Another big blow came to the Alzheimer’s research community late last month when pharmaceutical company Biogen and Eisai Co. announced on March 22 that they would terminate two late-stage studies of the experimental drug aducanumab. They have ceased trials after they determined it would likely fail to help patients. This announcement is the latest in a long line of failed Alzheimer’s drugs...
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Could a Noninvasive Eye Exam Preemptively Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease?
That’s what a recent study conducted at the Duke Eye Center suggests. The study of more than 200 people, published on March 11 in the journal Ophthalmology Retina, proposes that a quick, noninvasive eye exam might one day allow eye doctors to check up on both your vision prescription and your brain health. Healthy vs. Alzheimer’s-Affected Brains The study looked at the eyes of individuals...
Tom Seaver Diagnosis Reignites Lyme Disease & Dementia Debate
AN ARTICLE IN The New York Times recently revealed that Tom Seaver, legendary pitcher and the most prominent player in New York Mets history, is stepping back from public life because of advancing dementia. It was recently discovered that Seaver, 74, has dementia. However, for many years he suffered from the effects of Lyme disease, which can cause cognitive problems similar to dementia.
TEXAS RESEARCH: ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE VACCINE IN THE WORKS
This small bit of Alzheimer’s news out of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center slipped under the radar late last year. The researchers there revealed that an experimental vaccine that could hold off Alzheimer's disease showed promising results in animal testing trials. Testing Process In the journal Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, their research revealed that testing in...
UNDERSTANDING THE FAST SCALE
WHEN YOU’VE MOVED a loved one suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease to memory care you will hear mention of the Fast Scale, or Reisberg Functional Assessment Staging (FAST) scale at some point during their care. This scale assists doctors, hospice providers, patients and their loved ones in discussing and understanding the progress of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. We believe...
4 CUTTING-EDGE MEMORY CARE IMPROVEMENTS
In previous blog posts we’ve discussed acknowledging when the time comes to move a loved one to memory care facility and how to evaluate different institutions. Today we will explore all of the ways that memory care has improved in recent years. SNOEZELEN ROOMS Snoezelen therapy has been used for people with disabilities for awhile now, but its growth...