Q. My son, Ronnie, has bipolar disorder, and he often doesn’t take his medication. When he is having a manic episode and his mood is elevated, he often partakes in impulsive and irrational spending. At the same time, my mother has dementia, and it is getting worse. She sometimes doesn’t remember where she is spending […]
Can Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Be Detected while You’re Asleep?
Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are both neurodegenerative diseases that currently don’t have a cure. For both diseases, great strides have been made in research, including recent findings using sleep patterns. Scientists believe that early diagnoses using this information may help slow disease progression or offer prevention. How Sleep Patterns at Home Can Enable Widespread […]
Emma Heming Willis Opens Up About Caregiving for a Loved One with Frontotemporal Dementia
Last year, Bruce Willis’ family announced that he would be stepping away from acting due to cognitive decline caused by aphasia, a condition affecting the ability to speak and understand. The actor’s symptoms progressed, and in February 2023, his wife of 14 years, Emma Heming Willis, announced that he had frontotemporal dementia (FTD). FTD is […]
The Youngest People to Ever Be Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
Imagine being 17 years old and noticing that your memory is deteriorating. You are unable to concentrate in high school, and your short-term memory seems to be virtually nonexistent. Then, at 19, wondering what is going on, you are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This happened recently to a young man in China, who is now […]
Approaching Dementia with Understanding, Acceptance, and Compassion
A year ago this week, I wrote about Katya De Luisa, a dementia educator, caregiver coach, and author of “Journey through the Infinite Mind – the Science and Spirituality of Dementia.” Besides being an art therapist who works with dementia patients, De Luisa writes books that are designed to inform, encourage, and empower those who […]
If You’re Genetically Predisposed to Dementia. . .
Q. I have been watching the documentary Limitless, with Chris Hemsworth, on Disney+. It’s been fascinating to see what he is doing to stay young and stave off disease. I haven’t seen all of the episodes but read somewhere that Hemsworth found out during filming that he is eight to 10 times more likely to […]
What Is Brain Fog and What Causes It?
Dear Kiwi and Mango, I’m often in the middle of something, and I forget what I am doing, or I’m talking to someone and forget what I wanted to tell them. What causes my brain to be so “foggy” sometimes, and is there anything I can do to feel sharp again? Thanks for your help! […]
Is Forgetting to Pay Your Bills an Early Sign of Dementia?
Kathryn, a long-distance caregiver, knew her mother was having memory problems but didn’t realize how bad things had gotten. This was until she visited her mother and took a closer look at her finances: unpaid bills, unusual cash withdrawals, and, most unexpectedly, the mortgage of the family home had been refinanced at a higher interest […]
How Certain Types of Dementia Can Unleash a Person’s Creativity
Arthur (Art) Lee suffers from Lewy body dementia (LBD). Words often fail him and his arms and hands often experience uncontrollable tremors. But somehow, he still paints incredible oil paintings. Whether a portrait, a landscape, or an abstract (on his most troubling days), Art is able to create masterpieces with his paintbrush. What makes Art’s […]
When Cognitive Decline Changes People, Should We Respect Their New Desires?
Q. I read a fascinating piece in The New York Times Magazine recently about a woman named Diane Norelius, who had dementia. As her cognitive decline began to alter who she was, her adult daughters and her boyfriend wound up in a bitter dispute over which version of her should get to decide what she […]
Why Do Some Individuals Have the Capacity to Maintain Thinking and Cognitive Abilities in the Presence of More Advanced Dementia?
Dear Raider, I recently read about Diane Norelius in The New York Times Magazine. She was a woman with advancing dementia who was able to mask the severity of her condition pretty well by how coherent and well-spoken she was, despite her memory loss. How is this possible for some people with dementia? Thanks […]
Is It Possible to Be Resistant to Dementia?
A unique quirk of DNA protected a Colombian man from developing a hereditary form of dementia for two decades. Researchers, who studied his brain after he died, have discovered that this type of dementia may go way back in the village where he resided. They believe that looking more closely at him and another person […]
Positive Thinking for Seniors Is More Powerful than You Think!
May is both Older Americans Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, making this an ideal time to focus on the mental health needs of seniors! We all experience sadness from time to time — and this is what many people focus on when it comes to mental health. Sadness can affect your daily activities, interfere […]
Does Having a Stroke Increase Your Chances of Dementia?
Dear Hayek, My aunt had a stroke pretty recently, and now she is having trouble remembering things, among other issues. Do strokes increase the chances of someone having dementia? If so, how long does it take to notice symptoms, and are there things we can do to minimize the risk? Thanks for your help! Minna […]
What Happens to Solo Agers Who Develop Dementia?
Q. Sometimes when I have trouble sleeping at night, I scan the internet for interesting news stories. I came upon one in particular that was incredibly disturbing. It was about a woman named Joyce who was estranged from her family and kept to herself in her home. She was found dead on her sofa by […]
Is Light Therapy an Effective Treatment for Dementia?
Dear Hayek, I heard that photo therapy, or light therapy, is a safe, non-invasive, and inexpensive way of boosting cognition for patients with dementia. This seems fascinating to me and I’m wondering if you have heard anything about this? If so, please share any information you have and whether this type of therapy is effective. […]
Feeling Widowed When a Partner Has Dementia
Q. My wife was diagnosed with early-onset dementia about two years ago. On most days, I understand and accept the diagnosis. Some days, however, I wonder if there’s been a mistake. Our world could seem normal in one instance, and then in the blink of an eye, she forgets all of the important things we […]
Do Marriage and Children Reduce Your Risk of Dementia?
Dear Raider, I heard somewhere that marriage and children can help lower your risk of dementia. I hope this is true. I’ve been married to my husband for 50 years this year, and we have children, grandchildren, and even a great-grandchild. I’m hoping to stay around for a long time and for my mind to […]
Does Smoking Increase the Risk of Dementia?
For a multitude of good reasons, smokers are always being encouraged to take the first steps to quit smoking. National No Smoking Day in the UK was recently celebrated on the second Wednesday of March. Every November in the US is Tobacco Cessation Month, and November 15 is the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, […]
Want to Improve Your Memory and Keep Your Brain from Aging Too Quickly? Get a Good Night’s Sleep!
Q. I’ve had trouble sleeping for quite some time. I still function pretty well, as far as making it to work, being productive, and spending quality time with my family and friends. One thing seems a little off. I often feel like I’ve become forgetful and my brain isn’t as sharp as it once was. […]
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