Month: February 2017

Two years ago, actress Julianne Moore received the Best Actress Oscar at the Academy Awards for her portrayal of a Columbia University professor who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in the movie Still Alice. The poignant film brought some much-needed publicity to the fact that younger people can develop Alzheimer’s, which is usually assumed to be a disease of people older than 65.

While fewer than 5 percent of patients develop the disease at an early age, the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that as many as 200,000 Americans have early-onset Alzheimer’s, most of them in their 40s and 50s. (Early-onset Alzheimer’s is also referred to as “younger-onset Alzheimer’s”). This form of the disease has been described as particularly cruel, as it strikes at a time when patients are often otherwise quite healthy and fit, and are beginning to reap the rewards of working hard and raising a family.

This can be particularly hard on caregivers. Early-onset Alzheimer’s often creates even greater burdens for families than the more common late-onset form of the disease. Trying to care for a spouse with the disease—who most likely can no longer work—while raising a family brings a whole new set of challenges to caregiving. That’s why, often, caregiving duties also fall on the children of these families.

Individuals with early-onset Alzheimer’s and their caregivers face a unique set of challenges. Because no one expects a younger person to have the disease, it may be misdiagnosed, and people may not understand or have sympathy for someone living with it. Employers may think someone is simply “losing it” or a spouse may become irritated that their partner in life seems to be letting important tasks go undone.

One of the first things caregivers may face is the question from people who say “He’s too young to have Alzheimer’s!” That’s why it’s important for caregivers to become educated. They should learn about financial resources, such as Social Security’s Compassionate Allowances. Families should also know that early-onset Alzheimer’s has a genetic component to it, which means that it runs in families. The genetic connection is much stronger in early-onset Alzheimer’s, meaning that if a person’s parent or grandparent is diagnosed with the disease, the person’s chances of developing the condition are much higher compared to those whose family member has later-onset Alzheimer’s.

There is a genetic test that can tell if a person has an increased chance of getting the disease. Getting tested is a very personal decision. Before deciding on whether to get the test, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional about the options. Getting tested could lead to an accurate diagnosis, allowing patient and family to plan ahead for care, to ensure the family will be taken care of, and to begin treatment as early as possible. Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are some treatment options available that may help ease its symptoms.

To find more information about early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, visit the websites of the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association.

The information in this article is not intended to take the place of the advice of your doctor. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have questions about Alzheimer’s disease and genetic testing.

The American Institute for Cancer Research shares 6 Steps to Prevent half of all Colorectal Cancers.
Colorectal cancer includes cancers that begin in the colon and the rectum. The National Cancer Institutes (www.cancer.gov) says there were 134,490 cases of colorectal cancer in 2016, and almost 50,000 deaths due to the disease.

It’s important to be screened for colorectal cancer as your doctor recommends. Screening is recommended beginning at age 50, and earlier for people with certain risk factors or symptoms. During some types of screening (colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy), the doctor may remove polyps, abnormal growths in the colon that could turn into cancer. Healthy lifestyle choices also lower the risk of colorectal cancer.

The following information is from American Institute for Cancer Research.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths and the third most common cancer in the United States. The latest research shows that Americans can prevent tens of thousands of these cancers every year through eating a healthy diet, getting enough physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight, say experts at the American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR).

“Research now suggests that 50 percent of colorectal cancers in the United States are preventable each year through diet, weight, and physical activity,” said Alice Bender, MS, RDN, AICR’s Head of Nutrition Programs. “That’s about 67,200 cases every year.”

For National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Bender shared six evidence-based steps to reduce your risk. The strategies stem from the AICR’s report, “Food, Nutrition Physical Activity and the Prevention of Colorectal Cancer,” an analysis of the global evidence.

1. Maintain a healthy weight and watch out for belly fat. Research now shows that excess body fat is linked with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, along with nine other cancers. The report also concluded that carrying excess belly fat—regardless of weight—is a risk factor for colorectal cancer.
   Starting Step: Become portion-size savvy. Choose larger portions of colorful vegetables, but keep servings of calorie-packed foods like meats, cheese and nuts smaller. Limit desserts and sweets to two or three times a week in small portions.
2. Fit activity into your day. From housecleaning to running, the most recent report finds that moderate physical activity—of all types—reduces the risk of colon cancer. (There was insufficient evidence to make a similar conclusion regarding rectal cancer.)
   Starting Step: Find 10 minutes today to move, whether taking a break at work or while watching TV. Build on that over time by taking more activity breaks or extending the 10 minutes to 30 minutes.
3. Eat plenty of fiber. Eating a diet with plenty of high-fiber foods lowers the risk of colorectal cancer. For every 10 grams of fiber coming from foods daily—slightly less than a cup of beans—the risk of colorectal cancer is reduced by 10 percent.
   Starting Step: Move to the AICR New American Plate way of eating: fill two-thirds or more of your plate with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and nuts and no more than one-third with animal protein such as poultry or lean red meat.
4. Cut the red meat; avoid the processed. The report found that regularly eating high amounts of red meat and even small amounts of processed meat increases colorectal cancer risk. Ounce for ounce, consuming processed meat increases the risk twice as much as consuming red meat. Processed meats include hot dogs, bacon, sausage and deli meats.
   Starting Step: Limit red meat consumption to 18 ounces per week—roughly the equivalent of five or six small cooked portions of beef, lamb or pork—and avoid processed meat. Try fresh roasted chicken breast, hummus or peanut butter for sandwiches.
5. Go moderate on the alcohol. The evidence is convincing that drinking alcohol increases colorectal cancer risk in men and it probably increases the risk in women. When it comes to cancer risk, the best advice is: If you don’t drink, don’t start. For people who do drink, AICR recommends limiting alcohol to no more than two standard drinks daily for men; one for women.
   Starting Step: Become aware of how much a standard drink is by measuring the following amounts and pouring it into your glassware: 5 ounces of wine, 12 oz. beer and 1.5 ounces of liquor.
6. Enjoy plenty of garlic. Evidence suggests that a diet filled with relatively high amounts of garlic reduces the risk of colorectal cancer.
   Starting Step: Add chopped garlic to stews, stir-fries, vegetables and roasted meats. Chop the garlic, then wait 10-15 minutes before cooking in order to activate the health-promoting ingredients.

Source: The American Institute for Cancer Research. The AICR fosters research on the relationship of nutrition, physical activity and weight management to cancer risk, interprets the scientific literature, and educates the public about the results. Visit the AICR website (www.aicr.org) to find delicious, healthful recipes and information. Article adapted by IlluminAge AgeWise.

For years, we were told that for optimum health, we should cut back on dietary fat. Many Americans dutifully scrutinized the labels of everything from snack foods to sandwich spreads, with the goal of selecting products labeled as “low-fat.” Yet many of these products replaced fat with unhealthy sugars and refined carbohydrates, making the “low-fat” products as bad for us as their fat-containing counterparts—or even worse.

Experts now tell us that while we should continue to avoid bad fats, we should also consume more of the kinds of fat—including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats—that are actually good for our health. We need a variety of fats in our diet for energy, to help us digest vitamins and other nutrients, for blood clotting, and even to help us maintain a healthy weight.

During 2016, the American Heart Association (AHA) issued a statement saying that eating healthier fats could save millions of lives around the world. Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, dean of the Tufts University School of Nutrition Science & Policy in Boston, stated, “Worldwide, policymakers are focused on reducing saturated fats. Yet, we found there would be a much bigger impact on heart disease deaths if the priority was to increase the consumption of polyunsaturated fats as a replacement for saturated fats and refined carbohydrates, as well as to reduce trans fats.”

According to the AHA, good fats help reduce the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood, which can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. Here is a review to help you make a good choice of fats in your diet:

Fats that are good for you

Foods containing polyunsaturated fats include corn, soybean and sunflower oils, nuts, seeds, tofu, and fatty fish such as salmon, trout and mackerel.

Monounsaturated fat is found in some of those same foods, and also in avocados, and in plant-based liquid oils such as olive, canola, peanut, safflower and sesame oils.

Eat only sparingly

Saturated fats are found in meat, cheese and many other dairy products, and in palm and coconut oils. The AHA recommends that no more than six percent of the calories we consume in a day come from saturated fats.

Avoid entirely

Worst of all are trans fats (also known as trans fatty acids). Most trans fats come in the form of partially hydrogenated oils created when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil to keep it solid and to increase shelf life. Trans fats are used in many processed foods, so check the label and avoid them. Trans fats are so bad for us that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has ordered food companies to phase out the use of partially hydrogenated oils, which are the major source of trans fats in the American diet.

So now that we know the difference between good and bad fats, does this mean we can consume all we want of the good ones? It’s important to remember that all fats have the same number of calories, so we can gain weight even if we stick to polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.

If you have questions about your own nutritional needs, talk to your doctor or a dietitian.

Source: IlluminAge AgeWise reporting on a news release from the American Heart Association.

Valentine’s Day is the traditional occasion when spouses and other couples express their devotion and affection to one another. Most couples find it a meaningful day to take a little extra time to tell how much they mean to each other.

Yet this Valentine’s Day, millions of couples will find themselves expressing their devotion and affection in a different way than in years past. Spouses who are providing care for a husband, wife or partner who has Alzheimer’s or other dementia may no longer be able to connect with their loved one in old-established patterns as their loved one is changed by the disease. And Alzheimer’s caregivers provide hands-on care, supervision and health care management—a heavy load that grows with time and changes the relationship profoundly.

Many caregivers report that it is the change in their spouse’s ability to communicate that is most difficult and painful. Their partner’s memory loss means they can’t share many memories that were precious to them. People with Alzheimer’s may be unable to find the right word, instead using a different or invented word for familiar objects. They may lose their train of thought. They may be disoriented and say things that aren’t true. Frustration and a continued loss of the ability to speak may leave them largely silent.

Yet it is heartening to know that these couples often find a way around the challenges. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s College of Nursing recently set out to focus not on the deficits these couples experience, but on their successes and the ways they have been able to adapt. Said study author Christine L. Williams, DNSc, “There is a knowledge gap regarding how couples affected by Alzheimer’s disease manage their relationship to sustain hope, connection, meaning and engagement. Instead of focusing our study on what wasn’t working in their relationships, we looked at patterns that support intimacy.”

Williams was inspired by her own parents: Her mother had Alzheimer’s and her father served as her mom’s caregiver. Williams devised the study to shed more light on the communication patterns that sustain spouse-caregiver relationships.

The study was based on observation of a group of couples in which one spouse had Alzheimer’s disease. The couples had been married for an average of 47 years; the spouses with dementia had an average age of 80, and the caregiver spouses age 77. Williams and her team recorded the interactions of these couples over the course of ten weeks, looking for clues as to the nature of their communication.

The team identified three overriding characteristics of the good interactions: (1) “engaging with compassion” (2) “patiently reaching out” and (3) “trusting in the existence of deep attachment.”

They also pinpointed several communication patterns that promoted successful interactions, including:

• “News of the day”: Caregivers and spouses chatted about everyday activities of life.
• “Sharing memories”: Caregiver spouses reminisced to the spouse about people and events from the past.
• “Storytelling”: Caregiving spouses recounted a long and detailed story, even if the person with dementia provided little response.
• “Delighting in the unexpected”: The caregiver expressed pleasure when the person with Alzheimer’s was able to respond more than expected.

“It was evident that caregiving spouses bore most of the responsibility in maintaining the caring relationship, but there was evidence that the spouse affected by Alzheimer’s disease actively participated as well,” said Williams.

The researchers noted that even the act of maintaining eye contact is a participation. They also found that when the spouse with Alzheimer’s was speaking, it was beneficial for the caregiver spouse not to interrupt or correct, but just to listen and affirm.

Source: IlluminAge AgeWise, reporting on a study from the Florida Atlantic University Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing (www.nursing.fau.edu). Read more about the study here.