MRI Can Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease With 98% Accuracy : By Derek Baine

A doctor showing the report to the senior female patient

Science is taking a giant leap forward as machine-learning, artificial intelligence and other types of computer-generated intelligence are contributing a great deal to our knowledge of various diseases.  Finally, there is good news on the Alzheimer’s front.  A study which was published in the journal Nature found that a machine-learning MRI algorithm can predict whether a person has Alzheimer’s disease or not with a whopping 98% accuracy.  It can also differentiate between an early and late-staged Alzheimer’s patient with an accuracy of 79%.  The modeling was achieved on an MRI found in most hospitals.

 

Musculoskeletal Fitness Is A Prime Indicator Of Declining Health.

Senior couples doing cardio exercises on the yoga mat

Oddly enough, new research found that if you are unable to balance on one foot for 10 seconds, you’re twice as likely to die over the next decade.  So if any of you girls were sent to charm school when you were young and taught proper balance and posture, now is the time to thank your mother.   The peer-reviewed study was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine and found that poor balance is linked to frailty in older adults and one’s musculoskeletal fitness is a prime indicator of declining health.

Monterey, CA Telehealth Continues To Boom

A doctor holding a stethoscope with his hand

Telehealth continues to boom even as the pandemic has begun to slow.  It’s quicker, easier, and doctors can see more patients.  Prior to the pandemic, telehealth made up less than 0.01% of healthcare visits across the United States.  By mid-April of 2020, that number had jumped to 69%.  Both Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, or CHOMP, and Dignity Health care are actively promoting telehealth.  This is particularly great news for those with rare diseases for which there are just a handful of specialists nationwide.  A new study found that 83% of those with rare diseases were offered a telehealth visit by their health care provider and 92% of those felt it was a positive experience.

Monterey, CA Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials Can Help You And Others

A doctor showing the report to the senior female patient

There can be great self-gratification that comes from participating in a clinical trial in the hopes of coming up with a promising treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.  Unfortunately, there has been very little good news on the clinical trial front, with a new study showing that the most recent drug released to the market, Roche’s crenezumab did not slow or prevent cognitive decline.

There was a recent story in The Future of Personal Health about Donald Macintosh, a smart attorney with a good memory who had a 25-year career but now can’t make a cup of coffee or remember what he ate for lunch.  He was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, an affliction that impacts 6 million Americans.  He is now excited to be participating in a clinical trial for a new Alzheimer’s drug which could slow the progress of the disease.  “It’s a privilege,” he says.  “Not everyone is in such a trial because either they don’t know about it or they don’t meet the requirements,” he added.  Although Donald had to drop out of the most recent trial due to side effects, he is looking forward to joining others.  He has no regrets about participating.  “Even if it doesn’t benefit me personally, it will benefit other people in the future,” he said.

Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and my grandmother died of this terrible disease.  There are some great people at the Alzheimer’s Association in Monterey at Ryan’s Ranch that can help you if you are dealing with a family member with dementia.  They also have a 24 hour hotline at 1-800-272-3900.

Carmel, CA Promising New Alzheimer’s Drug Crenezumab Takes Another Hit

An old woman with an injured face

A new study is out on the controversial drug that recently hit the market to treat Alzheimer’s disease, Roche’s crenezumab, and the results are not good.  The study showed that it did not slow or prevent cognitive decline in a long-running study of Colombian families who carried a genetic mutation that put them at a very high risk of developing the disease.  The drug did not demonstrate a significant benefit in tests measuring cognitive abilities or memory function among study participants.  ‘We’re disappointed that crenezumab did not show a significant clinical benefit,” Eric Reiman, the executive director at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, told USA Today.  Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and my grandmother died of this terrible disease.  There are some great people at the Alzheimer’s Association in Monterey at Ryan’s Ranch that can help you if you are dealing with a family member with dementia.  They also have a 24 hour hotline at 1-800-272-3900.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2022/06/16/closely-watched-alzheimers-study-fails-prevent-advance-disease/7639930001/

Monterey, CA Caregiver Costs Rising : It’s Expensive To Stay In Your Own Home And Independent

A glass jar with retirement sticker filled with money

A recent article in AARP Bulletin said that nearly 70% of senior citizens will require help from others to get through their day.  Women will need it for an average of 3.7 years and men 2.2 years.  However, having owned Family inHome Caregiving of Monterey and Santa Cruz for more than 12 years, I think these numbers can be low—some people require help for more than a decade.  Seniors are living longer, and if you live to be over 100 and need care starting at age 80, that can be two decades of monthly caregiving bills if you don’t have a relative willing to step in.  Unfortunately, Long Term Care or LTC Insurance is the only type of insurance which pays for having a caregiver come to your home, and few people have it.  I always urge the children of clients that we care for to get it while they can.  It’s very expensive and the younger you get a policy and the healthier you are the better rate you will get.  Some companies also give discounts if both a husband and wife buy a policy at the same time.

Monterey, CA Elder Abuse Alert : Classic Car Part Scam

With car week coming up in August, many Monterey County residents and car aficionados from around the country are sprucing up their classic cars to show off.  But beware if you are in need of a rare car part—make sure that you get it from a reputable dealer.  Scammers have been scouring craigslist and other ads looking for parts.  They will then tell you they have that exact part but after you send them the money you will never get the part.

Pebble Beach, CA Caregiver Costs Rising : It’s Expensive To Stay In Your Own Home And Independent

A glass jar with retirement sticker filled with money

A recent article in AARP Bulletin said that nearly 70% of senior citizens will require help from others to get through their day.  Women will need it for an average of 3.7 years and men 2.2 years.  However, having owned Family inHome Caregiving of Monterey and Santa Cruz for more than 12 years, I think these numbers can be low—some people require help for more than a decade.  Seniors are living longer, and if you live to be over 100 and need care starting at age 80, that can be two decades of monthly caregiving bills if you don’t have a relative willing to step in.  Unfortunately, Long Term Care or LTC Insurance is the only type of insurance which pays for having a caregiver come to your home, and few people have it.  I always urge the children of clients that we care for to get it while they can.  It’s very expensive and the younger you get a policy and the healthier you are the better rate you will get.  Some companies also give discounts if both a husband and wife buy a policy at the same time.

Pacific Grove, CA Elder Abuse Alert : Classic Car Part Scam

With car week coming up in August, many Monterey County residents and car aficionados from around the country are sprucing up their classic cars to show off.  But beware if you are in need of a rare car part—make sure that you get it from a reputable dealer.  Scammers have been scouring craigslist and other ads looking for parts.  They will then tell you they have that exact part but after you send them the money you will never get the part.

Pacific Grove, CA Caregiver Costs Rising : It’s Expensive To Stay In Your Own Home And Independent

A glass jar with retirement sticker filled with money

A recent article in AARP Bulletin said that nearly 70% of senior citizens will require help from others to get through their day.  Women will need it for an average of 3.7 years and men 2.2 years.  However, having owned Family inHome Caregiving of Monterey and Santa Cruz for more than 12 years, I think these numbers can be low—some people require help for more than a decade.  Seniors are living longer, and if you live to be over 100 and need care starting at age 80, that can be two decades of monthly caregiving bills if you don’t have a relative willing to step in.  Unfortunately, Long Term Care or LTC Insurance is the only type of insurance which pays for having a caregiver come to your home, and few people have it.  I always urge the children of clients that we care for to get it while they can.  It’s very expensive and the younger you get a policy and the healthier you are the better rate you will get.  Some companies also give discounts if both a husband and wife buy a policy at the same time.