Memantine (Namenda), a drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s, appears to be ineffective in the mild stages of the disease, a new study shows. Despite its FDA indication, memantine is often used, in combination with cholinesterase inhibitors, to treat people with mild Alzheimer’s. The authors of the new study say this strategy may need re-examination. While some studies suggest the drug is effective in treating moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease, “in mild Alzheimer’s disease there is a lack of evidence that it works,” said lead researcher Dr. Lon S. Schneider, a professor of psychiatry, neurology and gerontology at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.
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‘Alzheimer’s & Dementia’ Posts
Study shows Namenda may not be effective for mild Alzheimer’s
Thursday, April 14th, 2011Alzheimer’s in California: A 2-part package (with video) on Alzheimer’s in California
Thursday, April 14th, 2011By Paul Kleyman (Director Ethnic Elders Newsbeat/New America Media)
ALZHEIMER’S SERIES PART 1 — “California Budget Cuts at Odds With State’s New Alzheimer’s Plan,” New America Media, News Report, Paul Kleyman, Posted: Mar 28, 2011
Some 1.1 million Californians serving as caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s face severe cuts in state assistance, even as the number of people with the disease is expected to explode. Read more
PART 2 — Latino Family Joins Forces in Alzheimer’s Care to Make Memories,” New America Media, Video, Story: Paul Kleyman // Video: Josue Rojas, Posted: Apr 11, 2011.
The Garcias, like many Latino families, initially hid their “Papa’s” Alzheimer’s, but they eventually got educated and stopped fearing the unknown. See the video.
2011 Annual Conference of the American Society on Aging
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011
Living Well is at the “Aging in America” – the 2011 Annual Conference of the American Society on Aging. The Aging in America conference is the largest gathering of a diverse, multidisciplinary community of professionals from the fields of aging, healthcare and education. Join us to find the answers, the experts, the research, the best practices, and the most comprehensive educational offerings available to professionals.
From Norman McNamara: Alzheimer’s from inside!
Tuesday, February 15th, 2011Watch what Norm says about being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s He is now 53 yrs. old and he has every intention of beating it. His videos and interview try to help us understand what its like being an Alzheimer’s sufferer and how it feels to be diagnosed with such an awful disease.
This is another video he had made about his BBC radio interview:
Incidence and Prevalence of the Major Causes of Brain Impairment
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011
The Family Caregiver Alliance quotes data from the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc.’s General Statistics/Demographics (Chicago, IL: 2000), where it illustrates the problems that brain impairment imposes 0n caregivers: .”…Many of the diseases and disorders that affect the brain are progressive and their incidence and prevalence increase with age. Caring for those with adult-onset brain impairments frequently becomes a 24-hour, 7-day a week role. As the population ages, the need for care and for understanding the impact of these disorders on families becomes even more pressing.
A recent report released by the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics1 , states that 35.8% of those 85 or older have moderate or severe memory impairment. Persons 85 years and older are the fastest growing segment of the population. By 2020, it is estimated that almost one million persons will be age 85+ in California alone – twice as many as there are today.
The loss of cognitive and functional abilities affect the individual and his or her family in profound ways. Caring for adults with cognitive impairments is often very stressful and demanding. Caregivers cope with their loved ones’ memory loss, behavioral and personality changes, chronic care needs and the high costs of care. Caregiving can span decades, can impact both the physical and mental health of the caregiver and can result in extreme economic hardship.
Lewy Body dementia for Professionals
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011
Lewy body dementia (LBD) is not a single disorder but a spectrum of disorders involving disturbances of movement, cognition, behavior, sleep and autonomic function. The Lewy Body Dementia Association provides a wide array of resources fro professionals and family members.
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD): A more common dementia than we thought!
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011
The Lewy Body Association states that “…LBD is not a rare disease. It affects an estimated 1.3 million individuals and their families in the United States. Because LBD symptoms can closely resemble other more commonly known diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, it is currently widely under diagnosed. Many doctors or other medical professionals still are not familiar with LBD.
LBD is an umbrella term for two related diagnoses. LBD refers to both Parkinson’s disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. The earliest symptoms of these two diseases differ, but reflect the same underlying biological changes in the brain. Over time, people with both diagnoses will develop very similar cognitive, physical, sleep, and behavioral symptoms.
While it may take more than a year or two for enough symptoms to develop for a doctor to diagnose LBD, it is critical to pursue a formal diagnosis. Early diagnosis allows for important early treatment that may extend quality of life and independence.
LBD is a multi system disease and typically requires a comprehensive treatment approach. This approach involves a team of physicians from different specialties who collaborate to provide optimum treatment of each symptom without worsening other LBD symptoms. Many people with LBD enjoy significant improvement of their symptoms with a comprehensive approach to treatment, and some can have remarkably little change from year to year.
Some people with LBD are extremely sensitive or may react negatively to certain medications used to treat Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s in addition to certain over-the-counter medications.
