Dementia sufferers set to benefit from group’s surprise £5k award

Mayor Isobel Hunter officiall opens Dementia/Alzheimer support group, Alz cafe

A weekly ‘open door’ support and social group for people with dementia and their carers has been awarded a “surprise” £5000.

The funding will allow the group, Berwick and District Friends of Dementia Active Mind and Body, to widen the range of available activities for a full 12 months and help with transport to ensure the inclusion of dementia sufferers living in remote areas.

Engage Mutual customer Linda Sneddon applied for the funding from the Mutual’s Foundation, which has set aside £1m as an exclusive benefit for its customers to make their lives and communities better.

Although only Engage Mutual customers can nominate a community project for funding from the Engage Foundation, the public are encouraged to show their support via an online vote, with winning projects decided by the highest number of votes.

When the winners of the final round of community funding for 2014 were announced last month, the Berwick group unfortunately just missed out. But the Engage Foundation Advisory Panel - a panel made up of customers - decided to pool remaining funds from the year to create an additional community award.

Following a panel vote, Linda was overjoyed to be told that the Berwick and District Friends of Dementia Active Mind and Body project would receive the valuable £5,000 funding after all.

She said: “This has come as a huge surprise and a tremendous boost for us all.

“We run a weekly support and social group for people with dementia – and their carers – and this award means we can introduce a range of dementia-friendly activities such as art and craft sessions as well as music and movement, all known to be beneficial to dementia sufferers.”

She added: “There is a dearth of dementia-specific support groups in and around Berwick aimed at those living with early to moderate stage dementia.

“In addition, there is very little public transport suitable for people with dementia, and now we can help those vulnerable people who otherwise cannot use public transport, attend the session through use of community transport and volunteer drivers, offering much more flexibility and scope.

“This is really important because we’re located in a remote rural area and so operate an open door policy, welcoming people from both sides of the English/Scottish border.”

As a mutual organisation, Engage is owned by, and run for, its customers.

The Engage Foundation was set up to provide customers with personal grants, and awards for community projects.

Customers can apply to help what matters to them in their corner of the world (the communities in which they live). All customers need to do to be considered, is apply.

The funding pot is made possible due to the financial stability of the customer-owned organisation which provides life and health insurance, and a variety of savings products.

Nigel Hunter, Head of Community at Engage Mutual, said: “When we set up the Engage Foundation earlier on in the year we did so with one overriding objective: to enable customers to benefit from the financial success of their business.

“We think it’s great to be able to help a community project or a good cause that our customers feel passionate about.

“We wish everyone at the Berwick and District Friends of Dementia all the very best with their valuable work and will enjoy catching up with the group to see how the funds help them improve things for local sufferers of dementia and their carers and families.”

He added: “And if there are others in the Berwick area, both individuals seeking personal grants and community groups looking for funding, then all they need to do is visit www.engagemutual.com/foundation.”

Berwick and District Friends of Dementia runs a weekly support and social group for people with dementia and their carers, and will use the additional funding to introduce a range of dementia friendly activities such as art/craft sessions, music and physical activities.

It aims to create a stimulating environment for people with dementia and carers through increased mental and physical wellbeing, enrich lives and strengthen relationships.

The community award will allow Berwick & District Friends of Dementia to use appropriately skilled group workers to facilitate twice monthly sessions and buy suitable resources for the sessions.

Children open up about dementia in CBBC documentary

  

Alzheimer's Society has been working with the BAFTA award-winning documentary series My Life which returns to CBBC on Wednesday 4 February 2015 at 5.30pm.

'Mr Alzheimer's and Me' follows three young people who tell their stories of living with grandparents who have dementia.

Joshua, 11, from Essex, is very close to his grandad, Derek, who has Alzheimer's. Josh is scared that one day his grandad won't remember him, so he creates a special memory box of photos and items from Derek's past to keep the memories alive. Josh, Derek, and Yvonne (Derek's wife and carer) are also media volunteers for Alzheimer's Society.
Also featured is Hope, nine, from Cardiff who has been living with her Nanna, Mary, since her Mother died. Mary has Alzheimer's but Hope believes that one day her Nanna will get better. Mary knows her dementia will only progress and tries to prepare her granddaughter.
Elsewhere Ella, 11, from the West Midlands, visits her grandad who lives in a care home. He has Alzheimer's and needs constant care. Ella is keen to help so she completes a 10 mile sponsored walk to raise money for charity, and meets her proud grandad at the finishing line.
Speaking about the programme, George McNamara, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Alzheimer's Society said:

'Dementia can create some challenging situations for families. It is natural to want to protect children when a loved one becomes ill, however, it is important to explain to them what is going on.
'Mr Alzheimer's and Me' takes a positive and realistic approach through the eyes of children; presenting the emotional challenges faced when a loved one is diagnosed with dementia. The programme is particularly positive in showing how the grandchildren can provide stimulation to their grandparents who have dementia. All of those featured are affected differently, but is clear how their grandchildren's support brings positivity to their lives. This emphasises that simply being with the person and showing them love and affection is the most important thing that the child or young person can do.'

Do common drugs really cause dementia?

I am starting to wonder whether to believe anything we hear on the news these days. One day things are bad for us, then the next they are not sure if they got the information correct in the first place

 

Media reports of a recent study suggesting a wide variety of common drugs can increase the chances of getting dementia are more sensationalism than science

Side effects may include widespread neurological degeneration. Or not. Photograph: Ulrich Baumgarten/U. Baumgarten via Getty Images

  

 

If you looked at the news at all yesterday, you will likely have heard about a new study that claims an alarming range of common drugs - including Nytol and over-the-counter hayfever pills - can increase the risk of developing dementia in people over 65. The mainstream media have shown a disconcerting enthusiasm for reporting this finding, despite the fact that much of the coverage and claims made can be described as exaggerated at best, scaremongering at worst.
For example, the researcher speaking about the study on the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme earlier emphasised how antidepressants can cause a 50% increase in risk of dementia. But this only applies to a very old class of antidepressants known as “tricyclic”. Some people still get these in certain cases, but the vast majority of antidepressants prescribed today are more modern SSRIs, and no connection between these and dementia is made, so the simple claim that “antidepressants cause dementia” is somewhat alarmist.

Analysis Dementia findings are food for thought but not definitive proof

In light of possible link to some sleeping pills and antihistamines, it makes sense for people to consider what they are taking

Read more

There are plenty of other critiques to be made, such as how depression and dementia actually occur in the same person very often, so you’d almost expect older people on anti-depressants to be more likely to develop dementia. But perhaps more concerning than any issues with the research, is how can a scientific study with questionable claims, that many scientists would dispute, end up with widespread mainstream coverage, while countless more thorough and valid experiments get ignored?
Here’s a confession that you won’t normally see in a popular science blog, but if you’re not directly involved, most scientific studies are actually quite dull. Perhaps science in films and TV dramas has led people to believe that your typical scientific experiment produces unexpected or shocking results, leading the (suspiciously attractive) lead scientist to gasp and say something like “This changes everything!”
In truth, most studies last for weeks/months/years, and once the reams upon reams of data produced are thoroughly analysed (usually by sleep-deprived postgrads) the eventual conclusion is more like: “That overlooked minor process that is one of hundreds of elements of a more complex system? Well, it turns out it works slightly differently to what we thought”. You can see how such a discovery might be difficult to get publicity for.

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So it may be understandable that we see scientists, or perhaps more accurately their institutions, exaggerating and emphasising the results of studies to gain attention, especially if their jobs depend on it. However, this drive for scientists to get publicity for research is increasingly criticised, and can go too far.
But scientists wanting the publicity is only half the problem; why do so many media sources seem so keen to cover stories like this? There are many possible explanations, many of which are quite cynical.
The simplest explanation is that on slow news days a science story can get a great deal more attention than you’d normally expect. It’s not like the latter half of January isn’t known for media focus on ridiculous, depression-related claims…
But in a more practical sense, a study of this nature is easily related to the general public that media outlets rely on to make money. It’s not about some unknown or poorly understood corner of science, it’s about common and everyday drugs that practically everyone will have taken at some point in their lives, and linking them to a well-known but deeply alarming neurological condition. Thus, it is relatable, and people will be keener to read about it as they believe it applies to them.
If we’re being generous, it could be argued that the extensive coverage of this story is the result of a sense of public duty. If you discover that a common substance is dangerous, the decent thing to do would be to warn as many people as possible, and surely the media wouldn’t hesitate to encourage the general public to stop any behaviour that might harm them, no matter how slim the actual risks?
That noise you can hear right now is the sound of every credible climate scientist on Earth laughing bitterly.
Sadly, you can’t rule out the likelihood of the classic tactic of scaremongering. It seems like nothing sells papers/generates traffic like striking fear into the populace, and it seems that’s happening with coverage of this story.
The study itself is rarely, if at all, linked to in any of the reports, but the general gist is that a wide variety of anticholinergic drugs show possible links to increased risk of dementia. But most reports decide to single out a specific type, as if nobody can agree which drug is the most innocuous and therefore most worrying in this context. Sleep remedies? Hayfever pills? Or perhaps just emphasising the “over-the-counter” nature of some of the drugs, despite most of the subjects being on prescription medicines for chronic conditions.
What’s the harm in any of this? So a few column inches/web pages were filled with not-strictly-accurate science, so what? Well, you could say exactly that about the MMR/autism “study” that got such widespread coverage, and now we’ve got an outbreak of a potentially-lethal virus in the happiest place on Earth.
This is what happens when supposedly trustworthy news sources opt for sensationalism over accuracy. Not everyone trusts “the papers”, but enough people do that they still wield considerable influence. Hopefully this story won’t trigger some sort of anti-drug movement comparable to the anti-vaccination ones, but it still has the potential to do great harm. People could be reluctant to take medications they genuinely need, already beleaguered GPs could end up with constant demands for alternative drugs and second opinions, and in the long term this could lead to dementia being viewed as somewhat self-inflicted. As friend and superior intellect Professor O’Neill of Ulster University points out, this sort of reporting serves to further shame and silence those with mental health issues. And these people don’t really need any more of that.

Dementia 'linked' to common over-the-counter drugs

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A study has linked commonly used medicines, including over-the-counter treatments for conditions such as insomnia and hay-fever, to dementia.

All of the types of medication in question are drugs that have an "anticholinergic" effect.

Experts say people should not panic or stop taking their medicines.

In the US study in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, higher doses and prolonged use were linked to higher dementia risk in elderly people.

The researchers only looked at older people and found the increased risk appeared when people took drugs every day for three years or more.
Side-effects
All medicines can have side-effects and anticholinergic-type drugs that block a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine are no exception.

“Start Quote

We would encourage doctors and pharmacists to be aware of this potential link ”

End Quote Dr Doug Brown from the UK's Alzheimer's Society

Patient information leaflets accompanying such drugs warn of the possibility of reduced attention span and memory problems as well as a dry mouth.

But researchers say people should also be aware that they may be linked to a higher risk of developing dementia.

Dr Shelly Gray and colleagues from the University of Washington followed the health of 3,434 people aged 65 and older who had no signs of dementia at the start of the study.

They looked at medical and pharmacy records to determine how many of the people had been given a drug with an anticholinergic effect, at what dose and how often and compared this data with subsequent dementia diagnoses over the next decade.

Getting a diagnosis of dementia

Getting diagnosed is bad enough, when dementia comes into your life, no matter which type it is.

But  many people are being diagnosed these days, and then a few years down the line they are being told that it's just depression, or in their imagination, or in some cases it's the wrong diagnosis.

Some are re-diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment, simply because they have not met the text book examples,is this a cop out?.

In other words after a while of fighting the illness and accepting the diagnosis, they stabilised and because they kept themselves busy and they were able to carry up to and beyond 10 years.

I have heard of people being re diagnosed or simply having the diagnosis changed on many occasions, yet it appears that the doctors or consultants have done the changes in such a way that the person leaves feeling very distressed and very upset, because they simply do not know where they are in life any more. Because there was no care or thought put into the consultation process.

Many people think that because you have lived with the illness for so long why change things, because its upsetting and feels as if you have been living in a lie, something that is very hard to cope with especially if you have perhaps lost your job because of the illness.

Many lose their hobbies or forget how to do DIY projects along with other things that they have done for many years, and this alone is very difficult to cope with let alone people changing the diagnosis after a few years.

No one wants to be labeled as having an illness like this, and I do not think any rational person would want to mimic the symptoms. In any case we all have a bank of tests and scans during the diagnosis, and these things do not lie.

Some memory tests are flawed as you get prompts as to what the answers could be, and you are not allowed to say that you do not know. 

it's purely a case of saying ABC is right, whether you know the answer or not. 

But in real life we do not have prompts, because the chances are no one else knows what you were going to do or say.

So let us hope that things change in the future, and if you get a diagnosis, it stays with you and never gets changed, unless it was wrongly diagnosed in the first place.

Memrica develops app to aid dementia sufferers

Company based at Innovation Birmingham Campus is seeing people to join testing group to help bring new app to market later this year

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Founder of Memrica Mary Matthews

A tech start-up company based at Innovation Birmingham Campus is developing a mobile aid for people with memory problems including the early stages of dementia.
Memrica has been awarded a grant from Nominet Trust, a so-called 'tech for good' funder, to help it develop the first rollout of the app called 'Memrica Prompt'.
The company is a member of Innovation Birmingham's Entrepreneurs for the Future mentoring and support programme.
Designed to reduce the anxiety and frustration caused by forgetting essential information, it creates a virtual link between the things people want to remember and the objects and people around them.
It also offers a reminder system which collates data, image and voice files to prompt the user about day-to-day tasks.
By increasing confidence and prolonging independence, the app is designed to delay the need for more extensive health and social care and reduce stress for families and carers.
The tablet and smartphone app is being designed and developed in collaboration with people with dementia, their carers and clinical experts.
A pilot population of those with early stage dementia, particularly people under 65 who enjoy using smartphone and tablet apps and already have an iPhone or iPad, is now sought to test the app.
Founder of Memrica Mary Matthews said: "44 million people worldwide live with dementia and this number is expected to triple by 2050. Eight per cent of those diagnosed with dementia are under 65.
"Memrica Prompt is a memory aid that can be built over time with photos, prompts, references and calendar notes to make all aspects of everyday life easier, such as going to the hairdresser or doctor, as well as relating to family and friends.
"Each subscription package gives access to up to five users, enabling loved ones and carers to contribute information to the app."
The company has created the Memrica Prompt test application on the iOS Apple platform and is seeking 50 people, either living with early onset dementia or who are worried about failing memory,  to help test the initial versions and then participate in a pilot.
The outcome of the trial, which will be independently run by Coventry University's Health Design Technology Institute, will be used to shape the continued development of the app.
The app is expected to launch to the public this summer.

New test to spot early signs of dementia

A new online test is available to assess risk of dementia Photo: ITV NEWS

Leading dementia experts estimate that more than half the risk for dementia is caused by things we can change with only one in a hundred cases directly attributable to genes. Now a new online Cognitive Function Test is available. It takes 20 minutes to complete and can asses a person’s risk from the age of 50 and will also give personalised advice on steps to take to cut their risk.
The free online test run by the charity Food for the Brain, has been tried by 200,000 people. It's also been tested against standard memory tests used in GP surgeries and specialist memory clinics in a pilot study to identify those at risk by tracking subtle changes in memory as early as possible.
Through a simple set of questions about diet and lifestyle the Cognitive Function Test also assesses a person’s most likely risk factors and the kind of specific changes they need to make to reverse that risk.

Other risk factors include a low intake of vegetables and fruits Credit: ITV NEWS

The Cognitive Function Test not only tests your memory but also assesses a person’s risk on a traffic light system, with ‘red’ risk factors being the ones most critical to address to benefit that individual.

One in five cases of Alzheimer’s are attributed to low levels of B vitamins, especially vitamin B12 found in animal produce, which becomes harder to absorb as you age.
And one in five cases are attributed to low levels of omega-3 fats and fish consumption, according to research from the US National Institutes of Health.
Other risk factors include a low intake of vegetables and fruits, rich in polyphenols, a lack of exercise and a lack of social and intellectually stimulating activity.
A diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates, and having diabetes, increases risk.

Not only does the test give people positive prevention steps to reduce risk in the long-term but also there’s an annual check up so people can track how diet and lifestyle changes impact on their cognitive function.

– Professor David Smith, University of Oxford

By encouraging people to take positive prevention steps, and tracking their memory function over time, we hope to be able to map the extent to which specific diet and lifestyle improvements stop or delay cognitive decline in hundreds of thousands of people. We want to encourage everyone over 50 to start taking positive prevention steps now, from age 50, rather than wait until it is too late.

– Patrick Holford, Food for the Brain

The Cognitive Function Test can be done on any computer or laptop, but not on a mobile or smart phone. It is a screening test, not a diagnostic test. If you have serious concerns about your memory see you're advised to see your GP. 

Mobile technology

I confess that I do not understand people's obsession with mobile technology these days.

There was no such thing when I grew up, the nearest telephone was in a telephone box at the end of the street.

If a business person was on a bus or train, they waited until they got off to telephone someone, partly because you did not wish to interrupt other people's thoughts or conversations.

These days how ever people seem to walk along the street, cross roads cycle and even drive while looking at mobile phones.

 These days I have so much trouble watching where I am going due to my balance, that I am forever being pushed or bumped into by people looking down at the mobile phones or tablet computers.

There is nothing worse than watching for paving slabs which are sticking up, and then being bumped into by someone on a mobile phone. 

I think the main problem is that while I am looking at the pavement, I can also see feet coming towards me. 

But up I stop and watch, it's amazing, just how many people stare into their phones while trying to walk in a straight line irrespective of other pedestrian's etc, going in the opposite direction

I often where common sense has gone when we go out shopping, as everyone seems to be in their own little world. 

Sometimes we get the occasional person who seems to be multitasking with two mobile phones, and this really makes me wonder if these people live in the real world.

I have come to the conclusion that respect is something that no one thinks about these days, it's a case of me first and then others.

Taken From the Alzheimer's Society Website

May people like myself struggle with daily problems, to do with hallucinations and eyesight problems, but its only when you see publications like this that you understand things a little better that you did before.

Many people struggle to cope when they see things which are unreal, and it gets very upsetting.

But even though we changed things like the carpets in the house for plain ones, I still have problems out side with things like marble floors etc.   

I hope this helps other people understand our problems

Sight, perception and hallucinations in dementia

People with dementia may experience problems with their sight which cause them to misinterpret the world around them. In some cases, people with dementia can experience hallucinations. This factsheet considers some specific difficulties that people with dementia can have, and suggests ways to support them. Understanding potential problems and giving appropriate help, support and reassurance can greatly assist people living with dementia to feel safe, at a time when the way they perceive reality may be changing.

Vision and perception

Seeing is a complicated process that involves many different stages. InformationP is transmitted from your eyes to your brain where it is then interpreted, alongside information from your other senses, thoughts and memories. You then become aware of what you have seen (it is 'perceived'). Problems that involve both vision and perception can be referred to as 'visuoperceptual difficulties'. As there are many different stages involved in the seeing process, various types and combinations of mistakes can occur. Common mistakes include:

• Illusions – what the person sees is a 'distortion of reality'. This may result from a particular characteristic of the object, such as its surface being shiny or it being the same colour as the wall behind. An example might be seeing a face in a patterned curtain.
• Misperceptions – what the person sees is a 'best guess' at the inaccurate or distorted information the brain has received from the eyes. This is usually the result of damage to the visual system due to diseases such as glaucoma. For example, a shadow on the carpet could be mistaken for a hole in the floor.
• Misidentifications – damage to specific parts of the brain can lead to problems identifying objects and people. For example, distinguishing between a son, husband or brother may become difficult.

It is easy to see how these mistakes may lead to the person saying or doing things that make others think they are having delusions. However, what the person is experiencing is not a true delusion (it is not based on incorrect reasoning or 'delusional thinking') but is the result of damage to the visual system.
A visual hallucination is different from a visuoperceptual mistake. A visual hallucination involves perceiving or seeing something that is not there in the real world (see 'Hallucinations in people with dementia' below).

Causes of visuoperceptual difficulties

Normal ageing can lead to visuoperceptual difficulties, including:

• reduced sharpness (blurring)
• needing more time to adapt to changes in light levels (eg when going from a dark room into sunlight)
• the area in which objects are seen (the 'visual field') getting smaller, and loss of peripheral vision (being able to see things outside of the direct line of vision) occurring
• pupils becoming smaller
• problems with depth perception
• shadowing from small shapes floating in the visual field (known as 'floaters').

Eye conditions that can affect visuoperception include cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and retinal complications from diabetes. These can all result in changes such as blurring, partial loss of visual field and, in some cases, blindness. They can also cause hallucinations and distortion in the vision – known as Charles Bonnet syndrome.
A stroke can also cause someone to have problems with their vision. They may experience central vision loss, visual field loss, eye movement problems and visual perception and processing issues.
Sometimes medications can cause or contribute to visual difficulties. They include some drugs from the following categories: cardiovascular, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, antibiotics, drugs for Parkinson's disease, and even eye medications.
Specific types of dementia can also damage the visual system and cause visuoperceptual difficulties. These include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and vascular dementia. Rarer forms of dementia, such as posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), can also cause visuoperceptual difficulties.

Visuoperceptual difficulties in people with dementia

The specific difficulties a person experiences will depend on the type of dementia they have. This is because each type of dementia can damage the visual system in a different way.
Difficulties may include:

• decreased sensitivity to differences in contrast (including colour contrast such as black and white, and contrast between objects and background)
• reduced ability to detect movement
• changes to the visual field (how much you can see around the edge of your vision, while looking straight ahead)
• reduced ability to detect different colours (for example, a person may have problems telling the difference between blue and purple)
• changes to the reaction of the pupil to light
• problems directing or changing gaze
• problems with the recognition of objects, faces and colours
• loss of ability to name what has been seen
• double vision
• problems with depth perception.

Dementia can also result in difficulties with orientation. This in turn can lead to:

• bumping into things
• swerving to avoid door frames
• difficulties reaching for things within the visual environment (such as a cup of tea or door handle)
• getting lost or disorientated, even in familiar environments.

Some noticeable consequences of the above changes include:

• difficulties reading and writing, doing puzzles or playing board games
• problems locating people or objects, even though they may be in front of the person – this may be because of other distracting visual information (such as patterned wallpaper) or because of a lack of colour contrast (for example, not seeing mashed potato on a white plate)
• misinterpreting reflections – this may manifest as seeing an 'intruder' or refusal to go into a bathroom because reflections make it appear occupied
• mistaking images on the TV for real people
• difficulty in positioning oneself accurately to sit down in a chair or on the toilet – sometimes this difficulty is mistaken for incontinence
• appearing confused or restless owing to an environment that is visually over-stimulating and difficult to navigate.

Visuoperceptual difficulties can also lead to problems moving around. These problems can make a person fearful of falling and lead to them slowing down their movements while they try to walk safely. If carers understand this, they can try to anticipate these situations, help explain what is being encountered, offer their arm for support, offer encouragement and slow down their own movements. Specific difficulties that people with dementia may have when moving around include:

• misjudging distances and where objects are, even in familiar environments
• stepping very highly over carpet rods or shadows because the change in colour looks like a change in level
• difficulties going down stairs due to problems judging how many steps there are and where the next one is
• avoiding shiny flooring because it appears wet or slippery.

As seen from the examples above, visual difficulties can affect many aspects of a person's daily functioning. If people with dementia are living in their own home with carers who are helping them, the real extent of their visual difficulties may not be apparent until they experience a change in environment, such as going out shopping, on an outing, or on holiday.

How to support someone with visuoperceptual difficulties

This section looks at ways to reduce visuoperceptual difficulties and to support a person experiencing these problems.

Careful attention to eye care and visual health

• Arrange for regular eye checks, and inform the optometrist of the dementia so that this can be taken into consideration when arranging treatment and appointments.
• If the person wears glasses, check that they are clean and that the prescription is correct, and encourage the person to wear them.
• Check the person is wearing the correct glasses for the correct distance, eg reading or television.
• Research has shown that multifocal glasses can increase the risk of falls in people when they are outside the home. It may be useful to have separate distance and reading glasses. Although you will need to check that the correct glasses are being worn and have them clearly labelled.
• If cataracts are the cause of, or are contributing to, poor sight, talk to an optometrist about how to have them treated.

Environmental adaptations

An occupational therapist can visit the home to assess whether any equipment or adaptations are needed. This is called an occupational therapy home assessment. The occupational therapist can arrange minor adaptations, such as handrails, adapted cutlery and special chairs, through social services. For more information, see factsheet 429, Equipment, adaptation and improvements to the home.
Tips:

• Deliberate use of colours can help significantly. For example, a red plate on a white tablecloth is more easily visible than a white plate, and toilet seats are easier to see if they contrast with the colour of the toilet bowl and walls. Colour can also be used to highlight important objects and orientation points (eg the toilet door) and to camouflage objects that you do not want to emphasise (eg light switches or doors that the person doesn't need to use).
• Improve lighting levels around the home. This can reduce visual difficulties and help to prevent falls. Lighting should be even around the home and should minimise shadows – some people resist going near dark areas in corridors and rooms.
• Minimise busy patterns on walls and flooring and try to reduce any changes in floor patterns or surfaces – the person may see such changes as an obstacle or barrier.
• Remove or replace mirrors and shiny surfaces if they cause problems.
• Close curtains or blinds at night.

Practical tips

If a person fails to recognise an object or person, try not to draw any unnecessary attention to the mistake and avoid asking questions that might make them feel 'put on the spot'.
If appropriate, give the object to the person and explain how it is used. If they do not accept this explanation, try not to argue with them. Ignore the mistake and listen to what they are trying to say. Being corrected can undermine a person's confidence and they may become reluctant to join in conversation or activities. For this reason, it is important to focus on the emotions behind what is being said, rather than the facts or details.
If the person struggles to recognise people, ask friends and relatives to introduce themselves to the person. If the person doesn't recognise somebody it can be distressing for them and can also be upsetting for those around them. If this happens, try to reassure the person and find tactful ways to give them reminders or explanations.
Try to make activities accessible for the person. For example, if the person enjoyed reading but is no longer able to do so, consider reading to the person or using audiobooks. Likewise, if the person is unable to read the newspaper or watch TV, radio programmes can help people keep up with current affairs. Cooking can be an enjoyable activity if it is made easy – for example using pre-chopped vegetables and ready-made sauces.

Hallucinations in people with dementia

What are hallucinations?

A hallucination is an experience of something that is not really there. Hallucinations can occur for all the senses, though visual hallucinations (seeing things that are not really there) are the most common type of hallucination experienced by people with dementia.
Visual hallucinations can be as simple as seeing flashing lights, or as complex as seeing animals, people or bizarre situations. Less often in people with dementia, hallucinations can involve hearing (voices, for example), smelling, tasting or feeling things that are not really there.

Hallucinations and dementia

People with dementia are often thought to be hallucinating when in fact they are making a mistake about what they have seen (see 'Visuoperceptual mistakes' above). There are some specific forms of dementia, however, where hallucinations are more common. These include dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia. Hallucinations can also occur in Alzheimer's disease.
Hallucinations in people with dementia with Lewy bodies usually take the form of brightly coloured people or animals. They often last for several minutes and can occur on a daily basis. Around one in 10 people with dementia with Lewy bodies also experience smells that are not really there (known as olfactory hallucinations). People with dementia may also experience auditory hallucinations (hearing sounds or voices) and tactile hallucinations (sensing things that aren't there).

Supporting the person

If you suspect that a person is hallucinating, try to explain calmly to them what is happening. If they cannot retain this information, repeat it when they are calmer. However, if this is still not possible, there is little point in arguing. Attempting to convince someone that they are mistaken can lead to more distress, for both parties.
Try to stay with the person and offer reassurance. Tell them that what they are sensing is not evident to you, but you want to know what they are experiencing. Listen carefully to what they describe. Could it be that language difficulties can explain what they are reporting? For example, someone might refer to green cushions as 'cabbages'.
Try distracting the person to see if this stops the hallucination. For visual hallucinations, the environmental adaptations listed above – including improving lighting levels and eliminating shadows – are also important to consider, as are the points listed under 'Careful attention to eye care and visual health'. For auditory hallucinations, check the person's hearing and make sure that their hearing aid is working, if they have one. People are less likely to hear voices that are not there when they are talking to someone real, so company can also help.

Treatment

It is important to note that hallucinations can be caused by the side-effects of medication (including some antidepressants and drugs for Parkinson's disease) or certain illnesses (including fever, seizure, stroke, migraine and infection). If a person is experiencing hallucinations you should consult their GP. If the person's hallucinations involve multiple senses, seek medical help immediately, as this can indicate serious illness. It is also a good idea to seek medical attention if the hallucinations frighten the person, last a long time or occur often.
When visiting the GP, it will help if you bring notes about:

• what the person saw or sensed
• what time of day it occurred and after what event (eg nap, meal, exercise)
• where it happened and how long it lasted
• how the person responded (eg, if they were distressed) and the words they used to describe what they experienced
• medication the person is taking and the dosage (including any supplements and over-the-counter medications)
• the person's medical history, including any previous sight (or other sensory) conditions and mental health issues
• the person's use of alcohol or other recreational drugs.

Some people with dementia experiencing hallucinations respond to anti-dementia drugs, particularly people with dementia with Lewy bodies. In some situations, people with dementia may be prescribed antipsychotic medication. Antipsychotic drugs do help some people with dementia, but they can also cause side-effects and should be used with caution and be reviewed regularly. However, there are certain circumstances where antipsychotic medication can be effectively used to treat hallucinations, despite their risks. In some cases they can eliminate or reduce the intensity of psychotic symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, and have a calming and sedative effect. For more information, see factsheet 408, Drugs used to relieve behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia.
If a person with dementia with Lewy bodies must be prescribed an antipsychotic drug, it should be done so under constant supervision and reviewed regularly. This is because people with dementia with Lewy bodies are at particular risk of severe adverse reactions to antipsychotic medication. If you have questions about the use of antipsychotic drugs speak to the doctor.
For details of Alzheimer's Society services in your area, visit alzheimers.org.uk/localinfo
For information about a wide range of dementia-related topics, visit alzheimers.org.uk/factshee

From the Daily Mail

Living in the North 'raises dementia risk': Lack of sunshine could be to blame

• Researchers said this could be because of lower levels of vitamin D
• Vitamin D is produced when the skin is exposed to sunlight
• Low levels have previously been shown to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s

 

Living in the North could increase a person’s risk of developing dementia, research suggests.

Researchers said this could be because of lower levels of vitamin D among those who live in more northerly climes, as they enjoy less sunshine than in the South.

Vitamin D is produced when the skin is exposed to sunlight and low levels have previously been shown to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Scientists from the University of Edinburgh said that it was likely that more than one environmental factor would have an influence – and that if they were found then rates of dementia could be halved.

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Researchers said living in the North raises the risk of dementia because of lower levels of vitamin D due to a lack of sunshine

They found a clear geographical divide in rates of dementia.

Among Swedish twins, those living in the north were two to three times more likely to develop the disease compared with those in the south once other factors such as age and gender were eliminated.

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The same pattern was discovered when the research team looked at Scots born in 1921.

There was no greater risk of developing dementia linked to where people lived as children.

But by the time they reached middle age, there was a higher rate of the disease among those who lived further north. 

Tom Russ, of Edinburgh University, said lack of vitamin D could be one reason for the link.

He said: ‘The north-south divide does make you think about latitude and it may be it is something to do with sunlight exposure and vitamin D – that is a possibility and it has certainly been linked to healthy brain function and dementia.

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Researchers from the University of Edinburgh found a clear geographical divide in rates of dementia

‘Statistics have revealed that middle-aged Scots living in the Grampian area – around Aberdeen – are more likely to develop the disease compared to those who live on the border with England.

‘The next step is to pin down what these factors could be. Given that two to threefold variation, it is not going to be one factor – but if you could identify what these factors are and optimise them in the whole population, you could potentially halve dementia rates.’

Mr Russ stressed the study based on data for Swedish twins allowed the researchers to eliminate any genetic factors which might explain the north-south divide.

The north-south divide does make you think about latitude and it may be it is something to do with sunlight exposure and vitamin D – that is a possibility and it has certainly been linked to healthy brain function and dementia

 

Tom Russ, of Edinburgh University

He said: ‘In the Scottish study, everybody was born in 1921, so they will have experienced different things all at the same time – for example, they will all have been the same age when the NHS was introduced.

‘By middle age, there was a big variation across Scotland and it was a similar pattern: higher in the north and lower in the south.’

There are currently about 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, and the number is predicted to reach more than one million by 2025, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.

Research published last year found that older people with low levels of vitamin D were more than twice as likely to develop dementia.

The body makes most of its vitamin D from sunlight on the skin, but older people can be less efficient at doing this.

Although the vitamin is found in oily fish, and is routinely added to milk, diet accounts for very little of the nutrient that actually makes it into the bloodstream.

Other studies have also suggested that those with a vitamin D deficiency are more likely to experience cognitive problems.

Lindsay Kinnaird, research manager at Alzheimer Scotland, said: ‘If we are able to identify environmental risk factors, then we have the opportunity to make adaptations to lifestyle that can minimise their impact.’

 

 

Taken from the Daily Telegraph

How hibernating animals could help fight Alzheimer's disease

Leicester University has found that the protein RBM3 helps restore brain activity when animals wake up from hibernation, and could be a treatmement for people with dementia

Hibernating animals could hold secret to Alzheimer's disease Photo: Danny Green / Rex Features

                

A protein which protects hibernating animals during lengthy spells of sleeping could be the key to fighting Alzheimer’s disease, scientists believe.

The University of Leicester has discovered that a ‘cold-shock’ protein is crucial for preventing the loss of brain cells and their connections when body temperature drops to dangerous levels.

When animals hibernate the number of brain cell links - known as synapses - decreases, allowing them to enter a state of torpor.

Scientists have found that the protein RBM3 helps synapses to rebuild once the animal wakes, restoring normal brain activity.

Humans also have the protein, but it appears not to function in people with Alzheimer's disease. The researchers are hopeful that a drug which mimics or increases its effect could help restore lost brain functions for people with dementia. 

A state of hypothermia is known to protect the brain. People have been survived for hours after a cardiac arrest without brain damage after falling into icy water.
Similiarly, cooling the brains of babies that have suffered a loss of oxygen at birth is also used to protect against brain damage.
In the study researchers reduced the body temperature of mice with Alzheimer’s disease and a healthy control group to 16-18ºC – similar to the temperature of a hibernating small mammal – for 45 minutes. They discovered that the RBM3 protein kicked in for the healthy animals and helped restore function when they warmed up. However the protein appeared not to function for the mice with Alzheimer's.
“We’ve known for some time that cooling can slow down or even prevent damage to brain cells, but reducing body temperature is rarely feasible in practice: it’s unpleasant and involves risks such as pneumonia and blood clots," said Professor Giovanna Mallucci, who led the research team, at the Medical Research Councils Toxicology Unit at the University of Leicester.
“But, by identifying how cooling activates a process that prevents the loss of brain cells, we can now work towards finding a means to develop drugs that might mimic the protective effects of cold on the brain.”
Professor Hugh Perry, chairman of the MRC’s Neurosciences and Mental Health Board, which funded the research, said: “The neuroprotective pathway identified in this study could be an important step forward. We now need to find something to reproduce the effect of brain cooling. Just as anti-inflammatory drugs are preferable to cold baths in bringing down a high temperature, we need to find drugs which can induce the effects of hibernation and hypothermia.”
The research, which was published in the journal Nature, was welcomed by chairites.
Dr Doug Brown, Director of Research and Development at Alzheimer’s Society said: “We know that cooling body temperate can protect the brain from some forms of damage and this method is being investigated as a treatment for acute conditions such as strokes and brain injury.
“It’s interesting to see this protective mechanism now also being studied in neurodegenerative disease.”
Dr Eric Karran, Director of Research, Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "This promising study highlights a natural process nerve cells use to protect themselves, which could be harnessed successfully in mice to resist damage associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
“It's still unclear exactly how and why nerve cells die in diseases like Alzheimer's, but a future treatment able to bolster nerve cells against damage could have wide-reaching

Much better day

Today is a better day all round and I feel more like my old self again. It's been a long and very tiring week, which seemed endless, but I am more in control today.

I had a night from hell last night with a nightmare which kept starting all over again, and went on for hours even though I got up for a break.

I caught a set of drawers at one stage when I lashed out, but nothing was broken.

At least this time I was facing the other way due to my sore hip, so I did not hit my wife during this. Last time I did this she ended up with a black eye, and I was very upset.

In the end I was pleased to get up at breakfast time.

 I don't know what causes these things, but my old consultant has left and we ended up with someone who says that everyone has these things. But I do wonder if she understands this illness, or if she thinks it's my imagination, something I know it's not.

 This also left me wondering just how much training some of these people get.

 But life moves on and at least I am still able to walk and talk so I have to be grateful for this

Not been writing lately

I have not written anything on this blog for some time, but this was for various reasons.

I have been struggling to think of things of things to write, and to find the right words, along with problems with my eyesight.

During this time I have been posting news items which may be of interest to others, but that's as far as I managed to get over the last two months.

I have been close, to closing the blog down but have been advised to keep it going until things clear slightly.

Detecting Alzheimer's: 10 warning signs

A new study estimates the number of Alzheimer's patients will triple by 2050, overwhelming caregivers and the health care system. (AP / Charles Dharapak)

 

     

              Alzheimer Society Canada
Published Tuesday, January 13, 2015 11:31AM EST
Last Updated Tuesday, January 13, 2015 11:51AM EST              

To help you know what warning signs to look for, the Alzheimer Society has developed the following list:
1. Memory loss that affects day-to-day function
It’s normal to forget things occasionally and remember them later: things like appointments, colleagues’ names or a friend’s phone number. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may forget things more often and not remember them later, especially things that have happened more recently.
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks
Busy people can be so distracted from time to time that they may leave the carrots on the stove and only remember to serve them at the end of a meal. A person with Alzheimer's disease may have trouble with tasks that have been familiar to them all their lives, such as preparing a meal.

3. Problems with language

Everyone has trouble finding the right word sometimes, but a person with Alzheimer's disease may forget simple words or substitute words, making her sentences difficult to understand.

4. Disorientation of time and place

It's normal to forget the day of the week or your destination -- for a moment. But a person with Alzheimer's disease can become lost on their own street, not knowing how they got there or how to get home.

5. Poor or decreased judgment

People may sometimes put off going to a doctor if they have an infection, but eventually seek medical attention. A person with Alzheimer's disease may have decreased judgment, for example not recognizing a medical problem that needs attention or wearing heavy clothing on a hot day.

6. Problems with abstract thinking

From time to time, people may have difficulty with tasks that require abstract thinking, such as balancing a cheque book. Someone with Alzheimer's disease may have significant difficulties with such tasks, for example not recognizing what the numbers in the cheque book mean.

7. Misplacing things

Anyone can temporarily misplace a wallet or keys. A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in inappropriate places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.

8. Changes in mood and behaviour

Everyone becomes sad or moody from time to time. Someone with Alzheimer's disease can exhibit varied mood swings -- from calm to tears to anger -- for no apparent reason.

9. Changes in personality

People's personalities can change somewhat with age. But a person with Alzheimer's disease can become confused, suspicious or withdrawn. Changes may also include apathy, fearfulness or acting out of character.

10. Loss of initiative

It's normal to tire of housework, business activities or social obligations, but most people regain their initiative. A person with Alzheimer's disease may become very passive, and require cues and prompting to become involved.

For information on diagnosis, see Getting a diagnosis: Finding out if it is Alzheimer's disease.
Information about the 10 warning signs is also available in a brochure from your local Alzheimer Society, or you can download the brochure or a one-page PDF from this site.