Does Air Pollution Cause Alzheimer’s Disease?
Have you ever spent the day in a city with such bad air pollution that when you blew your nose the mucus had a black tinge? Have you ever coughed as you breathed in diesel fumes from a passing bus and thought to yourself, “Well, that’s a year gone from my life”? Could it actually […]
Spark Joy and Memories with a Family Photo Memory Calendar
Stumped for a birthday gift for an aging loved one? If you’re looking for a gift that’s more personal than yet another gift card or pair of slippers, consider making them a family photo memory calendar. Create a personalized wall or desk calendar featuring family photos along with significant family dates. “Older people love receiving […]
Do We Really ‘Lose Our Filter’ as We Age?
Many of us will have experienced some unexpected honesty from the older people in our lives. Whether it’s grandma telling you your outfit is unflattering or grandpa saying he doesn’t like the meal you’ve prepared, we often explain it away by saying “Oh, don’t mind grandpa, he’s just lost his filter.” But do we really […]
Spousal Strain
Seek support when caring for a partner with dementia In the basement of Frank Pagura’s Elk Grove Village home is a woodshop, a respite from his role as full-time caregiver to his wife Rosemary, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease about five years ago. While Frank, 80, gets lost in the art of woodturning, Rosemary, 81, […]
Gifts for People with Dementia
As the holiday season approaches, finding the right gifts for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease need not be difficult. Look for gifts that relate to the types of activities your loved one enjoyed in the past, while taking into consideration any dementia limitations, says Michelle Brody, executive director of Arden Courts of Northbrook, a […]
In Older Adults, Urinary Tract Infections Can Cause Confusion
If an older adult you love or care for becomes easily agitated, disoriented, or confused, your first thought probably won’t be: urinary tract infection. But maybe it should. In younger people, urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are typically marked by a burning sensation when urinating. But in older people, the symptoms are often different. UTIs […]
Conversation Starters
Try these communication pointers to connect to loved ones with dementia When Peter Zollo’s mother passed away in December, relatives spoke at the Zoom funeral about the happiest years of her life — before she suffered from memory loss due to dementia. Yet, Zollo chose to talk about her final years, which were also happy — […]
Power of Touch: Massage Helps People with Dementia
When people think about dementia, they typically think of memory loss. Yet, people with dementia may also experience a decline in all senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. And despite a loss of touch, specific massage techniques can reach people with dementia in the most touching of ways. The decline in the sense of […]
What to Eat to Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
Would you like reduce your risk of cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia? Researchers from around the world have been studying a variety of different factors that might reduce these risks and keep the brain healthy. Old news: The Mediterranean diet is beneficial One factor that a number of studies have converged on is a […]
Scientists Investigate Covid-19 and Risk of Dementia
At the newly opened Covid-19 neurology clinic at Loyola Medicine, doctors treat people suffering from chronic fatigue, headaches, impaired sense of smell and or taste, memory loss, troubles with other mental skills, and brain fog. Some people report having trouble concentrating; others can’t sleep. The symptoms are just a few of the common neurological and cognitive issues that people […]