Alzheimer’s/Dementia

Are you sure it’s Alzheimer’s?

About 20 percent of Alzheimer's diagnoses could be incorrect, say two new studies. Read More »

HCR ManorCare launches lewy body dementia pilot program

 Long-term care owner and operator HCR ManorCare has partnered with the Lewy Body Dementia Association to offer support and education on Lewy body dementia.  Read More »

Hospital care transitions are key for those with Alzheimer’s or other dementias

Going to the hospital can be confusing for those with dementia, complicate their clinical symptoms and even make their dementia worse. Some hospitals may be better prepared and trained in dementia care than others, says a panel of care transition experts. Read More »

Study finds link between brain injury and Parkinson’s but not Alzheimer’s

Researchers did not see a relationship between people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and late-onset Alzheimer's disease in one of the largest studies of TBI to date, signaling the need for more brain research. Read More »

A vaccine to prevent or reverse dementia on the horizon

Researchers are working to develop a vaccine that targets proteins in the brain that block neurons thought to cause Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.  Read More »

Alzheimer’s genes may be present in youth

In those with a genetic predisposition, Alzheimer's disease may already be detectable by early adulthood--suggesting researchers may have decades of warning before its potential onset. Read More »

Pat Summitt gives final gift to people with Alzheimer’s

With the help of two organizations, the beautiful boquets that adorned a University of Tennessee memorial service were rewrapped and distributed to fellow Tennesseeans with dementia.  Read More »

House proposes $350M increase for dementia research

The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee has proposed increasing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia research funding by $350 million for the National Institutes of Health to $1.26 billion.   Read More »

Scottish university launches Master’s program in person-centered care

The program is the first in the country to offer an advanced degree based on person-centered decision making, and will include courses in palliative care, dementia care and gerontology. Read More »

High BP a vascular dementia risk factor

Researchers have found high blood pressure is positively associated with a higher risk of developing vascular dementia, separate from any previous stroke or mini stroke. Read More »

Sign language gives people with dementia a way to speak

A sign language class offers another way for residents with dementia to communicate and connect with one another at Silverado Aspen Park Memory Care Community in Salt Lake City. Read More »

Pat Summitt, lauded women’s basketball coach, dies of younger onset dementia

She led the Tennessee Lady Vols for 38 years and held the record for most wins in Division I history. Read More »

Computer engagement reduces antipsychotic usage, improves quality of life

A Chesapeake Bay nursing home's two-year pilot uses technology to improve social engagement and life quality for those with dementia. Read More »

Study finds MEND could reverse memory loss

Memory and cognition improved in a small study of people with cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease by following a personalized therapeutic approach called metabolic enhancement for neurodegeneration (MEND), a 36-point diet, lifestyle and vitamin regimen. Read More »

Muses Labs, George Washington partner to offer patients MEND Protocol

The George Washington Center for Integrative Medicine will offer people with cognitive decline, mild Alzheimer’s disease and a family history of dementia the MEND Protocol, a personalized intervention to improve memory and cognitive function.  Read More »

Alzheimer’s Association uses solstice to bring light to dementias

The summer solstice is more than a change of seasons. It’s a chance to raise money and awareness for those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias as well as honor caregivers, for whom every day can feel like the longest day.  Read More »

Georgia teams up with Virtual Dementia Tour

The dementia training program has been granted $2.9 million in CMS Civil Money Penalty funds to educate nursing home caregivers in the state. Read More »

Antidepressants heighten fall risks in residents with dementia

CMS' recent attention has been on reducing the use of antipsychotics, but antidepressants may be dangerous in other ways for those with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. Read More »

Drug study: Controlling PBA in dementia

New data supports the use of the drug NUDEXTA to treat pseudobulbar affect (PBA), a condition found in those with brain injuries, neurological damage from stroke or dementia and certain neuromuscular diseases. Read More »

CNA pleads guilty for planning sexual assault on residents with dementia

A former employee at an assisted living and memory care facility pleaded guilty for planning and trying to videotape the sexual assault of three female residents with profound memory loss. Read More »

Medicare could cover comprehensive Alzheimer’s care plan

Congressional subcommittees have proposed changes to the Social Security Act to cover an initial care plan for Medicare beneficiaries newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias to help them understand the disease and treatment options. Read More »

Connecting nursing home staff with clinicians to reduce antipsychotic use

A new study found residents with Alzheimer’s disease were less likely to be restrained or medicated at nursing homes where frontline staff spoke regularly with memory care specialists, suggesting quality outcomes can improve with expert intervention.  Read More »

Senate proposes $400M increase for dementia research

The Senate announced a proposal $400 million increase in Alzheimer’s and dementia research funding at the National Institutes of Health, surpassing a record increase of $350 million in 2015. Read More »

Immune cells may protect against Alzheimer’s

New research has found that clusters of immune cells may reduce amyloid plaque formation, thereby reducing the damaging effects of Alzheimer’s disease.  Read More »

Mass. VA builds park for veterans with Alzheimer’s

A new park next to a Boston-area Veterans Affairs Medical Center is a serene and secure space for veterans with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia to roam.  Read More »

Play a mobile game to advance Alzheimer’s research

The new mobile game Sea Hero Quest asks players to help a grown son recover his father’s memories lost to Alzheimer’s disease. Data collected from the game will help scientists study spatial navigation.  Read More »

Common heart medication could be effective Alzheimer’s treatment

Researchers found mice taking the antiplatelet agent clopidogrel saw a decrease in plaque buildup in blood vessels and in deep structures of the brain, suggesting a possible new drug treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.   Read More »

How dementia affects communication

Cognitive decline changes how people hear, speak, think and interpret. Caregivers and families may be able to improve communication with those who have dementia if they remember these tips.  Read More »

The fate of your stars: CMS and the new quality measures

As the opening keynote at the Memory Care Forum in Philadelphia, NASL policy guru Cynthia Morton discusses what’s coming next from CMS on long-term care quality measures and how that data might affect your five-star quality rating. Read More »

A $10M investment in memory loss treatments

Two foundations have partnered to advance drug discovery, clinical trials and drug repurposing for effective treatment of frontotemporal degeneration and other neurodegenerative diseases.  Read More »