dementia

So What do You Know About Brain Health?

Posted on 01/23/2013 by Ian Cunningham | AARP Blog Author | Comments

Personal HealthSitting around too much? We all know it’s pretty obvious that even mild exercise is good for it. But did you know that such exercise also is good for your brain? Even as little as 150 minutes of moderate activity seems to stave off several forms of dementia. But we bet you knew that. What other ways can we keep our head space trim and fit? So let’s test your smarts. POP QUIZ! Exercise prevents the shrinkage of which part …

Hearing Loss May Speed Up Dementia

Posted on 01/23/2013 by Candy Sagon | Personal Health and Well-being | Comments

Bulletin Today | Personal HealthHere’s a really good reason to get your hearing tested: New research indicates that older Americans with untreated hearing loss experience a faster decline in thinking and memory skills than do those with normal hearing. The study has widespread ramifications, considering that hearing loss affects 30 percent of adults ages 65 to 74, and 47 percent of adults 75 or older, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). At the same time, only 25 to 29 percent of those …

A Prayer from my Dad: Hope, Inspiration and Alzheimer’s

Posted on 01/4/2013 by Amy Goyer | Aging, Home & Family Expert | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | RelationshipsRecently, when he was told it was Sunday, Dad asked if we were going to have a “service or a blessing.” Although he leads us in grace for every meal, he has never asked about this before. I put together a short service for us around the kitchen table with a reading and a prayer. I asked what hymn he would like to sing, and he began to sing The Lord’s Prayer. Although we sing throughout every day, I don’t …

Dementia Study: Calcium Plus Vitamin D Disappoints

Posted on 12/7/2012 by Candy Sagon | Personal Health and Well-being | Comments

Bulletin Today | Personal HealthTaking calcium pills combined with low-dose vitamin D did not protect older women from dementia, a large new study found, but the researchers think vitamin D alone may offer some help. The study, published online in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, involved 4,100 women age 65 or older without dementia. Half were given supplements of 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium carbonate combined with 400 international units (IUs) of vitamin D, and half were given a placebo. The women …

He Has Alzheimer’s, Now What? Part 2

Posted on 12/6/2012 by Amy Goyer | Aging, Home & Family Expert | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | Personal Health | Relationships | Your LifeIn Part 1 of this two-part post I recently shared a question sent to me from a Twitter follower, @Jason_Bournesm, whose grandfather has Alzheimer’s disease. Jason wanted ideas for how to help his grandfather. Here is Part 2 – more ideas for how to interact with your loved ones when they have Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia: Use familiar photos. Jason shared that he was thinking of creating a special photo album for his grandparents. Great idea! Meaningful …

Vitamin D Tied to Women’s Brain Health

Posted on 12/3/2012 by Candy Sagon | Personal Health and Well-being | Comments

Bulletin Today | Personal HealthWomen who don’t get enough vitamin D as they age may be more likely to suffer cognitive decline and impairment, two new studies suggest. The studies, published in the Journals of Gerontology, Series A (Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences and Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences), found that vitamin D, often called the sunshine vitamin, seems to play an important role in maintaining brain health in older women. Researchers in France found that among women age 75 or older who were …