Pacific Grove, CA Parkinson’s Disease Can Take A Terrible Toll

A woman and an old lady sitting in a chair


Like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s can be a devastating disease which can take a heavy toll on your body.  There have been few new treatments for both diseases, which has been disappointing.  The disease hasn’t gotten a lot of attention from researchers until last December when a report said that Parkinson’s disease strikes 90,000 older Americans each year, 3x the previous estimate of 30,000 per year.  See a neurologist if you suspect that you or a loved one may be noticing shaking and other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

New Parkinson’s Test Released

A woman is hugging an older man


The Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) and the Michael J. Fox Foundation recently announced the discovery of a spinal fluid test that can objectively detect Parkinson’s in the cells of living people.  This is a huge step forward and will allow scientists to find out some previously unknown facts about the disease.  Things like how early cellular dysfunction begins in brain and body cells, what other aspects of biology are involved in risk, onset and progression, and why Parkinson’s symptoms and disease course are so different in different people.

 

Pebble Beach, CA Parkinson’s Disease Can Take A Terrible Toll

A woman and a nurse smiling for the camera.


Like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s can be a devastating disease which can take a heavy toll on your body.  There have been few new treatments for both diseases, which has been disappointing.  The disease hasn’t gotten a lot of attention from researchers until last December when a report said that Parkinson’s disease strikes 90,000 older Americans each year, 3x the previous estimate of 30,000 per year.  See a neurologist if you suspect that you or a loved one may be noticing shaking and other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Carmel, CA Parkinson’s Disease Can Take A Terrible Toll

A person putting an ear piece in to a persons ear.


Like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s can be a devastating disease which can take a heavy toll on your body.  There have been few new treatments for both diseases, which has been disappointing.  The disease hasn’t gotten a lot of attention from researchers until last December when a report said that Parkinson’s disease strikes 90,000 older Americans each year, 3x the previous estimate of 30,000 per year.  See a neurologist if you suspect that you or a loved one may be noticing shaking and other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Monterey, CA Parkinson’s Disease Can Take A Terrible Toll

A person putting an ear piece in to a persons ear.


Like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s can be a devastating disease which can take a heavy toll on your body.  There have been few new treatments for both diseases, which has been disappointing.  The disease hasn’t gotten a lot of attention from researchers until last December when a report said that Parkinson’s disease strikes 90,000 older Americans each year, 3x the previous estimate of 30,000 per year.  See a neurologist if you suspect that you or a loved one may be noticing shaking and other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Diet Soda A No No, According To New Research Report

A blue wal mart store with people walking around.


Researchers have found that drinking diet sodas can cause heart disease, strokes and even dementia.  They say it is safer to stick with something more simple like carbonated beverages or black coffee.

85% Of Older Americans Have Chronic Disease

A woman sitting next to an older man on a couch.


According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 85% of older Americans have one or more chronic condition.  This also applies to the one in five adults that AARP estimates serve as unpaid family caregivers.  Sadly, many of them have Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, which can be quite challenging to deal with.  Fainting due to dehydration, falls and other forms of accidental trauma are reported to be the leading cause of hospitalization for Alzheimer’s patients, even though they are preventable.  If you are caring for a loved one, it’s important you get some respite care as the stress can be intense, particularly if you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease.

Carmel Foundation Hosting A Caregiver’s Guide To Finances February 22

A woman sitting on the couch with an older man.


The Carmel Foundation has some interesting seminars going on this month.  On Wednesday February 22 the Alzheimer’s Association presents “Managing Your Money – A Caregivers Guide To Finances.â€Â  It will be held in Diment Hall at 2:30 and refreshments will be served.  Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and my grandmother had Alzheimer’s disease when they passed away.  The Alzheimer’s Association has a great group of people in the Monterey office.  They also have a 24-hour hotline you can call at 1-800-272-3900.

Carmel Foundation Hosting A Caregiver’s Guide To Finances February 22

A woman sitting on the couch with an older man.


The Carmel Foundation has some interesting seminars going on this month.  On Wednesday February 22 the Alzheimer’s Association presents “Managing Your Money – A Caregivers Guide To Finances.â€Â  It will be held in Diment Hall at 2:30 and refreshments will be served.  Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and my grandmother had Alzheimer’s disease when they passed away.  The Alzheimer’s Association has a great group of people in the Monterey office.  They also have a 24-hour hotline you can call at 1-800-272-3900.

1 Million Nursing Home Patients Drugged Excessively

A woman sitting on the couch with an older man.


80% of nursing home residents on Medicare were prescribed psychiatric drugs during a recent nine-year period, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (AARP Bulletin, January/February 2023, page 4).  It is well known that there is a labor shortage and nursing staffs are cut pretty slim, but unfortunately this often results in nursing home residents being overmedicated with anti-depressants and anti-psychotics so that they rarely get up and move around or socialize.  This is unfortunate as we have seen many of our clients put into nursing homes because of the high cost of home-care, and many of them pass away shortly thereafter.  I believe this is due to a number of factors including depression, lack of social interaction, and a desire to remain in their own home. Psychotropics have long been criticized by nursing home resident advocates as “chemical straitjackets†used to sedate unruly residents, including those with Alzheimer’s and dementia.  I have seen this first hand and it is very unsettling.