Category Archives: Carer

Living with Aging: Alzheimer’s, the Disease of Our Time

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This interesting presentation is from TED, a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading.

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When George Perry began studying Alzheimer’s disease less than 30 years ago, few scientists knew of the condition, let alone the public, which now cannot have a day pass without new revelations in the press.

What is this disease that so closely touches all our lives and seems so intractable to treatment? Is the heightened awareness due to our increased longevity, or its incidence?

While most therapeutics are directed to the effects of the disease, the future lies in modifying responses to aging to maintain normal function throughout our lifespan.

Dr. Perry is Dean and Professor of Biology, University of Texas-San Antonio, joining the UTSA faculty in 2006 from Case Western Reserve University where he was Professor of Pathology and Neurosciences and Chair of the Department of Pathology. He is also distinguished as one of the top 20 Alzheimer’s disease researchers with over 800 publications; one of the top 100 most-cited scientists in neuroscience and behavior research; and one of the top 25 scientists in free radical research. He is Past President for the American Association of Neuropathologists, on the editorial board of over 60 journals, and is Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

*About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California, with simulcast in Palm Springs; TEDGlobal is held each year in Oxford, UK. TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world, and the TEDFellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Mum and me

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Filmmaker Sue Bourne’s mother has Alzheimer’s and now lives in a nursing home in Scotland. For the last three years Sue, and her daughter Holly, have been filming with Sue’s mother. Their film is a funny, charming, quirky and sometimes harrowing record of how the family have fumbled along trying to make sense of the disease.

Ethel Bourne passed away in 2011 – her obituary can be found here

NB: The film will play after a short advertisement.

Play Film PART – 1

Play Film PART – 2

I’m worried about dementia.

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Decline in thinking ability occurs (along with graying hair and loss of physical agility!) as part of the normal aging process. We, as Clinical Neuropsychologists, are acutely aware of this and know precisely which aspects of our thinking do and don’t decline with age, as well as how much change in thinking ability we would expect to see as an individual ages.

Unfortunately, not all changes in memory and thinking ability are attributable to a normal aging process.  In a majority of cases, individuals or their loved ones, become aware of and concerned about loss of memory ability long before their symptoms are apparent to the non-specialist.

Neuropsychological assessments are among the most sensitive means of differentiating between memory loss that is attributable to normal aging and memory loss representing the early stages of dementia.  Brief cognitive screening tests, comprising questions about the date, current prime minister and the recall of objects, are known to be insensitive to very early stage dementia, particularly (although by no means only) in cases where thinking difficulties do not relate to memory.  If you remain concerned about changes in your thinking ability after visiting your GP and undergoing basic cognitive screening, you can request that a referral be made to a Clinical Neuropsychologist for fuller evaluation of your thinking abilities.

There are many advantages of evaluating memory and thinking concerns at any early stage.  In some cases, treatments are available to slow down the progression of thinking difficulties.  In most cases, patients and their families benefit greatly from having a clear understanding of what is causing the change in memory, what can be done about it and how best to manage such changes.  Early evaluation also allows time for patients and their families to address relevant legal matters such as granting power of attorney or the writing of a will, prior to the point at which testamentary capacity might be called into question.

There are a range of local services available to individuals suffering with memory difficulties and dementia.  Early evaluation and diagnosis of memory change allows the patient to exercise individual choice/preference in relation to their ongoing management and care needs.

If you have concerns about your own memory abilities of the abilities of a loved one, phone to arrange an initial consultation or neuropsychological evaluation.