June 27, 2008

Alzheimer's Disease - More Success Stories

With the appropriate medication and the right background, the Alzheimer's disease can be handled with easiness.



Various support groups are ready to assist families comprehend and work with the condition.

June 24, 2008

Why Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis is Complicated to Handle

When someone in your family has gotten an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis, you may be distressed and wonder just what is ahead of you. For others, nevertheless, they may have purposely put off seeing their doctor when their family member has shown symptoms of the disease simply because they don't want to hear that bad news of an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. However, it's crucial that anyone showing signs of Alzheimer's see their doctor as soon as possible.

There is no one authentic test for Alzheimer's disease, no spike on a screen or hormone insufficiency that will show up in a lab report. An Alzheimer's disease diagnosis is reached through a sequence of neurological exams and questions, and when all other results are ruled out. Parkinson's disease, stroke, certain tumors and other medical and physical impairments may cause problems with memory, coordination, and personality changes, so it is important that these be ruled out first. But, if there are not other causes for a person's symptoms, then an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis may be rendered.

When diagnosing Alzheimer's, patient may be asked a series of questions that will assess his or her level of cognitive functions. These may include questions about past personal history, names of family members and acquaintances, and so on. They may be given little problems to solve, such as math equations or spelling short words backwards. These types of questions are imperative in an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis because they assess the level of the patient's cognitive functions; even for someone very aged they should be able to handle these simple questions, and if not, there may be a diagnosis of Alzheimer's.

An early Alzheimer's disease diagnosis is essential. Like many diseases, finding out about it as soon as possible is crucial to its treatment. While doctors do not yet have a cure for Alzheimer's, there are new medications being researched every day that help delay its degeneration. So if you're someone that's been afraid of seeing the doctor for fear of Alzheimer's disease diagnosis, it's strongly encouraged that you do whatever you can to get past that fear and make an appointment with your physician today. Not only will this be very important in treating the physical symptoms of Alzheimer's for the patient, you as a caregiver can begin receiving help in understanding the disease and its progression. So don't wait; see your doctor as soon as possible.

June 20, 2008

New drugs propose optimism for Alzheimer's patients

About two years ago Howard joined a clinical drug trial for Alzheimer's disease. The drug he received, now known as Flurizan, has just entered phase three of the drug trial. See this video to learn more...



There are nine new Alzheimer's treatments in phase three trials-the final step before FDA approval. All offering hope to either slow down or prevent the onset of Alzheimer's.

June 17, 2008

Alzheimer's Disease - Looking for Help Online

When someone in your family has been diagnosed with this dreaded condition, there is a plenty of options for Alzheimer's disease help online. Many web sites have been launched that are dedicated to this condition and to its handling. Knowing how disturbing and complicated it is for the caregivers as well, many sites also have forums, discussion boards, and pages of information that can assist those taking care of Alzheimer's patients, whether it be for their medical care or their emotional care as well.

For instance, the Alzheimer's Association is a most important source of Alzheimer's disease help online. They are hosting one of the largest sites devoted to Alzheimer's disease help, including open forums and message boards where caregivers can meet one another for support and encouragement, or to get frequent questions answered. There is as well an interesting feature on this site wherein a caregiver can build a calendar that helps to manage the schedule of others that are helping with the patient's care. These ones can log on and know when they are expected to assist the one with Alzheimer's disease. Help in this form, of getting you organized, can be an important tool for someone that may already be overwhelmed with so many details.

But the Alzheimer's Association is more than just a website. They spearhead many political causes to petition congress for additional funding for research into treatment options. They advocate for patients' rights. They keep up a database of nearby physicians and specialists, and include nursing homes and hospices as well. Whatever the need of the patient with Alzheimer's disease, help is readily offered.

Certainly there are many other online sites specialize in Alzheimer's disease help. They include the National Institute on Aging, the Mayo Clinic, and the Alzheimer's Society in the U.K.

If you're stuck as to where to turn for Alzheimer's disease help, you should not hesitate to speak with your doctor about your apprehensions. There is absolutely no dishonor in asking for assistance, and it would be a mistake to think that a "good" son or daughter or spouse should be able to handle all the care and treatment of a patient without help. Doctors understand how difficult this is and have met many persons exactly like you. They are usually more than willing to offer more pointed and practical Alzheimer's disease help in whatever form that may be, if you simply speak out and ask for it.

June 13, 2008

Microchip for Alzheimer's. Boon or Evil?

Verichip Corporation designs the microchip which can be implanted to a body of Alzheimer's patient. It can collect some medical information from human’s organism to help in Alzheimer’s treatment. But is it ethical or not? See this video...





So what's better: be healthy or be free?

June 10, 2008

The Importance of Getting Exact Alzheimer's Information

When you or someone from you family is facing Alzheimer's disease, you want to be certain that you're getting perfect and up-to-date Alzheimer's information. It's easy to presume that you know what happens next or that you're helpless against its progression, but this thinking is just not accurate.

It is very important to get the latest Alzheimer's information because there are many doctors and researchers that are constantly looking for new medications and treatment options. Doctors do not yet have a cure for this dreaded disease, but they do have many medicines that can help delay the progression of the Alzheimer’s disease. Anyone that has an Alzheimer's patient in the family knows that time is valuable, as the disease is degenerative and gets worse over time. If you are doing the whole lot you can to delay that degeneration, you can protect the patient's health and mental faculties for that much longer. There is also a lot of Alzheimer's information regarding available medications and their effectiveness. Many have been found to delay the beginning of Alzheimer's and to protect the patient's cognitive abilities. Once only available in pill form, many are now available as a patch. This cuts down on many of their side effects and helps patients that have difficulty swallowing or staying on top of their schedule for medications.

Many caregivers and patients are also worried about the progressive stages of the disease. By getting accurate Alzheimer's information both can understand what to expect on each stage. Proper arrangements can be made, and medications can be adjusted (under a doctor's care of course).

The most up-to-date Alzheimer's information is naturally found online. There are many Alzheimer's organizations dedicated to not just the most recent information, but to the support of those who are caregivers too. They provide forums and boards to get help from others. They can even connect you with local resources for doctors, visiting nurses, home care, hospices, or specialists in the field of aging and Alzheimer's.

It's best if you get Alzheimer's information from an honest source though. Don't fall for any slick sales pitches that say that you can cure Alzheimer's with a certain herb or mix of vitamins. If you need support with finding a reputable site or organization, or aren't convinced about the information you're reading, consult with your doctor to be sure. Only he or she can be sure if the Alzheimer's information you're getting is correct.

June 06, 2008

Alzheimer's Disease May Be Caused by Infection

See these images of Borrelia DNA in Alzheimer's disease brain tissue - Including Specific DNA probes.

This is may be a great breakthrough for Alzheimer's medicine, there are some very compelling images of Borrellia (Lyme disease) spirochetes.





More research needs to be done on this topic. There is a very strong indication of borrelia spirochetal infection of the brain causing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson's, etc. When autopsy reveals spirochetes in 7 out of 10 brains of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the medical community needs to get up.

June 05, 2008

Alzheimer's Medical Alert Bracelet – How to Use It

If you or a member of your family is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, you may want to think about a special Alzheimer's medical alert bracelet. It can come in handy if you ever have an issue with your parent or spouse or whoever the patient wandering off somewhere they shouldn't. It can be very difficult even for law enforcement or emergency medical personnel to assist such ones if they cannot verbalize themselves their condition, or give them an emergency contact name and phone number.

Such persons undergoing from chronic conditions have been using medical alert bracelets for years as a means to inform emergency services of their condition, allergies, medications, and so on in the event they are found unconscious. An Alzheimer's medical alert bracelet works in much the same way. It can alert medical personnel of the patient's condition and any medications they're on. Moreover, it can help law enforcement in the event that the patient is found wandering or someplace they shouldn't be.

There is an entire business now built around making good-looking Alzheimer's medical alert bracelet, so there's no need to think that some clunky military-style chain is your only option. In addition, there is no law or regulation that states what information must be on such a bracelet, so don't think that your patient will be neglected if they're not wearing the "right" style of bracelet. Normally anything with the medical alert charm will alert the proper personnel that the patient has a condition. Any additional information after that is helpful. Some Alzheimer's medical alert bracelets can even be homemade with regular beading kits, and you can add your own charms and links.

Apparently you don't need to make your own Alzheimer's medical alert bracelet if that's "not your cup of tea." There are many places online that sell them in a variety of styles. There are some companies that have even designed a small type of GPS system that fits into the bracelet to be able to find your patient if he or she should wander off. This type of Alzheimer's medical alert bracelet is helpful if your patient has a tendency to wander off or if he or she is experiencing uncertainty. It's rare that such a patient cannot be found but it does happen, and so this type of small chip in a bracelet may be worth the few extra dollars it costs.

June 04, 2008

Living With Alzheimer's Disease

See the story of living with this dreadful disease. How it affects the afflicted and their loved ones.



Nothing is more "Pro-Life" than curing deadly Alzheimer’s disease and helping the suffering.

June 03, 2008

What Is the Alzheimer's Patch

It's believed that the medication Exelon is to some extent successful at treating the early stages of Alzheimer's dementia. It helps to protect the brain's cognitive abilities and slows the progression of the disease. Nowadays, many patients are being offered Exelon in the form of an Alzheimer's patch rather than a pill and there are a few reasons why a caregiver might prefer the patch over the pill.

For one thing, sickness, vomiting and diarrhea were reported as common side effects of Exelon. Using the Alzheimer's patch seems to reduce on these side effects, as the medication is more easily absorbed into the system and does not wreak such havoc with the digestive system. It may also help the medication to work as it retains its full potency. When any medication is taken orally, it gets broken down in the stomach and goes through a partial digestive process before it is absorbed in the bloodstream. To neutralize this, oral medications are usually stronger than any other form, and have a greater tendency toward side effects. They also take longer to reach the intended area of the body that they need to affect. An Alzheimer's patch does not need to go through the digestive system this way. It can be better absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin and starts to work almost immediately.

There are also sensible reasons for choosing the Alzheimer's patch over pills. Most Exelon patches need to be adhered only once per day. This makes it easier for the patient who may suffer from lapses in memory and is not sure if they have taken their pills, or who may have difficulty remembering to take them at a definite time. They are easier to manage physically than pills themselves, as Alzheimer's patients often have difficulty with swallowing. Also, caregivers do not need to worry if the medication has been administered to their patient or not. They can easily check the Alzheimer's patch on their patient and see if it is new or needs replacing.

Side effects for the Alzheimer's patch seem to be minimal, and don't normally cause skin problems. There is still some nausea with some patients, but only about one-third the number of those who report nausea with the pills. In general, most patients and caregivers tend to prefer the use of the Alzheimer's patch over the pills.

June 02, 2008

Controversial Methods - Can Cannabis Cure the Alzheimer’s?

Some medical researches give us feeling that cannabis may become a new cure for Alzheimer’s disease. But is it really so?



Looking for Alzheimer’s cure?