What is Alzheimer's Disease?

Scientists aren’t absolutely sure what causes cell death and tissue loss in the Alzheimer's brain, but the plaques and tangles are prime suspects.

Does Memory Loss Always Mean Dementia?

Dementia is a broad category of symptoms that affect the brain and causes memory loss.

Early onset Alzheimer's

Although, Alzheimer’s is viewed as a disease of the elderly, up to 5% of Americans with Alzheimer’s have the early-onset variety, which can start to show symptoms as early as one’s 30s.

Showing posts with label Alzheimer’s disease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alzheimer’s disease. Show all posts

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Music may improve memory in dementia patients, study finds


Music may improve memory

Music is a powerful medium that moves us physically and mentally. It has the power to transport us back to an earlier time or give us a sense of dejavu. Music has always been known to enhance our mood, but a new study reports that music may help preserve and even enhance cognitive function in elderly patients with mild to moderate dementia.



The findings of the study, conducted by researchers from University of Helsinki, Finland, and published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, could lead to better dementia care for the elderly.

Lead author of the study Dr. Teppo Sarkamo, a specialist in cognitive brain research, behavioral science and music research said,

“Our findings suggest that musical leisure activities could be easily applied and widely used in dementia care and rehabilitation.”

For the study, the researchers looked at the effects of musical coachingto 89 patients with mild to moderate dementia when they joined the 10-week intervention along with their caregivers. They were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Factors such as, participants’ age, dementia severity, care situation, and previous musical experience were taken into account.


The first group of pairs went through 10 weeks of singing, the second group of pairs focused only on listening to music and the third group acted as a control group, which involved standard care only.

Evaluations taken after 9 months into the trial showed that memory, executive function, orientation and mood already improved in the groups receiving musical coaching compared with the control group. Executive function helps us focus attention, plan, remember and manage several tasks at the same time.


musical keyboard

The researchers also discovered that patients with mild dementia and below 80 years old benefited the most for memory, executive function and orientation by singing. For the patients with more advanced form of dementia, music listening led to the most cognitive enhancements.

Furthermore, singing and music listening also relieved depression for patients with mild Alzheimer's-type dementia, compared with the control group receiving standard care.

Another interesting fact noted by the researchers was that the patients’ musical background made no difference in the results.

Researchers advise that patients with dementia shouldengage in musical activities during the early stages of the disorder. Dr. Sarkamo even advises patients that they should be encouraged by their caregivers to sing regularly or join a community choir.


“Given the increasing global prevalence and burden of dementia and the limited resources in public health care for persons with dementia and their family caregivers, it is important to find alternative ways to maintain and stimulate cognitive, emotional and social well-being in this population.” said Dr. Sarkamo.

“Especially stimulating and engaging activities, such as singing, seem to be very promising for maintaining memory functioning in the early stages of dementia.”

“In the later stages of dementia when the cognitive deficits are more severe, music listening could be a more easily applicable way,” Sarkamo concluded.

Friday, June 28, 2019

Blueberries May Help Fight Alzheimer’s

Fight Alzheimer’s


Blueberries, a popular fruit, already classified as a “superfruit” for its health benefits, could now also help fight dementia, new research suggests.



Blueberries may help fight Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study conducted by University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center in Ohio.

The study was conducted by the team from the Universityof Cincinnati Academic Health Center in Ohio. Lead author Robert Krikorian said:

"Our new findings corroborate those of previous animal studies and preliminary human studies, adding further support to the notion that blueberries can have a real benefit in improving memory and cognitive function in some older adults.”

Read more Does Memory Loss Always Mean Dementia?

A type of flavonoid known as anthocyanins, found in blueberries are not only responsible for its purple and blue color but, they also contribute to its numerous health benefits. Besides anthocyanins, an assorted variety of phenolic compounds can be found in blueberries. The compounds – quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol and chlorogenic acid contribute to the antioxidant capacity thereby increasing the health benefits of the superfood.


First Study Reveals Blueberries May Help Fight Alzheimer’s



One study involved 47 adults aged 68 and older, who had mild cognitive impairment, a risk condition for Alzheimer’s disease. They were given freeze-dried blueberry powder, which is equivalent to a cup of berries, or a placebo powder once a day for 16 weeks.

Dr. Krikorian reported:  

"There was improvement in cognitive performance and brainfunction in those who had the blueberry powder compared with those who took the placebo.

"The blueberry group demonstrated improved memory and improved access to words and concepts."

MRI scans conducted on the participants showed increased brain activity in those who ingested the blueberry powder, suggesting the superfoods may help fight Alzheimer’s disease.

Read more Blueberriesmay prevent diabetes, says research

Dr Krikorian said blueberries' beneficial effects could be due to flavonoids called anthocyanins, which have been shown to improve cognition in animals.

plaques and tangles in Alzheimer's



A Bigger Study Reveals Same Results



A second study involved 94 people aged 62 to 80 who did not have measurable cognitive decline but reported experiencing memory loss. They were given either blueberry powder, fish oil (containing omega-3 fatty acids believed to prevent Alzheimer's), a combination of fish oil and blueberry powder, or a placebo.

"The results were not as robust as with the first study," said Dr. Krikorian.

"Cognition was somewhat better for those with powder or fish oil separately, but there was little improvement with memory."

fMRI results for participants given blueberry powder were found to be less significant than those observed in the first study.

Read more Drinkingbeet juice boosts muscle strength in heart failure patients

Dr Krikorian says that the difference may be because the participants had less severe issues when they entered the research.

He said the two studies provide a basis for future research from which they hope to ascertain whether or not blueberries could shield against the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms. While promising, the less robust results of the second study indicate that more research will be necessary.

At present, the researchers plan to conduct a study involving participants aged 50-65, including a number of people considered to be at risk of developing Alzheimer's - people who are obese, suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure) or hypercholesterolemia (high levels of cholesterol).

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Dementia Caregivers Want Robots for Joy and Sorrow to Take Care of Patients


Dementia Caregivers Robots
Example of one of the robots designed by caregivers (Image Credit: Healthcare Robotics Lab/University of California San Diego)
A bit of robotic assistance can help people with dementia and their caregivers. Robots current available for the elderly help them around the house but there aren’t many robots that assist people with dementia. So, researchers at the University of California, San Diego wanted to find out what kinds of robots would actually help. They spent six months co-designing robots with informal caregivers for people with dementia, such as family members. 


Read more Studyof Centenarians Suggests Living Longer Linked with Living Healthier


They found that caregivers wanted the robots to fulfill two major roles: support positive moments shared by caregivers and their loved ones; and lessen caregivers' emotional stress by taking on difficult tasks, such as answering repeated questions and restricting unhealthy food.


“Caregivers conceived of robots not only managing difficult aspects of caregiving -- but also for supporting joyful and fun activities,” said Laurel Riek, a professor of computer science at UC San Diego, and the paper's senior author.


For the study, the research team led by Riek built relationships with three different dementia day care centers in San Diego County, reportsUC-San Diego.

Elderly dementia patient
Image: Creative commons
Researchers conducted a series of interviews and hands-on workshops with caregivers.


  • Based on the results of the six-month long community design process, the team identified various characteristics and designs a robot should have to support the caregivers and patients with dementia:
  • Robots should help redirect conversations when repetitive questioning becomes burdensome
  • Robots should be integrated into everyday objects that the people with dementia are already familiar with, or borrow features from those objects.
  • Robots should be able to adapt to new situations and to the behavior of the person with dementia.
  • Robots should be able to learn from end users, and customize and personalize their interaction and responses.
  • Robots should have human-like components. That is not to say that they should look human. Rather the machines could, for example, use a real human voice or face.


·       Robots should have human-like components. That is not to say that they should look human. Rather the machines could, for example, use a real human voice or face.


Read more ScientistsReport Significant Breakthrough in Anti-Aging

The researchers presented their findings at the Human Robot Interaction conference in South Korea.