#Symptoms of Vascular Dementia

[feminist-space]

Cat in the Hat:

"The German Health Minister gave an important update on the Covid situation yesterday.

I’ve written up the section of his speech from the video below for easy reading.

It’s immensely refreshing to see a government minister warning of the harms of Covid in such a transparent way."

https://x.com/_catinthehat/status/1732092683508678954

Prof. Karl Lauterbach

Health Minister, Germany

4 December 2023

"This second (long Covid) round table was very interesting, lasting three and a half hours. It serves as a unique forum for dialogue among scientists, researchers and those affected by long Covid, facilitating the exchange of ideas.

There are many new findings about long Covid. Not all of them are good news. One piece of not-so-good news concerns the fact that long Covid is actually still a problem for those who are newly infected. One estimate that has been put forward is that the risk of contracting long Covid now, even after vaccination, is around 3%. Now you may say, "that's not such a big risk" , but there are tens of thousands of people who are repeatedly affected in a short period of time. And so, the long Covid problem has not yet been solved.

We have also established that there really are many subgroups of long Covid and that we do not yet have a cure. And it was clearly pointed out that we are also dealing with problems here that will challenge society as a whole, because vascular diseases often occur after long Covid. Throughout Europe, we are currently seeing an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease in the middle-age group - from 25 to 50. This is associated with the consequences of Covid infections.

We also very often find cognitive impairment in older people. And one participant pointed out that it may well be like the Spanish flu, where 20 years after the Spanish flu there was a significant increase in Parkinson's disease and probably also dementia.

This is something we must pay attention to, as the past infection afiects how the immune system in the brain functions, as well as the brain's blood vessels, potentially increasing the long-term risk of these major neurodegenerative diseases. This is why we need to conduct very intensive research. This research has played a major role.

What is the overall assessment of the situation now?

We have to be careful. Long Covid is not curable at the moment. We also know that over 40% of those who have several manifestations of long Covid, for example, five or more, still have symptoms after 2 years, so it doesn't seem to heal spontaneously. We also know that those whose symptoms are more pronounced at the beginning are less likely to heal.

So some of what we know from the demographics of long Covid has been confirmed, and we now know more precisely which mechanisms in the brain, but also in the blood vessels and the immune system, are responsible for this. Professor Scheibenbogan will explain this briefly later.

At this point, I can only say the following - this is particularly important to me:

First of all, long Covid is a disease that stays with us and that we cannot yet cure. And we are seeing an increasing number of cases as the waves of infection continue to affect us.

Secondly, Covid is not a cold - with a cold, you don't usually see any long-term effects. You don't see any changes in the blood vessels. You don't usually see an autoimmune disease developing. You also don't usually see neurological inflammation - these are all things that we see with long Covid. Therefore, one should not assume that Covid infection is just a common cold. It can affect brain tissue and the vascular system, and we still lack an effective treatment, making these studies crucial.

Significantly, we know that the risk of long Covid decreases when you're infected but have been vaccinated. That's why it's concerning that only 3 million people have been vaccinated with the new, adapted vaccine. That is a very bad result.

Please protect yourself from severe infections.

Please protect yourself from long Covid.

Currently, the danger posed by Covid is indeed being underestimated. Nothing is worse than infecting someone at Christmas who then becomes seriously ill and may not fully recover."

Alt text is included in all images of this post.

[nits-wits]

usher genetics

spoilers for the fall of the house of usher below

this might be a symptom of being in medical school but when i realized that to the outside eye and to roderick for a while, verna and all of the supernatural shit is all explained by CADASIL, as the vascular dementia produces hallucinations. for those who don't know CADASIL is a real disease! and it has an autosomal dominant inheritance (cerebral Autosomal Dominant arteriopathy with subcortical Infarcts and leukoencephalopathy). if you don't remember high school genetics, look at this punnet square:

it essentially shows that if a person with the AD disease (Kk - K indicating the diseased allele, k indicating the normal allele) has a child with someone who is unaffected (kk), there's a 50% chance that the child will have the disease.

roderick has CADASIL, as he got it from his mother, and in roderick, it is presenting with what seems to be incredibly vivid horrible hallucinations.

here's the thing though - before they die, all of the usher children ALSO have vivid hallucinations (or rather, verna comes to them) and i was wondering why they are much younger than their dad and presenting with similar symptoms. and then i realized something else was at play. anticipation. in genetics, anticipation occurs when a disease presents earlier and more severely in the following generations. a classic case of this occurs with huntington's disease.

roderick gets it old, but then as he has kids, they get it younger, and lenore, the final generation, has her hallucination as a very young teenager. it took a small literature search to find this case study of a Japanese family with CADASIL that does indeed present with anticipatory genes. it also makes sense that the hallucinations and presentation of all of the children all show up - CADASIL has complete penetrance even if there's clinical variability.

when verna says "let the next generation deal with it", it's not just all of the shit and horror that capitalism and boomers and roderick kick the can down to, but also the very real horror of subjecting children to hallucinations that show their incoming death.

good job @flanaganfilm. this nerd appreciates your commitment to the storytelling.

[landboundstar]

Neurodivergence should be more normalized than it is.

Period.

It should be normalized.

And we need to talk about it more.

We recently - like last 15 years or so- have started talking more about autism and ADHD.

Oh, we have known about it longer. We have talked about it academically.

I mean talking about it over dinner or on our work breaks.

Maybe some people have spoken about it longer, but in the past 15 years, I have seen an increase in that discussion.

Especially as we learn more about autism and ADHD.

But there is more than that.

Psychosomatic symptoms

Situational triggers

Various sensory issues

Neurodivergence from illness and injury and trauma.

They exist. In the past 5 years, I am starting to hear people talking about those too.

But not as much. Not loudly.

Please.

Talk more about it. Talk about symptoms more. Talk about how you cope.

It matters.

It matters when we talk about how to focus our attention. It matters when we talk about stimming, soothing, and other ways to cope. It matters when we talk about grounding techniques. It matters when we talk about our struggles and our adaptations

It matters for mental health. It matters for physical health - I only recently learned about vascular dementia. Where leaking blood vessels and blood pressure changes can create dementia. Where circulation and heart health can change ability to remember and retain information. I only recently started seeing information on how septic infections can distort thinking.

But if we don't talk about how we think or see something normally, how do we know it is distorted thinking for that person?

There are physical factors. There are mental factors. There are genetic factors. There are environmental factors.

Please normalize neurodivergence, for everyone's sake.

Please talk about neurodivergence more.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Viral pathogens increase risk of neurodegenerative disease - Published Mar 2, 2023

Neurodegenerative diseases, which include conditions such as Alzheimer disease (AD) Parkinson disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), vascular dementia and multiple sclerosis (MS), are a class of progressive disorders defined by neuronal death. Each of these disorders is characterized by degeneration of distinct brain areas, and they present with overlapping but discrete symptoms that can include motor impairment, cognitive dysfunction, affective changes and/or dementia. With the exception of rare familial cases, the aetiopathogenic origins of these diseases are poorly understood; however, two common factors seem to be neuroinflammation and epidemiological links to viral infections.

Neuroinflammation was originally thought to be a consequence of neurodegeneration; however, subsequent research indicated that neuroinflammation can drive the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The idea of neuroinflammation as a driver of neurodegeneration was advanced by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) that identified immune-related genes, including CD33 and TREM2, as risk factors for AD2. In addition, the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE ε4), which is the strongest known genetic risk factor for AD and accounts for approximately 10–20% of the risk of late-onset disease, has been hypothesized to exert its effects partially through neuroinflammatory processes. These genetic factors increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative disease but are not sufficient to cause disease on their own. Instead, genetic risk factors are likely to work with environmental factors that underlie sporadic forms of neurodegenerative disease.

Read the full article and find even more covid news, science, and advice at our archive:

[createyourownnarrative]

A list of Long Covid Symptoms

Allergy/Histamine (2)

Heightened Food Sensitivities — Worse reactions to foods I was already sensitive too

Inflammation After Eating Avocado — Seems to be histamine reaction

Arms/Hands (8)

Fingernails Brittle

Fingernails Slow Growing

Hand Coordination Off — Dropping things randomly

Hand Weakness — Trouble opening jars, etc.

Heavy Arm Feeling — Felt like they were two sacks of potatoes

Vertical Ridges on Fingernails

Waterlogged Look in Fingertips — Probably neurologically related

Wrist Pain

Back (2)

Back Cracking — Feels constricted & tight

Back Pain — Lower & upper, probably due some to organ inflammation

Bladder (4)

Discolored Urine — Clear/Dull at times, probably due to dehydration

Frequent Urination — Had to urinate more often, water would run right through me

Urgency in Urination — Trouble holding it at times, would have to go suddenly and immediately

Urine Smell — When Covid was most active, sweat would smell too

Circulation/Vascular (9)

Blood Dark

Blood Thick — Hard to get out of veins at times, wet cupping showed dark/thick blood too

Bumps on Veins — Briefly had bumps, making it hard to do IVs in certain spots, went away

Cold Hands & Feet

Covid Toes — Had slightly, toes under toenails would turn a little purple

Elevated Veins — Veins were raised at times

Felt Like I Was Having a Stroke — Weird sensation in brain stem, one of the more frightening symptoms

Hypertension — Blood pressure was up 140+/80+, normally I’m at 110-120/60-70

Micro-Clotting — Seen in blood from wet cupping

Ears/Mouth/Teeth/Throat (11)

Clogged Ears

Dry Mouth — Especially when Covid most active

Ear Cracking

Ear Pain — Sharp pain would come on inside of my ears at times, like an earache almost

Gum Receding — Not often

Hoarse Voice — Especially when Covid most active

Itchy Ears

Jaw Pain

Loose Teeth — Felt like some teeth would fall out, had to be careful eating certain things for some time

Pain in Teeth — Probably nerve related

Throat Tightness — Like a constriction

Energy (2)

Fatigue — Had extreme fatigue for months, could barely do anything

Malaise

Eyes (8)

Blurry Vision

Double Vision

Dry Eyes — Especially when Covid most active

Floaters

Itchy Eyes — Histamine or Covid related

Light Sensitivity — Especially when having brain stem inflammation

Motion Sensitivity — Especially when having brain stem inflammation

Tunnel Vision

Gallbladder (2)

Gallbladder Pain

Pain & Inflammation When Eating Fatty Foods — Have not had steak in 2 years, that sent me to the hospital the one time I decided to go for Long Haul Covid

Gastrointestinal (13)

Bloating — Upper GI

Burping — Worse with active Covid

Constipation

Craving Food

Diarrhea — More common with active Covid

Gassy — Worse with active Covid

Growling/Rumbling — Worse when eating things my body doesn’t want me to

Loss of Appetite

Nausea — Can come on with reflux

Reflux — Has been a mainstay, waxes and wanes, reinfection flares it up

Stomach Pain — Abdominal pain all over

Vomiting — Sometimes blood (when I had nasty gastritis from BA.5)

Weight Loss — Lost 28 pounds at lowest, have gained 16 back now

Head/Neurological (36)

Anxiety — A chemical physical anxiety

Brain Fog/Memory Issues — Trouble remembering names, etc.

Compressed Nerve — Constant nerve pain in neck/upper back that had to be relieved by Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractor, came on after reinfection

Confusion — Felt like dementia at times, forget why came downstairs, put keys in fridge

Delirium — Totally out of it for a short period, crazy thoughts, couldn’t think straight

Difficulty Concentrating — ADHD type feeling

Dizziness — Would have to hold on to the railing vertigo was so bad

Electrical Zaps

Fainting/Blacking Out

Fleeting Nerve Sensations — Quick phantom sensations

Hair Loss — Moderate loss of hair when showering

Hair Texture Changed — Coarse for a time

Hard Finding Right Word

Headaches/Migraines

Heat Sensitivity — Too much heat would make me feel horrible, nervous system related

Higher Heart Rate at Rest — Went up to 80s at rest when should have been 60s, higher standing and moving than normal as well

Limb Weakness — Dead arms at times, brain stem/neuro related

Nerve Burning Sensation

Nerve Pain

Numbness in Face

Occipital Neuralgia — Nerve pain in head

Pain & Inflammation After Using Brain Too Much — Only have so much brain power in a day at times

Partial Paralyzation — GBS symptoms, Thanksgiving 2020 could barely move half the day, shallow breathing

PEM — At one point couldn’t walk 5 minutes without feeling horrible that rest of day and the next, now can walk many miles without an issue, but strenuous exercise still a problem

Pins and Needles — Neuropathy in arms and legs

POTS — Dizzy/Blacking out when standing

Pressure in Brain Stem

Restless Legs — Fidgety, can’t sit still, moving legs a lot when trying to go to sleep

Shaking/Tremors — I remember seeing a new doctor and thinking she would believe I’m a drug addict, as I was shaking like someone going through violent withdrawals

Slurring Speech

Sound Sensitivity

Tinnitus — Some ringing in ears at times

Trouble Breathing — This was a neurological difficulty breathing, like my body didn’t know how to do it

Trouble Controlling Arm and Leg Movements — IV C really brought on GBS symptoms, brain couldn’t control my arms and legs

Trouble Swallowing — Food, pills, water

Trouble Typing/Writing

Vibrations

Heart (5)

Pain in Heart When Laying Down — Maybe reflux related

Pounding Heart — Probably neuro, was worse when at 100mg of Fluvoxamine for months

Skipped Heart Beats

Stinging Pain — Sharp pain, not so much anymore

Tachycardia — Was racing out of control, so rushed to Cardiologist and convinced them to give me steroids

Hormones/Mood/Psychological (9)

Depression — Slight, but I’m not a depressed person, if I was it would probably be extreme

Dissociation — Out of body, not present

Emotional — Crying, when I shouldn’t have, a few times

Feeling of Doom & Gloom — Felt at times I would never get better, but it was a chemical/physical thing

Feeling Irritable — Easily angered at times

Intrusive Thoughts

Mood Change — A little colder, less jovial

PTSD — From this whole experience

Sex Drive Decreased — Probably due to testosterone lowering some

Immune System (4)

Body Temperature Changes — Hot to Cold

Chills

Fever — Never higher than 102

Night Sweats — For a period would sweat profusely at night

Joints/Muscles (7)

Bone Pain

Hurt to Lay Legs on Top of Each Other While Sleeping — Had to put comforter in between legs

Joint Pain — All over joint pain, especially hips, knees, hands, comes and goes

Loss of Muscle Mass

Muscle Constriction/Tightness — All over body, Covid has caused a tightening, could use a massage daily for a year

Muscle Pain

Muscle Spasms — All over muscle spasms, especially arms, chest, legs, head, worse when Covid active

Kidneys (1)

Kidney Pain — Bilateral at same time always it seemed

Legs (5)

Calf Pain — Circulation?

Cramps — Would get wicked, painful cramps in legs

Heavy Leg Feeling — Dead legs

Thigh Pain, Weakness — Would get weird thigh pain, and weakness, as if they wanted to give out

Tight Hamstrings

Liver (1)

Pain in Liver — Mid-upper right side abdominal pain

Lungs/Respiratory (13)

Chest Pain — Especially with acute/active Covid

Coughing — Not too often

Coughing Up Phlegm — Still doing this, still nebulizing sometimes, cough up when I walk a lot

O2 Drop — Never measured below 93, would hoover 95-99 most of the time

Rapid Breathing — Scary, almost what I assume a panic attack is like

Rattling Of Lungs

Runny Nose — Usually more so with acute/active Covid

Shortness of Breath — Comes & goes

Sneezing — Usually more so with acute/active Covid

Throat Sore — Usually more so with acute/active Covid

Tightness in Chest — Chest was super tight after BA.5, wanted to stretch constantly, starting to use The Gun now

Trouble Breathing — Mostly beginning of Long Haul Covid, acute/active Covid

Wheezing

Lymphatic System (2)

Edema — Some fluid noticed around chest by Lymphatic Massage Therapist

Swollen Lymph Nodes — Noticed this especially under arms at times

Neck (2)

Cracking Neck — Worse with inflammation in area, acute/active Covid

Stiff Neck — Much worse with acute/active Covid, makes neuro symptoms worse

Pancreas (1)

Craving Food — Felt like a blood sugar problem, which was slightly higher than normal for me

Skin (7)

Acne/Cystic Acne — Would break out at times, maybe because I’m overloaded with toxins?

Bruising Skin — Would bruise after getting a line in vein, not anymore

Itchy Skin — Inflammation

Peeling Skin — Skin would peel around mustache when head inflammation was at its worst

Rash — Around nose, could be allergy/histamine reaction

Shiny Skin — Old baseball mitt looking skin for a period of time

Sensitivity To Touch

Sleep (7)

Awakened Suddenly — Wake up trying to catch my breath

Insomnia — Not for a very long period of time thankfully

Jolted Awake After Asleep For A While — Adrenaline dumping?

Trouble Falling Asleep — Tossing and turning

Trouble Sleeping Until Alarm — Would wake up way before alarm went off, that would never happen before Covid

Vivid Dreams — Nightmares, crazy dreams, remembering dreams (would not before Covid)

Woke Up Due to Dream Movements — Once swung my arms and knocked everything off my nightstand, woke myself up

Smell/Taste (2)

Burning/Phantom Smells — Not often

Metallic Taste — Not often

Other (7)

Craving Bananas — Was craving bananas for months, body wanted potassium?

Dehydrated — Covid commonly makes you dehydrated, still need to drink a lot of water and take electrolytes

Rib Pain — Cartilage/Rib inflammation, Costochondritis

Sudden Jerks

Sweat Smelled — Sweat & Urine smelled due to Covid

Thirst for Water — Likely due to dehydration

Trouble Walking

[cbirt]

AI-Powered Dementia Detection: A Digital Solution for Identifying Undiagnosed Cases

Scientists from the Regenstrief Institute, IUPUI, Indiana University, and the University of Miami are using Artificial Intelligence to identify undiagnosed cases of dementia in primary care settings as part of the Digital Detection of Dementia (D3) study. The study aimed to improve the timely diagnosis of dementia and provide diagnostic services to those who have been identified as cognitively impaired.

Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia (ADRD) impact millions of Americans and their caregivers, with an annual societal cost of over $200 million. Unfortunately, many people with ADRD go undiagnosed, and even when a diagnosis is made, it often comes 2 to 5 years after the onset of symptoms, when the disease is already in the mild to moderate stage. This delay in diagnosis reduces the chances of improving outcomes through drug and non-drug treatments and prolongs the expense of medical care. Also, delayed detection results in increased disabilities for patients, families, and society, and traditional methods such as cognitive screening tests and biological markers often fail to detect ADRD in primary care.

The researchers developed an AI tool called a Passive Digital Marker, which uses a machine learning algorithm and natural language processing to analyze a patient’s electronic health record. The tool combines structured data, such as notes about memory problems or vascular issues, with unstructured information to identify potential indicators of dementia.

Continue Reading

[albonium]

the lab tech told me there's a huge covid wave right now (how surprising lol)

it's always the right time to start masking with a well fitting ffp2 or n95 mask, for your health and the health of your family friends and community including people with disabilities and health problems

first of all covid is airborne it means it behaves in the air like a deodorant or an airwick spray. staying at a distance from someone will only spare you some of the droplets but not the whole thing.

covid often causes lots of different issues in the human body, even when it's an asymptomatic infection, regardless of age and health: cardio vascular system, lungs, nervous system/brain/early dementia/memory/depression, immune system, taste smell vision and hearing loss. there's is about 20% chance of getting long covid each time you get infected and risk increase with the number of infections even if they're asymptomatic. long covid can take different forms but basically people are disabled with lots of conditions making making their life quality shit. some are bed bound with symptoms similar to pots or neurological diseases.

the vaccine only prevents severe reactions to the infection and only works for some variants. if you haven't gotten a booster in the last 6 months/year it's not effective anymore

the main tools we have are well fitting ffp2/ffp3/n95 masks, air ventilation/purifying and testing

[ausetkmt]

New Alzheimer's drugs bring hope. But not equally for all patients.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/01/29/alzheimers-new-drugs-black-patients-leqembi/

ABINGTON, Pa. — Wrapped in a purple blanket, Robert Williford settles into a quiet corner of a bustling neurology clinic, an IV line delivering a colorless liquid into his left arm.

The 67-year-old, who has early Alzheimer’s disease, is getting his initial dose of Leqembi. The drug is the first to clearly slow the fatal neurodegenerative ailment that afflicts 6.7 million older Americans, though the benefits may be modest. The retired social worker, one of the first African Americans to receive the treatment, hopes it will ease his forgetfulness so “I drive my wife less crazy.”

But as Williford and his doctors embark on this treatment, they are doing so with scant scientific data about how the medication might work in people of color. In the pivotal clinical trial for the drug, Black patients globallyaccounted for only 47 of the 1,795 participants — about 2.6 percent. For U.S. trial sites, the percentage was 4.5 percent.

The proportion of Black enrollees was similarly low for Eli Lilly Alzheimer’sdrug, called donanemab, expected to be cleared by the Food and Drug Administration in coming months. Black people make up more than 13 percent of the U.S. population.

The paltry data for the new class of groundbreaking drugs, which strip a sticky substance called amyloid beta from the brain, has ignited an intense debate among researchers and clinicians. Will the medications — the first glimmer of hope after years of failure — be as beneficial for African Americans as for White patients?

“Are these drugs going to work in non-Whites? And particularly in Blacks? We just don’t have enough data, I don’t think,” said Suzanne E. Schindler, a clinical neurologist and dementia specialist at Washington University in St. Louis. “In general, the default is that they will work the same in everybody, but we don’t really know that for sure.”

The situation casts a spotlight yet again on the decades-long failure of researchers to reflect the increasingly diverse character of the patient population in the United States, and underscores the stark disparities in Alzheimer’s treatment and care. Black Americans develop the disease and related dementias at twice the rate of their White counterparts, but are less likely to receive specialized care and are diagnosed at later stages, studies show. That’s an urgent problem considering that the new drugs must be used early to have an effect.

In addition, a perplexing new issue appears to be contributing to low Black enrollment in trials and is fueling a debate among experts about the role of race, genetics and other factors. To qualify for the main trial for Leqembi — developed by the Japanese pharmaceutical giant Eisai and the biotechnology company Biogen of Cambridge, Mass. — participants were required to have elevated levels of brain amyloid, a defining characteristic of Alzheimer’s, and symptoms such as memory loss.

But brain scans showed that the African American volunteers were less likely to have excess amyloid than White patients and thus were excluded from the trial at higher rates. Almost half of Black applicants failed to meet the amyloid threshold, compared with 22 percent of White volunteers, according to Eisai. A similar pattern occurred with the Lilly drug and in some other studies, and sometimes involved other people of color, including Hispanics.

Experts are baffled by the findings. Why would amyloid levels — thought to be a key driver of Alzheimer’s — be different in people with similar cognitive problems?

“Is it the color of someone’s skin? Almost certainly not,” said Joshua D. Grill, an Alzheimer’s researcher at the University of California at Irvine. “Is it a difference in genetics? Or other health conditions, like cholesterol, blood pressure or vascular health? Or is it something else, that we haven’t measured?”

While the biology of Alzheimer’s is almost surely the same regardless of race, some researchers say the patients themselves might be different because of underlying health conditions. Some older Black patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, they say, might actually have vascular dementia stemming from heart disease, hypertension and diabetes — all conditions more prevalent among African American patients.

The risk of vascular damage also could be increased by a lack of access to health care and years of exposure to racism, as well as genetics, some experts say. And many patients could have a constellation of pathologies driven by other factors, they add.

Whatever the cause, experts say, the bottom line is the same: Patients who do not have excessive amounts of the sticky brain protein should not be treated with the amyloid-targeting drugs because the therapies are unlikely to work and pose substantial risks, including potentially deadly bleeding in the brain.

But that raises the specter of another disparity. If it turns out that a lower proportion of Black dementia patients and other people of color have excess amyloid, they could be left behind as the drug industry races to develop amyloid-reducing treatments. To counter that, experts are urging companies to accelerate work addressingother potential drivers of cognitive decline and to develop combination drugs with multiple targets.

“If we are just targeting amyloid, we can just miss a large potential population that might benefit from treatment,” said Lisa L. Barnes, a neuropsychologist at Rush University in Chicago.

‘A brain is a brain’

For now, the question remains: What should Black patients and their doctors think about the anti-amyloid drugs?

The answer, experts say, depends largely on the level of amyloid in their brains.

More than a year ago, Williford was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s by David C. Weisman, a neurologist at Abington Neurological Associates, a large practice north of Philadelphia that treats patients and conducts clinical trials for drug companies. The clinic was one of the test sites for Leqembi.

After Leqembi receivedfull FDA approval last summer, Williford underwent tests to determine whether he was a good candidate for the drug. One test — a lumbar puncture, sometimes called a spinal tap — showed elevated amyloid in his brain. That means Williford and similar patients are likely to benefit from an anti-amyloid medication regardless of their race or ethnicity, Weisman and several other experts said.

“A brain is a brain is a brain, whether it is Asian, Hispanic, African American or White,” Weisman said. “A patient is either a good fit or a bad fit, and Robert is a good fit.”

Williford, who spent years working with troubled families in Philadelphia, began having memory problems a few years ago, said his wife, Cynthia Byron-Williford, 59.

“You could tell him almost anything, and he would almost immediately forget,” she said. “If I asked him to make a peanut butter sandwich for our grandson, he would come back three times and say, ‘What am I supposed to do?’”

With few treatment options, many physicians say they will offer anti-amyloid therapy to any patient who has elevated levels of the substance and passes safety tests.

Barry W. Rovner, a neurology professor at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, said he would not hesitate to offer Leqembi to African American patients who tested positive for amyloid. But, he added, because of the low numbers of Black individuals in the Leqembi trial, “I would say, ‘Look, this has not been tried in many Black people, so we don’t know precisely how it is going to work. But you don’t know precisely how it will work in any person.’”

From a research perspective, “You could say, as a group we don’t know if Black individuals respond the same way to anti-amyloid drugs because we don’t have the data,” Washington University’s Schindler said. “But on an individual level, it is different. If I had a Black patient who was amyloid-positive, I would start him on these drugs.”

But some Black patients might not be comfortable with the medication.

Zaldy S. Tan, director of the memory disorders center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said when African American patients are informed about the risks and benefits of Leqembi, and about the sparse data available for Black individuals, some will “take a pause and question whether they are willing to accept the uncertainty” and challenges of receiving the every-other-week infusion and multiple follow-up tests.

A promise of diversity

The best way to know for sure how drugs for Alzheimer’s — and other diseases — affect different populations is to have more diversity in trials, experts agree. But research participation by Black Americans and other people of color has been held down for years for several reasons.

The 20th century’s infamous Tuskegee syphilis study created long-standing mistrust about trials within the African American community. Men were left untreated to suffer and die even after an effective treatment emerged for the bacterium.

Alzheimer’s research, meanwhile, has long been centered in memory clinics at elite academic institutions, which tend to attract well-heeled patients with health insurance and other resources. The clinics have served as effective recruiting grounds for trials that end up with a predominantly White enrollment.

“We have done a poor job of making African American Alzheimer’s research inclusive,” said John Morris, a neurologist at Washington University in St. Louis. More than two decades ago, he created an African American advisory board at the school’s Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center after realizing only 3 percent of trial participants were Black.

Others also are redoubling efforts to increase diversity. John Dwyer, president of the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation, a nonprofit that runs trials, said the organization has sharply increased participation by people of color by sending dedicated teams of African American and Latino professionals into communities to build relationships with physicians and personnel at health centers, senior centers and places of worship. They stress to the communities how much they can benefit from the studies, he said.

Stephanie Monroe, vice president and senior adviser of health equity and access at the advocacy group UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, noted that low Black enrollment is not limited to Alzheimer’s trials. If all the drugs that have not been tested on people of color were eliminated, the shelves of pharmacies would be nearly empty, she said.

“That doesn’t work when you are almost a 50-50 minority/majority population,” Monroe said.

The FDA has issued guidelines for industry designed to bolster diversity in studies, while the National Institute on Aging recently pledged toprioritize funding requests that are “appropriately inclusive.”

The low Black enrollment in studies is just the latest controversy involving the anti-amyloid drugs. For years, earlier versions of the drugs failed repeatedly in trials. By contrast, Leqembi, in an 18-month trial, showed unambiguous, if modest, benefits, slowing disease progression by about 27 percent, or roughlyfive months. The drug, administered every other week, carries a list price of $26,500 a year.

In July, Lilly reported that its anti-amyloid drug, donanemab, was even more effective at removing amyloid. But like Leqembi, it can cause serious side effects, including brain hemorrhages. Some doctors think the drugs will provide bigger benefits when taken for a longer period or earlier in the disease, but others say the medications, which require repeated MRIs to check for side effects, leave much to be desired.

Both Eisai and Lilly said they are working hard to increase diversity in clinical trials. In the meantime, they said, patients with elevated amyloid should benefit from the anti-amyloid drugs, regardless of race or ethnicity.

“We have no pathophysiological reason to expect different efficacy between races and ethnicities for Alzheimer’s treatments that remove amyloid,”Lillysaid in a statement.

Eisai acknowledged that the Leqembi trial was not designed to test the drug in individual racial and ethnic subgroups. But it said in a statement that the totality of the evidence indicated that “all patients, regardless of ethnicity, benefited from treatment” with the drug.

“We and the U.S. FDA — as evidenced by the agency’s approval of Leqembi — believe that the benefits and risks in these patient populations and races has been established,” the company added. Eisai said volunteers who did not pass the amyloid threshold did not have Alzheimer’s and should be assessed for other conditions.

In an interview, Teresa Buracchio, acting director of the FDA’s Office of Neuroscience, said the agency “did not see a notable difference by race” in safety and effectiveness in the limited data available on subgroups in the Leqembi trial.

But other experts were skeptical, saying the number of Black patients in the Leqembi trial was too low to know whether the medication is safe and effective for African Americans. “Without having a representative population, it is impossible to assess,” said Barnes, of Rush University.Some researchers suggested that patients in underrepresented populations should wait for future advances in treatment.

‘We just want to get going’

On a recent day, nurse Christine Besso bustled in and out of Williford’s infusion room at the neurology clinic, taking his vital signs and inserting an IV line. “Let’s get this party started,” she said.

Byron-Williford, watching the process from a nearby couch, said she was not concerned about the low numbers of African Americans in the Leqembi trial.

“I think it will work or not work based on the individual,” she said, adding with a laugh, “and if it doesn’t work for him, it is because he is ornery.”

Byron-Williford said her husband’s health problems accelerated a few years ago after his son, who was in his early 20s, died unexpectedly. Williford became depressed and lost his appetite. Last summer, when he went to pick up his wife at a nearby hair salon, he drove around, lost. She later confiscated his car keys.

In the clinic, shortly after Williford’s infusion began, Weisman stopped in to check on him and discuss possible side effects. When Williford asked him how long he would be on the drug, Weisman shrugged, saying it depended on how he did on the drug and on test results.

“We are getting on an airplane, and we don’t even have a destination airport yet,” Weisman said. “We just want to get going.”

[pandemic-info]

Saving another one; not mine:

All of the studies coming out - ALL of them - show repeated Covid infections being really bad for you. For your brain. For your vascular system. For your immune system. I think if we wait 5 to 10 years it will become super obvious. If you watch local groups sometimes it already is - the mom who’s kid is on week 4 of strep despite multiple rounds of antibiotics, the man with the lingering cough he just can’t seem to shake, the gofundme for the dad in his 30s who died of a stroke, the lady who is just so tired recently and just can’t shake it, the people in their 40s complaining about memory loss and how they are getting old. The thing is humanity has plenty of experience with diseases that aren’t too bad at first and are REALLY bad later on - HIV is a mild cold on first infection, mono sucks but goes away to become MS later, chicken pox is a one week wonder but shingles can cause permanent complications. Heck anyone who has played Plague Inc knows the best way to infect everyone is to make your virus have extremely mild or no initial symptoms so that people don’t worry about it and then ramp up the consequences once everyone is infected. And now that people have allowed themselves and their children to get infected because they needed youth sports and going out to eat and 50,000 person concerts without masks, if they acknowledge that that was a bad choice, then what? They have to admit they were wrong and that they might face a lifetime of consequences because of it. That they may have shortened their own lives and their children’s lives. And if there is anything modern people are not prepared to do, it is admit they were wrong. Or to do anything that goes counter to their own personal comfort. Ultimately if I am wrong, and Covid is no big deal, in 5 years I can take off my mask. In the meantime, I didn’t catch every cold, every flu and every case of strep throat going around. But I can take my mask off at any time and blend right back in. If I’m right about the dangers of Covid, I can’t go maskless now and decide to mask in 5 years and have my body be ok. If I make the choice to unmask now, I lose my choices to live a meaningful life later. I’ve seen early onset dementia, people who are immunocompromised and have to live limited lives to stay alive, people with various illnesses who can’t do so many things. I would much rather choose to limit myself from giant concerts and indoor dining than have my body limit me from walks and playing with my kids and grocery stores. My life is full and meaningful now. Different than before and I’ve lost most of my social relationships. But I am slowly building new ones with other people who still Covid locally and I spend time with my immediate family. It is hard and it feels a bit nuts sometimes. And then I go on Twitter and read the latest published study in Science and go, yep don’t want that.

[leebird-simmer]

Psychopathology, Ch. 14

Describe the diagnostic features of neurocognitive disorders and identify three major types.

A neurocognitive disorder involves a significant disturbance or deficit of thinking or memory that represents a marked decline in cognitive functioning. They are caused by physical or medical conditions or drug use or withdrawal affecting the functioning of the brain. The three major types identified in DSM-5 are delirium, major neurocognitive disorder, and mild neurocognitive disorder.

Agnosia: a disturbance of sensory perception, usually affecting visual perception.

Describe the key features and causes of delirium.

Delirium: characterized by symptoms such as impaired attention, disorientation, disorganized thinking and rambling speech, reduced level of consciousness, and perceptual disturbances. Delirium is most commonly caused by alcohol withdrawal, as in the form of DTs, but may also occur in hospitalized patients, especially after major surgery.

Describe the key features and causes of major neurocognitive disorder.

Major neurocognitive disorder: a significant cognitive deterioriation or impairment, as evidenced by memory deficits, impaired judgment, personality changes, and disorders of high cognitive functions such as problem-solving ability and abstract thinking. Dementia is not a normal consequence of aging; rather, it is a sign of a degenerative brain disorder. There are various causes of major neurocognitive disorder, including Alzheimer’s disease and Pick’s disease, and brain infections and disorders.

General paresis: a form of dementia resulting from neurosyphilis.

Late-onset dementia: forms of dementia that begin after age 65.

Early-onset dementia: forms of dementia that begin before age 65.

Describe the key features of mild neurocognitive disorder.

Mild neurocognitive disorder: a milder decline in cognitive functioning. The person with the disorder is able to function but needs to expend greater effort or use compensatory strategies to compensate for cognitive declines.

Describe the key features and causes of Alzheimer’s disease and evaluate current treatments.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD): a progressive brain disease characterized by progressive loss of memory and cognitive ability, as well as deterioration in personality functioning and self-care skills. There is neither a cure nor an effective treatment for AD. Currently available drug treatments offer only modest effects at best. Research into the causes of the disease points to roles for genetic factors and factors involved in the accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain.

Identify other subtypes of neurocognitive disorders.

Other medical conditions can lead to neurocognitive disorders, including vascular disease, Pick’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, prion disease, HIV infection, and head trauma.

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA): a stroke or brain damage resulting from a rupture or blockage of a blood vessel supplying oxygen to the brain.

Vascular neurocognitive disorder: dementia resulting from repeated strokes that cause damage in the brain.

Aphasia: impaired ability to understand or express speech.

Pick’s disease: a form of dementia, similar to Alzheimer’s disease, but distinguished by specific abnormalities (Pick’s bodies) in nerve celles and the absence of neurofibrillary tangles and plaques.

Amnesia: memory loss that frequently follows a traumatic event such as a blow to the head, an electric shock, or a major surgical operation.

Retrograde amnesia: loss or impairment of ability to recall past events.

Anterograde amnesia: loss or impairment of ability to form or store new memories.

Hypoxia: decreased supply of oxygen to the brain or other organs.

Infarction: the development of an infarct (an area of dead or dying tissue) resulting from the blocking of blood vessels that normally supply the tissue.

Korsakoff’s syndrome: a syndrome associated with chronic alcoholism that is characterized by memory loss and disorientation.

Wernicke’s disease: a brain disorder, associated with chronic alcoholism, characterized by confusion, disorientation, and difficulty maintaining balance while walking.

Ataxia: loss of muscle coordination.

Lewy bodies: abnormal protein deposits in brain cells that cause a form of dementia.

Parkinson’s disease: a progressive disease characterized by muscle tremors and shakiness, rigidity, difficulty walking, poor control of fine motor movements, lack of facial muscle tone, and (in some cases) cognitive impairment.

Huntington’s disease: an inherited degenerative disease that is characterized by jerking and twisting movements, paranoia, and mental deterioration.

Identify anxiety-related disorders and their treatments in older adults.

Generalized anxiety disorder and phobic disorders are the most common anxiety disorders among older people. Problems with anxiety are often treated with anti-anxiety medical or psychological treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy.

Identify factors associated with depression in late adulthood and ways of treating it.

Factors include the challenge of coping with life changes, such as retirement, physical illness or incapacitation, placement in a residential facility or nursing home; lack of social support as the result of death of a spouse, siblings, lifetime friends, and acquaintances; and need to care for a spouse whose health is declining. Among immigrant groups and people of color, factors such as acculturative stress and coping with racism also play a role. Available treatments for depression in older as well as younger adults include anti-depressant medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy.

Identify factors involved in late-life insomnia and ways of treating it.

Sleep problems, especially insomnia, are common among older adults – more common in fact than depression. Insomnia is often linked to other psychological disorders, medical illness, psychosocial factors such as loneliness and sleeping alone after losing a spouse, and dysfunctional thoughts. Behavioral techniques are effective for treating insomnia in older as well as younger adults.

[myhealthnote]

High blood pressure

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major health problem that is common in older adults. Your body’s network of blood vessels, known as the vascular system, changes with age. Arteries get stiffer, causing blood pressure to go up. This can be true even for people who have heart-healthy habits and feel just fine. High blood pressure, sometimes called "the silent killer," often doesn't cause signs of illness that you can see or feel. Though high blood pressure affects nearly half of all adults, many may not even be aware they have it.

If high blood pressure isn't controlled with lifestyle changes and medication, it can lead to serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease (such as heart disease and stroke), vascular dementia, eye problems, and kidney disease. The good news is that blood pressure can be controlled in most people.

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries as the heart pumps blood. When a health care professional measures your blood pressure, they use a blood pressure cuff around your arm that tightens and then gradually loosens. The results are given in two numbers. The first number, called systolic blood pressure, is the pressure caused by your heart contracting and pushing out blood. The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, is the pressure when your heart relaxes and fills with blood.

A blood pressure reading is given as the systolic blood pressure number over the diastolic blood pressure number. Blood pressure levels are classified based on those two numbers.

Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is systolic blood pressure lower than 90 or diastolic blood pressure lower than 60. If you have low blood pressure, you may feel lightheaded, weak, dizzy, or even faint. It can be caused by not getting enough fluids, blood loss, some medical conditions, or medications, including those prescribed for high blood pressure.

Normal blood pressure for most adults is defined as a systolic pressure of less than 120 and a diastolic pressure of less than 80.

Elevated blood pressure is defined as a systolic pressure between 120 and 129 with a diastolic pressure of less than 80.

High blood pressure is defined as systolic pressure of 130 or higher, or a diastolic pressure of 80 or higher.

For older adults, often the first number (systolic) is 130 or higher, but the second number (diastolic) is less than 80. This problem is called isolated systolic hypertension and is due to age-related stiffening of the major arteries. It is the most common form of high blood pressure in older adults and can lead to serious health problems in addition to shortness of breath during light physical activity, lightheadedness upon standing too fast, and falls.

One reason to visit your doctor regularly is to have your blood pressure checked and, if needed, plan how to manage your blood pressure.

Do I have high blood pressure?

Anyone can have high blood pressure. Some medical conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, kidney disease, and thyroid problems, can cause high blood pressure. Some people have a greater chance of having it because of things they can't change. These include:

Age. The chance of having high blood pressure increases as you get older, especially isolated systolic hypertension.

Gender. Before age 55, men have a greater chance of having high blood pressure. Women are more likely to have high blood pressure after menopause.

Family history. High blood pressure runs in some families.

Race. African Americans are at increased risk for high blood pressure.

High blood pressure often has no signs or symptoms, but routine checks of your blood pressure will help detect increasing levels. If your blood pressure reading is high at two or more check-ups, the doctor may also ask you to measure your blood pressure at home.

There are important considerations for older adults in deciding whether to start treatment for high blood pressure, including other health conditions and overall fitness. Your doctor will work with you to find a blood pressure target that is best for your well-being and may suggest exercise, changes in your diet, and medications.

How can I control my blood pressure?

You can often lower your blood pressure by changing your day-to-day habits and by taking medication if needed. Treatment requires ongoing evaluation and discussions with your doctor, especially if you have other medical conditions such as diabetes.

Lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent and lower high blood pressure:

Aim for a healthy weight. Being overweight adds to your risk of high blood pressure. Ask your doctor if you need to lose weight. In general, to maintain a healthy weight, you need to burn the same number of calories as you eat and drink.

Exercise. Moderate activity, such as brisk walking or swimming, can lower high blood pressure. Set goals so you can exercise safely and work your way up to at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) per week. Check with your doctor before starting an exercise plan if you have any health problems that aren't being treated.

Eat a heart-healthy diet. A balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, grains, protein, dairy, and oils — such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan — can lower your blood pressure.

Cut down on salt. As you get older, the body and blood pressure become more sensitive to salt (sodium), which is added to many foods during processing or preparation. Limiting your amount of salt each day may help. DASH is a low-salt diet.

Drink less alcohol. Drinking alcohol can affect your blood pressure. For those who drink, men should have no more than two drinks a day and women no more than one a day to lower their risk of high blood pressure.

Don't smoke. Smoking increases your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and other health problems. If you smoke, quit. The health benefits of quitting can be seen at any age — you are never too old to quit.

Get a good night's sleep. Tell your doctor if you've been told you snore or sound like you stop breathing for moments when you sleep. This may be a sign of a problem called sleep apnea. Treating sleep apnea and getting a good night's sleep can help to lower blood pressure.

Manage stress. Coping with problems and reducing stress can help lower high blood pressure.

In addition to recommending lifestyle changes, your doctor will likely prescribe medication to lower your blood pressure to a safe level. Isolated systolic hypertension, the most common form of high blood pressure in older adults, is treated in the same way as regular high blood pressure but may require more than one type of blood pressure medication. You may try several kinds or combinations of medications before finding a plan that works best for you. Medication can control your blood pressure, but it can't cure it. If your doctor starts you on medication for high blood pressure, you may need to take it long term.

Research shows the benefits of controlling high blood pressure

Preventing and controlling high blood pressure is important for your heart health and may benefit your brain health as well. An NIH-funded study called the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) found that lowering systolic blood pressure to less than 120 in adults age 50 and older significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease and death. Results from a related study showed that lowering systolic blood pressure to less than 120 reduced the risk of mild cognitive impairment, and an analysis of several large, long-term studies of adults over age 55 found that treating high blood pressure was associated with a reduction in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Tips for taking blood pressure medication

Untreated high blood pressure can increase your risk of serious health problems. If your doctor prescribes medication to lower your blood pressure, remember:

If you take blood pressure medication and your blood pressure goes down, it means medication and lifestyle changes are working. If another doctor asks if you have high blood pressure, the answer is, "Yes, but it is being treated."

Healthy lifestyle changes may help lower the dosage you need.

Get up slowly from a seated or lying position and stand for a bit before walking. This lets your blood pressure adjust before walking to prevent lightheadedness and falls.

Tell your doctor about all the drugs you take. Don't forget to mention over-the-counter drugs, as well as vitamins and supplements. They may affect your blood pressure. They also can change how well your blood pressure medication works.

Blood pressure medication should be taken at the same time each day as part of your daily routine. For example, take it in the morning with breakfast or in the evening before brushing your teeth. Talk to the pharmacist if you have any questions about when or how to take your medication.

Remember to refill your medication before you run out and bring it with you when traveling. It’s important to keep taking your medication unless your doctor tells you to stop.

Before having surgery, ask your doctor if you should take your blood pressure medication on the day of your operation.

VITAPOST BLOOD PRESSURE SUPPORT

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The exotic featured ingredients, Hibiscus, Olive Leaf and Hawthorn, are all attractive and bring evidenced blood pressure support, antioxidant properties and a history of traditional use. In the health media you can find relatively strong blood pressure claims about them, especially Hibiscus and Olive Leaf. For those customers that are looking for garlic, vitamin B12, folate, and vitamin B6, all these ingredients are well represented too.

One bottle contains 90 capsules, which is equivalent to a 1-month supply at max usage, or can last as long as 3 months at the minimum usage.

Benefits of Blood Pressure Support:

Supports cardiovascular health;

Supports a healthy heart and circulatory system;

Supports healthy blood pressure within the normal range.

Blood Pressure Support is made in the US in an FDA registered facility that follows GMP guidelines. Ingredients in the formula are both domestic and imported.

This solid and respectable offer represents a great opportunity to profit from the blood pressure supplements market.

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[gabjag0137]

Researching into Mental Health - Dementia (Condition)

Dementia itself is a neurocognitive disorder in which the brain degenerate over time making it difficult to perform basic everyday tasks.

From my research, i've concluded that it can be onset from Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia among other rarer causes, these two being the most common.

It causes symptoms ranging from mild to severe cognitive impairment, I'm thinking about ways to implement this into a game and my main idea relates to end of life hospice which I will cover in a future blog post set inside a nursing home, where you have to find your way out of there through corridors getting increasingly unfamiliar.

Dementia also has a large impact on the families of the diagnosed due to having to watch their family member decline mentally to the point where they're unrecognisable/don't remember anyone they used to know.

An important thing to note for game development surrounding this condition, there are triggers to help people with dementia remember, one of the largest being music/singing.

[sdbvasdrhdnd]

Navigating Dementia Care: Finding the Right Dementia Facility in Los Angeles

When a loved one begins to experience the symptoms of dementia, it can be a challenging and emotional journey. Families in Los Angeles are fortunate to have access to a range of dementia care options tailored to meet various stages of the condition. This article will guide you through the process of finding a Dementia Facility Los Angeles, exploring the types of facilities available, their benefits, and important factors to consider when choosing the right one.

Understanding Dementia and the Need for Specialized Care

Dementia encompasses a range of neurological conditions characterized by progressive cognitive decline, including Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and Lewy body dementia, among others. These conditions require specialized care as they progress, with support for daily activities, memory care, and medical oversight. Dementia facilities are specifically designed to create a safe, comfortable, and structured environment for individuals with these needs, ensuring they maintain a good quality of life despite their challenges.

Types of Dementia Facilities in Los Angeles

Los Angeles offers several types of dementia care facilities, each designed to cater to different stages of the disease and unique patient needs.

Memory Care Communities

Memory care communities are residential facilities focusing on the needs of individuals with Alzheimer's and dementia. These communities are often equipped with specially trained staff, secure facilities, and therapeutic activities that support cognitive function and improve residents' quality of life. These centers also provide 24/7 supervision to ensure safety and well-being.

Assisted Living Facilities with Memory Care Units

Some assisted living facilities in Los Angeles have dedicated memory care units. This option may be ideal for individuals in the earlier stages of dementia who still have a degree of independence. Assisted living with memory care units provides a higher level of personalized care than general assisted living, with specialized attention to ensure safety and reduce anxiety for those experiencing memory loss.

Nursing Homes with Dementia Care

For those in the later stages of dementia who may require extensive medical care, nursing homes with dementia services can be ideal. These facilities often provide medical support, personal care, and even end-of-life services, ensuring that residents are safe, comfortable, and properly cared for during all stages of dementia.

Adult Day Care Centers with Dementia Services

Adult day care centers provide temporary care for people with dementia, allowing caregivers to take breaks or attend to other responsibilities. This option may be beneficial for families who choose to keep their loved ones at home but need occasional respite care.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Dementia Facility in Los Angeles

Selecting the right facility requires considering a range of factors, from the level of care provided to the facility’s atmosphere. Here are some essential factors to keep in mind

Care Level and Staffing

The staff-to-resident ratio is critical in dementia care, as residents require a high level of assistance. Trained staff with experience in dementia care can significantly impact residents’ well-being, so inquire about staff credentials, ratios, and ongoing training programs.

Safety Measures

Security features like secure entrances, alarmed exits, and surveillance are essential to prevent residents from wandering, a common risk for those with dementia. Los Angeles facilities should be designed with safety in mind, often incorporating layouts and design features that minimize confusion and support cognitive health.

Therapeutic Programs and Activities

Dementia facilities in Los Angeles often offer specialized programs that enhance residents’ cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being. Activities may include art therapy, music therapy, gardening, physical fitness, and memory exercises tailored to support mental stimulation and socialization.

Personalized Care Plans

Many dementia facilities provide individualized care plans based on each resident's medical history, stage of dementia, and personal preferences. These plans are essential for creating a sense of familiarity and comfort, which is particularly important in memory care settings.

Community and Atmosphere

The physical and social environment within a dementia facility can affect the resident’s emotional health. Touring the facility, meeting staff, and observing interactions can help families get a feel for the atmosphere and determine if it is a good fit for their loved one.

Top Dementia Facilities in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is home to a wide variety of reputable dementia care facilities, each with its own strengths and specialized services. Here are a few top-rated options

Belmont Village Senior Living Westwood

Known for its dedicated memory care neighborhood, Belmont Village offers a variety of programs and a team of trained professionals focused on enhancing quality of life. They integrate activities designed for cognitive stimulation and provide customized care plans.

Sunrise Senior Living of Beverly Hills

Sunrise Senior Living is a trusted name in dementia care. With a dedicated memory care unit and personalized programming, it supports residents with dementia by providing individualized attention and round-the-clock care.

Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens

Brookdale offers specialized memory care programs that focus on creating a sense of purpose and belonging for residents with dementia. Their staff is trained in providing person-centered care, and the community offers various cognitive-enhancing activities.

For more info:-

Los Angeles Retirement Community

Los Angeles Senior Living

[covid-safer-hotties]

Published March 2, 2023

Neurodegenerative diseases, which include conditions such as Alzheimer disease (AD) Parkinson disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), vascular dementia and multiple sclerosis (MS), are a class of progressive disorders defined by neuronal death. Each of these disorders is characterized by degeneration of distinct brain areas, and they present with overlapping but discrete symptoms that can include motor impairment, cognitive dysfunction, affective changes and/or dementia. With the exception of rare familial cases, the aetiopathogenic origins of these diseases are poorly understood; however, two common factors seem to be neuroinflammation and epidemiological links to viral infections1.

Neuroinflammation was originally thought to be a consequence of neurodegeneration; however, subsequent research indicated that neuroinflammation can drive the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The idea of neuroinflammation as a driver of neurodegeneration was advanced by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) that identified immune-related genes, including CD33 and TREM2, as risk factors for AD2. In addition, the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE ε4), which is the strongest known genetic risk factor for AD and accounts for approximately 10–20% of the risk of late-onset disease, has been hypothesized to exert its effects partially through neuroinflammatory processes3. These genetic factors increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative disease but are not sufficient to cause disease on their own. Instead, genetic risk factors are likely to work with environmental factors that underlie sporadic forms of neurodegenerative disease.

For the full article and a link to the study, check out the official Covid Safe Hotties archive:

[cassandrawallac]

What is Dementia and Who is Affected?

Dementia is a severe disease that causes damage to the part of the brains that controls thought, memory, and actions. Although it mainly affects the elderly, of patients 85% are aged 75 and above, the disease does involve the younger population as well. After the age of 60, the chances of a person developing dementia doubles with every decade of life. Common origins are the neurodegenerative diseases for instance Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular dementia, Lewy Body dementia. Some of the symptoms to look out for are; forgetfulness, memory loss and inability to carry out daily activities. To minimize your risk, exercise, have leisure activities, eat at the right diet, and do ensure that you have adequate sleep. Therefore, anyone who believes that he or she, or a close one, may be experiencing dementia should seek medical advice.

Visit: What is dementia and who is affected

[jayanthitbrc]

Global Automatic Pill Dispenser Market Analysis 2024: Size Forecast and Growth Prospects

The automatic pill dispenser global market report 2024 from The Business Research Company provides comprehensive market statistics, including global market size, regional shares, competitor market share, detailed segments, trends, and opportunities. This report offers an in-depth analysis of current and future industry scenarios, delivering a complete perspective for thriving in the industrial automation software market.

Automatic Pill Dispenser Market, 2024 report by The Business Research Company offers comprehensive insights into the current state of the market and highlights future growth opportunities.

Market Size - The automatic pill dispenser market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.67 billion in 2023 to $2.90 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to the aging population, medication non-adherence, increased chronic diseases, regulatory support, and awareness campaigns.

The automatic pill dispenser market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $4.00 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to advancements in AI and robotics, personalized healthcare solutions, increasing remote patient monitoring, growth in digital health startups, and expanding telehealth services. Major trends in the forecast period include integration with smart home systems, AI-driven customization, telemedicine integration, voice assistant features, and remote monitoring capabilities.\

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Scope Of Automatic Pill Dispenser Market The Business Research Company's reports encompass a wide range of information, including:

Market Size (Historic and Forecast): Analysis of the market's historical performance and projections for future growth.

Drivers: Examination of the key factors propelling market growth.

Trends: Identification of emerging trends and patterns shaping the market landscape.

Key Segments: Breakdown of the market into its primary segments and their respective performance.

Focus Regions and Geographies: Insight into the most critical regions and geographical areas influencing the market.

Macro Economic Factors: Assessment of broader economic elements impacting the market.

Automatic Pill Dispenser Market Overview

Market Drivers - Increasing cases of dementia are expected to propel the growth of the automatic pill dispenser market going forward. Dementia refers to a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily functioning. It is caused by various conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, vascular issues, and Lewy body dementia. The rise in dementia cases is largely attributed to an aging population, increased awareness, and improved diagnostic practices. Automatic pill dispensers are utilized in dementia care to ensure timely and accurate medication administration, helping to reduce the risk of missed or incorrect doses. For instance, in October 2022, according to the National Health Service England, a UK-based government department, there were 451,992 individuals with a coded diagnosis of dementia in September 2022, marking an increase of 1,450 since August 2022. Among individuals aged 65 and older estimated to have dementia, 62.2% had received a coded diagnosis by September 30, 2022, slightly up from 62.1% by August 2022. Therefore, the increasing cases of dementia are driving the growth of the automatic pill dispenser market.

Market Trends - Major companies operating in the automatic pill dispenser market are adopting a strategic partnership approach to enhance their technological capabilities and expand their market reach. Strategic partnerships refer to a process in which companies leverage each other's strengths and resources to achieve mutual benefits and success. For instance, in February 2022, Dignio AS, a Norway-based provider of digital remote care solutions, partnered with AceAge Inc., a Canada-based healthcare technology company, to offer the Karie smart pill dispenser in Norway. The Karie smart pill companion is designed to deliver, remind, connect, and secure medication, promoting medication adherence and independence for patients. This integration is part of Dignio's connected care solution, which includes web-based software and user-friendly patient applications.

The automatic pill dispenser market covered in this report is segmented –

1) By Type: Centralized Automatic Dispenser, Decentralized Automatic Dispenser, Other Types 2) By Indication: Physical Disability, Neurodegenerative Disorders And Dementia, Other Indications 3) By Application: Hospital Pharmacy, Retail Pharmacy, Home Healthcare

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Regional Insights - North America was the largest region in the automatic pill dispenser market in 2023. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the automatic pill dispenser market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

Key Companies - Major companies operating in the automatic pill dispenser market are McKesson Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Becton Dickinson and Company, Omnicell Inc., MedMinder Systems Inc, Capsa Healthcare, Hero Health Inc., Swisslog Healthcare, ARxIUM Inc., Aesynt Inc, PillDrill Inc., Talyst LLC, Tunstall Healthcare Group Ltd, Yuyama Co Ltd, InstyMeds Corporation, Accu-Chart Plus Healthcare Systems Inc., Capsule Technologies Inc., CareFusion Corporation, E-pill Medication Reminders, MedaCube, MedReady Inc., PharmaSystems Inc.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Automatic Pill Dispenser Market Report Structure

Automatic Pill Dispenser Market Trends And Strategies

Automatic Pill Dispenser Market – Macro Economic Scenario

Automatic Pill Dispenser Market Size And Growth …..

Automatic Pill Dispenser Market Competitor Landscape And Company Profiles

Key Mergers And Acquisitions

Future Outlook and Potential Analysis

Appendix

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