The Mediterranean diet is widely recommended by health professionals as a way to promote heart health as well as for possible Alzheimer’s protection. For most people, the fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and olive oil-based salad dressings that make up the bulk of a Mediterranean diet are excellent foods for general health.... Read more
We who write about caregiving often find ourselves challenged to find different words to express similar concepts in order to give variety to our writing. For example, we often substitute “loved one” for parent, spouse, relative or care receiver. In real life, not every caregiver is jumping with joy over caring for a parent who once... Read more
When a beloved elder dies, we may have varying reactions, frequently changing moment by moment. Naturally, there’s grief and the realization that we’ve seen the last of our loved one’s physical presence. Often, however, if the death follows a long illness or significant pain, we can also feel a sense of relief that their... Read more
It’s natural for caregivers to worry if their loved one is getting sufficient nourishment. People with dementia are often a challenge because they forget to eat, or they may have problems remembering how to transfer food from the plate to their mouths. Some people have trouble chewing and swallowing, especially during later stages of... Read more
A new doctoral thesis by Sara K. Bengtsson, Department of Clinical Sciences, Umeå University, Sweden, examines the reason why chronic stress can increase one’s risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Allopregnanolone, one of the steroids produced by a body under stress, can inhibit general brain activity. Bengtsson's thesis... Read more
