The Thursday Murder Club books by Richard Osman are wonderful, but sadly, in his fourth book Mr Osman has betrayed the character of Elizabeth, the lead person, and given a boost to the Dying with Dignity lobby. I won’t read them again and will not buy his new ones.
In an odd paradox, looking at the effects of dementia helps reveal how we are made in the image of God, because we are more than the sum of our parts. Discussing God’s design and how He cares for us can be affirming and even bring joy.
When someone we love has dementia, we need all our communication skills to help them, including reading between the lines and understanding their behaviour.
Researchers found that most middle aged people said they would not take part in a test of an Alzheimer’s drug, fearing the side effects. From those reported in recent years, it is understandable.
£126m has been promised by the government for dementia research, and a new task force to help speed the process. But is it throwing money down a black hole? The current research, focused on amyloid B, has produced no results for over 20 years.
New cases of dementia are falling, and if the decline continues by 2040 there will be 15 million fewer cases. This is happening without drugs, and is down to the power of friendship and life style changes
When a 90 year old pastor developed dementia his wife was stuck for something that the Day Centre could interest him in. Then his wife came up with an idea that built on the gift God had given him.
A drug with a controversial FDA approval, with a surrogate end-point because it failed to achieve its first, has been put on the back burner.
Where people are living in close knit communities there tend to be lower rates of dementia.
It failed its clinical trials but Aduhelm, the drug that dissolves plaques on the brain, has been approved by the FDA for the Accelerated Approval Lane amidst doubts about its efficacy or safety.
The common factor in countries that have good social care for older people is that their societies push for it, so accept paying higher taxes, whereas in the UK there is no such push, because of ageist attitudes.
We all have memories of Christmases past, that can be evoked by Christmas celebrations. There are also activities that families can do at Christmas that help boost faith and cognition, and that will bless everyone involved.
It looks like a long-limbed monkey doll, but a therapeutic device newly released by Cardiff Metropolitan University improves the wellbeing of people with advanced dementia
Hospital can be discombobulating for any patient, but those living with dementia find it even more disconcerting. Dr Jennifer Bute, a senior GP who has been living with dementia for 14 years, shares on this Zoom from professional and personal experience. And Louise Morse describes the one thing that physiotherapists say is usually missing, that is vital to their good care.
With no cure for dementia attention turns to prevention and things that can hold the symptoms back – Brain & Soul Boosting Sessions are doing just that!
New research shows that a friend who listens and using technology to stay in touch increases brain volume, improves cognition by ‘4-years worth’, and staves off dementia.
The risk of getting dementia increases with age, but new data shows that 80 year-olds who exercise have less risk than younger, sedentary adults.
The most important aspect of dementia care is helping to hold intact the identity of the person with dementia (Kitwood, 2010) As the disease progresses it can seem that the person has changed and is not recognisable as who he/she used to be. But changed behaviour does not mean that the person has disappeared.
In her book Dr Jennifer Bute tells of how people with dementia have been enabled to communicate. In this Zoom meeting she describes the techniques that are the most effective, and the results.
Losing a sense of smell has been shown in studies going back to 2017 an indicator that the person is developing dementia, and following the principle of ‘use it or lose it’, Louise Morse intends to exercise her capacity by smelling the new wild rhubarb disinfectant spray.
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