Disabled and Dementia

[mojo1941]

I am now a carer for a person diagnosed with Vascular Dementia  (VaD) since last September 2013 - and then being told by the white coats - their mantra - There is no treatment.
Since just before Christmas I have been posting a thread in the Alzheimer's Society Talking Point Forum as mojo1943 (should have been 1941 as a tribute to John Belushi but my memory must also be on the blink at least / most got it right to SA) and I must have struck a nerve because its had 15K odd views to date...
forum.alzheimers.org.uk/showthread.php?65377-Vascular-Dementia-VaD-recently-diagnosed-no-treatment-no-way

I have listed all the info to help anyone sadly new to the very complex disabled scene in various posts - to find out where & how to get State and other help eg blue badge BB  and attendance allowance AA - both of which are essential to be effective and a gateway to extra aid.
I also have a full house of Prostrate Cancer PCa - so my Kb has been and is busy.
If any viewer has a special ? please send me a PM and I will give or get an answer.

 

[mojo1941]

Find a local acupuncturist near you...
An estimated 637,000 people in the UK have dementia syndrome and the annual cost of their care is £17 billion(Alzheimer's Society 2007). Alzheimer's disease is the commonest type of dementia (affecting around 60% of those with dementia), followed by vascular dementia (20–25%) and dementia with Lewy bodies (10–15%)(Overshott 2005; DTB 2003).

About 80% of people with dementia will have behavioural changes or psychological symptoms at some time (Overshott 2005), which can reduce quality of life for both patients and carers, and often result in transfer to residential care and higher costs(Finkel 2000; O'Donnell 1992; Lawlor 2002; Donaldson 1997). The symptoms can include anxiety, depressed mood, psychotic symptoms, and behavioural symptoms such as aggression, agitation, wandering, sexual disinhibition, and screaming and swearing(Finkel 1997). Psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations occur in 30–50% of all patients with dementia(Jeste 2000), and in about 80% of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies(McKeith 2006).

There are 2 main types of medication used to treat Alzheimer's disease – cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists. Cholinesterase inhibitors include donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon) and galantamine (Reminyl). The NMDA receptor antagonist is memantine (Ebixa). Drugs may also be used to treat symptoms of dementia, for example, antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs and hypnotics(Burns 2009). However, the generally recommended practice for such symptoms of dementia is to try non-drug methods first (e.g. behavioural and psychological interventions, occupational activities, environmental approaches), unless the patient is severely distressed or there is an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others(DTB 2003; NICE 2006). NICE guidelines recommend that people with dementia with mild-to-moderate non-cognitive symptoms should not be prescribed antipsychotic drugs, and that those with severe non-cognitive symptoms (i.e. psychosis and/or agitated behaviour causing significant distress) should only be offered treatment with an antipsychotic drug if specific conditions have been met(NICE 2006).

looks to me from the previous post this site needs updating as does our host ALZ Soc Research.....mo43


www.acupuncture.org.uk/a-to-z...-dementia.html

[mojo1941]

this is the link to the above post
Acupuncture Ups Memory For Dementia Patients
New research demonstrates that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of vascular dementia. Published in the Chinese Journal of Gerontology, clinical and laboratory research finds acupuncture significantly effective in improving cognition and memory. Laboratory results and objective measurements confirm these findings; acupuncture successfully increases glucose metabolism in the brain areas related to cognition and memory. In addition, cerebral blood flow improves with acupuncture. As a result, the researchers note that acupuncture is effective in alleviating vascular dementia.

Hope we will be able to get this treatment in Brighton (?NHS) without having to visit Beijing .... mo43

www.web01.healthcmi.com/Acupu...entia-patients

[mojo1941]

Sleeping pills taken by millions linked to Alzheimer's
Common sleeping tablets and anxiety drugs taken by millions of patients has been linked to a 50 per cent increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, researchers have found.
Taking the drugs known as benzodiazepines, which include diazepam and lorazepam, for three months or more was linked with a greater chance of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease five years later.
At least six million prescriptions were issued for the drugs in England last year and the researchers said the findings are important because of the large numbers of older people taking the medicines.
Researchers behind the study described the findings as being of "major importance for public health".

looks like its not a good idea to sleep on this one ..mo43

www.telegraph.co.uk/health/he...lzheimers.html
Dementia patients 'face unfair care tax'
Dementia patients in the UK face a "care tax" because they are left to sort out much of the care they need themselves, experts say.

The Alzheimer's Society found that on average, the equivalent of £32,242 a year was spent on care per patient.

But the researchers said on average only a third - £10,784 - came from NHS or council funds, leaving a shortfall.

The charity said it was unfair as those with cancer or heart problems got their care free on the NHS.

the above makes the case for D care crystal clear to those who want to read ..mo43

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29126357
both items were posted by me aka mojo1943 on the alzheimer's forum Talking point recently

[mojo1941]

How close is a cure for Alzheimer's disease?

How far are we from a cure for Alzheimer’s disease? Professor Susan Greenfield thinks it may not be that far away, but that there needs to be a wholly new approach if one is to be found. But why doesn’t Alzheimer’s get the attention or funding that other diseases attract?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the former director of the Royal Institution and leading neuroscientist about her work on dementia and the impact that modern technology could be having on our brains.

Professor Greenfield has attracted controversy in the past due to the approach she has taken, and in this HARDtalk interview she questions the way that the scientific community organises research. So is the current system of peer-review working, and could it actually be holding us back?

probably & for good reasons in that it helps get funding..mo41

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0274chh

[mojo1941]

NHS Decision Support Tool (DST) in case of need FYI (for your Information) from a Talking Point thread
It will be very handy for viewers if the poster takes the trouble to add relevant links to their post eg download for DST toll = now I know what its all about

www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourc...g%20DST%20tool

[mojo1941]

Brain repair 'may be boosted by curry spice'
A spice commonly found in curries may boost the brain's ability to heal itself, according to a report in the journal Stem Cell Research and Therapy.

The German study suggests a compound found in turmeric could encourage the growth of nerve cells thought to be part of the brain's repair kit.

Scientists say this work, based in rats, may pave the way for future drugs for strokes and Alzheimer's disease.

But they say more trials are needed to see whether this applies to humans.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29361351

[mojo1941]

Wonder drug to fight cancer and Alzheimer's disease within 10 years
A wonder drug which could fight cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes could be developed within 10 years following a breakthrough by scientists.
Imperial College has discovered how to turn off an enzyme which is driving many incurable diseases.
The NMT enzyme makes irreversible changes to proteins which stop damaged cells from dying and, instead, speeds up their replication, causing cancer.
It can be responsible for cancers become resistant to chemotherapy.
It is also known to be involved in Alzheimer's disease, although scientists are unclear as to how it works.

if only ...& heres hoping for less than 10 years hence..mo43

www.telegraph.co.uk/science/s...-10-years.html

[mojo1941]

Nobel Prize for the brain's GPS discovery
The Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine has been awarded to three scientists who discovered the brain's "GPS system".

UK-based researcher Prof John O'Keefe as well as May-Britt Moser and Edvard Moser share the award.

They discovered how the brain knows where we are and is able to navigate from one place to another.

Their findings may help explain why Alzheimer's disease patients cannot recognise their surroundings.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29504761

[mojo1941]

Train Your Brain While Playing Games
Some games are for fun or passing time but some other games are built with a target to work out the brains. If you like more to play games with such as a unique purpose then Lumosity is one of the excellent apps that allow you to start a brain training journey.

Lumosity has built some scientifically designed games for five Brain Areas namely speed, memory, attention, flexibility and problem solving. Each game is to challenge your cognitive abilities in each of the Brain Areas.

When you play the games, your scores are tracked with an index called Lumosity Performance Index (LPI), which helps you compare your strengths and weaknesses in the Brain Areas, plus an overall LPI which is an average index.

sounds like great fun BEFORE you get Alzheimer's of any sort.....mo43

www.techsupportalert.com/cont...ying-games.htm

[Bob]

Hi Mo, your link is not working properly.

[mojo1941]

many thanks - hope this works
theconversation.com/brain-training-can-help-develop-building-blocks-needed-for-maths-and-reading-31600?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Weekend+Conversation+-+1932&utm_content=The+Weekend+Conversation+-+1932+CID_c622a0958aad29ae8c648fc6d6afc267&utm_source=campaign_monitor_uk&utm_term=Brain%20training%20can%20help%20develop%20building%20blocks%20needed%20for%20maths%20and%20reading

[mojo1941]

First Case Study to Show Direct Link Between Alzheimer’s and Aluminum Toxicity
Aluminum has been long known to be neurotoxic, with mounting evidence that chronic exposure is a factor in many neurological diseases, including dementia, autism, and Parkinson's disease.

However, definitive scientific proof is difficult to establish due toth the lack of longitudinal studies, as well as pushback from industries that use aluminum in their products. Despite the shortage of conclusive studies, mounting scientific evidence really leaves little room for doubt.

Case in point: a new case study from Keele University in the UK1 unequivocally shows high levels of aluminum in the brain of an individual exposed to aluminum at work, who later died from Alzheimer's disease.

While aluminum exposure has been implicated in Alzheimer's and a number of other neurological diseases, this case claims to be "the first direct link" between Alzheimer's disease and elevated brain aluminum following occupational exposure.

A very scary article for those whose mothers cooked memorable meals in aluminium pots made from recycled spitfires and lancasters....mo43

[mojo1941]

Japanese researchers find longevity gene useful for vascular dementia prevention

TOKYO, Sept.17, (Xinhua) -- Researchers in Japan have found that a kind of longevity gene could prevent vascular dementia induced by cerebral infarction, which is likely to help develop new therapies to the disease

Im leaving links out as they dont fully transfer - use the tille & google search to follow up
title

[mojo1941]

Viagra could soon be used for heart disease patients: researchers
A daily dose of Viagra could become a safe treatment for heart disease, researchers have said, after finding it improved blood flow.
The drug, normally used to treat erectile dysfunction, was found to prevent changes to the heart associated with disease.
Because it is already on the market and known to be safe, the researchers said there was no reason it could not be used immediately but said larger trials would be beneficial.
A team from Sapienza University of Rome analysed animal studies involving Viagra and conducted new research using 1,622 people with heart disease.
Lead author of the study, Andrea Isidori said: "We found that the main ingredient in Viagra can be used as an effective, safe treatment for several patients with heart disease. Large clinical trials are now urgently needed to build on these encouraging findings."

mmmm....from the above it would seem to me to be a no brainer to trial viagra on selected patients with VaD for starters - might even be fun....mo43

www.telegraph.co.uk/health/he...searchers.html