Testing At 40 To Predict Alzheimer's Coming Soon to Montgomery County PA

An instant test at 40 to predict Alzheimer’s: Routine screening could be here in two years

Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease decades before symptoms appear would soon be possible, courtesy a 30-second test being developed by scientists.
The simple procedure, which detects the signs of Alzheimer's in those in their 40s, brings the hope of routine screening for dementia in as little as two years.
Those found to have a tiny piece of tell-tale damage to their brains could take preventative measures such as changing their diet and taking more exercise.
Quicker detection would allow earlier treatment and, with the help of new drugs, some
who test positive might never develop the disease.
"The study lays open the possibilities for screening, early detection and intervention. The earlier we can intervene with people vulnerable to eventual dementia, the greater the chances of preventing or delaying the disease onset," the Daily Mail quoted David Bunce, lead researcher, as saying.
Experts said that delaying the onset of Alzheimer's by five years could halve the number of people who die with the condition, currently a third of over-65s.
At the moment, diagnosis is based on memory tests or expensive brain scans.
By contrast, the computer procedure, based on a simple test of reaction times, would be quick and easy.

...Continue reading from KnowItAlz

Family Caregivers is here to help you with all of your home care needs. Family Caregivers is a home care agency providing Alzheimer's Home Care in Montgomery County PA.

Friends and Family; Best Detectors of Early Alzheimer's Disease in Pennsylvania

Friends and Family May Be Best Detectors of Early Alzheimer's Disease

Family members and friends may be better judges of early Alzheimer's disease than standard memory tests, a new study reports. The results could help doctors diagnose suspected Alzheimer's at an earlier stage, when treatment may be more effective and families can better prepare for the changes to come.

The study comes from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where researchers developed a two-minute questionnaire that asked close friends and family members if they have noticed problems with memory or judgment. The survey asked "yes" or "no" questions about whether they have noticed such signs in loved ones as:

• Bad financial choices or other problems in judgment;
• Less interest in hobbies and other favorite activities;
• Repeating questions, stories or statements;
• Trouble learning how to use a tool or appliance, such as a television remote control or a microwave oven;
• Forgetting the month or year;
• Difficulty handling complicated financial affairs, such as balancing a checkbook;
• Difficulty remembering appointments; and
• Consistent problems with thinking and memory.

Survey results were then correlated with so-called biomarkers, like brain changes on brain scans or blood tests results, that are generally regarded as of Alzheimer's. The survey proved more accurate than standard word and memory tests like the mini-mental state exam, which doctors perform in their offices to look for early signs of Alzheimer's.

...continue reading from alzinfo.org

Alzheimer's home care counselors at Family Caregivers are available to talk with you and your family about care needs for your loved one, including, how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. Family Caregivers is a home care agency providing Alzheimer's Home Care in Montgomery County PA and surrounding areas.

November Is Home Care And Hospice Month in Montgomery County PA

November is Home Care & Hospice Month; learn more about the care options available

Imagine yourself terminally ill, disabled, or too sick to fully take care of yourself. Most people envision themselves confined to the sterile surroundings of a hospital or nursing facility, but if home is where you’d rather be, then home health care may be the best option.

“Our profession is dedicated to providing the highest quality of health care in the comfort of the patient’s own home,” says Denise Via, RN, co-owner of Direct Health Care in Lubbock with her daughter, Jenny Stroud.
The Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice (TAHC&H) joins Direct Health Care and other home care agencies and professionals throughout the state and nation in celebrating November as Home Care & Hospice Month. TAHC&H has requested that Governor Rick Perry declare November “Texas Home Care & Hospice Month” to coincide with the National Home Care & Hospice Month celebration.
Home Care Month recognizes the nurses, therapists, social workers, aides, and other specialists who provide in-home health and supportive services to the nation’s elderly, disabled, and infirm. It’s also a prime opportunity to promote the benefits of home care and hospice to the public.

Approximately 4,400 Home and Community Support Services Agencies are licensed in Texas to provide home health, hospice, or personal assistance services to persons with acute, chronic, or long term illnesses or disabling conditions. Home care and hospice serves to promote independence and keep families together. It has been proven to save money and is the health care choice preferred by clients and their families.

Source: Lubbock Online

For information about how home care in the Montgomery County PA area can help you care for a loved one, visit www.family-caregivers.com.