Alzheimer’s Care Update – Is Alzheimer’s Disease an Autoimmune Disorder?

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Family caregiver comforting senior with Alzheimer's

Alzheimer’s Care Update: Researchers are exploring if Alzheimer’s could be an autoimmune disorder.

Pinning down a cure for Alzheimer’s has become just as complex as the tau threads long considered to be the core cause of the disease. But now, researchers may be drawing one step closer to untangling the puzzle of Alzheimer’s disease, through another train of thought. New findings are leaning towards the hypothesis of an inflammatory response in the brain, which poses the question: could Alzheimer’s disease actually be an autoimmune disorder?

People living with diabetes, Crohn’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis know all too well the effects of an overactive immune system. In a perfect world, our immunity shields us from bacteria, viruses, and other infections that need to be eliminated. However, with an autoimmune disorder, antibodies attack non-invasive, healthy cells, triggering inflammation and other undesirable effects.

In earlier Alzheimer’s disease studies, those infamous amyloid plaques have been the focus. Yet we also understand that even in healthy brains, those plaques are present and are suspected to perform some form of helpful function. The immune system targets these plaques, destroying them along with potentially healthy cells in the process: suggestive of a possible autoimmune response.

This alternative new strategy to studying and formulating treatment possibilities for Alzheimer’s has earned lead author of the research, Don Weaver, MD, PhD, of the Krembil Brain Institute, the 2022 Oskar Fischer Prize, which “recognizes innovative ideas in Alzheimer’s research that look beyond prevailing theories.”

As for everyone else, it’s a hopeful sign that a cure for such a devastating condition could be on the way. Until then, turn to Responsive Home Care for creative, skilled, and compassionate dementia care services that help people with Alzheimer’s disease continue to live to their fullest potential in the homes they love. We’re experienced in supporting those with dementia and the families who love them to better deal with some of the more distressing aspects of the disease, including:

  • Growing discomfort in the late afternoon and overnight hours (sundowning)
  • Wandering and asking to go “home”
  • Repetitive behaviors and conversations
  • Memory loss
  • Agitation, aggression, and other difficult and strong emotions
  • And more

Our expert caregivers work together with your family to provide as much or as little care as needed to provide you with the breaks from caregiving you need for your own health and wellbeing. After all, providing care for a person with dementia is never a single-person undertaking, especially as the disease progresses. Taking time away for self-care and to recharge is extremely important for you and your family as well as for the senior with dementia. A well-rested family caregiver is more patient and better prepared to supply the level of care a senior with dementia needs and deserves.

Contact us online or at (954) 486-6440 for further helpful dementia care resources, and to schedule a free in-home meeting to learn more about how our home health services in Fort Lauderdale, FL and the nearby areas can help maximize quality of life for somebody you love.

The New Developments in Alzheimer’s Research That May Surprise You

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brain connections head illustrationIf there is one constant thing in the race to solve the puzzle of Alzheimer’s, it is change. It appears as though any time researchers start to get a grasp on one piece of information, new information shifts their hypotheses in an alternative direction. That is most certainly the situation with the amazing new developments in Alzheimer’s research.

For the first time ever, scientists from the University of Cambridge have been in a position to study human data as opposed to animal models. Their findings point to an origin of the disease in several regions of the brain, instead of a single location that sets off a chain reaction, as previously surmised from scientific studies of the brains of mice.

Dr. Georg Meisl of Cambridge’s Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry explains, “The thinking had been that Alzheimer’s develops in a way that’s similar to many cancers: the aggregates form in one region and then spread through the brain. But instead, we found that when Alzheimer’s starts there are already aggregates in multiple regions of the brain, and so trying to stop the spread between regions will do little to slow the disease.”

Because of this, the disease’s progression is predicated upon how fast cells are destroyed within these different regions. This new insight will undoubtedly be extremely beneficial in the advancement of treatment plans that target the processes that happen at the beginning of Alzheimer’s. Further good news: the replication of the tau and amyloid beta proteins responsible for Alzheimer’s happens slowly, and our neurons are already evolving to stop the aggregation of these proteins. Hopefully soon, science and biology will work together to help the millions of individuals impacted by Alzheimer’s.

The next step will likely be for researchers to further investigate the processes involved in the earliest stages associated with the disease, while extending research to other health conditions, for example, progressive supranuclear palsy and traumatic brain injury. The data obtained could even help provide clues into more effective treatments for other common neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease.

If someone you love is battling Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, reach out to our dementia care team for helpful information and assistance with innovative, skilled, hands-on caregiving support. Our creative, patient, and caring methods alleviate the strain of challenging behaviors including:

  • Sundowning
  • Wandering
  • Aggression
  • Agitation
  • Frustration
  • Confusion
  • Disorientation
  • And many others

Give us a call any time at 954-486-6440, and we can discuss solutions to help with the particular challenges a senior you love is facing. You’re never alone with Responsive Home Care’s trained experts by your side! To learn more about our dementia care in Hollywood, FL and the surrounding areas, contact us today.

Parkinson’s Disease: The Accidental Discovery That’s Curing Mice

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Parkinson's disease on physicians tabletResearchers at the UC San Diego School of Medicine who thought they were examining connective tissue cell protein received quite a shock when they alternatively stumbled upon a therapy to eliminate signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in mice. Not just that, but the therapy might be useful in a number of conditions that call for the need to replace damaged tissue: diabetes, spinal cord injuries, possibly even cardiovascular illnesses.

The research centered on a siRNA technique, in which researchers grew fibroblasts (a type of connective tissue cell) in petri dishes while silencing the protein PTB. After several weeks, they were surprised to learn a large portion of fibroblasts had changed into neurons.

Lead author of the study, Xiang-Dong Fu, explained, “Researchers around the world have tried many ways to generate neurons in the lab, using stem cells and other means, so we can study them better, as well as to use them to replace lost neurons in neurodegenerative diseases. The fact that we could produce so many neurons in such a relatively easy way came as a big surprise.”

Utilizing this new discovery, the researchers tested their theory on Parkinson’s disease in mice and found that movement and functionality were completely restored for the remainder of the mice’s lifetime.

Obviously, the process to see if these outcomes transfer to humans takes some time and extreme care to be certain of safety, nevertheless for those struggling with the disease along with other neurodegenerative conditions, it is cause for hope.

As Fu says, “It’s my dream to see this through to clinical trials, to test this approach as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease, but also many other diseases where neurons are lost, such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases and stroke. And dreaming even bigger – what if we could target PTB to correct defects in other parts of the brain, to treat things like inherited brain defects?”

While we look forward to the next steps in this exciting breakthrough, you are able to count on Responsive Home Care for experienced, highly skilled home healthcare for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Several of the many ways we can assist include:

  • Healthy meal planning and preparation
  • Light household chores
  • Grocery shopping and other errands
  • Personal care, such as bathing/showering, getting dressed, etc.
  • Friendly companionship
  • And a whole lot more

To learn how we can help a senior you love with in-home care in Hollywood, FL and the surrounding area, reach out to us at 954-486-6440 to learn more, and to set up a free in-home consultation.

A New Cancer Treatment for All Types of the Disease Could Be on the Horizon

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3d illustration proteins with lymphocytes , t cells or cancer cells

The T-cell destroys threats to our bodies, including cancer cells.

We are already aware of how incredible our body’s immune system is in fighting invading bacteria and viruses and restoring us to health following an illness, even so, the most recent conclusions from a report by Cardiff University are poised to generate an innovative and unforeseen advancement: halting cancer in its tracks.

Researchers uncovered a certain kind of immune cell, a T-cell, found in our blood, which can scan and destroy threats – including a wide selection of cancer cells: kidney, prostate, colon, lung, breast, ovarian, cervical, blood, and many others. And incredibly, all normal tissue is left unaffected.

The newly uncovered T-cell works closely with a specific molecule found on the surface of each cell inside our body, known as the MR1 molecule. The theory is that the MR1 is alerting the T-cell of any cancer cell malformations. Garry Dolton, who was a part of the research team, points out, “We are the first to describe a T-cell that finds MR1 in cancer cells – that hasn’t been done before; this is the first of its kind.”

While there is currently a comparable kind of therapy, called CAR-T, that has shown extraordinary outcomes in bringing individuals from a terminal status to complete remission, it is only shown to be effective in specific types of cancer, and not “solid cancers” (those that form tumors). This new cancer treatment has demonstrated thus far to impact all forms of the disease. Here’s how it is projected to get results:

  • Blood is extracted from a patient diagnosed with cancer.
  • The blood is filtered to remove T-cells.
  • A particular variety of harmless virus is injected into the T-cells, allowing them to pick up on cancer cells.
  • These cells are then replicated in a lab, and injected back into the patient.

Researchers have been tremendously successful in animal trials, and with additional safety checks, the next step will likely be human trials. As stated by Daniel Davis, professor of immunology at the University of Manchester, “There is no question that it’s a very exciting discovery, both for advancing our basic knowledge about the immune system and for the possibility of future new medicines.”

While we keep an eye out for additional info regarding this new cancer treatment, you can depend upon Responsive Home Care for the finest quality care for individuals with cancer as well as other chronic conditions. Just some of the countless ways we are able to assist you include:

Take the first step to a better quality of life for a senior you love. Call the best home care company in Fort Lauderdale, FL at 954-486-6440 and ask for an in-home meeting.

New Study Shows You Already Have the Best Medicine for Dementia

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two happy elderly women spending time with each other at home

When living with dementia, don’t overlook your daily dose of laughter.

Looking after a person you love with dementia is certainly nothing to laugh about. Yet scientific studies are frequently pointing to the benefits associated with humor, and incorporating it into dementia care may be precisely what the doctor ordered to boost total well-being for your aging parent.

For instance, an Australian study just recently announced that humor therapy can aid in eliminating agitation in people who have dementia as successfully as antipsychotic medications, without the unintended side effects. Shared laughter connects us, and assists those with cognitive difficulties to feel understood, safe, and at ease. According to Lori La Bey, founder of Alzheimer’s Speaks, “When anyone is sick or having a hard time, they still like to laugh. I spend a lot of time teaching people that feelings don’t go away, and it’s okay to get back to that zone.”

Laughter also produces endorphins, which inhibit stress hormones, and may also improve blood pressure levels and reduce pain for older adults – all of which make it well worth adding to your dementia care regimen, either by registering for a laughter yoga class along with your loved one (which incorporates clapping, singing, silly poses, and of course, laughter) or simply implementing ideas including these at home:

  • Incorporate lightheartedness and silliness randomly throughout the day. Sing goofy songs, dance around the house, tell simple jokes, and develop an environment of happiness for the older adult.
  • Realize that what is successful today will possibly not work tomorrow – and sometimes even an hour or so from now. Assess your loved one’s reactions, and if anything seems to increase anxiety, shelve the idea and attempt again later.
  • Remove quarreling and correcting from conversations with the senior. A simple “yes” and redirection to a different topic or activity goes a long way in preempting negativity.
  • Emphasize to yourself that it’s completely acceptable to be joyful. Laughter and dementia do not need to be mutually exclusive.

Allow Responsive Home Care, the top provider of Alzheimer’s care in Fort Lauderdale, FL and the surrounding area, to help enhance life for a senior loved one with dementia. Each of our specialized dementia caregivers is fully trained and knowledgeable in a wide variety of creative, effective care techniques. Older adults achieve the added benefit of improved socialization, combined with crucial respite from care duties for family members, making a partnership with a Responsive Home Care caregiver a win-win!

Call us at (954) 486-6440 to arrange an in-home assessment to find out more about our Alzheimer’s care in Fort Lauderdale, FL and nearby areas, and to ask about some additional helpful resources to further equip you to provide the most effective care for your family member.

Researchers Take Another Look at a Promising Alzheimer’s Disease Drug

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people looking into brain

Responsive Home Care keeps you up to date with Alzheimer’s disease treatment news.

After 16 long years with no truly viable Alzheimer’s disease drug, there is some optimism on the horizon, in a stunning reversal on the previously-rejected antibody therapy, aducanumab. The latest research uncovers that high doses of this medication do, actually, lessen cognitive decline at the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s.

According to Rebecca Edelmayer, director of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association, “It could be a game-changer for the field. It could be one of the first disease-modifying therapies approved for Alzheimer’s disease.”

Biogen, the manufacturer of aducanumab, has found substantial benefits for dementia patients in a number of areas: activities of day to day living, memory, language, and orientation. Biogen stated its plans to obtain regulatory approval in the U.S., with a longer-term goal of launching the medication globally.

With an estimated request for approval from the FDA as quickly as early 2020, the drug is slated to possibly become the first treatment option to actually reduce the clinical decline of Alzheimer’s. At the same time, it should open doors to other treatment options that impact amyloid beta plaques, joining other trials that target the immune system, inflammation, blood vessels, and synaptic cell health. As discovering the most effective treatments for the disease is a complex endeavor, it is very likely that a variety of these approaches will be necessary, according to Edelmayer.

The next challenge? Persuading the FDA to approve the drug after previous unsuccessful trials. If approved, aducanumab will first be offered to individuals who had signed up for previous clinical trials, and hopefully, soon open to other people dealing with the challenges of Alzheimer’s as well.

When it comes to the nearly 6 million senior Americans fighting Alzheimer’s (and that number is expected to more than double in the next 30 years), and also the family who care for them, these most recent findings may possibly be life-changing, as there are presently just minimally successful symptom-management medications available. Even as we wait for a treatment, we at Responsive Home Care are able to help dementia patients through highly skilled, trained, and qualified caregivers who utilize innovative therapeutic approaches that center on each person’s distinct strengths and making sure that each individual is living to the fullest.

For more information on effective Alzheimer’s care which helps maximize total wellbeing in the comfort of home, reach out to the dementia care experts at Responsive Home Care at 954-486-6440 and learn more about how our team provides the kind of senior care Hollywood, FL and surrounding area families recommend most.

Risk of Alzheimer’s: Why Is It Higher for Women?

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erase Alzheimer'sResearchers are at long last starting to get a handle on why the risk of Alzheimer’s is so much higher in females than in men. Currently, up to 2/3 of people with Alzheimer’s in the United States are female, and as researchers continue to better comprehend the specific nuances behind this pattern, we are able to begin to address them.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s Director of Scientific Engagement, Rebecca Edelmayer, “Women are at the epicenter of Alzheimer’s disease as both persons living with the disease and as caregivers of those with dementia. Over the last three years, the Alzheimer’s Association has invested $3.2 million into 14 projects looking at sex differences for the disease and some of the findings today may explain risk, prevalence, and rate of decline for women.”

The historic notion has been that females essentially have a greater than expected lifespan, and we realize that Alzheimer’s is more prevalent as people get older. Nonetheless, the theory has shifted to also include the following further determinants:

  • Biology. Vanderbilt University Medical Center scientists found that females with mild cognitive impairment had a more accelerated spread of tau (the protein within the brain connected to loss of brain cells), along with a higher extent of tau network connectivity, than that of males.
  • Memory. An investigation carried out by the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine discovered higher scores on verbal memory tests in women than men, which may bring about the potential of women’s brains to compensate for cognitive impairments and to the postponement of a medical diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
  • Employment. Memory decline in women ages 60 – 70 who seldom were employed was greater than in females with regular employment, according to the conclusions of a report conducted by the University of California Los Angeles – indicating that “consistent cognitive stimulation from work helps increase cognitive reserve in women.”
  • Lifestyle. Since a healthy lifestyle, particularly a reduced incidence of stress, helps decrease Alzheimer’s risk, women can be especially vulnerable – since they are typically in the role of family caregiver, a known inducer of stress.

Each one of these results focus on the need for women to take care of their own overall health, and Responsive Home Care, the top providers of home health Hollywood, FL and the surrounding area can find, is prepared to assist. We offer the dependable respite care that allows family caregivers to take much recommended breaks from caring for their loved ones while focusing on self-care. Our caregivers are specially trained and experienced in meeting the unique needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, giving loved ones the peace of mind in knowing their cherished older adults are getting the best care. Contact us at 954-486-6440 for more information.

New Research Finds Certain Common Medications Increase Dementia Risk

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Research has connected certain medications commonly prescribed to an increase in dementia risk.

They’re currently understood to cause various short-term side effects, such as memory issues and confusion, but new research connects a number of the stronger anticholinergic drugs (such as those prescribed for Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, depression, and overactive bladder) to a markedly higher risk for dementia.

The study included two groups of seniors: 59,000 patients with dementia, and 225,000 without. About 57% of those with dementia, and 51% without, were provided at least one (and up to six) potent anticholinergic medications. Looking at other known dementia risk factors, the outcomes were an unexpected 50% greater chance of dementia in people who were taking strong anticholinergics daily for three or more years, with the greatest risk to men and women who received a dementia diagnosis before age 80.

It is worthwhile to note that there was no correlation observed between dementia and other kinds of anticholinergics (for example, antihistamines like Benadryl and GI medications).

While these findings do not prove anticholinergics as a cause for dementia, at the very least, “This study provides further evidence that doctors should be careful when prescribing certain drugs that have anticholinergic properties,” said Tom Dening, study co-author and head of Nottingham’s Center for Dementia. Dening also stressed that people currently prescribed these medications should not cease taking them suddenly, which can cause a great deal more harm.

The suggestion is for any person worried about this possible link to consult with his / her doctors to consider the advantages against any potential risks, and to investigate alternative means of treatment when possible. As an example, individuals taking medications for assistance with sleeping – something that has grown to be more and more common in older adults – can contemplate behavioral changes and a more therapeutic plan over insomnia medications.

And no matter what the medications a senior loved one takes, proper medication management is key – something that’s easier said than done with many seniors taking multiple medications in a variety of doses at differing times during the day. Responsive Home Care’s medication reminder services are perfect to be sure that older adults take the correct medications at the proper time – each and every time.

Our specially trained and experienced dementia care team is also readily available to provide unique, compassionate, effective care strategies to help minimize the challenging components of the disease, bringing about an increased quality of life for seniors and their loved ones.  Responsive Home Care, provider of in home senior care Fort Lauderdale families trust, is here to help!  Call us at 954-486-6440 at any time to learn more.