LEWY BODY DEMENTIA is the second most common dementia as well as dementia’s most misdiagnosed type. Yet diagnosing it correctly is crucial for proper treatment. Learn about the 2 types of LBD, as well as types of dementia for which doctors mistake it.
FORGETFUL? Is it normal aging or a real problem? Learn 9 things you can do about it. Compare 5 serious memory problems against normal forgetfulness.
Spend time with Alzheimer’s patients and you quickly learn, “If you met one person with Alzheimer’s, you met one person with Alzheimer’s.” Each patient’s journey is unique. Researchers have uncovered one reason why: Memories are like fingerprints. Learn how the brain creates “memory fingerprints” and how this may lead to new, better Alzheimer’s treatments.
An Alzheimer’s blood test that works before symptoms appear can clear up doubts about memory problems. It can tell the difference between subjective memory problems, such as normal side-effects of aging, versus warning signs of Alzheimer’s.
A diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s saved the marriage of Trey and Theresa Pippen, according to Trey.
2 studies connect Alzheimer’s to concussions, and lighter blows to the head to memory loss. How careful can we be? Just how much does it matter?
Doctors routinely diagnose and track dementia. “Neuropsychological tests” are non-invasive, using interviews or paper/pen tests. More invasive diagnostics include powerful MRI and PET scans.
Some Alzheimer’s tests cost thousands of dollars, some cost pennies. The trick is using the right tests at the right time for the right person. An excellent scoring system from Mayo Clinic offers a powerful tool for making the best choices.
How do doctors “see” dementia? One way is with brain scans called MRI and fMRI. Doctors also use these scans to help see if it is Alzheimer’s, Vascular, Lewy Body or another type of dementia. An MRI offers a photo of the brain. More amazingly, an fMRI (functional MRI) can give a 3-D video of a living brain. Learn how it works.
Lewy body dementia receives relatively little attention and few research dollars, and often goes undiagnosed. Learn about a kit to do something about it. Watch Mike Belleville share his long journey of misdiagnosis from Alzheimer’s to Lewy body dementia.
VIDEO If you live to 85, there’s a 50/50 chance of getting a dementia such as Alzheimer’s. What if you could improve those odds by
SLEEP VIDEO & ARTICLE: Sound stimulation can improve sleep and memory for people with pre-dementia. This study used easy-to-buy “pink noise” machines. See how simple sleep therapy makes a real difference.
Looking for the best digital photo frame for a loved one with dementia? Many frames claim to be senior-friendly. We explore the Pix-Star series, rated best for its combination of features and value for the money.
Researchers find that a diet including more fruit, vegetables, beans and tea or coffee lowers the risk of developing dementia later in life. Learn more.
Did you know? Intellectual abilities are increased in the brain by an average 300% in most people ages 60-80.
Too much sleep and too little sleep can contribute to cognitive decline, researchers report. Learn more.
People with dementia who were consistently seen by the same General Practitioner (GP) are given fewer medicines and are less likely to be given medicines that can cause problems, according to researchers at University of Exeter. Learn more.
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