Dementia / Alzheimer's

Dementia can be a devastating diagnosis. It often leaves patients and families grasping for whatever ideas they can find to lessen or forestall the difficult symptoms. Without knowing the scientific validity, it’s not uncommon for families to reach for such alternative therapies as dietary supplements or herbal remedies for the…

The word is out: Last night, on public television, an urgent and alarming documentary on Alzheimer’s Disease premiered. Part of a broader focus to attract public attention and resources to the fight against Alzheimer’s, the documentary, “Every Minute Counts,” will be available to stream online and has its own website that includes…

Perhaps you think you’re too old to learn a second language (although find out why that may be an aging “myth” by Reading Here). But for those of you who speak more than one language, or who have younger people in your life who are contemplating a second language, the…

This doesn’t smell good: apparently, scientists have now found a link between the impaired ability to recognize and remember smells, and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s. With a new study published in the Annals of Neurology, researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a non-invasive test that demonstrates that…

Mental confusion and trouble with daily activities often trigger alarms: Is my loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s? It could be some kind of dementia or it could be some other treatable illness that’s causing mental cloudiness. The only way to know for sure is to have a physician check it…

There’s little doubt that pets can provide loving companionship, especially to seniors living alone or those with impaired cognition. But attending to the real needs of pets- the walking, feeding, vet visits- often means that owning a pet is beyond the ability of many. Now Hasbro, the venerable toy company,…