Is It Really Alzheimer’s Disease? Other Forms of Dementia May Be Less Common but They Are Still Devastating
We just discovered a provocative news article from National Public Radio that sheds some important light on the increasing problem of cognitive decline. “In the U.S.,” NPR reports, “older people with dementia are usually told they have Alzheimer’s disease. But a range...
Staying Sharp in Old Age: Which Strategies Work the Best to Help Reduce the Effects of Dementia?
Here at AgingOptions we’ve read a lot (and written a lot) about dementia. Staying as mentally sharp as we can in old age is a goal we all share, just as the fear of cognitive decline is a phobia common to most of us. Is there one single strategy to help us avoid the onset of...
NPR Report: Doctors Routinely Test Patients for Blood Pressure and Cholesterol – so Why So Little Screening for Dementia?
We were surprised just a few days ago by a news story on National Public Radio revealing a disturbing statistic: barely one in every seven seniors is getting routine, regular screening for cognitive impairment. This is in spite of the fact that almost every primary care...
Can People Find Joy Living with Alzheimer’s Disease? A Growing Number of Patients and Families are Learning How
Alzheimer’s disease is on the rise in the U.S. We’ve shared the statistics before: today about 6 million Americans live with dementia, mostly Alzheimer’s, and by 2050 that number will soar to more than 14 million. The typical narrative describes Alzheimer’s disease using...
Families Dealing with Dementia Need to Understand the Perils Ahead
If you are part of a family dealing with dementia, you know what a bewildering and painful journey it can often be. Part of the great and unanticipated tragedy of dementia is the emotional and relational damage it can wreak, not just on the one with the illness, but on loved...
Cognitive Decline is Not Inevitable! How to Maximize Your Brain Health
When we talk with our clients about healthy aging, the biggest single thing most of them worry about is cognitive decline. There is probably no other health condition that so completely robs retirees of their dream to live independently. Cognitive decline is often the chief...
Alzheimer’s Toll is Emotional – and Financial, Caregivers Say
A few months ago the Alzheimer’s Association released a report that will probably come as no surprise to those caring for loved ones suffering with the disease – but it may be an eye-opener to the rest of us. We found this article describing the report on the website of...
What is Alzheimer’s Disease? NY Times Article Reviews Some Basics
“Alzheimer’s disease can seem frightening, mysterious and daunting. There are still a lot of unknowns about the disease, which afflicts more than five million Americans.” That’s how a recent article we found on the New York Times website begins. We found this article very...
New Study Shows Hearing Aids May Help Brain Stay Healthier
An important new study out of France reveals something striking: wearing hearing aids may actually help slow cognitive decline among seniors. This study, reported at the blog site of AARP, seems to show a linkage between better hearing and a healthier brain. Click here to...
Widow Reveals Dementia, Not Depression, Triggered Robin Williams Suicide
He was one of the funniest people in a generation. On stage and on screen, Robin Williams’ unique brand of rapid-fire comedy entertained the world for four decades. So the death by suicide of this treasured comedian and actor in August 2014 shocked and saddened us all.
At the...
