Author Offers Character Naming Rights to Raise Money for Alzheimer’s Charity Creates Mission to Use Music as Weapon Against Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Lying in Dementia Care Teen Develops SafeWander Innovative Alzheimer’s App

Tess Gerritsen is an international bestselling author who is using her books to make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

After losing her father to the disease is in 2003, she launched her personal “War on Alzheimer’s,” asking readers to donate money for research in exchange for the opportunity to name characters in her newest book.

Learn more about this opportunity to raise money for Alzheimer’s.

International Bestselling Author Launches Personal War on Alzheimer’s

It is estimated that in 2015 alone, 700,000 people in the United States over the age of 65 will die with Alzheimer’s disease. It is a leading cause of death in the U.S. and costs the country billion of dollars in care costs.

International bestselling author Tess Gerritsen is no stranger to the physical, emotional and financial burden of Alzheimer’s. Her father died in 2003 with the disease and since then, the author of the Rizzoli & Isles series (also a popular TV show) has been dedicated to eradicating it.

She is troubled by the lack of public funds set for research and said:

“This is something I can do. It’s personal for me because of what my family went through, but it’s personal for everybody. We all know somebody suffering from Alzheimer’s.”

Turning a Challenge Into an Alzheimer’s Opportunity

Tess Gerritsen, by: Jacob Gerritsen

Gerritsen admits that naming characters has been a challenge for her in the past, saying she often goes through the phone book to find names that may work for her series. She recently took her naming problem to the masses, solving two problems with one campaign.

In 2013, she asked her readers to consider donating to the Scripps Research Institute in California and Florida to fight Alzheimer’s and, in return, two donors would be given the chance to name characters in one of her books. Over 400 people donated almost $28,000 to that campaign. In addition, she matched their generosity with a $25,000 donation herself. The winners of that fundraising campaign chose to name their characters in memory of loved ones lost to Alzheimer’s.

Gerritsen chose Scripps Research Institute to be the beneficiary of her contest because, according to their Charity Navigator score, most of the donations will go to research and not administration costs.

Beginning this month, she is starting a new fundraising campaign again raising money for Alzheimer’s research. Donate to Scripps and enter to win the opportunity to name a character (she warns that it could be villain) in her new book!

Learn more about Gerritsen’s War on Alzheimer’s and the opportunity to name a character on her GoFundMe page: http://www.gofundme.com/woa-2015

Will you donate to Scripps to name a character in her new book? What would you name your character? 

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The Effects of Medical Marijuana on Alzheimer’s Treatment Iron Levels Could Predict Your Alzheimer’s Risk Can a Sweet Tooth Increase Your Risk for Alzheimer’s? Study Shows How Extra Sleep Could Improve Memory

Marijuana is a controversial topic in the medical community, with some well respected doctors advocating for its use and others concerned about its long term effects and addictive properties. As researchers continue to explore the drug as a potential treatment to chronic and terminal illnesses, some studies are focusing their efforts on the effects of medical marijuana on Alzheimer’s treatment and symptoms.

Learn more about what these studies have found and why more work needs to be done in evaluating it as a treatment for the disease.

Medical Marijuana Brings Controversy to the Medical Community

Medical marijuana or medical cannabis has been used throughout the world and for thousands of years to treat disease or alleviate symptoms from disease.

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medical marijuana medications in pill form, dronabinol and nabilone. These two drugs are being used to treat nausea caused by chemotherapy and increase the appetites of people with AIDS.

However, because of its addictive properties and unknown long term effects, its usage today is controversial in the medical community. While medical marijuana has been shown to reduce nausea in people undergoing chemotherapy and help people living with HIV/AIDS some medical professionals are wary of using it as a treatment method.

Several organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine, have issued statements opposing its usage for medical treatment purposes.

Medical Marijuana and Alzheimer’s Prevention

A preclinical study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that very small doses of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a chemical found in marijuana, can slow the production of beta-amyloid proteins, thought to be a hallmark characteristic and key contributor to the progression of Alzheimer’s.

The study, published in August of 2014 is among others to support the effectiveness of THC in prohibiting the growth of toxic amyloid plagues.

Co-author of the study, Neel Nabar, cautions against drawing quick conclusions from their study saying:

“It’s important to keep in mind that just because a drug may be effective doesn’t mean it can be safely used by anyone. However, these findings may lead to the development of related compounds that are safe, legal, and useful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Using Medical Marijuana to Treat Dementia

While researchers have seen some success in using medical marijuana to fight the formation of beta amyloid plagues, a new study did not see a statistically significance difference when using medical marijuana to treat symptoms associated with dementia.

A research team from Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, Netherlands investigated the effects of medical marijuana on symptoms of dementia including depression, anxiety, aggression, insomnia and hallucinations.

The team divided their 50 participants into two groups with one group receiving 1.5 mg of medical marijuana pills and the other receiving a placebo pill. Participants took the pill three times a day for three weeks. After comparing the behavioral symptoms of both groups, researchers found there was no difference in the two groups.

Lead author of the study, Geke A.H. van den Elsen, is not giving up hope of a treatment saying: “Since the side effects were mild to moderate, it’s possible that a higher dose could be tolerated and could possibly be beneficial. Future studies are needed to test this. A drug that can treat the behavioral symptoms of dementia is much needed, as about 62% of dementia patients in the general community and up to 80% of nursing home residents experience these symptoms.”

What are your thoughts on using medical marijuana to treat Alzheimer’s and dementia symptoms? Share them with us in the comments below.

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Charity Creates Mission to Use Music as Weapon Against Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Lying in Dementia Care Teen Develops SafeWander Innovative Alzheimer’s App The Faces of Dementia an Online Quilt

Music’s ability to engage people living with Alzheimer’s disease has been studied and proven repeatedly. A new nonprofit called “Music Is Our Weapon” is bringing personalized playlists to people living with dementia.

Learn more about this nonprofit on a mission to use music against Alzheimer’s, and how it is improving the quality of life for people living with all stages of cognitive impairment.

Using Music to Break Through Cognitive Barriers

Many studies have shown that music has power to reach the hearts and minds of people with Alzheimer’s and dementia, even those in the most advanced stages.

A popular YouTube video shows the power of music to reach the depths of people who have not communicated with loved ones in years. A recent study showed that people with dementia can recall memories and emotions, and have enhanced mental performance after singing classic hits and show tunes from movies and musicals.

The power of music for all people, and especially those who are living with dementia, is undeniable.

Music Is Our Weapon

Last year, JP Maloney and Ashley Brightwell started a nonprofit called “Music Is Our Weapon,” with the goal of bringing music and personalized playlists to seniors with memory loss.

As they collect iPods, MP3 players, and other music-playing devices, they create a personalized playlist to increase engagement with the listener. Volunteers accompany Maloney and Brightwell to make their deliveries and help the users become familiar with their playlists and devices.

While their most popular genre is gospel, other genres are represented. The founders take the time to get to know the listener through a questionnaire and get as much information as possible about the listener to make a playlist that will meet their needs.

Co-founder Ashely Brightwell said:

“Music Is Our Weapon strives to connect with memory-care residents on an intimate level through music. Exposing these residents to music sentimental to their past personal experiences helps them rediscover themselves, as well as unlocking doors to special moments in their life. Music fills a void and acts as a vessel for care on an emotional level, care that no prescribed medicine can possibly provide.

Join the Mission to Use Music Against Alzheimer’s

As stated on the Music Is Our Weapon website:

“The overall mission of Music Is Our Weapon is to embrace the power of music and shed it in the proper light it merits. As any music blog does, we share a wide range of music. But what sets us apart is that we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that embraces the power of music in the fight to combat cognitive erosion. Music is woven deep into our neurological DNA and has the ability to positively affect us through the very darkness we are fighting through. Music is a powerful force for good in the world and the perfect platform for us. Music Is Our Weapon to fighting losing ourselves and those we love.”

The organization depends entirely on volunteers and relies on donations for new or used devices. To join their mission and the fight to combat cognitive erosion using music, you are encouraged to donate iPods, headphones and laptops, which are needed to create a personalized music program. Music Is Our Weapon also accepts monetary donations as well as iTunes gift cards.

The organization is looking to add to their volunteer base and would love to have people spread the word about their work, work at events, or take their time to help facilitate the music program. Learn more at: http://musicisourweapon.org/

Have you seen the positive effects of music on memory? Would you consider getting involved with Music Is Our Weapon? How so? Share your story with us in the comments below.

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Iron Levels Could Predict Your Alzheimer’s Risk Can a Sweet Tooth Increase Your Risk for Alzheimer’s? Study Shows How Extra Sleep Could Improve Memory How Snoring Can Affect the Brain

While our body needs iron to function properly, a recent study has found that too much iron in our brains may be a cause of Alzheimer’s disease.

Learn more about how measuring iron levels could predict your Alzheimer’s risk, as well as what this finding could mean for potential new treatment methods.

Higher Iron Levels in the Brain May Quicken the Onset of Alzheimer’s

Iron is important to overall health and well-being, with its main role being to provide hemoglobin which helps properly oxygenate cells throughout the body. Without enough iron one may feel tired, have decreased immunity, and even become anemic. However, too much iron can cause a danger to the body by damaging body tissues and bringing serious health concerns, including Alzheimer’s.

Knowing that previous studies have found higher levels of iron in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s, researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia studied what those iron levels meant and if higher iron levels in the brain made someone more likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

The research team observed 144 seniors who had mild cognitive impairment (MCI) for seven years and measured the iron present in each person’s brain. To do this, the team measured the amount of ferritin, a protein which binds to iron, in the cerebrospinal fluid. The team found that those with higher levels of iron at the beginning of the study were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s earlier than those with lower levels. Participants were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s three months earlier on average for every nanogram per milliliter of iron that people had at the beginning of the study.

Iron Levels and Alzheimer’s Treatment

Since finding that higher iron levels in the brain could mean earlier onset of Alzheimer’s one may wonder if medication that reduces iron in the brain could delay the disease. Researchers caution that one does not necessarily mean the other and that reducing iron levels does not necessarily decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

However, a study done over 20 years ago tested a drug that had success in reducing the rate of cognitive decline from Alzheimer’s by 50%.

Research team member Scott Ayton thinks it may be time to revisit anti-iron drugs saying:

“Perhaps it’s time to refocus the field on looking at iron as a target.”

What do you think about the connection between higher levels of iron in the brain and Alzheimer’s? Have you see any evidence of this in your loved one?

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Movie Inspires Alzheimer’s Patients to Begin Day in New Way The Alzheimer’s Activity Apron New Alzheimer’s Treatment Could Reverse Brain Damage Using Music to Enhance the Quality of Life of People with Alzheimer’s

A 2004 romantic comedy has inspired one assisted living community to change the way they communicate with their residents who have Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.

Residents who have Alzheimer’s at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, begin each day with a five minute video from a loved one letting them know who they are, where they are, and who will be caring for them.

Learn more about this innovative technique, how the movie inspires Alzheimer’s patients and the positive effects it is having on those living with and caring for the disease.

An Innovative Alzheimer’s Technique

An idea borrowed from an unlikely source is bringing a new twist to dementia caregiving.

Residents who have Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, begin each day with a five minute video from their loved ones reminding them who they are, where they are, and that they are loved and cared for.

The idea comes from the 2004 Adam Sandler movie, “50 First Dates” where Adam Sandler’s character plays a man in love with a traumatic brain-injured woman, played by Drew Barrymore. Because she has no short term memory, she does not remember him from day to day, so Sandler’s character makes a video that Barrymore can watch every day to remind her who he is and what their life together is like.

Director of Social Services at the Hebrew Home, Charlotte Dell, saw the movie and wondered: “It was fluff, but it made me think, ‘How could that translate to our residents with memory loss?’ We’re looking to see if we can set a positive tone for the day without using drugs. What better way to start the day than to see the face and hear the voice of someone you love wishing you a wonderful morning?”

The videos made by  loved ones are shown every morning to residents and have become part of a daily routine at the community. The technique is helping to ease the agitation of people with Alzheimer’s and dementia, according to the Hebrew Home.

Improving the Quality of Life for Those with Dementia

The program at the Hebrew Home is limited to people in early and moderate stages of dementia, who are still able to recognize their loved ones on the video and has started with residents who often refuse care or can be difficult to care for in the morning.

Geriatric psychiatrist Robert Abrams lauds the program, calling it “innovative and thoughtful.” He went on to say: “You’ve got a group of people with dementia who don’t really grasp the nature and purpose of their surroundings, or the circumstances that compelled them to be there. Consequently they’re alone and at sea, and feel frightened and even abandoned by family.”

Some experts caution that each and every Alzheimer’s patient is different, so the video technique being employed may not work for all people with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Is this technique something you would try for your loved one? Have you had any success with this new method of communication? Share your stories with us in the comments below.

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A Caregiver’s Guide Creating Joy and Meaning for Those with Dementia The Role of Grey Matter in Alzheimer’s Disease A Mother and Son’s Unbreakable Bond Outlasts Alzheimer’s A Daughter’s Memoir about Alzheimer’s

Ronda Parsons, author of: “Creating Joy & Meaning for the Dementia Patient, A Caregiver’s Guide to Connection and Hope,” speaks with Alzheimers.net about caregiving and shares the guide with Alzheimer’s caregivers today. Learn more.

A Caregiver’s Guide

Caregiving is not for sissies. No experience in your life can prepare you for the daily challenges you face when caring for a dementia patient. It is physically draining, heartbreakingly sad, and stretches your patience to limits you never thought you possessed. It rearranges the tiny molecules that hold a family together. It reassigns the roles that we have played for a lifetime; mother becomes daughter, daughter becomes mother. It is like watching someone slip into a dream while they are still awake.

I know this to be true because I spent ten years caring for my mother-in-law, Nan, as she spiraled down through the stages of this devastating illness. I know what it means to care for someone with dementia day-in and day-out for many years. I know that it is a demanding reality that can bring the most loving caregiver to their emotional breaking point. Dementia doesn’t just affect the sufferer, but reaches its tentacles into the lives that orbit around the patient, often leaving them exhausted and defeated.

Initially when I began caring for Nan I was in a defensive mode, solving problems as they were thrown at me. I’d lie awake at night attempting to fix unfixable problems, searching for answers when none existed. I made lists, attacked daily problems with vigor, all the while feeling taxed and frustrated. And the sad truth was that despite my efforts, Nan continued to spiral further and further into oblivion. Neither of us was making progress. My initial plan wasn’t working.

Creating Joy and Meaning for Those with Dementia

Through observation I had come to realize that Nan no longer lived in a world made up of days or even hours, but instead she lived inside spontaneous flashes of reality. In other words, she was living her life from moment to moment. As quickly as recognition arrived, it was gone again. I knew instinctively that although her understanding was temporary, these moments were not unimportant.

So I set about creating activities that would bridge the gap between the outside world and her awareness by focusing on instincts universal to us all – the beauty of nature, our six senses, the power of music, the love of family, and the balm of laughter. We sat outdoors, touched flowers and fed birds. We leafed through a clearly labeled family album I made for her. We sang hymns and listened to her favorite music. Occasionally we even danced together. (Yes, I found that a wheelchair can easily roll to jitterbug music.) We ate her favorite foods, painted her fingernails and scented her room. We prayed and talked about the many blessings in our lives. I constantly reminded her that she was a good and wonderful person who had led a splendid life. And as the disease progressed, we watched cartoons and took turns holding her dolly. Each day I tried to create little surprises that would ignite even the briefest moment of spontaneous happiness.

Soon I discovered that no happiness was too small or its effect too insignificant to affect positive change. For when she was content and at peace, the old Nan from long ago would suddenly appear out of nowhere in the guise of a familiar comment or facial expression. These moments became the encouragement that I needed to work harder to build a bridge of connection between us. Those moments reminded me of the woman I missed so terribly and proved to me that she was still in there, lost in dementia’s thick fog. I made it my mission to harness these moments and utilize their power in order to bring joy and meaning into her life.

Granted I wasn’t always successful. But slowly my small achievements began to build and it wasn’t long before our connection grew. I found that as my attitude relaxed and calmed, so did Nan’s. I learned that as a caregiver, I possessed the power to alter the tempo and undercurrent of our relationship. I could choose to inject hope and understanding into this heartbreaking situation. And since then, somehow amid all the confusion, we have been able to share surprising moments of unexpected joy and love.

Little did I know at the time, but experts in the field of dementia were in agreement with my approach to Nan’s care. The plan that I developed naturally through intuition is in fact in alignment with methods that are being implemented in both the United States and Europe. This knowledge gives me hope – hope that families will begin to celebrate what a dementia patient can bring to their lives, rather than see them as an inconvenience to be relegated to the sidelines. It gives me hope that others are also embracing the concept that under certain circumstances, it is best to focus on the quality of our days, rather than the quantity.

Mostly, it validates that my approach increases the likelihood that I am bringing joy and meaning into Nan’s life.

What caregiving approaches have you used to create joy and meaning for those with dementia? Share your tips with us in the comments below.

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Therapeutic Lying in Dementia Care Teen Develops SafeWander Innovative Alzheimer’s App The Faces of Dementia an Online Quilt Mind’s Eye Poetry Rewriting Dementia

One woman shares how her grandmother with Alzheimer’s disease brought an imaginary boyfriend into their lives and how they learned to adopt her reality as theirs. Read about this supportive family and learn more about therapeutic lying in dementia care.

Therapeutic Lying and Dementia

A recent article in the New York Times shares the heartwarming, touching and very honest account of one family’s journey with Alzheimer’s.

In the article, author Deenie Hartzog Mislock shares that her grandmother believed that her daughter (the author’s aunt) had a boyfriend named Nick Stephanopoulos. She made up details about the relationship, including the trips they took overseas, the giving of extravagant gifts, and daily details about the relationship.

The family played along, engaging their loved one in conversation about a man who did not exist. Stephanopoulos became their reality as well as hers, in an effort to establish normalcy for her, mitigate agitation and avoid further confusion. The author eloquently states that “Nick Stephanopoulos offered us something to hold on to. He was the laughter born of our sorrow.” 

When the author’s grandmother sadly informed them that Nick only had three months to live, the family wondered what that meant for their future. A few weeks later, she passed away at hospice. Looking back on the whole affair, the author said that:

“Playing along with my grandmother kept us close to her, even as she was being taken from us.”

Adopting a Loved One’s Sense of Reality

Many caregivers and family members of people who have Alzheimer’s wonder what to do when their loved one makes up stories like the one told in the New York Times.

Families who are uncomfortable lying to a loved one can be hesitant to entertain extravagant stories, especially when involving another family member and can leave many caregivers in a moral conundrum.

The Alzheimer’s Association advises to avoid arguing with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s. Arguing will not often change their mind but can increase agitation and frustration for all. They also advise not to criticize or correct and instead to listen to the meaning behind what is being said along with focusing on feelings, not facts. 

Have you ever had a loved one with Alzheimer’s make up a story like the one above? How did you handle it?  Share your story with us in the comments below.

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Why some of us are always cold and others are constantly hot

Women tend to have more body fat than men, which stores heat. Source: Supplied

It is a strange phenomenon that some of us are still freezing, while others are absolutely boiling water.

You might be shaking in five layers, exactly the same time your partner is throwing open windows, fanning.

It is not enough for your weight and height, but also their age, sex, diet, sleep habits, lifestyle and even your happiness.

Humans are warm-blooded, with our average body temperature of around 37 ° C.

In warm blood, it just means that we can adjust our internal body temperature regardless of the environment, while the cold-blooded animals are subject to the temperature of their environment.

But as all human beings are "homeothermic" our body temperature can vary greatly, as a fascinating video D News explains.

The temperature control starts in the brain and is controlled by hormones, which reflect the core temperature and the temperature of the outer skin.

The hormone estrogen is part of the regulatory process, according to the Lancet.

Women are generally colder than men, and young people aged cooler. People who are more active tend to have warm hands and feet together than those who do not.

Men tend to have more muscle and more fat women. Operating muscle generates heat during storage of fat cells. Utah State University researchers found that the hands of men were 32.3C on average, while women were 30.7C.

 

Muscular work generates heat, and the active people often have their hands and feet warm. Source: Supplied

Women's bodies have to work harder to maintain their core body temperature, leaving less energy resources to heat extremes.

The time of the month can come into play as well. The menstrual cycle can change the temperature of a female body in varying degrees.

People tend to feel more hot fat because their central bodies are hot, but its objectives are actually colder.

People with lower body mass index tend to feel colder because the blood pumped through the ends warm up considerably when you return.

We regulate our internal temperature by regulating the heat cells in our skin that detect cold cut our hair and blood vessels in a process called "vasoconstriction" the decrease of blood flow velocity in our.

People who smoke are more vasoconstriction, peripheral coldness, while active people have hands and feet warm.

And it does not only have to be physically warm, it is also our perception of temperature.

If you are surrounded by people that you're comfortable, you will feel warmer. A Canadian study found that people who are alone or feel isolated are more aware of the cold body temperature, while people tend to feel socially connected hot

Go Viral? Polio immunization campaigns face a challenge in Pakistan

The fight against polio in Pakistan also means fighting criticism from activists, writes Tahmina Rashid.

The incidence of polio cases has tripled in Pakistan in 2014, despite national and global programs to eradicate polio, while the inner turmoil adds new obstacles to Pakistan's efforts to eradicate the disease.

This raises serious concerns for the health of children, and signs of a failure to reach the global polio eradication approved by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in 1988.

Health professionals are unanimous in saying that even an infected child is a serious risk of children contracting polio. Health economists estimate that the eradication of polio would save at least US $ 40-50 billion over the next 20 years, especially in low-income countries. It would also mean that children never suffer the terrible effects of the paralysis of polio for life.

Of particular concern is that the virus is emerging in countries previously free of the disease, such as Syria, Somalia and Iraq, and in light of the civil war and instability in these regions, any effort to arrest would be a challenge.

If polio is not stopped in these areas can potentially cause about 200,000 new cases each year in 10 years. In May 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) has imposed travel restrictions on Pakistan over its failure to control the spread of the virus and many countries have ordered the vaccination against poliomyelitis for travelers from Pakistan.

WHO defines Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that invades the nervous system and cause total paralysis in hours.

There is no cure for polio, the prevention by a vaccine, if given to children under five, protects for life. As the virus could pass through human contact through the fecal-oral contaminated water or through food, and remains a serious threat to global health.

Pakistan lack adequate wastewater drainage system pollution incidents are common in urban areas, while rural communities have almost no system in place.

Monitoring programs for the eradication of polio in 1997 and the monitoring system set up working in provincial and national, district and remains a cornerstone of strategies to identify and eradicate polio exists.

In recent years it has been used to confirm the diagnosis of polio isolation and identification of faeces of poliovirus. WHO has helped to establish laboratories to provide this service, and these laboratories play a key role in polio cases certification and verification of the absence of wild poliovirus circulation.

Since 2009, Pakistan has conducted environmental monitoring to detect poliovirus in sewage in strategic locations in the main cities of the four main provinces. The plan of the National Plan of Action Emergency (PNA) in 2014 to eradicate polio was a response to the alarming increase in cases of polio.

Vaccination against polio is a high-risk work and there have been several attacks on health workers militias aligned with the Taliban. In the last two years, over 56 people of the polio workers killed in various provinces.

Religious radicals have always opposed immunization programs in Pakistan, even declaring polio vaccine not only a "Western conspiracy" and a "Judeo-Christian plot" to make children sterile, but also against the principles of Islam.

These religious dignitaries and supporters continue to campaign against vaccination, and tensions were further fueled when it emerged that the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) used a vaccination campaign against polio conducted by Dr. Shakil Afridi for collect information which he led to the 2011 military operation that killed the leader of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden.

polio statistics highlights the problems associated with access to the vaccine; the lack of security for health team workers; access to the remote area; and the lack of accurate data on displaced persons, particularly in the area administered by the federal government (in North and South Waziristan).

Polio cases in the last six years show a strong connection between the security situation, militancy, the military operation against the Taliban and internal displacement in 2010 and 2014, so it is not surprising that polio cases have arisen in urban centers such as Karachi, but also in remote areas of Punjab during this period.

Internal migration is another critical factor, as people move to other areas with children who are not immunized because of activists waiting in the tribal areas.

To eradicate polio, Pakistan needs financial support through the WHO and UNICEF to continue the implementation of the vaccination program in the coming years.

Internally, Pakistan needs to have an efficient and hygienic living vaccine campaign, involving religious leaders and dignitaries, to fight effectively against the orthodox Islamic propaganda.

Iran is successfully religious clerics involved in population planning programs, providing a model for the effective use of mosques for the formulation of public policies.

In Pakistan, local authorities could be used effectively in these programs remained almost disappeared since 2008 (with the exception of Baluchistan, where elections were held in late 2013).

Local authorities should be administrative and financial authority to provide these basic services. The government should make a serious effort to provide safe drinking water and adequate sewage to contain the polio virus.

More importantly, you have to make a sustained effort to curb militancy and maintain law and order in all jurisdictions, including the tribal areas.

This is the key to keeping safe the world's children from polio.

 

Go Viral?

Vaccination campaigns against polio face a challe

 

New York Pledges $50 Million to Funding Alzheimer’s Care Effects of Behavioral Therapy on Alzheimer’s Springing Forward with New Hope for Alzheimer’s this March International Space Station Joins Fight Against Alzheimer’s

Earlier this month, New York state approved the budget which allotted $50 million for the care of people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.

Learn more about their plan for this money and how it can help combat Alzheimer’s and improve the lives of people affected by the disease.

Funding Alzheimer’s Care

New York has pledged $50 million over a two year period to invest in improving care for people with Alzheimer’s.

According the the New York State Alzheimer’s Association Chapters, this is the largest amount ever committed to people with the disease and their families by any state.

The $50 million will be spread over several resources, all aimed at improving the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers which includes:

• Funding of an existing 24 hour helpline for patients and caregivers
• Support groups
• Training for caregivers
• Community outreach
• Respite care
• Creation of several new memory care centers

The $50 million for Alzheimer’s care was proposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York, and was approved by lawmakers in early April of 2015. Acting State Health Commissioner, Howard A. Zucker, said:

“Anyone who has had any friends or relatives with Alzheimer’s knows it really cuts to the core. He (Cuomo) wanted us to look at this from all different angles.”

He also commented the financial commitment was a reflection of of the Governor’s view of Alzheimer’s as a major challenge to public health.

Alzheimer’s Care in 2015

Recent statistics released by the Alzheimer’s Association support Governor Cuomo’s concerns about Alzheimer’s.

The numbers are more than concerning, especially given the historically limited funding given to Alzheimer’s research. Some of these shocking statistics are listed below:

1. The cost of caring for Alzheimer’s patients in the U.S. will be an estimated $226 billion in 2015.
2. The global cost of Alzheimer’s and dementia is expected to be $605 billion.
3. There are roughly 44 million people worldwide with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
4. In 2014, more than 15 million Americans provided more than 17.9 billion hours of unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s.
5. 2 in 3 people with Alzheimer’s are women
6. 1 in 9 Americans over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s and one third of Americans over 85 are afflicted with the disease.

New York’s budget allotment for Alzheimer’s care is unprecedented, and we hope more states will follow its lead with increased funding for Alzheimer’s care and research.

What do you think about New York’s pledge to fund Alzheimer’s care? Should more states pledge funding? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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Does Coffee Prevent Alzheimer’s? Can Spinach Reduce the Risk of Dementia? 8 Brain-Training Games for Memory 10 Avocado Recipes for Brain Health

Can’t live without your morning cup of coffee? New research shows that coffee may prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by reducing the amount of beta amyloid in the brain by as much as 50%. Learn more from this latest study about caffeine’s brain boosting benefits

Reducing the Risk of Alzheimer’s

A new study led by Dr. Abhishek Mohan at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, has concluded that coffee can reduce the levels of beta amyloid, a harmful and destructive protein commonly found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, by as much as 50%.

The study was completed on mice but its results suggest that coffee and caffeine may be helpful in ridding the body of beta amyloid in humans. These findings could be helpful in the search for new treatments to combat Alzheimer’s.

While more research needs to be done before definitively concluding the positive effects of coffee on human brain health, the findings of this study are supported by past research which also show coffee can fight Alzheimer’s.

Coffee and Beta Amyloid Studies

Another study completed in November of 2014 found that people who drank more than three cups of coffee daily were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s, but only in the short term. Yet another study, one completed in 2012, found that drinking three cups a day could slow or stop the transition from mild cognitive impairment to dementia. Researchers believe that caffeine and coffee may delay the onset of symptoms, thus delaying a diagnosis.

Researchers from the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee – a nonprofit that examines the effects of coffee on health – believe the protective power of coffee may come from the caffeine and polyphenol content found in the drink.

Caffeine is thought to prevent the build up of beta-amyloid, commonly thought to be a main cause of Alzheimer’s. Polyphenols have an antioxidant effect which reduces inflammation and may help protect the brain from age-related decline.

While many studies support the positive effects of coffee on brain health, it is worth noting that coffee can also raise blood pressure, which is a common factor in increasing the risk of stroke and cardiac arrest. As with most things, it is important to remember that moderation is the key to consumption.

Have you heard about the positive effects of coffee on brain health? Will you drink more coffee as a result of these studies? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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Vitamin D: Can it prevent Alzheimer's & dementia?

Maybe. But it's too soon to say for certain. New research suggests people with very low levels of vitamin D in their blood, known as vitamin D deficiency, are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

For example, a large 2014 study published in Neurology showed people with extremely low blood levels of vitamin D were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia than those with normal vitamin D levels. But it's important to point out that the association between vitamin D deficiency and dementia risk is only observational at this point. More research is needed to show cause and effect.

Vitamin D is vital to bone metabolism, calcium absorption and other metabolic processes in the body. Its role in brain function, cognition and the aging process is still unclear. Some studies suggest vitamin D may be involved in a variety of processes related to cognition, but more research is needed to better understand this relationship

Most of our vitamin D is produced within the body in response to sunlight exposure. Vitamin D occurs naturally in only a few foods, including fatty fish and fish liver oils. The biggest dietary sources of vitamin D are fortified foods, such as milk, breakfast cereals and orange juice. Vitamin D supplements are also widely available.

Vitamin D deficiency is common among older adults, partially because the skin's ability to synthesize vitamin D from the sun decreases with age.

It's too early to recommend increasing your daily dose of vitamin D in hopes of preventing dementia or Alzheimer's disease. But maintaining healthy vitamin D levels can't hurt and may pay off in other ways, such as reducing the risk of osteoporosis. According to the Institute of Medicine, the recommended daily dose of Vitamin D is 600 International Units (IU) per day for adults under age 70 and 800 IU per day for adults over 70.

More studies are needed to determine if vitamin D deficiency is indeed a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and dementia, and if treatment with vitamin D supplements or sun exposure can prevent or treat these conditions.

With

David S. Knopman, M.D.

Source : mayoclinic[dot]org

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Ten health conditions that can disrupt sleep

Are you having trouble getting to sleep at night, and staying asleep? If you're struggling with tiredness and Frequently waking in the morning, unfortunately there be a medical reason why.

1. Acid Reflux

Acid reflux occurs khi the between the stomach and the muscle does not seal đúng oesophagus. It's Most noticeable at night khi laid down as this position cho phép acid to flow out of the stomach, Causing heartburn. Hormone changes during pregnancy and eating a poor diet can Increase Risk, and around 75 per cent of sufferers find it affects ask for their ability to sleep. (1)

2. Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition where there is an uncontrollable URGE to move the legs, with the feeling often Do much worse at night. Both voluntary and involuntary Movements can hưởng quality of sleep, and it takes around 30 minutes longer RLS sufferers to fall asleep on average. It can be difficult to pinpoint a cause,, but iron deficiencies Could be to blame.

3. Arthritis

While arthritis chính nó hưởng does not sleep, the associated pain can have a big effect. Muscles move subconsciously sewing sufferers spend the weekend in the night Frequently more to address pain, and many follow an alpha-delta sleep pattern includes regular waking mà. (3) The alpha-delta pattern replaces the typical slow wave sleep mà khi Highest quality sleep occurs.

4. Exhaustion

Being exhausted is often Do associated with being sleepy, but exhaustion and tirednessare Actually two things very khác. In fact, Those Who feel 'burnt out' - with constant fatigue and emotional stress for example - Typically sleep much worse coal others, with more awake time the during the night, less slow wave sleep (deep sleep), and an overall lower sleep Efficiency . (4)

5. Diabetes

Studies have found mà while the average rate of sleep disturbances Amongst healthy adults is around eight per cent, this figure sharply Rises for People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with around 33 per cent who report sleeping Difficulties. (5) Sleep disruptions are related to poor circulation often Do, with leg cramps, burning soles, and a tingling sensation in the feet commonly cited as Reasons for poor sleep.

6. overactive bladder syndrome

Overactive bladder syndrome is khi bladder Contracts as if it is full, although it unfortunately still be quite empty. The contraction leads to feelings of urgency, and sufferers feel the need to use sewing the more Frequently toilet. Overactive bladder syndrome is associated with a poor quality of sleep, (6) and affects about 16 per cent of men and 17 per cent of women.

7. Nocturnal asthma

Nocturnal asthma leaves sufferers struggling to catch a breath, chest tightness Experiencing, and wheezing and coughing the during the night. Thought That It's common allergens like dust mites and bed bugs in bed linen Contribute Towards the condition. Around 93 per cent of sufferers report bad sleep, and studies show average sleep time is reduced by around 47 minutes. (7)

8. irritable Bowel syndrome

Irritable Bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition That Causes abdominal cramping, bloating and excess gas, and can cause, cả diarrhoea and constipation. Studies have found around 71 per cent mà of IBS sufferers report sleep disturbances, with the Most common reason for a Lack of sleep being painful stomach aches. Frequently associated with IBS is stress. (8)

9. allergic rhinitis

Around one in five people 'in the UK with allergic rhinitis Suffer - an inflammation of the inside of the nose caused by allergens like pollen common, pet hair, dust or mites. Those with allergic rhinitis are more Likely to report Insomnia, and are more Likely to snore can mà hưởng quality of sleep. Some studies have shown a link giữa am also allergic rhinitis and sleep apnoea. (9)

10. Depression

Studies Suggest That 23 per cent of depressed around people 'experience Insomnia (10) - having trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep, and around 6 per cent Suffer with hypersomnia - sleeping for Excessive periods can mà hưởng day-to-day life. USED ​​to treat depression Antidepressants are a contributing factor to sleep disturbance recognised in some people '.

 

Alzheimer's caregiving: How to ask for help

Alzheimer's caregiving isn't a one-person task — and friends and loved ones may be more willing to help than you'd think. Here's help reaching out.

Alzheimer's caregiving is a tough job, and it's difficult for one person to handle alone. No one is equipped to care for another person 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you're caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease, understand the stress you're facing — and know how to ask for help.

At first, you might be able to meet your loved one's needs yourself. This might last months or even years, depending on how quickly the disease progresses and your own mental and physical health. Eventually, however, your loved one will need more help with everyday tasks, such as eating, bathing and toileting.

And just as the physical demands of Alzheimer's caregiving increase, so can the emotional toll. Challenging dementia-related behaviors can strain the coping skills of even the most patient and understanding Alzheimer's caregiver.

The sustained stress of Alzheimer's caregiving also can weaken your immune system, leaving you more likely to get sick and stay sick longer. You might sleep poorly and have trouble setting aside time for yourself. Alzheimer's caregiving might also increase your risk of depression. Before you know it, you're so busy caring for your loved one that you could drift away from your family and friends — at a time when you need them the most.

Source : mayoclinic[dot]org

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Alzheimer's disease: Anticipating end-of-life needs

In the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, caregivers often focus on keeping loved ones safe and comfortable. As the disease progresses, however, you might face difficult end-of-life questions. When is it time to choose comfort care over lifesaving care for your loved one? When does medical care merely prolong a person's dying? Here's help considering these and other end-of-life questions.

Advance directives are written instructions regarding your loved one's preferences for medical care at the end of life. Ideally, discuss these preferences with your loved one while he or she is still able to communicate. Later, make sure copies of advance directives are included in your loved one's medical charts. This is important if your loved one moves to a nursing home or other facility for long term care or needs care in a hospital or emergency room. The advance directives will help the staff know what is — and isn't — to be done in medical emergencies.

As Alzheimer's progresses, your loved one might not be able to communicate that he or she is in pain. Look for clues, such as a sudden increase in disruptive behavior or trouble sleeping. Physical signs might include sores, swelling or pale skin. Speak to the medical team about adjusting your loved one's treatment plan to ensure his or her comfort.

Eventually, you might need to weigh your loved one's comfort against the benefits of prolonged life. In some cases, efforts to prolong life — such as dialysis, tube feeding and antibiotics to treat bacterial infections — might result in unnecessary suffering for people who could otherwise reach the end of life in relative comfort and peace.

Source : mayoclinic[dot]org

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Can Spinach Reduce the Risk of Dementia? 8 Brain-Training Games for Memory 10 Avocado Recipes for Brain Health Juicing for Alzheimer’s Prevention

We all know spinach plays a crucial role in physical health, but a new study found that it may also have a positive impact on the brain. 

Researchers from Rush University found that those who consumed one serving of a green leafy vegetable like spinach each day, then had the same cognitive function as someone 11 years younger who did not eat any green leafy vegetables. Learn more about this study and what it means for Alzheimer’s prevention.

Spinach, Vitamin K and the Brain

A new study from Rush University in Chicago concluded that consuming just one serving of spinach daily can slow cognitive decline.

The researchers analyzed diets and cognitive function of 950 seniors with an average age of 81 over a period of five years, and found that those who ate at least one serving of green leafy vegetables had the same cognitive abilities as someone 11 years younger who never ate them.

Researchers believe that in addition to folate and beta-carotene found in these vegetables, vitamin K is also a major player in boosting brain health.

Martha Clare Morris, Sc.D., assistant provost for community research at Rush University Medical Center and leader of the research team, said that: “No other studies have looked at vitamin K in relation to change in cognitive abilities over time, and only a limited number of studies have found some association with lutein.”

Leafy Greens for Brain Health

In addition to spinach, there are a number of other vegetables that may help slow down the aging process in the brain. They include:

• Kale
• Collards
• Mustard greens
• Asparagus
• Brussel sprouts

Morris sums up the importance of this study by stating:

“Since declining cognitive ability is central to Alzheimer’s disease and dementias, increasing consumption of green leafy vegetables could offer a very simple, affordable and non-invasive way of potentially protecting your brain from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.”

Will you start eating more green leafy vegetables in an effort to ward off dementia? Or, have you already seen the positive effects of nutrition on brain health? Share your story with us in the comments below.

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Teen Develops SafeWander Innovative Alzheimer’s App The Faces of Dementia an Online Quilt Mind’s Eye Poetry Rewriting Dementia Using Music to Enhance the Quality of Life of People with Alzheimer’s

It is estimated that three out of five people with Alzheimer’s will wander at some point after being diagnosed with the disease. Wandering can lead to serious injury and even death, and 16-year-old Kenneth Shinozuka may have found a solution to protect loved ones with Alzheimer’s at night.

Learn more about wandering in people with Alzheimer’s and the newest solution to the problem, created by a teen who resolved to keep a loved one with the disease safe.

SafeWander: Protecting Loved Ones Who May Wander

Wandering is common among people with Alzheimer’s and many caregivers would tell you it is something that causes them great stress.

People with Alzheimer’s can easily become disoriented and confused, and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that about 60% of people with Alzheimer’s will wander. They also estimate that of those who wander and are not found within the first 24 hours, up to 50% will suffer serious injury or even death.

16-year-old Kenneth Shinozuka is no stranger to the consequences of a person with dementia who wanders. When Shinozuka was four years old, he got lost with his grandfather in a park. As his grandfather’s condition worsened over time, wandering and its consequences have been a constant source of worry for his loved ones.

Shinozuka is now a student at the Upper West Side’s Horace Mann School and he has used his personal experiences with Alzheimer’s and caregiving to create an app to keep loved ones who may wander safe. The app, called SafeWander, uses a motion sensor to detect movement and then sends an alert to caregivers. The system has a sensor, a transmitter and a smartphone app. When the person with Alzheimer’s gets out of bed and steps on the floor, the sensor will send an audible alert to the caregiver’s smart phone. According to their website, it is the first wearable sensor system for detecting wandering.

The Future of SafeWander

Shinozuka has had oustanding results from testing his app with his grandfather at home and then at retirement communities. He won $50,000 at the 2014 Google Science Fair and put that money towards further devloping his app and preparing it for public use. Shinozuka was also invited to the 2015 White House Science Fair as an exhibitor.

According to The White House Blog Post:

“During six months of use, the device detected every instance when Kenneth’s grandfather got out of bed at night, without any false positives, ensuring his whereabouts were always known.”

While the app and its system is still in development, there are high hopes that this young and ambitious inventor will make a serious impact on improving the safety of people with Alzheimer’s and dementia while also giving caregivers a peace of mind.

Would you purchase the SafeWander app and system for a loved one? Do you think it could help you protect a loved one who may wander? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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6 Buddhism Apps for Greater Peace of Mind

If you want to enjoy the mental clarity and be at your best, you must become a devout Buddhist - but you can learn from his teachings and apply them to their daily lives.

Maybe you have a meditation practice every day now. Maybe you are like most of us, and wants to hold throughout the meditation, but that simply seem to have the time. This is where the applications.

Applications can help you take advantage of transit time for lunch and other cases of unavailability to create their own space of meditation and find a balance in the chaos of life.

Buddha mind

This application works best with a heart rate monitor Bluetooth LE, but you can also use the Buddha's mind on your own. When combined with a heart rate monitor, this application allows users to track their own heart rate during meditation.

If you are having trouble staying relaxed, you can use other features of the application of greater inner peace. Use the bar to help regulate inhalations and exhalations of breath.

By meditating with Buddha mind, you will also see a series of soothing natural images, which, according to research, can help you relax. To add to the experience even more, you can hear the sounds of soft natural beach option.

The combination of all these factors has been designed to help the user to enter a state of deep meditation, which allows you to develop the Buddhist values ​​of emotional positivity and clarity of consciousness itself.

 

Buddhify 2 is a nice orderly application that encompasses a range of mindfulness meditation practices from Buddhism Inspiration to help you become more aware and calm during your busy day.

The tailors of more than 11 hours of application of the mediation of custom plans to focus specifically on 15 unique pieces of his time, including breaks at work, travel times and time when working online. Other fate meditation votes plans issues include pain and illness, you feel stressed, and walk in the city.

The application has more than 80 custom audio tracks, to mediation. These range from five to 30 minutes, so you can meditate at a time that works for you. The application also has a timer for meditation alone, and allows you to call your attention, concentration and balance whenever you meditate for monitoring long-term progress.

The application lets you view your stats over time, including the time to meditate every day, and the quality of concentration, balance and care for each practice.

Finally, the application also includes a feature community called "Together", which allows users Buddhify ask and answer questions about meditation, stress and other relevant topics. If you see a wire that is useful, you can quickly save for future reference.

If you want something a little more substantial than a collection of quotations, Buddhism End Library offers a large repository of books - 50 to be exact. For less than a dollar, you get access to a multitude of books covering four different themes: modern works, Southern Buddhism, Jataka and Buddhism North.

This is ideal for those who want to delve into the theory and practice of Buddhist monks perform daily application.

For many contemporary Buddhists, learning about the essential aspects of Buddhism and deep details that allows them a greater sense of peace. It is particularly useful for the available depth of knowledge that comes directly from the fervent Buddhist monks and, in some cases, the sage Gautama Buddha himself.

Read these books you would any other e-book with page turning, bookmarks and a search function to make sure that you always keep the most important texts in hand.

Download: The Library Buddhism end for iOS

Equanimity (iOS, $ 4.99)

 

 

The historical figure Gautama Buddha taught meditation to promote calm and emotional positivity. He is also described as the training of the mind, meditation are based on a number of different approaches, but all types of meditation help you on your way to inner peace.

However, it can be difficult to get used to meditate every day - and that's why Robin Barooah developed equanimity, with its elegant interface for mobile users every day. Unlike other applications of the timer, equanimity was made specifically with meditation in mind, with a light to let you know when the session is pre-programmed full bell.

To help those who want to make a daily meditation practice, the application provides a number of disciples so that you can see your progress. You can enter the length of its sessions and the time and date, which reflected.

By far the best option to follow your experience of meditation is personal application notes feature, which lets you capture thoughts and feelings about their emotional state during each session.

Write what you think or if you have lived more distractions than usual. Noting these intrusions is a big part of the practice of care, it is helpful to keep a diary of your meditations to track your progress.

 

Buddhist prayer daily

 

 

If you are committed to meditation and Buddhist devotions and want to keep all your prayers in one place, Buddhists daily prayers offered this space. Its simple interface, relaxation does not take away from the experience of the text itself, which brings the wisdom of the original Buddha to your mobile device.

Contemporary Buddhist who speak English often means the prayers and lessons aloud - or enjoy in silence - in their original language. This application shows the Thai alphabet transliteration prayers to facilitate correct pronunciation, which comes with translations or transliterations descriptions of prayers in English.

Some Buddhists travel far to learn from a true guru. To save airfare and achieve inner peace as you can listen to audio versions of the prayers contained in this application, written by the monks of Drepung Gomang.

Download: Buddhist prayer daily for iOS | Android

Brain Buddha (iOS, $ 4.99)

Are you interested in the science behind meditation and other practices to achieve inner peace and peace of mind? Rick Hanson, Ph.D., neuropsychologist at the University of Berkeley, has written a book entitled "The brain of Buddha," which later became a partner application.

App brain Buddha offers concrete strategies to rewire your own brain through Buddhist practices. With Hanson neuroscience practice techniques, you learn to make positive experiences and unleash stressful, allowing you to feel happier, general frustration safer and less.

Follow the guide and read about how to become happier, healthier, or press the top button to listen to each meditation practice.

When used with applications that support the Buddhist meditation practices and attention, brain Buddha will help you feel one with the world

 

6 Buddhism Apps for Greater Peace of Mind

If you want to enjoy the mental clarity and be at your best, you must become a devout Buddhist - but you can learn from his teachings and apply them to their daily lives.

Maybe you have a meditation practice every day now. Maybe you are like most of us, and wants to hold throughout the meditation, but that simply seem to have the time. This is where the applications.

Applications can help you take advantage of transit time for lunch and other cases of unavailability to create their own space of meditation and find a balance in the chaos of life.

Buddha mind

This application works best with a heart rate monitor Bluetooth LE, but you can also use the Buddha's mind on your own. When combined with a heart rate monitor, this application allows users to track their own heart rate during meditation.

If you are having trouble staying relaxed, you can use other features of the application of greater inner peace. Use the bar to help regulate inhalations and exhalations of breath.

By meditating with Buddha mind, you will also see a series of soothing natural images, which, according to research, can help you relax. To add to the experience even more, you can hear the sounds of soft natural beach option.

The combination of all these factors has been designed to help the user to enter a state of deep meditation, which allows you to develop the Buddhist values ​​of emotional positivity and clarity of consciousness itself.

 

Buddhify 2 is a nice orderly application that encompasses a range of mindfulness meditation practices from Buddhism Inspiration to help you become more aware and calm during your busy day.

The tailors of more than 11 hours of application of the mediation of custom plans to focus specifically on 15 unique pieces of his time, including breaks at work, travel times and time when working online. Other fate meditation votes plans issues include pain and illness, you feel stressed, and walk in the city.

The application has more than 80 custom audio tracks, to mediation. These range from five to 30 minutes, so you can meditate at a time that works for you. The application also has a timer for meditation alone, and allows you to call your attention, concentration and balance whenever you meditate for monitoring long-term progress.

The application lets you view your stats over time, including the time to meditate every day, and the quality of concentration, balance and care for each practice.

Finally, the application also includes a feature community called "Together", which allows users Buddhify ask and answer questions about meditation, stress and other relevant topics. If you see a wire that is useful, you can quickly save for future reference.

If you want something a little more substantial than a collection of quotations, Buddhism End Library offers a large repository of books - 50 to be exact. For less than a dollar, you get access to a multitude of books covering four different themes: modern works, Southern Buddhism, Jataka and Buddhism North.

This is ideal for those who want to delve into the theory and practice of Buddhist monks perform daily application.

For many contemporary Buddhists, learning about the essential aspects of Buddhism and deep details that allows them a greater sense of peace. It is particularly useful for the available depth of knowledge that comes directly from the fervent Buddhist monks and, in some cases, the sage Gautama Buddha himself.

Read these books you would any other e-book with page turning, bookmarks and a search function to make sure that you always keep the most important texts in hand.

Download: The Library Buddhism end for iOS

Equanimity (iOS, $ 4.99)

 

 

The historical figure Gautama Buddha taught meditation to promote calm and emotional positivity. He is also described as the training of the mind, meditation are based on a number of different approaches, but all types of meditation help you on your way to inner peace.

However, it can be difficult to get used to meditate every day - and that's why Robin Barooah developed equanimity, with its elegant interface for mobile users every day. Unlike other applications of the timer, equanimity was made specifically with meditation in mind, with a light to let you know when the session is pre-programmed full bell.

To help those who want to make a daily meditation practice, the application provides a number of disciples so that you can see your progress. You can enter the length of its sessions and the time and date, which reflected.

By far the best option to follow your experience of meditation is personal application notes feature, which lets you capture thoughts and feelings about their emotional state during each session.

Write what you think or if you have lived more distractions than usual. Noting these intrusions is a big part of the practice of care, it is helpful to keep a diary of your meditations to track your progress.

 

Buddhist prayer daily

 

 

If you are committed to meditation and Buddhist devotions and want to keep all your prayers in one place, Buddhists daily prayers offered this space. Its simple interface, relaxation does not take away from the experience of the text itself, which brings the wisdom of the original Buddha to your mobile device.

Contemporary Buddhist who speak English often means the prayers and lessons aloud - or enjoy in silence - in their original language. This application shows the Thai alphabet transliteration prayers to facilitate correct pronunciation, which comes with translations or transliterations descriptions of prayers in English.

Some Buddhists travel far to learn from a true guru. To save airfare and achieve inner peace as you can listen to audio versions of the prayers contained in this application, written by the monks of Drepung Gomang.

Download: Buddhist prayer daily for iOS | Android

Brain Buddha (iOS, $ 4.99)

Are you interested in the science behind meditation and other practices to achieve inner peace and peace of mind? Rick Hanson, Ph.D., neuropsychologist at the University of Berkeley, has written a book entitled "The brain of Buddha," which later became a partner application.

App brain Buddha offers concrete strategies to rewire your own brain through Buddhist practices. With Hanson neuroscience practice techniques, you learn to make positive experiences and unleash stressful, allowing you to feel happier, general frustration safer and less.

Follow the guide and read about how to become happier, healthier, or press the top button to listen to each meditation practice.

When used with applications that support the Buddhist meditation practices and attention, brain Buddha will help you feel one with the world

 

I recently heard about a new Alzheimer's treatment, a nose spray containing insulin. How does it work and is there an Alzheimer's nose spray available?

I recently heard about a new Alzheimer's treatment, a nose spray containing insulin. How does it work and is there an Alzheimer's nose spray available?

Insulin — a hormone that helps regulate your blood sugar — appears to play a role in normal memory processes. Insulin irregularities may contribute to cognitive and brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease.

In the past several years, researchers have been investigating the use of insulin to treat Alzheimer's disease. One of the challenges is how to provide insulin in such a way that it improves brain function without disrupting your blood sugar levels. If your blood sugar drops too low, for example, it can create complications, such as confusion, heart palpitations, anxiety and visual disturbances.

Preliminary research suggests that when taken as a nose spray, insulin reaches the brain within a few minutes and improves memory. However, this research involved small groups of participants who had either early Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment. Although this research is promising, more research on the safety and effectiveness of intranasal insulin therapy for Alzheimer's disease is necessary.

Few, if any, health care providers are prescribing off-label insulin nasal spray in routine clinical practice.

With

Glenn Smith, Ph.D.

Source : mayoclinic[dot]org

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The Alzheimer’s Activity Apron New Alzheimer’s Treatment Could Reverse Brain Damage Using Music to Enhance the Quality of Life of People with Alzheimer’s FDA Approves Combo Pill for Alzheimer’s

The benefits of sensory stimulation for someone living with Alzheimer’s disease cannot be underestimated. Studies have shown that keeping someone with dementia active and engaged promotes a sense of self worth and can even keep that person independent longer. Learn more about sensory stimulation and how you can make your own activity apron for a loved one.

Benefits of Sensory Stimulation for People with Alzheimer’s

Sensory stimulation was developed in Europe in the 1960s and uses everyday objects to engage one or more of the five senses. It provides a way for people living with Alzheimer’s to explore a new environment in a safe way or see a familiar environment in a new way.

Sensory stimulation has been shown to not only bring enjoyment and fun to people living with Alzheimer’s but also to fight anxiety and depression while increasing social interaction. Sensory stimulation can also help people stay independent for longer, promote understanding and a sense of belonging as well as help people express how they are feeling.

Depending on the progression of dementia there are a number of sensory activities caregivers can do with their loved one. They include:

• Gardening
• Walking or hiking
• Scrapbooking
• Knitting
• Painting
• Woodwork
• Puzzles and games
• Cards
• Music
• Memory boxes
• Fidget aprons

The Fidget Apron: A Unique Sensory Activity

One unique way to provide sensory stimulation for all stages of dementia is the fidget apron, a creative and unique idea that can engage and stimulate people living with Alzheimer’s.

The idea came to Kristy who runs Hopeful Threads, a sewing business dedicated to provide sewed donations to people who need it most, from one of her blog readers who had been personally affected by dementia. She explained how a fidget apron utilized sensory stimulation and could help someone fighting a disease like Alzheimer’s or dementia. Kristy organized her readers to create their own fidget aprons and then donated the created aprons to people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia in her local area.

To make your own activity apron you will need:

• 1.5 yards of cotton woven fabric
• 7” zipper and scrap fabrics
• Ribbon
• Trim
• Key Rings
• Buttons
• Beads
• Apron Sewing Pattern

While each fidget apron is different, the general idea is that a person can put the apron on and have a variety of activities, trinkets and charms within their reach. Some fidget aprons include zippers, braids, different textures and patterns and all are designed to engage the minds and fingers of someone living with Alzheimer’s.

Have you made an activity apron? If so, tell us about it! Did your loved one enjoy it? What types of fabrics, trinkets, and material did you use? 

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The Role of Grey Matter in Alzheimer’s Disease A Mother and Son’s Unbreakable Bond Outlasts Alzheimer’s A Daughter’s Memoir about Alzheimer’s How Writing Can Help the Alzheimer’s Caregiver

Learn more from Monica Gomez and her article about recent research into the role of grey matter in Alzheimer’s disease.

Research Reveals the Role of Grey Matter in Alzheimer’s

As Americans live longer, we are encountering a significant increase in the senior population who suffer from neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association points out that experts believe Alzheimer’s is the result of various factors, including age and genetics, which are identified as major risk factors. Yet, many questions about the disease still remain open.

Two recent medical studies offer critical information about additional factors that may impact the development and treatment of Alzheimer’s. Scientists in the UK found that a specific network within grey matter was more vulnerable to age-related neurodegeneration, and that it degenerated sooner than other brain areas. Stateside, researchers discovered that a protein created under heat shock could improve a dysfunctional actin cytoskeleton, which is linked to neurodegenerative disorders.

Medical News Today first reported that scientists at the Oxford University Functional MRI of the Brain Centre, led by Dr. Gwenaëlle Douaud, applied a theory called “retrogenesis” from the 1880s to current research on grey matter. Grey matter is the cortex of the brain, which is responsible for muscle control, memory, emotions, speech, decision-making, self-control and sensory perception. The “retrogenesis” theory of brain change suggests that brain ability declines in reverse order to how it develops.

Following this line of inquiry, the scientists relied on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans of 484 people aged 8-85 to look for age-related patterns. Their analysis revealed two important findings:

1. A particular network within the grey matter links most of the higher order functions of the brain.
2. This network develops later than the rest of the brain and is the first to show signs of degeneration with age.

Moreover, when the researchers compared the scans of healthy individuals with those of people who suffer from Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia, they found that this particular brain network might play a crucial role in these different diseases. It seems like this area of the brain is more vulnerable to both Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia.

This study further reconciles two hypotheses that have previously been discussed entirely separately in scientific literature, according to Dr. Douaud:

• The brain damage caused by schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s are related to higher order parts of the brain
• These parts of the brain are not as developed in other primates, which also don’t develop schizophrenia or Alzheimer’s, implying that these diseases are a result of human evolution and longer lifespans

According to Professor Perry, chairman of the Medical Research Council’s Neurosciences and Mental Health Board, which funded the research, there was no evidence that the same parts of the brain might be linked to such different diseases. Although doctors called schizophrenia “premature dementia” in the past.

“This large-scale and detailed study provides an important, and previously missing, link between development, aging, and disease processes in the brain. It raises important issues about possible genetic and environmental factors that may occur in early life and then have lifelong consequences,” Perry says.

Alzheimer’s and the HSF-1 Protein

While the findings from Oxford University research may provide us with new insights about the factors that contribute to Alzheimer’s, the discoveries made in a recent study from University of California, Berkeley, and University of Michigan could possibly lead to future treatments of this incurable disease.

The study was spearheaded by Andrew Dillin, who serves as the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Distinguished Chair of Stem Cell Research in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at the University of California, Berkeley.

Science Daily reports that a team of researchers challenges a long held scientific belief about how the brain reacts to misfolded proteins during heat shock. For over 30 years, scientists believed that cells exposed to heat, such as a fever, produced a protein called heat shock factor-1 (HSF-1), which would launch “chaperone” molecules to refold misfolded proteins. An accumulation of misfolded proteins has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Hence, scientists believed that artificially increasing HSF-1 would reduce misfolded proteins and thus protect the brain. Yet, this process had the unintended consequences of increasing cancer risk.

In the past, scientists believed that HSF-1 was simply responsible for releasing chaperone cells. However, Dillin and his team found in experiments that the protein plays a much bigger part:

1. HSF-1 also stabilizes the cell’s cytoskeleton, which transports necessary supplies — including healing chaperones — throughout the cell.
2. HSF-1 regulates a gene called pat-10, which produces a protein that stabilizes actin, a building block of the cytoskeleton.

As a result, Dillin and his colleagues’ research suggests that instead of increasing HSF-1 to release chaperone molecules, the protein ought to be used for strengthening the cytoskeleton in order to protect against neurodegenerative diseases. This alternative approach might also avoid the cancerous side effects of boosting HSF-1. Furthermore, Dillin and his team even suspect that the protein’s main function is actually reinforcing the cytoskeleton, rather than triggering the release of chaperones. They mutated HSF-1 so that it would no longer boost chaperones, showing that it was not essential to surviving heat stress as long as the cytoskeleton was stable.

Even though further experiments are needed to rule out errors, the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Michigan research teams hope that their findings will pave the way for novel treatments of neurodegenerative diseases.

As researchers learn more about how the brain develops and works at all ages, they are discovering links that they previously thought were unrelated. Further research into these connections may open new avenues for future preventative treatments.

Did you know about the research into the connection between grey matter and Alzheimer’s? What did you find most interesting about the results? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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