Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2017, 72-year-old Anne still enjoys puzzles, sewing, and watercolor painting. New activities are less appealing to her and she is becoming a lot more forgetful lately and in need of assistance with … [Read more...]
Elizabeth is Missing — Can Her Friend with Alzheimer’s Find Her?
Many films and documentaries have been made about Alzheimer’s and dementia. But, very few have gotten the critical acclaim of Elizabeth is Missing, a PBS film that was released earlier this month. Based on the bestselling novel … [Read more...]
Is There Really a Drug That Reverses Age-Related Mental Decline Within Days?
Q. 2020 has been a tough year. Something good has to come out of it. Please tell me that it’s true that a drug has been invented that reverses age-related mental decline. I thought I read it somewhere, but my eyes might be … [Read more...]
Can a Rare Brain Change What We Know About Early-Onset Alzheimer’s?
Aliria Rosa Piedrahita de Villegas carried a rare genetic mutation making it extremely likely that she would develop Alzheimer’s disease in her 40s, like most others in her family with this genetic mutation. Something unexpected … [Read more...]
Is There a New Genetic Form of Dementia?
Q. I read your recent newsletter from this past Tuesday about this year’s scariest articles, and I think I have a topic to add. I heard that there is another new form of dementia that was just discovered that affects behavior, … [Read more...]
Dementia Reimagined: A New Approach from a Bioethicist and Influencer
Dr. Patricia (Tia) Powell’s grandmother had dementia and she remembers vividly watching her mother care for her. Once, when her grandmother was in the later stages of the disease, her mother brought her grandmother out onto the … [Read more...]
Will Medicare Cover Alzheimer’s Brain Scans?
In the past few months, Julia has noticed that her mother, Betsy, has become increasingly forgetful. Betsy’s memory loss started out mild, including losing her keys and forgetting the day of the week, but is beginning to disrupt … [Read more...]
Can a Flu Shot Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer’s? Get a Flu or Pneumonia Shot!
Every year, Marion contemplates whether to get her flu shot. She hasn’t gotten one in the past, but then again, she hasn’t had the flu for nearly five years. This year she is also eligible for a no-cost pneumonia vaccine through … [Read more...]
Early-Onset Dementia is Surging, Recent Study Finds
Q. My sister, Abigail, is 45 and complains of memory loss. She often repeats herself, asking the same questions over and over again and has trouble coming up with desired words in a conversation. The last time I visited her at her … [Read more...]
Breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s Research from the Past Year
Q. It seems like there’s a new Alzheimer’s “breakthrough” almost every day. My husband and I often follow the headlines and in our attempt to pull together the true, reputable research, we have seen everything from the … [Read more...]