Alzheimer's disease has a significant human and financial impact. More than 55 million individuals have Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, with that number expected to rise to 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050. The Alzheimer's Association estimates that more than 11 million unpaid carers in the United States will offer 15.3 billion hours of help (worth $256.7 billion) to 6.2 million people with dementia by 2020. This estimate does not include the $51.2 billion in Medicaid payments for dementia patients aged 65 and up.
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Pharmacological treatments to reduce the progression of Alzheimer's disease
Most Alzheimer's clinicians, researchers, and advocacy groups have bet on a pharmaceutical cure to solve this problem for years, but failure after failure has occurred. The FDA approved the first medicine thought to be able to reduce the development of Alzheimer's disease pathology in the brain last year, despite much expert dispute. The assumption, which has yet to be verified, is that if such medicine is given early enough — before any symptoms appear — the disease will advance in such a way that people will be able to live out their lives without suffering dementia.
A looming crisis
Although this desired path is rational and admirable, the immediate consequences may be costly. The vast majority of novel Alzheimer's disease drugs, including the one authorized by the FDA, are being tested in people who already show symptoms like memory loss. As a result, millions of people with mild Alzheimer's symptoms will be the first to receive these new disease-modifying medications. Individuals with symptomatic Alzheimer's disease will continue to progress, and if the therapies are successful, they will progress more slowly, because these drugs slow down (but not stop) the accumulation of pathology. It's possible that the mild stage of dementia will last four, five, or six years instead of three. Instead of the last four years, the moderate stage could last five, six, or seven years. This means that, for the time being, disease-modifying medications will not reduce the number of people living with dementia; rather, they will vastly increase it.
As a result, it is vital for the United States and other countries to invest in both pharmaceutical and nonpharmacological treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Although many treatments have been devised to improve memory in patients with mild memory problems, few, if any, have undergone extensive clinical trials to confirm (or disprove) their effectiveness.
In the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, nonpharmacologic memory-boosting techniques may be beneficial.
A group of Boston researchers looked at 32 people with modest memory issues, half of whom had mild cognitive impairment and the other half had mild Alzheimer's disease dementia. When learning new knowledge, they discovered that both groups increased their memory by merely thinking about the following question: "What is one distinctive attribute of this item or personal experience that distinguishes it from others?" Another study conducted by Boston researchers discovered that 19 people with mild cognitive impairment could improve their ability to remember items in a virtual supermarket by simply thinking systematically about whether or not the items were already in their cupboard before placing them in their shopping cart. However, larger investigations are needed to see if these memory methods are generalizable.
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EXPOSURE TO TRAFFIC NOISE LINKED TO HIGHER DEMENTIA RISK
Music, pets, robotics, and the environment are all in the moderate to severe stages.
Similarly, several nonpharmacological treatments appear to bring comfort and reduce agitation in people with moderate to severe dementia, but larger and more rigorous studies are needed to verify or disprove their efficacy and, as a result, promote their widespread use.
A group of Portuguese physicians and academics examined more than 100 trials testing music-based therapies for patients with dementia who exhibited agitation or other behavioural and psychological signs of dementia, finding that the great majority were beneficial with little or no adverse effects.
A group of Florida neurologists looked into the effects of dog therapy and ownership and discovered that both were safe and effective treatments for chronic and progressive neurological illnesses.
When robot pets were provided to dementia patients, other researchers discovered that anxiety and the usage of psychoactive medications decreased.
A review of the built environment (the architecture of the home or facility) concluded that "specific design interventions are beneficial to the outcomes of people with dementia."
Families' education
It's also crucial to educate families and other caregivers on how to deal with the many stages and characteristics of dementia. Brazilian physicians conducted pilot research in which carers were invited to participate in educational sessions and reported a high degree of program satisfaction. Unfortunately, substantial clinical studies of caregiver education interventions are rarely conducted.
Enormous savings are possible.
If mild dementia solutions were effective enough to save just one hour per week of a caregiver's time for the nearly two million people with mild dementia in the United States, it may save 104 million hours worth $1.7 billion per year. For example, that extra hour would allow a "sandwich caregiver" to assist their child with homework while their parent with moderate dementia takes pills or pays bills on their own.
Nonpharmacologic therapies in the moderate to severe stages could save more than $31 billion dollars (based on a semi-private nursing home room costing $93,075 per year) for the nearly four million people with moderate to severe dementia in the United States. Individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their families will save money in addition to benefiting socially and emotionally.
New reimbursement models are being developed.
Finally, after nonpharmacological treatments have been shown effective, new reimbursement models will be required to fund their implementation, as standard insurance payments are targeted toward medications. Nonpharmacological techniques must be utilized in conjunction with pharmacological therapies if the United States — and the rest of the globe — is to cope with the expanding number of persons with dementia.
Get a free consultation from the Melody Jacob Health Team, Send us an email at godisablej66@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Thanks for reading.
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Keep an eye on your symptoms and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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If you have diverticulosis, a condition characterized by microscopic pouches (diverticula) that grow in the lining of the colon, doctors used to advise you to avoid nuts and seeds, as well as popcorn. According to the theory, little pieces of food could get lodged in the pouches and induce irritation or infection, depending on the theory (which is called diverticulitis). We now know that the advice was incorrect.
There's no need to be concerned about eating nuts, seeds, or popcorn. There is no indication that people who eat a lot of such foods have a higher risk of diverticulitis than people who don't. " Dr. Lawrence S. Friedman, a gastroenterologist at Harvard Medical School and Anton R. Fried, M.D., Chair of the Department of Medicine at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, agrees.
What else do we know about managing diverticular disease today? Here are some dos and don'ts to keep in mind.
Don't be concerned about diverticulosis.
Diverticulosis is a frequent ailment, especially as we age. By the age of 60, it affects roughly 40% to 60% of people, and it usually starts in the lower-left part of the large intestine (the sigmoid colon). "We believe that increasing colon pressure drives diverticula out through weak places in the colon wall," explains Dr. Friedman. "Diverticulosis is usually asymptomatic, and unless you have had a colonoscopy or abdominal imaging, you won't know you have it."
Do inform your physician about any bleeding.
Rectal bleeding occurs in roughly 5% of people with diverticulosis when a tiny blood vessel in a diverticulum ruptures. Diverticular haemorrhage is the medical term for this. It is unknown what causes it. Medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines [a prominent class of pain treatments that includes aspirin] or blood thinners might cause bleeding. " According to Dr Friedman,
Even if the bleeding is small and stops on its own, contact your doctor to have it checked out. You should go to the emergency room if there is a lot of bleeding and you feel lightheaded or dizzy. You could lose a lot of blood, and you'll need to figure out what's causing the bleeding and get medical help. " Dr. Friedman has some suggestions.
Symply Tacha always delivers, the social media personality and entrepreneur has set the ball so high for herself and she is keeping to it. She looks stunning in wearing Xtrabrideslagos and styled by Medlinboss.
Consume a variety of healthful foods that are high in anti-inflammatory properties.
Your food is a potent weapon in the fight against chronic inflammation, a state of persistent immune system activity. Consuming nutritious foods contributes to the reduction of chronic inflammation and promotes your health in various ways (like lowering cholesterol levels). Chronic inflammation is frequently associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive loss, and may contribute to their development.
Where can you find anti-inflammatory foods? They are all components of a Mediterranean-style diet that includes fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, lean proteins, and tiny amounts of dairy and olive oil.
Plant-based foods provide us with vitamins, minerals, fibre, and phytochemicals—plant chemicals that appear to fight free radicals [molecules that cause cell damage] and may protect our cells from inflammation, cancer growth, and viruses, explains Kathy McManus, director of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. "Fish, nuts, and plant oils all include unsaturated fats that are beneficial to the blood vessels, heart, and brain."
Here are some foods that aid in the fight against inflammation.
Berries
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Strawberries, raspberry, blueberry, and blackberry may appear to be just delightful delights. However, berries are also effective anti-inflammatory agents. Berries include compounds called anthocyanins, which impart a red or purple color to the fruits. Anthocyanins have anti-inflammatory properties in cells and have been linked to a decreased risk of heart disease, cognitive decline, and diabetes.
Ask the doctor
Q. I’ve been taking blood pressure pills for 20 years, but I just turned 75. Do I still benefit from taking them?
A. There is no doubt about the benefit of treating high blood pressure in people younger than 75. But some doctors have wondered if, in people older than 75, the benefits might be less and the chance of bad reactions to medicines might be greater. So, you’re asking a question that we doctors have asked ourselves.
A study published online on Aug. 26, 2021, by The Lancet is the best one I’ve seen on this question. It indicates that the value of blood pressure treatment continues in people over 75 years old. Scientists pooled the results of 51 randomized clinical trials involving 358,707 people, who ranged in age from 21 to 105 years old. Nearly 59,000 people were ages 75 or older. With so many people in the analysis, the results are more likely to be valid.
Randomized trials are the best type of study for judging the benefits and the risks of treatment. Such trials randomly assign some people to take a real blood pressure pill and others to take a placebo (inactive pill). Since the people in the two groups are very similar except for the kind of pill they are taking, any differences in their subsequent health are likely to be explained by whether they took the real medicine or the placebo. So, because of the large number of people in the analysis, and the fact they were all in randomized trials, we can trust the results of the analysis.
Q. I manage my high blood pressure with hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic) and long-acting metoprolol (a beta-blocker). I feel fine, but my heart rate doesn’t go up like it used to before I started taking the metoprolol. Does that mean I am not getting as much health benefit whenever I exercise?
A. All beta-blockers slow down your heart rate. The slower rate happens at rest and also when you exercise. To get the most from aerobic exercise, you would normally want your heart rate in a moderate-intensity zone for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Moderate intensity means exercising at a heart rate that is 60% to 75% of your maximum.
An easy formula to find your maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age. So, if you are 60, your maximum heart rate is 160. Therefore, moderate-intensity exercise measured by your pulse is 96 to 120 beats per minute. While this formula usually works well to help gauge the aerobic intensity of exercise, it doesn’t work for people who take a beta-blocker. And unfortunately, there is no simple way to adjust for the slower rate of the drug.
Instead, you can use your breathing to gauge your effort. With moderate-intensity exercise, you should be able to talk, but with pauses to catch your breath. If you are breathing very hard and unable to speak during exercise, you are at high intensity.
Can beta-blockers affect your ability to work out? Studies that have addressed your question have not provided a definitive answer. A competitive athlete’s performance likely could be diminished by taking a beta-blocker. However, for most of us who exercise to stay healthy, the evidence tilts toward no decrease in benefit, even though you may not hit the standard heart rate goals.
The difference between fruits
As with other foods, different fruits include a variety of nutrients. In general, whole fruits are high in fiber, whereas fruit juices are not. And a cup of fruit juice, even 100% fruit juice, contains far more sugar than a single piece or serving of real fruit. Additionally, whole fruits provide greater satiation than juices. When consuming the appropriate amount of fruit and vegetables, it is preferable to eat them whole rather than drink their juice. However, one should not completely avoid juice—if it is 100 per cent juice—but consumption should be limited to no more than 4 to 8 ounces per day.
The freezer department of the supermarket is frequently supplied with an array of frozen fruits. These are frequently already peeled and chopped (like mango), making them handier and frequently less expensive than fresh fruits. Frozen fruits are typically selected and quickly frozen near the point of harvest, which preserves the nutrients. Additionally, certain seasonal fruits, such as blueberries, are easily accessible frozen. The key to selecting is choosing unsweetened frozen fruits.
Numerous fruits are available dried, including raisins, apricots, and pineapple, to name a few. Additionally, they have high nutritional content, maintain their freshness for an extended period of time, are handy to carry, and are abundant in calories, making them a favorite of hikers and campers. Some, particularly mango and pineapple, are frequently sweetened throughout the drying process. Dried cranberries nearly always contain extra sugar due to their naturally sour flavour. Even without added sugar, the small size and sweetness make it fairly simple to consume a large quantity in one sitting, and the calories can soon pile up.
Sulfur dioxide is also used to maintain the freshness and color of some dried foods, such as raisins and apricots. While this is not a worry for the majority of people, certain individuals, particularly those with asthma, are sensitive. Because sulfur dioxide treatment is clearly labelled on the container, it is easy to avoid if necessary.
Consider purchasing organic.
We have a variety of organically and conventionally cultivated fruits to choose from, whether they are fresh, frozen, or dried. There is insufficient nutritional difference between the two to warrant choosing one over the other, yet consumers may prefer one over the other depending on growing practices and environmental impact. Although the United States has pesticide laws, some fruits have more residual pesticides than others. It is therefore always advisable to properly wash fruits before eating them.
Products with plant stanols are an alternative to butter, but the health claims might not stand up.
To keep your arteries clear, nutritionists frequently recommend limiting your daily intake of butter, which is high in saturated fat. Is it true that butter substitutes made from plant stanols are a superior option?
Plant stanols are generated from the membranes of plant cells. Nuts, beans, fruits, and vegetables are examples of foods that contain them naturally. Supplements containing these naturally occurring chemicals have been proven to lower "bad" LDL cholesterol by up to 14 percent in adults taking 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams (mg) per day in previous trials. However, butter-replacement products frequently lack sufficient plant stanols to achieve a therapeutic effect.
cholesterol improvement
According to Kathy McManus, director of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital, you'd need to take at least four tablespoons each day to notice a reduction in cholesterol levels. A tablespoon of a butter substitute containing plant stanols, on the other hand, contains roughly 70 calories. Using that arithmetic, you'd need to ingest 280 calories' worth of the alternative to show a benefit. It's probably not a good idea to eat so much unless you're underweight, "McManus agrees.
Types of plant stanols
Plant stanols are available in pill form. However, like with other supplements, the quality and quantity of the active components is always a concern. Some plant stanols are available in chewable form; however, keep in mind that these products have a significant drawback: each serving contains approximately 10 grams of added sugar. "It's like candy," McManus says. "As a result, people should be aware of that." According to McManus, the greatest method for lowering cholesterol is to rely on tried-and-true strategies. These include following a plant-based diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in processed foods, lowering saturated fat consumption, and aiming to maintain a healthy weight. If you want a healthier alternative to butter, try using liquid oils llike olive or avocado oil, or nut butter as a spread. According to McManus, peanut butter and almond butter are two good possibilities.
Traditional butter can still be used, but only for rare events or recipes that require a pure butter flavour, she advises.
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