I started to see things which were not easy to see in the first place. I ended up enjoying the experience , although I am not a fan of modern art work.

Although many people who have dementia love to paint and draw, there are times when it becomes difficult to get the picture right, especially if it is down to look like a scene outside. I often give up in total frustration because it never looks the same but I guess this is all down to the spacial awareness side of things, where everything looks so very different in our eyes from day to day.

I used to love drawing when I was younger, and I think looking back this makes life so much harder as all this has gone.

It is difficult to get distances right and sometimes angles, yet as an engineer I would sketch or draw out things that were needed and then go back to the office knowing full well that I had an accurate drawing of what was needed, but now that the brain has changed all of this is all but in the past.

These days I struggle with the colours, getting the right shade or at least working out how to mix the correct shade of a certain colour, but I guess its all trial and error, but there are extra problems when it comes to how certain colours were mixed before.

I suppose I just have to make notes of how colours were made up and go from there.

The other method is a watercolour colour wheel, but then that depends on the colours in the paint box. Once the wrappers are off the new colour blocks, I have no idea what they are, so its going to be a complete challenge to get this off the ground, but I am determined to give it a try while I can

Some people think that other forms of paint are much better such as oils, or acrylic, but as I am new to this, It’s a case of trial and error  

Artwork can be relaxing when it works well, however I often look at something and see something which is not really there at all.

I sometimes find pastels easier to use although I would love to do water colours, as it looks nicer.

Project to create dementia-friendly shopping centre

Andrew Oliver chairman of Houghton Traders Association

                   

BUSINESSES have been getting behind plans to make Houghton the first dementia-friendly shopping area in the North East.



Houghton Traders’ Association is now working with the Alzheimer’s Society and firms in the area to help residents who have the illness to live better lives.


As part of the scheme, an event took place yesterday at Peppercorn Coffee Shop, in Newbottle Street, to give people advice on spotting the early signs of dementia.


Coun Graeme Miller, Sunderland City Council’s portfolio holder for health, said: “It is estimated that more than 3,400 people in Sunderland are living with dementia and this figure is set to rise to almost 4,000 by 2020.

“We’re committed to doing what we can to support those living with dementia and their families to live full and active lives.”


Houghton shops and organisations such as Peppercorn Coffee Shop, Just Sew Interiors, Gentoo and Houghton Computers have signed up the new agreement.


Andrew Oliver, chairman of Houghton Traders’ Association, said: “We want to encourage all local businesses to come forward and support them to become dementia friendly.”
“There are some very simple things that local businesses can do to improve the shopping experience for people with dementia, such as staff awareness training, or looking at areas like seating, signage and accessibility.”

Eating a curry 'can help beat dementia'

Eating a curry 'can help beat dementia': Ingredient found in turmeric may hold key to repairing brains of people with condition 

• Aromatic turmerone encouraged brain stem cells to grow into neurons
• So it could help develop a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases
• But experts urge caution and say research is still at an early stage

  

        

Lovers of spicy Indian food could be better equipped to ward off dementia, research suggests.

A compound in the aromatic spice turmeric, a key ingredient in most curries, may hold the key to repairing the brains of people with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

In laboratory tests, aromatic turmerone promoted the proliferation of brain stem cells and their development into neurons.

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Wonder spice: A compound in turmeric, a key ingredient in most curries, may hold the key to repairing the brains of people with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, according to new research

It could now help scientists develop treatments for conditions in which brain cells are lost, including Alzheimer's and stroke.

Lead researcher Dr Adele Rueger, from the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine in Julich, Germany, said: 'While several substances have been described to promote stem cell proliferation in the brain, fewer drugs additionally promote the differentiation of stem cells into neurons, which constitutes a major goal in regenerative medicine.

'Our findings on aromatic turmerone take us one step closer to achieving this goal.'

 

The scientists examined the effect of aromatic turmerone on endogenous neutral stem cells (NSCs) found within adult brains.

NSCs go on to develop into neurons, and play an important role in recovery from neurodegenerative diseases.

At certain concentrations, the turmeric compound boosted the proliferation of rat foetal NSCs by up to 80 per cent, and increased the speed at which they matured.

In living rats, injections of aromatic turmerone led to the expansion of two key brain regions, the subventricular zone (SVZ) and hippocampus.

Both are sites in adult mammalian brains where neurogenisis - the growth of new neurons - is known to occur.

The findings are published in the online journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy.

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Yummy: Turmeric could now help scientists develop treatment for neurodegenerative diseases

Aromatic turmerone is the lesser-studied of two major bio-active compounds in turmeric. The second, curcumin, is a well known anti-inflammatory agent and reputed to have anti-cancer properties.

Dr Laura Phipps, from Alzheimer's Research UK, warned the findings 'are a long way from determining whether this compound could help fight diseases like Alzheimer's.

'It's not clear whether the results of this research would translate to people, or whether the ability to generate new brain cells in this way would benefit people with Alzheimer's disease.

'We'd need to see further studies to fully understand this compound's effects in the context of a complex disease like Alzheimer's, and until then people shouldn't take this as a sign to stock up on supplies of turmeric for the spice rack.

'The death of brain cells is a key feature of Alzheimer's, and investment in research is crucial to understand how this cell death occurs and how to intervene.

'It takes many years for fundamental research such as this to be translated into new treatments, and for the best chance of success we need to see a range of approaches being taken.'

Dementia is not the end at CrossReach

Dementia does not signal the end to opportunities for living a fulfilling life. Picture: PA

Our significant experience is helping, says Allan Logan

At CrossReach, we support people across Scotland who are dealing with the effects of dementia. Since opening Scotland’s first specialist care home for people with dementia in 1983 – Williamwood House in Glasgow – we have seen huge changes in the way society relates to the condition. We now understand that, while it is a devastating illness, dementia is not the end.
A diagnosis must not signal the end to anyone’s participation in their community, or to their opportunities to live a fulfilling life. Key to this is overcoming the prejudices and misconceptions that still exist about dementia, and helping people who have not witnessed the condition first hand to understand the impact it has on people in their communities.
Achieving this does not have to be complicated, and does not have to be led by public policy initiatives. CrossReach’s Cameron House in Inverness has recently struck up a partnership with their local Gaelic primary school. Pupils meet regularly with Gaelic-speaking residents to improve their language skills and hear about the lives of those from a different generation. They learn that dementia does not stop people from enjoying life and sharing their skills and experience with others.
According to Alzheimer Scotland, it is estimated that 86,000 people in this country live with dementia, but only half of our fellow citizens who have the condition get a formal diagnosis. Figures published last week show we have been seriously underestimating levels of dementia in younger people – it had been thought around 3,000 people younger than 65 were affected, in reality it may be as much as twice that.
Despite phenomenal efforts by colleagues in the field of medicine, dementia is still not fully understood, and so no cure is available. A great deal of fear, as well as stigma, still surrounds the condition because of how distressing it can be to witness a loved one’s experience of the disease. The Scottish Social Services Council, our regulatory body, is developing ambassadors for care to improve the support people receive across our sector.
At CrossReach, our dementia development officers have worked to ensure that we are the first organisation in the country to have a dementia ambassador at all of our services for older people. The dementia ambassadors take responsibility for promoting good practice and sharing their learning about dementia with colleagues, people we support, and family members. As understanding of the disease continues to develop, our ambassadors will be essential to ensuring the support we offer remains at the cutting edge.
As the Social Care Council of the Church of Scotland, CrossReach’s work is built upon the church’s long tradition of providing support, since 1869. Throughout our history, we have pioneered new approaches in social care and our services have developed according to the needs of the communities we support. We work with people of all ages, but it is our services for older people in particular which have been required to place greater emphasis on dementia – and its impact on our communities – in recent years. We have eight care homes which were set up to provide enhanced support for people with dementia, but today all 30 of our older people’s services support a significant number of people who are dealing with the condition. This experience led us to develop Heart for Art, our creative arts project which operates in five communities across Scotland. Creative arts enable people to express themselves, and Heart for Art provides a place in the community where making artwork is the focus, but where people can also easily access support and advice. The paintings and other works that are the result of Heart for Art give us a tangible way to prove that dementia is not the end of people’s enjoyment of life.
However, dealing with dementia is not just a job for professionals in social care. We must all be willing to have our preconceptions of the illness challenged. People experiencing the effects of dementia remain active members of our communities, with a voice and a contribution to make. As their fellow citizens, our job is to ensure people who live with dementia have, along with the rest of society, the chance to live positive and fulfilling lives.

Dementia and Depression

I have heard it is said, that the numbers of people going to the Samaritans these days with dementia related illnesses is on the rise. I was in one way surprised by this, until I looked at the  possible reasons




Diagnosis of dementia is not something that anyone wants, because its like being diagnosed with inoperable cancer, its an illness with no known cure.




When you are given this diagnosis you may well find that you are not given any support or help, and therefore you may well become desperate. Many have said that the diagnosis of dementia is like a death knell, and many carers etc, start grieving from then onwards.




This may also be the case for anyone who does not have family support, or indeed good friends around them.




But hidden inside this illness is depression, something that many consultants do not mention, or if they do they imply, that you are simply depressed and do not have dementia.




When I was diagnosed I was told I was simply stressed, then after 10 weeks that changed to depression, something my wife and I knew was wrong, so my wife demanded a second opinion from a consultant and the rest is history
I was enjoying my job, I just kept forgetting to do things and forgot peoples names which was upsetting




I got a lot of support from my consultant and was then told to go to our local Alzheimer's Society branch office were we would get more support and help to see us through.




This is something we never hear about these days, because many of these local offices and support services have been closed down, so in many cases people are left to find their own support.




There are also those who perhaps do not accept that they have the illness in the first place, and this is hard to understand, because if you cannot accept the diagnosis you will never be able to move on and get on with life. Sometimes its the family's who refuse to accept the diagnosis and that puts extra pressure on those who have the illness, or there are family rows about how to deal with the person and in many cases the person with the illness starts to feel worthless and useless


There are many who lose control of their lives and feel useless or worthless, because like me they may well have lost their jobs through the illness. I can understand people feeling like this because you cannot get to grips with losing your role in life. 




However the depression in dementia, it seems is caused because we are losing control over our lives, and rather than trying to move away from the things which are difficult we may keep fighting.




My consultant told me at the start, that things would become difficult, and some of the things I have done for years may well become impossible to do, simply because the brain has forgotten how to do these jobs.




This  consultant said, if you cannot do something one day, then leave and try on another day.


If it fails again on the second go, leave it until another day




If it fails on the third attempt, leave well alone and try to move on, because by trying to do the impossible, you will only get very stressed and upset and make yourself worse.




This advice always stayed with me, and although I still get upset when things go wrong, I know that I have to move on.




So where do we go from here. I do feel that as I said before, we need more dementia groups in every locality, where people can go for advice and support, we cannot rely on the internet, even if you can use a computer in the first place. Face to face advice and support is always the best.


 If you have local groups, you become friendly with people and discuss your problems, with others, even though your problems may be different to someone else,  simply because there are so many variations of dementia, and no two people have the same symptoms and problems




If you get into a period when you feel depressed try to speak to someone, get it off your chest, do not sit and stew on it because that will only make it worse

 But I guess after all of this it comes down to getting a formal diagnosis in the first place, followed by good support from the Consultant, followed by support from family and friends to help us steer clear of depression if possible.


I do feel that consultants and doctors should be more aware of depression in dementia and should explain it to patients after or during the diagnosis   


However never forget that there are people out there who you can speak to for support, people like the Samaritans, all volunteers, and they will try to support you through the rough times.
 

Becoming more involved after the diagnosis of dementia

Many people feel very flat once they have been given the diagnosis of dementia, and cannot think of any way forward. This is because you cannot think of any questions at the diagnosis, and they only come to you when your back home, trying to work it all out in your mind.




This is when many people come off the rails so to speak, because they become desperate and depressed, and without support you feel as if your world is coming to an end.




 I was extremely lucky to have a wife and daughter who were very supportive and did not allow me to dwell on what may happen.




My daughter who is a biologist explained quite a lot at the time, and she still helps me understand things these days




But for others things may be different, depending on whether you have support at home, or friends near by who can support you




There are many online chat rooms where you can get help, many of which operate 24 hours a day, but that depends on one fact, you need  a computer, and like it or not many people do not have them these days.



Yet there are opportunities out there if you get the support and know where to look


There are many charities dealing with dementia who give some support, but getting good local support these days is very hit and miss




There are also many new independent dementia groups being set up around the UK and they are filling in many of the gaps left by the closure of Alzheimer's Disease Offices and support groups.




Many of these places have support staff who can come out to see you and give you the advise you may well need.




Many people say that they would rather have a face to face chat with someone than discussing problems on the computer, and in many cases I would agree.




If you are lucky enough to get support and get involved with a good charity, you may well be invited to be a spokesman in the media, or you may be invited to be a speaker at events.  If its what you would like to do., there are always opportunities.


Speaking about your problems, not only allows others to understand what you are going through, but it also helps you to understand the illness yourself and come to terms with it



 I confess that the thought of doing this before the illness, was something I would never even consider, yet I took to it after a while and never looked back.




Other people take this a step further by working with Alzheimer's Disease International, or in Europe where they have committees working on dementia projects.




Because I dropped out of the charity work for a while I was never invited to join these groups, because you need to be sponsored by the charity.




But the world is your oyster after the diagnosis, and you should never sit back and think its the end.

Very Inspiring Blog Nomination

Very Inspiring Blog Nomination

I’ve been nominated for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Thank you to fellow blogger,

Helen Whitworth of the Lewy Body Rollercoaster blog,

for this exciting and totally unexpected honor. Be sure to check out her equally inspiring blog,
Lewy Body Rollercoaster





Here are the rules:


1. Thank and link the amazing person who nominated you.
2. List the rules and display the award.
3. Share seven facts about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 other amazing blogs and comment on their posts to let them know they have been nominated.
5. Optional: Proudly display the award logo on your blog and follow the blogger who nominated you.

Here are seven facts about me:




1. I  was born and live in County Durham in England, not far from the famous Durham Cathedral.
2. I am married and have two wonderful Children along with four lovely Grandchildren.
3. I’m a retired University College Engineer where I ran all of the services and kept things going 24 hours a day
4. Since retiring, I have spent my time trying to help others with dementia and I am proud to be a Lewy Body Society Ambassador, and a Dignity Champion.
5.I spend a lot of time on my good days speaking to people about the illness, and also speak to Graduate Nurses at University.
6.  I spend some of my time trying to write my blog about my illness and its problems. This was started by accident, but I have been humbled by the warm comments and thanks I have received, from other people who have this illness around the world.
7 I also find that reading other blogs about dementia to be very helpful and at times comforting, as I get to know people and feel part of their lives
8 I am proud to say that since starting this blog just under two years ago it has had 71-00 page views in 106 countries, something that I feel is an honour


Please follow the other blogs on the side of my blog, as they cover many interesting subjects.

Remembering the past can improve the present for people with dementia

From todays Guardian newspaper 

Malcolm Jones works as a reminiscence arts practitioner, using creative tools to help older people communicate

               

The smell of an old brand of soap, photograph or war object can help trigger a memory. Photograph: Colin Underhill/Alamy

I get up around 6:30, check emails and attempt to raise my 10-year-old daughter in time for school while grabbing something vaguely healthy for breakfast. Then I head to whichever care home I’m working in that day.


I work with the charity Age Exchange as a reminiscence arts practitioner – running projects with both active and frail older people in care settings. Reminiscence arts is a unique way for artists, therapists and practitioners to work with older people, particularly those with dementia, to evoke and inspire their memories and imaginations. We use techniques derived from dance, visual arts, drama, literature and music to learn about people, help them communicate and build new relationships, despite the challenges dementia can pose.


Practitioners come from many walks of life: visual artists, musicians, actors, occupational therapists, arts therapists and social workers. I’ve worked in theatre, education, community arts and inter-generational projects. I’m currently focusing on a research project for Age Exchange, exploring how reminiscence arts improve the wellbeing of people with dementia.


When I arrive at the care home I go to the person’s room for a one-to-one session. They can be very frail and have difficulty communicating. I try to connect with them by introducing myself, smiling and perhaps holding their hand. I’ll play music or bring something from our memory boxes. The smell of an old brand of soap, photograph or war object can help trigger a memory that the person might be able to tell me about, or articulate using their body language.


In the afternoon I’ll often run a group session with my fellow practitioner, Susan. These involve six to eight people chosen by the care home, and two care staff to provide support. Susan and I prepare the session together, either basing it on what people have enjoyed previously, or using a set theme, such as holidays, a local landmark or an anniversary. We’ll use sensory objects – even a colourful silk scarf may evoke a memory when gently skimmed over peoples’ hands. I’ve had some funny moments using costumes and hats in the past – giving a cap to one man immediately triggered his Norman Wisdom impression!

Malcolm Jones: ‘Our work at Age Exchange is based on compassion and a real desire to learn about people.’ Photograph: PR

We find ways to encourage interaction within the group, such as throwing and bouncing balls of different sizes and textures. People make eye contact with the person they are about to throw the ball to, which helps them relax and begin to recognise each other. Susan is a visual artist, so sessions often include handicrafts, art or storytelling.


Our group is currently working on a play about childhood and growing up, using rhymes and street games with lots of rhythm and familiar words. We’re going to add stories about being naughty and happy, and about evocative tastes and smells. As people forget lines and words, plays like this have to be improvised each week. We have 15 sessions left in this project, so with prompts and music we’ll be able to create something special to perform at the end.
We finish with tea, biscuits and music. We’ll chat or play instruments, clapping and moving to a lively song, before a 10-minute debrief with staff and each other.


Our work at Age Exchange is based on compassion and a real desire to learn about people. We help them understand who they were and who they are, in whatever way possible. It’s incredibly rewarding for everyone, including us practitioners. Care staff learn a lot by participating alongside residents, and we provide training on how to use reminiscence arts to build relationships with older people and find out about their life histories.


On the drive home I often have to detach myself from the sadness I see during my work and focus on the fun and creativity instead. Dinner, a glass of wine with my partner and a bedtime story with my daughter bring the day to an end. She tells me about school and I think of some of the memories that were shared during my sessions. I’m often left thinking about how closely all our lives are woven together.

Media and Dementia

I often think that the media should be more careful about what they write or comment on when it comes to dementia and other medical conditions.

This is because they seem to have a cavalier approach to any articles they write, and totally forget those with these illnesses.

In Dementia we are always hearing about miracle cures, which then disappear completely.

Surely before they write an article they should check it out with another research body, to see if it is what they claim.

These claims only raise peoples hopes, and then leave them in the dark, which is very wrong.

We really do need more dementia friendly news reporters, who understand that we get upset if they raise our hopes with these miracle cures only to find that they are in many cases untrue, or so far off that it will have little or no effect on those living with the illness
 

The media also have weird ideas about interviewing people with dementia, and still use the terms we all object to like service user, which is also used for drug addicts. Or they say sufferer, another term which gets many very upset, because sufferer means someone in severe pain etc.

When they interview people with dementia they are so much of a hurry that they ask questions and then try to answer them for us which is totally dis respective. If they give us the chance to think the question through we can answer for ourselves.

 Sometimes I have noticed they interviewers ask a lot of questions, and then the editor changes everything to suit themselves so the story is totally different to what was out over in the first place.

But I think that this is because many media outlets only want their own stories. I have had the pleasure to work with many over the years, yet the ones who really cared and did dementia stories properly are usually local where they are genuinely interested in the person, and not themselves.

One such company is ITV Tyne Tees, who really look into the project first before going head long into a long interview with too many questions. They usually use brilliant reporters, who know about the illness and spent time putting you at ease before starting.

Another local newspaper in the North East is the Northern Echo who use very good reporters of a high standard, who are caring and understanding. What is more the editors in these two companies do not change the story for their own benefit which is good.

I think good quality local reporters are much better at putting our story over that the national ones, simply because they care about local people and local issues

If you are involved with television media, they always say look at the camera and not the reporter, which is fine until they start asking questions, and then you automatically look at the person asking the questions.  They never understand that we want to listen to what is said, and usually that means looking at the person speaking to you

But its up to those with the illness, to try to get better treatment from the press, and attempt to force through good quality guidelines, so we stop hearing words and phrases that we do not like.

 

Health officials should run an "it's never too late" campaign to make the public aware of lifestyle

Health officials should run an "it's ne ver too late" campaign to make the public aware of lifestyle changes they could make to help stave off dementia, a new report suggests.

A number of factors can increase a person's risk of dementia in later life and people should be encouraged to take steps to protect themselves, according to the report commissioned by Alzheimer's Disease International, a body representing dozens of organisations from around the world.
The report authors, led by Professor Martin Prince from King's College London, said that low education in early life, high blood pressure in midlife, and smoking and diabetes across the whole life can increase a person's risk of developing dementia.
They wrote: " There is persuasive evidence that the dementia risk for populations can be modified through reduction in tobacco use and better control and detection for hypertension and diabetes, as well as cardiovascular risk factors. A good mantra is 'What is good for your heart is good for your brain'.
"B rain health promotion messages should be integrated in public health promotion campaigns such as anti-tobacco or non-communicable disease awareness campaigns, with the message that it's never too late to make these changes.
" If we can all enter old age with better developed, healthier brains we are likely to live longer, happier and more independent lives with a much reduced chance of developing dementia."
A survey by healthcare provider Bupa, conducted on 8,500 people from six countries including 2,500 from the UK, also shows that many are unclear what steps they can take to reduce their risk of developing the condition, Alzheimer's Disease International said.
Just over a sixth of people realised that social interaction with friends and family could impact on the risk. Only a quarter identified being overweight as a possible factor, and 23% said physical activity could affect the risk of developing dementia and losing their memories, the organisation said.
Commenting on the report Dr Eric Karran, director of research at charity Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "Although there is currently no certain way to prevent dementia, this report underlines strong evidence suggesting we can lower our risk by adopting a healthy lifestyle.
"A large body of research has linked high blood pressure, smoking and diabetes to an increased risk of dementia, and this analysis serves as another reminder that good heart health is an important route to good brain health.
"Studies have also suggested that education in early life may help build a level of 'cognitive reserve', helping the brain to withstand the damage from diseases like Alzheimer's for longer in later life.

"Importantly, this report highlights a need to understand better how to reduce the risk of dementia, which is why Alzheimer's Research UK is committed to increasing investment in this area of research. With over 830,000 people living with dementia in the UK, and that number set to increase, research into prevention is a crucial component in tackling this growing crisis."

George McNamara, head of policy at the charity Alzheimer's Society said: "We can no longer ignore the growing mountain of evidence that in many cases lifestyle factors play a key role in the development of dementia.
"We have long known that what is good for your heart is good for your head, but it is becoming increasingly clear that as well as searching for a cure we need to address lifestyle factors to ultimately help prevent dementia where possible.
"By the next general election 850,000 people in the UK will have dementia and the staggering human cost of the condition is met by an economic burden of £26 billion.
"Anything we can do to make people aware of the role lifestyle factors can play in increasing risk not only makes sense to those people affected by it but could have real value to the economy."

Time to generate more services for people with dementia

In the past we had a very large local branch at the Alzheimer's Society, and had lots of services not just for those with the illness but also for carers, who need as much help and support as we do.


Since the society and other charities were reorganised, services were cut back, something I thought was very sad.


Yes perhaps savings needed to be made, but not at the expense of those with this illness


These days we are seeing more and more dementia cafe's  along with services like singing for the brain, but the other services like the discussion groups seem to have disappeared.


While these may be good, for some people I do feel that we need to be looking at generating new services, to help those who have no interest in singing.


I spent 10 years in a church choir and enjoyed it, but these days I don't enjoy singing so much, so I have no intention of going down that route.


I do think that there is a lot to be said about discussion groups, for people with the illness, as we got so much pleasure from being involved, and you always looked forward to the next group session
 
These discussion groups used to generate a lot of interest, as we had a different topic each week, for local history, to hobbies and past times people used to enjoy.


Some local groups have art classes which is brilliant, because there are many people who have dementia, and want to learn to paint, but these services are few and far between.


We must remember that we are all different with different problems and symptoms, so no one topic suites everyone.


Let us hope that in the future we get more good quality services provided for people with dementia, because like it or not, Is no good getting and early diagnosis, if you are then left trying to find your way through a very short supply of good services for people with dementia.
 
  

dementia prayer

Lord help me with this illness

I want to be as I was, but cannot turn the clock back

To understand what is happening to me,

To a time when I was in control over what I did and said

I know I have dementia and my life has changed

I feel that I am not in control of my life anymore

Nor am I am the same person, that I was before

I cannot do the things that I did before, or they are more difficult to do,

I do not sleep as I did before and feel refreshed

My dreams are not happy but things of terror from which there is no escape

I wake and cannot work out what is real and what is part of the nightly horrors 

Each night I pray that I will wake up before the horrors start

But I know in my heart that this illness will take its course

I am not the same father or husband and that is sad

I may have done and said things which are hurtful

I get so agitated at times I simply don't understand

what is happening to me anymore

 I know that many of the bad things I do are a mistake

But it does not help when it happens

Give me the courage to fight this and not to give in

As that would be too easy, and there is too much I wish to do

Some days can be awful, and some as normal as possible

Some, times I just want to sleep, and that would be too easy

But I know that I would not sleep at night

Trying to pray is becoming harder, as I can never find the right words

Or I cannot remember the words to the Lords Prayer

Cost of caring for some one with Dementia

After the news article the other day telling everyone how much it costs to care for someone with dementia "called the dementia tax", I was let trying to think of the right words to answer.

When I look at this country these days it always makes me wonder who we can trust when they go to Westminster, because they are mostly there for themselves, and not for those who voted for them.

I say this because if Mr Cameron was honest enough to want to do something for people with dementia, he would get on with it, instead of trying to act like a friend when in fact he is doing the opposite. 

When we look around these days very few people in highly paid jobs pay tax or pay the right amount they are required to by law, they use off shore accounts like the premier league footballers.

If all of these people paid their tax like the normal everyday person you meet on the street, we would have a better system to look after all in need including those with dementia.

It's a disgrace that people with dementia are penalised like this but this will never end until we get honest people in parliament. 

I always remember speaking to a minister after the launch of the national dementia strategy, and my wife asked if the money the government were putting into the strategy was new money, and we were both very shocked at his answer. No it's not new money, it's already in the system and just needs to be spend more wisely? 

So why did they tell the public that they were putting all this money into dementia in the first place. To me now I do think that these governments are doing nothing more than money laundering as they move it from one place to another, caring little about the damage caused.

When it comes to elections next year we should all ask serious questions about what these politicians really think about dementia treatment.

We also want a new strategy and one that removes these form of taxation on people with dementia and their carers, 

I always remember an old comedian called Dick Emery who once said. The only time a politician told the truth is when his lips are sewn up, and like some friends who have this illness I am starting to believe this 

The £200,000-a-year 'care tax' paid by families of dementia sufferers:

From the Daily News

The £200,000-a-year 'care tax' paid by families of dementia sufferers: Relatives forced to 'break the bank' to pay for extra help 

• Sufferers and families are paying as much as £21,000 a year covering the costs of social care and unpaid care by family members and friends
• Researchers have calculated the cost of dementia to the UK has hit £26 billion a year, through health and social care costs
• But people with the condition, and their families, are shouldering two-thirds of the cost - around £17.4 billion annually 
• It is predicted there will be more than 850,000 Alzheimer's sufferers by 2015
• Alzheimer's Society calls for Government to end the 'artificial divide' between health and social care, which 'unfairly disadvantages' people with dementia 

Dementia patients and their families are being hit by a ‘care tax’ of more than £20,000 a year, research has revealed.

They are forced to ‘break the bank’ to pay for extra basic help from their own pockets because it is not provided by local authorities.

On top of that, relatives are having to undertake everyday tasks such as washing, feeding and dressing which often forces them to give up jobs.

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It is predicted there will be more than 850,000 people in the UK with Alzheimer's disease in 2015

It is now estimated that of the £26billion a year cost of dementia to the UK, patients and their families are picking up two-thirds of the amount – about £17.4billion.

The London School of Economics was commissioned by the Alzheimer’s Society to calculate the care burden – and found that the average dementia patient and their relatives are hit by a ‘tax’ of £21,322 a year.

 

The figure includes £7,085 to pay for private carers on top of an estimated £14,237 in unpaid care provided by family members themselves. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt accepted that the costs were ‘unfair’ to families and promised to provide more financial help to families.

He said: ‘I want to make sure those with dementia, their families and carers get the help they need. It’s precisely because people face such unfair care costs that we are transforming the way people pay for care, capping the amount they have to pay and providing more financial help.’

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Alzheimer's Society says that thousands are paying a 'dementia tax' to cover their dementia care costs

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said it was wrong that patients had to pay for their own care when those with cancer or heart disease had care provided free by the NHS.

‘This new research exposes the staggering financial and human impact of dementia,’ he said. ‘It is plain to see that our social care system is on its knees, leaving an army of tens of thousands of unpaid carers bearing the brunt.

‘If you have cancer or heart disease you can quite rightly expect that the care you need will be free. That is just not the case for people with dementia.

‘Families are forced to break the bank to pay for basic care for a loved one.’

Problems arise because home care is not provided by the NHS but by local councils – whose budgets have been slashed, forcing many families to pick up the tab for private care themselves.

By contrast, patients with heart disease or cancer are assured of free care on the NHS – because health budgets have been protected from cuts.

The research also found that an estimated 225,000 people in the UK develop the condition every year – or one person every three minutes. This means that by next year, 850,000 patients will have the condition, rising to two million by 2051. 

WHAT IS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE?

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. 

It is predicted there will be more than 850,000 people in the UK with Alzheimer's disease in 2015.

The term 'dementia' describes a set of symptoms which can include loss of memory, mood changes, and problems with communication and reasoning.

These symptoms occur when the brain is damaged by certain diseases and conditions, including Alzheimer's disease.

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Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia. Symptoms occur when the brain is damaged by certain diseases and conditions, including Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's disease, first described by the German neurologist Alois Alzheimer, is a physical disease affecting the brain. 

During the course of the disease, protein 'plaques' and 'tangles' develop in the structure of the brain, leading to the death of brain cells. 

People with Alzheimer's also have a shortage of some important chemicals in their brain. 

These chemicals are involved with the transmission of messages within the brain.

Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, which means that gradually, over time, more parts of the brain are damaged. As this happens, the symptoms become more severe.

 Source: Alzheimer's Society

Dementia and pain

We hear a lot of talk about dementia and pain, yet like it or not this subject is very vague.

As an engineer I was always hurting myself accidentally and I knew whether the pain was serious or not, but now things have changed, since I got the Lewy body dementia.

I have no idea how bad the pain is, or where the site of the pain is. We are hear about doctors etc asking how bad the pain is on a score of 1-10, yet to be honest I really cannot answer that anymore.

I am now struggling with pain in my right hip and knee. As well as that my right foot keeps dragging on the ground and this too is painful at times. But I really could not tell anyone where the site of the pain is or how bad it is, apart from the fact that it stops me doing things at times because of the discomfort.

I can have a guess, but that would be it, my ideas of pain have changed so much over the last few years.

So how on earth do people in the later stages cope with pain, and how do carers or care homes cope when they may not be aware of the full details. 

Pain in dementia is a topic on it's own which needs a lot of work doing so that training can be given to all who need it. 

Grandparents

I saw this the other day and had to share it with you all as it was so funny

Grandparents telephone calls

 

Good Morning… at present we are not at home, but please leave your message when you hear the beeeeep.

If you are one of our children dial 1, and then select the option from 1 – 5 in order of “ arrival” , so we know who it is

If you need us to stay with the children press, 2

If you want to borrow the car press, 3

If you want us to do your wash your clothes, and do your, ironing press.  4

If you want the children to stay here tonight press.  5

If you want us to pick the kids up from school press, 6

If you want us to prepare a meal for Sunday or to have it delivered to your home press, 7

If you want to come here to eat press, 8

If you need money press, 9

If you are inviting us to dinner, or taking us to the theatre, start talking and we are listening!!  

 

 

WHAT IS A GRANDPARENT

Taken from papers written by a class of 8 year olds

Grandparents are a lady and a man who have no little children of their own. They like other people’s children

A grandfather is a man and a Grandmother is a lady

Grandparents don’t have to do anything except be there when we come to see them…

They are so old they shouldn’t play hard or run. It is good if they can drive us to the shops and give us money

When they take us for walks, they slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars

  They show us and talk about the colours of the flowers and also they shouldn’t step on “cracks”

They don’t say hurry up

Usually Grandmothers are fat, but not too fat to tie your shoes

They wear glasses and funny underwear

They can take their teeth and gums out

Grandparents don’t have to be smart




Needless to say that my parents both had false teeth, and they were both left on the bathroom window sill, in two glasses. These frightened the life out of our children when they first saw them, and they could not believe that a person could take their teeth out on a night.

Can pomegranate halt Alzheimer's?

From the news

I often read these news bulletins about cures and wonder whether they are for real or whether they are just headliners for the news press.  I guess only time will tell us

Can pomegranate halt Alzheimer's?  

• Alzheimer's affects 800,000 people in the UK with 163,000 new cases a year
• Researchers believe punicalagin in pomegranates could battle Alzheimer's
• The chemical could also counter painful inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis
• Scientists tested the impact of the fruit on the brains of laboratory rats  

     

Pomegranates may help stop the spread of Alzheimer’s disease, claim scientists.

An ingredient called punicalagin helps prevent the inflammation that destroys brain cells known as micrologia, according to a team at the University of Huddersfield.

It is hoped the findings may also potentially benefit sufferers from rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson’s disease by reducing painful inflammation from these conditions.

 

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Researchers have found that a chemical in pomegranates could help stop the spread of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s affects 800,000 people in the UK, with 163,000 new cases a year being diagnosed.

The key breakthrough in laboratory experiments is showing that punicalagin - which is a form of chemical compound known as a polyphenol – found in pomegranate fruit, can inhibit inflammation in specialised brain cells known as micrologia.

This inflammation leads to the destruction of more and more brain cells, making the condition of Alzheimer’s sufferers progressively worse.

There is still no cure for the disease, but the punicalagin in pomegranate could prevent it or slow down its development.

A new study was headed by Dr Olumayokun Olajide, who worked with co-researchers at the University of Huddersfield’s Department of Pharmacy and scientists at the University of Freiburg in Germany.

 

The team used brain cells isolated from rats to test their findings, which have been published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.

Dr Olajide is still working on the amounts of pomegranate that are required, in order to be effective in the form of a drug.

However, he pointed out that juice products which are 100 per cent pomegranate contain approximately 3.4 per cent punicalagin.

He said ‘But we do know that regular intake and regular consumption of pomegranate has a lot of health benefits – including prevention of neuro-inflammation related to dementia.’

Dr Olajide says most of the anti-oxidant compounds are found in the outer skin of the pomegranate, not in the soft part of the fruit.

Although this has yet to be scientifically proven, pomegranate may be useful in any condition for which inflammation – not just neuro-inflammation of the brain – is a factor, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s and cancer.

The Middle Eastern fruit used for centuries as a folk medicine is claimed to be effective against heart disease, high blood pressure, inflammation and some cancers, including prostate cancer.

What is dementia? Alzheimer's Society explains

     

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The researchers identified a chemical compound punicalagin which can combat neuro-inflammation, file pic 

Dr Olajide is collaborating with organic chemist Dr Karl Hemming, of The University of Huddersfield, in order to produce compound derivatives of punicalagin that could the basis of new, orally administered drugs that would treat neuro-inflammation.

Meanwhile, a separate study has suggested that stimulating the brain using an electric current could improve memory – opening the way for treatment of related problems such as early-stage Alzheimer’s disease and stroke.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) activates a particular region in the brain via non-invasive delivery of electrical current using magnetic pulses.

It has been used in a limited way to temporarily change brain function to improve performance during a test, for example, making someone push a button slightly faster while the brain is being stimulated.

The latest US study shows TMS can be used to improve memory for events at least 24 hours after the stimulation is given.

Scientists recruited 16 healthy adults aged 21 to 40 who had a detailed anatomical image taken of his or her brain as well as 10 minutes of recording brain activity while lying inside an MRI scanner.

Each participant underwent a memory test, consisting of associations between faces and words that they were asked to learn and remember, followed by brain stimulation 20 minutes a day for five consecutive days.

Both groups performed better on memory tests as a result of the brain stimulation.

It took three days of stimulation before they improved, says a report in the journal Science.

Researcher Joel Voss, at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said ‘We show for the first time that you can specifically change memory functions of the brain in adults without surgery or drugs, which have not proven effective.

‘This noninvasive stimulation improves the ability to learn new things. It has tremendous potential for treating memory disorders.’

Dr Simon Ridley, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK charity, said The results of this study shows some potential in the use of a non-invasive technique which may help to improve memory.

‘This was a very small trial with only 16 people and did not look specifically at people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

‘Much more large-scale, long-term research is needed to determine whether this technique would be beneficial to people with dementia.’