‘Wisdom’ Helps Older Brains Keep Pace, Study Shows

In a matched test, the brains of older people were not as fast as those in a group of younger people, but they performed just as well because their brains are wiser, say Canadian researchers.

“It was already known that aging is not necessarily associated with a significant loss in cognitive function,” explains Dr. Oury Monchi, University Geriatrics Institute of Montreal. “We now have neurobiological evidence showing that with age comes wisdom and that as the brain gets older, it learns to better allocate its resources. When it comes to certain tasks, the brains of older adults can achieve very close to the same performance as those of younger ones,” Monchi added.

The study included a group of 24 people aged 18 to 35 and a group of 10 people aged 55 to 75 who were still active professionally. For this test, participants were asked to pair words according to different lexical rules, including semantic category (animal, object, etc.), rhyme, or the beginning of the word (attack).

“When the young participants made a mistake and had to plan and execute a new strategy to get the right answer, various parts of their brains were recruited even before the next task began. However, when the older participants learned that they had made a mistake, these regions were only recruited at the beginning of the next trial, indicating that with age, we decide to make adjustments only when absolutely necessary. It is as though the older brain is more impervious to criticism and more confident than the young brain.”

That’s interesting information to consider. A mounting body of research also has shown that keeping the brain active is one important part of healthy aging. So anything you can do to to stay busy is valuable.

For more information about the study, visit http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-08/uom-css082511.php.

Secret to Longevity: Genetics and Lifestyle

Both genetics and a healthy lifestyle are important to healthy aging. Two recent studies lend credence to both theories. New research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms what other studies have uncovered. If you want to live longer don’t smoke, eat healthy, exercise and drink alcohol moderately.

During the study period, people who engaged in all four healthy behaviors were 63 percent less likely to die early, compared with people who did not practice any of the behaviors. But people can live longer if they practice even just one of these healthy lifestyle behaviors, according to the CDC. Not smoking provided the most protection from dying from all of the causes examined.

People who engaged in all four healthy behaviors were:

·         66 percent less likely to die early from cancer,

·         65 percent less likely to die early from cardiovascular disease, and

·         57 percent less likely to die early from other causes compared with people who did not engage in any of the healthy behaviors.

On the other hand, another recent study has revealed that people who live to 95 or older are no more virtuous than the rest of us in terms of their diet, exercise routine or smoking and drinking habits, according to research by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Bronx, N.Y. That group found that genes were an important indicator of longevity.

Overall, people with exceptional longevity did not have healthier habits than the comparison group in terms of body mass index (BMI), smoking, physical activity or diet, that research indicated.

Let the debate continue! Take these results back to your coffee klatch and you are sure to generate even more discussion. Remember, as you all start to need support, assistance at home can help you and your friends remain independent longer. Contact your local Home Instead Senior Care^® office today for more information.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care, go to www.homeinstead.com. To learn more about the CDC study, go to http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2011/p0818_living_longer.html. For more information about the centenarian study, visit http://www.einstein.yu.edu/home/news.asp?ID=678.

Study Shows That Broken Heart Syndrome Can Kill

Unresolved grief could have a devastating effect on your health. For generations it has been said that people who collapsed and died soon after a severe personal loss just died of a “broken heart.” The cause was probably stress cardiomyopathy, which is now often referred to as “broken heart syndrome.” New research, however, indicates this acute heart failure triggered by stressful events is more common than first thought.

Stress cardiomyopathy (SC) has been known to primarily affect postmenopausal women and is characterized by acute, profound, but reversible left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in the absence of significant coronary artery disease, according to the study published in a recent issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The condition can be difficult to diagnosis, according to the report from researchers at the University of Leipzig, Germany. However, it appears that patients with SC were an average age of 69 years old and 89 percent (227) were women.

Please think about your family and how they would feel if something happened to you as well. If you are overwhelmed at the thought of being home alone or trying to take care of your house, consider contacting your local Home Instead Senior Care^® office to discuss how they might help. CAREGivers ^SM, who are screened, trained, bonded and insured, are well-equipped to assist older adults who find themselves in need of companionship.

Safer travel for those with dementia

With the Labor Day weekend upon us, the Alzheimer’s Early Detection Alliance (AEDA) reminds us that traveling with an individual who has Alzheimer’s requires additional thought and preparation.

The Home Instead Senior Care network has joined the AEDA, which is a group of corporations, nonprofits and government entities determined to make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Under the leadership of the Alzheimer’s Association, this alliance will work to educate people nationwide about the warning signs of Alzheimer's disease and the importance of early detection. Labor Day provides an opportunity to educate yourself about how people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers handle travel – they need to be prepared for a change in schedule and environment. Even if it is a trip you have taken before, it may feel new for the person with the disease.

Additionally, as Alzheimer’s progresses, negotiating changes in environment will become increasingly challenging. Be prepared for the individual with the disease to experience some confusion or disorientation. Exercise caution, as wandering and getting lost are more likely during transitional times. The checklist below will help you plan for the trip and make it successful and safe.
Before going
 

• Call the Alzheimer’s Association chapter in the area you will be visiting. Let them know you will be staying in the area and ask about available resources. You can locate any chapter by calling 1.800.272.3900 or visiting www.alz.org/apps/findus. 

• Enroll the person in MedicAlert® + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return®, a 24-hour nationwide emergency response service for individuals with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia who wander or have a medical emergency. You may also want to consider the Alzheimer’s Association Comfort Zone®, powered by Omnilink, a Web-based GPS location management service or Alzheimer’s Association Comfort Zone Check-InTM.

• If you are already enrolled in MedicAlert, update your records with temporary contact information (call 1.888.572.8566).

Upon arrival

• Let neighbors know a person with Alzheimer’s is staying next door and ask them to keep their eye out for wandering or other unsafe behavior.
• During the first few days after arrival, keep your schedule light with lots of down time.
• Create opportunities to re-acclimate the person to the new environment.
• Keep familiar things around.
• Limit access to money and credit cards.
• Limit access to driving.
• Be aware that the change can be chaotic for the person.
• Recognize the warning signs of anxiety and agitation.

 

For more tips on safety for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including concerns about wandering, disaster preparedness, home and medication safety, visit the Alzheimer’s Association Safety Center at

www.alz.org/safetycenter or call 1.800.272.3900 to find the Alzheimer’s Association chapter closest to you.

SEVERE WEATHER PROMPTS LOCAL COMPANY TO ISSUE DISASTER SAFETY PREP CHECKLIST FOR SENIORS

Home Instead Senior Care has issued a disaster safety preparation checklist to help prepare seniors for the possibility of natural disasters.

“We know that a disaster can be deadly for some seniors because of physical and other limitations,” said  Bob Vielee, owner of the Home Instead Office serving Northeast Pennsylvania and the Greater Pocono Region.  “That’s why the sooner the better for families to talk with their senior loved ones and begin preparing in advance for any kind of emergency that could threaten their health or safety. Consider this checklist as you help your older adult get ready."

Home Instead Senior Care's Disaster Prep Checklist For Seniors:

 

____Tune in.  Contact the local emergency management office to learn about the most likely natural disasters to strike your area.  Stay abreast of what’s going on through your local radio or television. 

____Take stock.  Decide what your senior can or can’t do in the event of a natural disaster.  Make a list of what would be needed if a disaster occurred.  For example, if your loved one is wheelchair-bound, determine an evacuation strategy ahead of time. Prepare for whatever disaster could hit the area.

____ To go or to stay?  When deciding to evacuate, older adults should go sooner rather than later.  By waiting too long, they may be unable to leave if they require assistance.

  

____ Make a plan.  Schedule a family meeting to develop a plan of action.  Include in your plan key people – such as neighbors, friends, relatives and professional caregivers – who could help. 

____More than one way out.  Seniors should develop at least two escape routes: one to evacuate their home and one to evacuate their community.  The local emergency management office can tell you escape routes out of the community.

____Meet up.  Designate a place to meet relatives or key support network people outside the house, as well as a second location outside the neighborhood, such as a school or church.  Practice the plan twice a year. 

____Get up and “Go Kit.”  Have an easy-to-carry backpack including three days non-perishable food and water with an additional four days of food and water readily accessible at home.  Have at least one gallon of bottled water per person per day.  Refresh and replace your supplies at least twice a year.  And don’t forget the blanket and paper products such as toilet paper.

____Pack extras and copies.  Have at least a one-month supply of medication on hand at all times.  Make ready other important documents in a waterproof protector including copies of prescriptions, car title registration and driver’s license, insurance documents and bank account numbers, and spare checkbook.  Also take extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries.  Label every piece of important equipment or personal item in case they are lost.

____Your contact list.  Compile a contact list and include people on a senior’s support network as well as doctors and other important health-care professionals.

____If you can’t be there.  If you’re not living close by to help your loved one, enlist the help of family or friends, or contact a professional caregiving company. 

For more information about disaster preparedness for seniors, contact Home Instead Senior Care 570-586-3135 or visit homeinstead.com/nepa

Home Instead Senior Care network joins effort to detect Alzheimer’s early

The Home Instead Senior Care network has joined the Alzheimer’s Early Detection Alliance (AEDA), a group of corporations, nonprofits and government entities determined to make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Under the leadership of the Alzheimer’s Association, this alliance will work to educate people nationwide about the warning signs of Alzheimer's disease and the importance of early detection.

Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease and no method to prevent its onset. Early detection is our only management tool, allowing those living with the disease – and their families – time to plan for the future. This may include building the correct medical team, enrolling in clinical studies or investing in safety measures.

Many people struggle to determine if a behavior is a typical age-related change or the first sign of Alzheimer's disease. To help, the Alzheimer’s Association has created this list of warning signs for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Every individual may experience one or more of these in different degrees. If you notice any of them, please see a doctor.

1. Memory changes that disrupt daily life
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks
4. Confusion with time or place
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
8. Decreased or poor judgment
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities
10. Changes in mood and personality

To learn more about the 10 signs, please contact the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org/10signs or 877-IS IT ALZ (877.474.8259). As a member of the AEDA, the Home Instead Senior Care network will work to provide reliable information about Alzheimer’s disease and early detection during the upcoming months.

If you or a loved one is affected by Alzheimer’s disease, turn to the Alzheimer’s Association for support and services. Information is available online at www.alz.org or by calling the Association’s 24/7 Helpline at 1.800.272.3900.

Research: Exercise Slows Age-Related Mental Decline

Inactivity after the death of a spouse is not unusual. Why not suggest that your mother see her doctor to make sure her health conditions haven’t changed or that she’s not suffering from depression. Ask the doctor about her ability to exercise, because it could help.

Home Instead CAREGivers can encourage
 and assist seniors with their physical activity

A study published as “Online First” by Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, clearly points to new hope in a method of slowing age-related mental decline in women who had vascular or coronary risks.

Previous research has suggested that physical activity is associated with reduced rates of cognitive impairment in older adults. However, much of this research has apparently been conducted among individuals who are generally in good health.

Further, many of these studies rely on self-reports of physical activity, which are not always accurate; and focus on moderate or vigorous exercise, instead of low-intensity physical activity.

In the recent article, researchers from the Foundation of Public Health, Mutuelle Generale de l'Education Nationale, Paris, examined data from the Women's Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study, which included women who had either prevalent vascular disease or three or more coronary risk factors.

As participants’ energy expenditure increased, the rate of cognitive decline decreased. The amount of exercise equivalent to a brisk, 30-minute walk every day was associated with lower risk of cognitive impairment. So you can tell your mom that even a 30-minute walk a day would help her maintain good “brain” health.

 It sounds as though Mom could benefit from a little companionship. Why not try to interest her in activities she used to enjoy with your father or pastimes she liked at one time herself. Recommend she join a walking club, or take up gardening with a friend when the weather is nice.   

If she isn’t interested in doing anything with her friends, suggest a paid caregiving service. CAREGivers^SM from the local Home Instead Senior Care^® office often join older adults in activities, serving as companions as well as motivators.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care, contact <<Insert Franchise Owner’s Full Name>> at <<Insert Telephone Number>> or go to homeinstead.com/nepa. For more about the study, visit http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/171/14/1244.