Alzheimer and Dementia: Experts explain how they differ…

Alzheimer and Dementia: Experts explain how they differ…

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

To a layman, Alzheimer’s is a disease in which the patient suffering from Alzheimer’s slowly loses his/her memory. But in medical parlance, Alzheimer’s is a progressive mental deterioration, occurring mostly in the old age. This happens because of degeneration of neurons in some parts of the brain. It is a common cause of premature senility.

How does dementia typically present?

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and typically begins with memory loss for recent events, and gradual decline in various cognitive abilities, ultimately leading to interference with activities of daily living over the years. In its early stages dementia can present with:

• Subtle short-term memory changes.
• Difficulty finding the right words.
• Depression/ Changes in mood.
• Apathy.
• Difficulty completing normal (routine/ familiar) tasks.
• Confusion.
• Difficulty following storylines.
• A failing sense of direction…etc.
  

What is the significance of early diagnosis?

The degenerative processes behind Alzheimer’s disease begin 10, or even 20 years before symptoms become evident and the condition gets diagnosed. Hence, early diagnosis is of crucial importance in addressing the symptoms effectively. To know if one suffers or is prone to suffer from Alzheimer’s, it is advantageous to be able to obtain some accurate and early diagnosis when the cognitive symptoms start:

1. When dealing with reversible causes of dementia: Sometimes temporary memory loss can be caused by the use of psychoactive substances, vitamin deficiencies, trauma to the head, tumors, various metabolic diseases, hormonal dysfunction (thyroid), or infections, which can be reversed by managing the underlying cause efficiently.
2. Sooner the better: Treatment of dementia is typically most effective when started early in the disease process. Although the medication can not reverse the neuronal damage by degeneration, it does slow down the process and delay further degradation, thus adding a few more months or years to live.
3. Diagnoses are more accurate early in the disease process: A more precise diagnosis is possible when a complete history can be taken early in the disease process. This can happen when the person in question can answer questions about their cognitive health and report any concerns. Additionally, they should be able to observe or recall the chronological order in which the symptoms appeared. Unfortunately, an accurate diagnosis is challenging once all brain functions are compromised.
4. It’s empowering: An earlier diagnosis can be empowering as the person can participate in their own financial, legal and other long-term life care plans. They can also alert their family members about their condition.
5. They can focus on what’s important to them: Priorities in life change especially when such a severe diagnosis comes up. Therefore, with early diagnosis, it helps the person rethink and re-prioritize their life. Who they want to be with, how they wish to spend their time, what matters, life goals from here on, etc. They may choose to record their important moments, complete pending tasks, make new memories and so on.
6. One can make the best choices: With early diagnosis, one can make better decisions which they may have overlooked due to ignorance like moving far away from family or breaking up with friends or getting into draining financial commitments.
7. One can use the resources available: Individuals diagnosed early in the disease process can take advantage of available health services and early-stage support groups and learn tips and strategies to better manage and cope with the symptoms of the disease.
8. It will help the family: An earlier diagnosis gives families more opportunity to learn about the disease, develop realistic expectations, and plan for their future together – which can result in reduced stress/anxiety and feelings of burden and regret later in the disease process.
9. It will help the person too: Early diagnosis allows the person and family to attribute cognitive changes to the disease rather than to personal failings – preserving the person’s ego throughout the disease process.

Do You Have Problems With Concentration And Mental Clarity?

Do You Have Problems With Concentration And Mental Clarity?

Low testosterone may be the culprit.

Popularly known as the male sex hormone, testosterone actually impacts several areas of the brain and is responsible for much more than libido. An imbalance in testosterone, or between testosterone and other hormones and enzymes it interacts with, can impact both men’s and women’s bodies—as well as their mental and behavioral health.

In men, low testosterone can cause various symptoms from fatigue to depression, and potentially body dysmorphia or low self-esteem issues due to physical changes like reduced muscle mass and sexual dysfunction. High testosterone often leads to aggressive or hostile behavior and also interferes with sleep.

Improves cognitive abilities

It’s clear that testosterone plays an important role in memory and other cognitive functions, but results have varied highly over many years of research.

One meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Neuroscience found that testosterone injections could have either a negative or positive effect on verbal memory, with longer studies reporting better results in both men and women.

A nearly five-decade study completed in 2003 looked at the correlation between testosterone and Alzheimer’s disease in a pool of 574 male participants from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

After following up with participants, researchers found that men who had developed Alzheimer’s also had low levels of free testosterone, and that the reduction in T-levels happened before diagnosis.

While this doesn’t mean that low testosterone in any way causes Alzheimer’s or dementia, it is one reason you should know your body and what symptoms to look out for.

Protects against depression

Testosterone has a complex relationship with multiple neural networks, including those regulating mood. For a long time, researchers have wondered if women were more prone to depression than men because they have less testosterone. Imbalances between testosterone and other hormones like estradiol can cause depression symptoms in women, but it’s more complicated than just high or low testosterone.

A study conducted by the University of Florida examined the protective factors of testosterone against depression and anxiety. What they discovered is that most testosterone in the brain is converted to estrogen by interacting with a specific enzyme. Problems with that enzyme can lead to symptoms of both anxiety and depression in men because it prevents that conversion.

Helps Boost your self-esteem

Testosterone levels affect physical characteristics like body hair, muscle mass, and of course, sexual potency. While these things may not seem to affect your mental health directly, the fact is many people develop poor relationships with their bodies—and themselves—when they aren’t happy with their appearance or performance.

Low self-esteem not only causes negative feelings of sadness or anger at your body but can create serious body image issues. Body dysmorphia occurs when your idea of what your body looks like is worse than it actually is, and you could find yourself going to extreme lengths to “fix” yourself. The National Eating Disorders Association reports that a full third of people with an eating disorder are male.

Get a better nights sleep

The Harvard Health Blog says that high testosterone levels in men can cause insomnia, or the inability to sleep, and this can compound or increase the side-effects of high-T.

Sleep is necessary for multiple physical and neurological processes, like digestion, memory storage, and emotionally processing the events of the day. When you don’t get enough sleep, or your sleep isn’t restful enough, you end up holding onto all the small stresses and irritations that you’d normally just forget about.

This will leave you feeling fatigued and lethargic as well as increasingly frustrated with even minor obstacles and inconveniences. Feelings of hostility and snapping or lashing out are the most common symptoms of sleep deprivation. Problems with digestion and metabolic function can also cause weight gain, on top of that already associated with testosterone imbalances.

Intermittent Fasting; Is It Effective For Achieving Your Weight Loss Goals?

Intermittent Fasting; Is It Effective For Achieving Your Weight Loss Goals?

What is intermittent fasting?

Intermittent fasting is not a diet. It is a timed approach to eating. Unlike a dietary plan that restricts where calories come from, intermittent fasting does not specify what foods a person should eat or avoid. Intermittent fasting may have some health benefits, including weight loss, but is not suitable for everyone.

Intermittent fasting involves cycling between periods of eating and fasting. At first, people may find it difficult to eat during a short window of time each day or alternate between days of eating and not eating. 

How effective is intermittent fasting

Fasting has several effects on a person’s body. These effects include:

1. Reducing levels of insulin, which makes it easier for the body to use stored fat.
2. Lowering blood sugars, blood pressure, and inflammation levels.
3. Changing the expression of certain genes, which helps the body protect itself from disease as well as promoting longevity.
4. Dramatically increases human growth hormone, or HGH, which helps the body utilize body fat and grow muscle.
5. The body activates a healing process doctors call autophagy, which essentially means that the body digests or recycles old or damaged cell components.

Fasting dates back to ancient humans who often went hours or days between meals as obtaining food was difficult. The human body adapted to this style of eating, allowing extended periods to pass between food intake times.

Intermittent fasting recreates this forced-fasting. When a person undertakes an intermittent fast for dietary proposes, it can be very effective for weight loss. In fact, according to one study, most people try intermittent fasting to help lose weight.

Other research backs up the claims that fasting can help a person lose weight. For example, a review of studies shows that many people who fast see a higher loss of visceral body fat and a similar to slightly less reduction in body weight compared with people who follow more traditional calorie reduction diets.

Research also shows fasting to be beneficial for the management of metabolic syndrome and diabetes, extending lifespan, protecting neuron function, and shows promise in those with digestive diseases.

Effects on exercise

For healthy individuals, intermittent fasting should not affect their ability to exercise except during the period when the body is adjusting to the new eating schedule. After the adjustment period, a person should not feel any ill effects from fasting on their exercise routine.

Those worried about losing muscle while fasting should be sure to consume enough protein during eating periods and participate in resistance training regularly. By keeping protein intake up, a person is less likely to lose muscle mass from fasting.

ACNE-HELPING HABITS YOU NEED TO KICK

ACNE-HELPING HABITS YOU NEED TO KICK

Washing Too Much, Too Hard

If you’re using several acne products several times a day, you’re likely exacerbating the problem. Many acne washes and medicines contain acids that are designed to remove dirt, oil, and bacteria from the skin. However, using acne treatment options too often can strip skin of its natural oils, which leads to oil over-production, and can make acne worse. Similarly, scrubbing too hard can push bacteria deeper into your pores, and can create more red inflammation that worsens the look of pimples. With any scrub or medicine, stick to the explicit instructions of a medical dermatologist for the best results.

 
Picking Your Pimples
You’ve heard it before, but we’ll say it again: picking your pimples is never a good idea! Nearly every medical dermatologist insists that popping zits turns the closed blemish to an open wound, which allows more bacteria to enter the skin. Similarly, touching acne with your hands makes you more likely to break out, since your fingers introduce and spread oil, dirt, and other yuck around your pores.

 Bad Hair Care
Even if you keep a perfectly clean face, poor hair hygiene can cause breakouts on your neck, behind your ears, and near your hairline. Greasy hair spreads oils into your pores, and using too many harsh hair products can cause irritation. Wash hair every day or every other day, and avoid getting hairspray on your skin.

Other Bad Habits
There is a whole myriad of unexpected habits that can cause acne– for example, a dirty phone screen can cause breakouts when you press it to your face during a call. Dirty makeup brushes can also cause acne, as can high amounts of stress.

Immunosuppressant Drugs May Offer Protection Against Parkinson’s Disease

Immunosuppressant Drugs May Offer Protection Against Parkinson’s Disease

Two categories of of immunosuppressants were associated with a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD) in a large population-based case–control study of U.S. Medicare beneficiaries. The results of the targeted pharmacoepidemiology analysis were published online on May 31 in Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.

Patients prescribed corticosteroids were 20 percent less likely to develop PD, and those who took inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMDH) inhibitors (such as azathiopine, mycophenolate, leflunomide), had approximately one-third reduced risk.

Previous studies have reported on the potential role of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as PD. This has led to the belief that immunosuppressant drugs could affect the neuroinflammatory component of neurodegeneration through peripheral T-cell immunomodulation.

It’s not clear whether these medications cross an intact blood–brain barrier, but the researchers believe the potential neuroprotective mechanism could be attributed to peripheral suppression of T‐cell activity.

“[T]his pharmacoepidemiology study provides additional evidence of a potential role of the immune system in disease risk and potential therapeutic targets to modify risk of PD and possibly even PD progression,” the researchers, led by Brad A. Racette, MD, an associate professor of neurology at Washington University of St. Louis, MO, wrote.

To test the association between immunosuppressants and the reduced risk of PD, the researchers factored in the existence of specific autoimmune disorders in their analysis. The results remained the same, which suggests the difference in risk was related to immunosuppressant therapies and not the conditions being treated.

The researchers cautioned the relative risks for IMDH inhibitors were mostly protective, but they’re not always precise, because these medications are infrequently used. And they pointed out that the protective effect of corticosteroids is considered weaker, since they couldn’t rule out whether the association is due to smoking for which they may be prescribed. Also, corticosteroids tend to include many side effects.

The researchers said they could only speculate on the potential mechanisms of these immunosuppressants on PD.  Currently, there are no approved medications that can alter PD progression. The results warrant further research to determine whether immunosuppressants, like IMDH inhibitors, could modify PD.

Among the study limitations, the authors noted their inability to estimate PD risk in relation to immunosuppressants in younger patients due to the age of the population covered by Medicare. In addition, they wrote, they were limited to a “relatively narrow window of exposure, and had to assume  patients took these medications for extended periods during their lives, limiting our ability to make causal inference and to conduct analyses that consider cumulative dose.”  

The study was funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokem the American Parkinson Disease Foundation, and the Center for Pharmacoepidemiology Research Training at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

Important new study shows NHS gender weight-loss bias is impacting men’s health

Important new study shows NHS gender weight-loss bias is impacting men’s health

The NHS should urgently tackle a ‘gender bias’ among health professionals as they appear to be reluctant to refer men to weight management services despite positive results, experts from the University of Oxford, Men’s Health Forum and Slimming World suggest. 

Currently men make up only one in 10 patients attending commercial weight management programmes like Slimming World through referral by the NHS, despite being more likely to be overweight than women and more likely to carry dangerous excess fat around the waist.

Now a study of 940 patients by the University of Oxford has shown that when health professionals verbally offer referral to men and women equally, based on BMI and without the risk of gender bias, the proportion of referrals who are male jumps to nearly four in 10 – a rise of almost 400%.

Study author, Professor Paul Aveyard of the University of Oxford, said:

It looks like GPs and nurses are presuming that men would not want to use a commercial weight management programme, but our evidence suggests they would if health professionals offered it and recommended it.

Our study found that an NHS referral and a simple recommendation like ‘I think this could be good for you’ is enough to persuade many men to cast aside any reservations they might have and to give a weight management group a try. And our data supports previous findings that when men do join these groups, they do very well – even better than women in fact. These schemes represent good value for the NHS.

The findings were released during Men’s Health Week ,which is this year focusing on raising awareness of the dangers of carrying excess fat around the waist.

Martin Tod, Chief Executive of the Men’s Health Forum, added:

What this research shows is that it’s not just men who need to change their attitudes about their weight – health professionals do too.  Men who might benefit from weight management services are missing out because they’re not being told about them. Yet when they are told about them, many men do use them and, despite what might be expected, many men really benefit from them.

Mental Health Tips in the Wake of Trauma.

Step 1: Discuss your emotions

After trauma has occurred, it is the body’s normal response to experience a different range of emotions. Many people will express feelings of:

• Numbness
• Exhaustion
• Confusion
• Sadness
• Anxiety
• Agitation
• Physical symptoms—upset stomach, lack of sleep, hyper-arousal

I encourage you to identify the emotions you’re having regarding the events. Once you identify an emotion, you can start to address where in your body you feel it most. It’s important to tune into your body and its needs following traumatic news.

Some of the steps below can ease physical symptoms after a trauma. Also, make sure to take time out to:

• Remain physically active
• Take a relaxing bath and/or shower
• Meditate on three things you’re grateful for
• Get adequate rest at the end of your day

Step 2: Disconnect from exposure

Digital technology allows us easily connect to one another. This usually serves to a benefit to those whose loved ones live far away. In the wake of a traumatic event, however, it can serve as a constant reminder and also widely spread graphic footage.

Give yourself a break from viewing live footage and/or hourly updates. The constant exposure to trauma can evoke secondary PTSD symptoms. Turning off the TV, and logging off of social media for set amount of time can be extremely beneficial.

Step 3: Reach out to a professional

If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, it may be time to seek professional help.

• Excessive fear
• Anger
• Loss of interest in activities
• Isolation
• Irritable or aggressive behavior
• Paranoia
• Being easily startled
• Struggling to fall or stay asleep

Pine Rest has nearly 200 therapists at multiple locations in West Michigan as well as teletherapy, and many other providers are also available in the region. If you are unable to afford treatment, ask the therapist if they have a patient assistance program or check with your employer. Often, organizations have an Employee Assistance Program benefit that provides several free, confidential counseling sessions each year to employees and their household members. The Pine Rest Employee Assistance Program offers programs to employers as well as faith-based organizations and schools.

Step 4: Find a cause to support

To help process feelings of anger and grief, it can be helpful to find a cause to support and advocate for change. There are local legislators and policies that need the help and support of the people to help ensure traumatic violent events and crimes are no longer a frequent occurrence.

It is normal to feel whatever feelings you are having, but it’s important to discuss how we as a community can ensure the safety and well-being of one another. The impact of hatred and violence affects an entire community, but love also can make a long-standing impact on a community.

It is my hope that through the wake of trauma and tragedy that pure love is magnified and touches those near and far.

Men’s Health Month: Focusing on Mental Health.

Men’s Health Month: Focusing on Mental Health.

Men’s Health Month is celebrated every June to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among boys and men. Often overlooked is men’s mental and emotional health, an area that can take a significant toll on the lives of men when left unattended.

It’s estimated that one in four U.S. adults had a mental health disorder in the past year. Depression and anxiety disorders tend to be the most prevalent in our society. It’s especially important to discuss depression when talking about men’s mental health because it can lead to suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. and one of the highest causes of death for men between the ages of 25 and 34. Men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women according to The Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Men also tend to use more lethal means and to act more impulsively upon suicidal thoughts than women.

Besides the risk of self-harm, mental health problems have also been shown to affect men’s physical health. When ignored and left untreated, mental health problems can lead to high risk behaviors, substance abuse, and other forms of addiction. Untreated emotional problems can also cripple a man’s ability to function fully in his place of employment, school, community and family relationships.

Men’s Health Month: Chasing Brady

Men’s Health Month: Chasing Brady
As a 35-year-old man, it’s taken me awhile to accept that my body is getting older. I have been an athlete for most of my life, participating in one or two sports each season year-round until college. When I was no longer in organized sports, I had no trouble jumping right back in. If you needed an extra for flag-football, I could jog over to the field, sprint the whole game, head home to clean up, and then go out at 10pm with friends. Now, I’m still active, but I run out of steam, recovery takes longer, my joints ache constantly, bruises never seem to heal, and if I do head out with friends I am home long before 10. 
The good news is: the guys I play hockey and softball with are just as old (if not older) and facing the same challenges. If, like me, you have finally accepted that you are getting older, consider these tips to help you stay active and healthy.

Get some sleepSleep is important at any age. When we were younger sleep was not only important for recovery, but also for the growth of our brains and bodies. Most recovery happens in deep sleep, which unfortunately may be harder to reach in adulthood. Establishing a routine is helpful for falling asleep and achieving deeper sleep. 
If you are lucky enough to have children or share the bed with a significant other, that deep sleep may be frequently interrupted. Consider sharing nighttime childcare responsibilities so at least some nights each week you and your partner can sleep deeply. 

Take extra care of your bodyIn our teens and early 20s, playing through injury was typical. As kids we were told “walk it off,” which worked. Now, we groan simply getting out of bed each morning as the previous day’s efforts radiate through our bodies. Physical therapists have suggested exercises for my various knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, etc. pains, emphasizing that exercise is important to reduce injury and prevent some of the more chronic pains from developing. 
I consider participating in sports exercise (and have unsuccessfully argued with my insurance company for the same reimbursement given for gym memberships). After all, physical activity is physical activity. Over the years I’ve learned jogging, stretching, and lightweight exercises help reduce those morning aches and pains, and give me an extra step at game time. Finding time is always a challenge, but I’m happy with 5-10 minutes every day or two. Every little bit helps.
Another important consideration is knowing when to sit out. When I was getting back into hockey a few years ago, I found a weekly pick-up game. The organizer would leave the ice 30-40 minutes into the hour and a half session. 

Consider ways to reduce injury and aid recovery
As aches and pains continue, I’ve learned to embrace options I never cared for in my youth. Growing up, a brace was often recommended following an injury. I was eager to remove the support, which I found as a hindrance that made me slower or less agile. Now, it seems support for movement is trendy, from Gronk’s arm brace to Kerri Walsh Jennings KT tape. 
Though the evidence is unclear if wearing braces actually helps prevent injuries, so check it out for yourself. For me, I’ve embraced the benefits of support braces. If I forget a knee brace for hockey, my knee throbs and stairs are difficult the next day, but with the brace – no problems. 
As a teen, warmups were a time to goof off and catch up with my friends. Now, I’ve learned it’s important to get to a game early for a proper warm up. Otherwise, I seem more likely to experience an injury during the game or have more aches the following day. Warmups should be light and progress toward game speed. Get the blood moving and then stretch from head to toe. If you sit at a desk all day, this is particularly important due to the stiffness our bodies experience from being sedentary. 

The Truth About Anorexia

The Truth About Anorexia

Anorexia is not a choice.

Anorexia is not a lifestyle.

Anorexia is not about vanity. Or being thin. Or seeking attention. Or…

Anorexia is a serious, potentially life-threatening mental illness that effects millions of people—women and men, young and old, rich and poor, black or white.

Anorexia could strike your loved one.

I didn’t set out to become anorexic. No one does. So what propels someone to get caught in a downward spiral of starvation and self-harm and self-hatred? What compels someone to count every calorie, scrutinize every ounce of flesh, and self-flaggelate for every miniscule and imaginary flaw?

I don’t know.

In the past, I have tried to find answers to why I—a seemingly healthy woman (but more about that later)—would succumb to anorexia. But at some point, both myself and my eating disorders psychiatrist agreed that the time was past for that. I was starving and I was dying, and that was enough.

Anorexia is about being cold. And lonely. And afraid.

And very, very depressed.

While in the depths of anorexia, I wanted to die. By malnutrition. By a heart attack. By anything, as long as I didn’t have to remain in what I viewed as a painful and ultimately soul-killing world.

Did I romanticized death by anorexia? Perhaps. But I didn’t care. I wanted out, but I didn’t have the strength to do it myself.

Except I was starving myself.

Anorexia is about lost dreams and lost opportunities. About lovers spurned and friends left by the wayside. About an unfulfilled life, a life where numbers and weight and size is all that has meaning.

Anorexia is a nightmare while you are still awake.

I attempted to live some semblance of a life while still struggling with anorexia. I went to Haiti on a medical mission, and both served on the prayer team and wrote about it for the local newspaper.

I continued my job as a full-time journalist and, at first, continued my volunteer work reading to and spending time with a disadvantaged child.

But was I really engaged? No. My anxiety raged even as I starved myself and my body become more diminished. I struggled to exert exact control over it all, and when I couldn’t, I fed on tranquilizers and painkillers, numbing the internal pain.

I was cold, and my world and my life constricted until nothing was left but anorexia.

And now? The thoughts are still there. Don’t eat. You don’t deserve to eat. You are worthless. You are ugly.

Things would be better if you only were thin.

But being thin, really thin, did nothing for me and almost cost me my life. Because it isn’t really about being thin. It is about control and fear and depression.

It is starvation borne out of desperation.And that’s the truth about anorexia.