Using DETERMINE to Understand Nutritional Health

So what is nutritional health? The American Academy of Physicians, the American Dietetic Association and the National Council on the Aging have joined forces to provide a simple way to screen your nutritional health, using the word DETERMINE.

Disease

Eating Poorly

Tooth Loss or Mouth Pain

Economic Hardship

Reduced social contact

Multiple Medicines

Involuntary Weight Loss/Gain

Need Assistance

Elder years above age 80

What to do When Diagnosed with Alzheimer's

When a loved one, family member, neighbor or friend has Alzheimer's disease, there are health care team members who can help families and friends cope with the signs and symptoms of this disease and to start treatment. Here are some of the health care professionals that can help:

• Primary care physician
• Geriatrician—a doctor who specializes in treating the elderly
• Neurologist—a doctor trained to treat diseases of the brain
• Psychiatrist—a doctor who specializes in treating behavioral problems
 
To locate a doctor near you, visit the American Medical Association’s (AMA) website. If you do not have or use a computer you can use the phone to contact directory assistance (dial 411) to locate the AMA’s phone number in your state. There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease focuses on maintaining quality of life for the person with the disease. Some medications can help improve memory and others can slow the progression of
the disease. Not all treatments will work for everyone. The use of medication is a decision that you and your medical team must decide.

Prevention of Alzheimer's

Since we cannot prevent aging, it is unlikely that we can prevent Alzheimer’s disease. However, to date research has identified some actions that we can take to help reduce our risk for the disease. We know that adults with damaged blood vessels in their brain are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Blood vessel damage in the brain is more likely to occur in people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. These diseases can be managed through medication, healthy diet and exercise. The more “under control” that these diseases are, the less damage or hardening of the blood vessels.

Seven Warning Signs of Alzheimers

1. Asking the same question over and over again,
2. Repeating the same story, word for word, again and again,
3. Forgetting how to cook, or how to do repairs, or how to play cards— all activities that were previously done with ease and regularity;
4. Losing one’s ability to pay bills or balance one’s checkbook;
5. Getting lost in familiar surroundings, or misplacing household objects;
6. Neglecting to bathe, or wearing the same clothes over and over again while insisting they have taken a bath or that their clothes are sill clean
7. Relying on someone else, such as a spouse, to make decisions or answer questions they previously would have handled themselves without hesitation;
 
When these symptoms are noticed and reported to the doctor, the patient is in a position to obtain treatment that may improve their quality of life. Early treatment in some cases has been shown also to slow the progression of this disease, and importantly, gives time to discuss care options while the diagnosed individual can still take part in decision-making for future treatment and care.

How is Alzheimer’s Recognized?

Family members are often the first to notice changes that could indicate the onset of Alzheimer’s. Family and friends should learn the early warning signs of the disease and be an advocate for the individual who they are concerned about to have an evaluation earlier rather than later, and to seek treatment.

Typical Early Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
• aphasia—or difficulty speaking,
• disorientation---or difficulty remembering place and time, and/or
• disinhibition—difficulty with self-management of behavior such as outbursts of violence without previous history of such.

Developing Alzheimer's Disease

This disease is not transmitted from one person to another, you cannot “catch” Alzheimer’s from someone who has it. You also cannot get it from the food you eat. Scientists are rather looking at a number of complicated causes related to “errors” that occur in our body’s proteins and genetic mutations that cause the disease to consistently appear generation after generation in some families. However, at this point in time we only have a number of theories as to the cause of the disease that may later lead to a definitive reason why people get the disease and when they get it, and hopefully a cure.

History of Alzheimer's

The first Alzheimer’s case was diagnosed more than 100 years ago. Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German psychiatrist, identified what was to become the first case of Alzheimer’s Disease in a 50 year old woman in 1901. He was able to observe the woman until her death five year’s after her diagnosis. Upon examining the woman’s brain, Dr. Alzheimer identified brain tissue with abnormal clumps and irregular knots of brain cells. Today, these clumps (now called plaques) and knots (now called tangles) are considered the classic hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease.

From that time forward, the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease was given to people between the ages of 45 and 65 who had the symptoms of pre-senile dementia. Unfortunately, dementia was considered to be a normal outcome of the aging process for those over age 65 and was thought to be caused by age-related “hardening” of brain arteries. In the 1970s and early 1980s the name Alzheimer’s disease began to be used for all people who were afflicted with dementia
regardless of their age.

Familial Alzheimer's Disease (FAD)

This type of Alzheimer's disease is known to be entirely inherited. In affected families, members of at least two generations have had Alzheimer's disease. FAD is extremely rare, accounting for less than 1% of all cases of Alzheimer's. The disease typically has a much earlier age of onset (often in the 40s).

Late-Onset Alzheimer's

This is the most common form of Alzheimer's disease, accounting for about 90% of cases and usually occurring after age 65. Late-onset Alzheimer's disease is evident in almost half of all people over the age of 85.

Early Onset Alzheimer's

This is a rare form of Alzheimer’s diagnosed among people under age 65. These patients represent less than 10% of all Alzheimer's disease patients. Because these individuals experience premature aging, individuals who are born with Down syndrome are particularly at risk for this

type of Alzheimer’s. Adults with Down syndrome are often in their mid - to late 40s or early 50s when symptoms of Alzheimer’s first appear.

Severe Alzheimer's Disease

People with severe Alzheimer's disease may:
• Have problems with eating-remembering to swallow, how to use a utensil, etc.
• Have problems with speech – sentence structure that does not make sense, incorrect identification of objects, or they may not speak at all
• Not recognize friends or family members
• Not be able to control bowels or urine
• Have problems with walking-generally unsteady on their feet.

Moderate Alzheimer's Disease

People with moderate Alzheimer's disease may:
• experience poor memory of recent events
• Have trouble with completing tasks such as washing dishes or setting the table
• Have difficulty in appropriately dressing for the weather or occasion
• Forget to shave or shower which was a routine repeated task of their daily life
• Argue more often
• Believe things are real when they are not
• Wander, most often at night
• Appear worried or depressed more often than usual, and
• Need close supervision to ensure that they finish tasks or follow through on actions that they start.

“Mild” Alzheimer's Disease

People with “mild” Alzheimer's Disease may:
• experience memory loss,
• Have trouble naming common items,
• Ask or say the same thing over and over,
• Easily get lost,
• Lose interest in things they once liked to do,
• Misplaces things more often than usual
• Exhibits personality changes, not their usual selves with no significant event in their life that might explain the change.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s is a disease that worsens typically on average over a period of 8 to10 years after diagnosis. Although it affects each person differently, there are some common symptoms as the disease progresses. Categorizing the symptoms and behaviors commonly seen in people who suffer from Alzheimer’s can be helpful. Alzheimer's is broken down into three different categories: Mild, Moderate and Server; and three main diseases: Early Onset, Late-Onset, and Familial Alzheimer's Disease (FAD).

Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month

Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that strikes older Americans with increasing frequency. It is the leading cause of dementia or loss of intellectual function in our population, and the eighth leading cause of death in the US. November is Alzheimer’s awareness month, and we will be posting information about how to recognize some of the signs of this disease, and what to do with that information.

Healthy Habits for Aging Adults

Healthy Habits

Smoking and drinking are two big habits that can affect your health and the way you handle aging. Alcohol may be fine in moderation but you must be careful that your consumption is a healthy not harmful habit. Alcohol can contribute to sleep and appetite problems. It’s important to making an effort to change harmful habits. An abundance of medical evidence indicates that smoking is the cause of a variety of illness including cancer, heart disease and lung diseases.

Sleep
Quality sleep becomes more difficult for many people as they get older. On the average people age 50 and over sleep 6 hours per day. Sleeping poorly might be the cause of big changes in life, health issues, medication, stress or anxiety. Exposure to daily sunlight as well as regular exercise contribute to restful sleep.

Mental Activity
Mental stimulation can significantly improve the aging process. Trying to keep active mentally can improve your memory, combat boredom and also help improve sleeping. Simple and fun games and puzzles, reading or changing your route to the store are easy ways to keep your mind active and engaged.

Benefits of Growing Older

The benefit of growing older is that we have the opportunity to use our wisdom to manage or regain our zest for life. Here are some easy things you can do everyday to make it healthy, safe and fun.

• Stop pressing the snooze button
• Step outside before breakfast to get a dose of sunlight
• Eat to energize
• Save your skin
• Go outside to boost your mood
• Stay hydrated (at least six 8 ounce glasses of liquids every day)
• Try a mental exercise
• Break for coffee or tea with a friend
• Don’t forget your vitamins or meds
• Stretch, exercise with weights or walk for 10 minutes
• Reapply sunscreen
• Eat healthy snacks
• Dim the lights to wind down
• Monitor your alcohol intake
• Turn off the TV

The Importance of Exercise and Aging

Exercise
Keeping your body healthy increases your chances of living a long life. It’s not about how strenuous your exercising is but that it’s consistent. It can help with weight loss and maintenance, combat anxiety and depression, keep bones, muscles and joints working properly relieve symptoms of arthritis and reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and some types of cancer. Exercise is one of the major cornerstones of healthy living.

The following foods contribute to a long and healthy life when they are part of a well balanced diet:
• Good fats such as: avocados, olive oil, sesame seeds and almonds, salmon, mackerel
• Antioxidants such as: pomegranate, blueberries, strawberries, cranberries
• Colorful Produce such as: tomatoes for red lycopene, red bell peppers, carrots, mangoes and sweet potatoes
• Anti inflammations such as: ginger and green and red apples
• Important immune builders such as: low fat yogurt
• Greens such as: asparagus, green tea, broccoli

Weight Loss
Losing weight without trying could be a warning sign of worsening health. Weight loss through diet and exercise is normal. Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most important things you can do for your health. However, if you have lost weight without trying, make an appointment with your doctor to make sure it’s not a serious illness.

Skin Care
Exercise increases circulation that enhances distribution of nutrients to your skin. As we age skin thins so be sure you moisturize and use at least a SPF 15 or higher.

Early Detection of Problems

Health screenings help to detect chronic diseases early in their course, when the disease is most treatable. Screenings can help save lives.

There are a number of other ways you can confront the aging process and give yourself the best odds for success.

Attitude
Your sense of hope, humor and confidence will determine the tone of your aging experience. Your attitude is one thing you have full control over.

Civic Involvement
Sharing your interests and passions with others and being involved in a cause that is important to you will provide a constant reminder that you have a lot to offer and serves as a tool for putting problems in perspective or maybe even forgetting about them altogether.

Friends and Social Involvement
Contact with others will feed your spirit and can provide purpose and meaning in your life whether it be at work, church, or family get togethers. Interaction with grandchildren and being a volunteer are also very important to keeping ourselves involved verses isolated.

Knowledge of Aging

Growing knowledge and resources about the effects of aging can help you actively take part in your own health and wellness. Taking advantage of these resources can translate into feeling more comfortable, contented and healthy as you age. Keep in mind that reducing your risk of disease is all about making simple changes in your daily routine.

In the past we believed there was little or nothing we could do to change our health and improve our overall wellness. Research has shown that healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as being physically active, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking, are more influential than genetic factors.

Published results in medical research, in-depth studies on women’s and men’s health, and medical and pharmaceutical advances in research have all helped to inform the public and open avenues for better decision making about managing personal health.