September 2017 – Memory Care Support Group

Summer is winding down and many of us in Western New York begin to retreat inside to snuggle in for winter. We can’t forget just how much our bodies need us to push through and remain active. As we age fitness becomes extremely important to our brain health. Dr. Daniel Amen points out “Low blood flow is the number one brain imaging predictor of Alzheimer’s”. One way we can increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain is through exercise.

Just exercising three times per week can increase your overall wellness including blood flow to the brain. Exercise can look different for everyone and consulting with your doctor can help you decide on the best exercise for you. It may be a brisk walk, a swim class, or heading to the local gym. Katy Bowman, a bio mechanist, notes that “new research shows that the foot’s impact when walking or running can create forces that increase blood supply to the brain”. Just walking three times per week can improve blood flow to the brain. If you’re a caregiver, make sure your loved one is getting up and staying active throughout the day.

So get up and start moving because whatever you choose to do, make sure you get out there and do it. It not only helps your heart, muscles and joints but increases brain health too. While you’re at it stay hydrated. Keep water with you when working out. Your brain needs water just as much as the rest of your body does.

Here at the Tanglewood Group we have a wellness center and indoor activities to keep your loved one active throughout the year. To learn more contact us by calling 716-488-9434 or visit us at http://www.tanglewoodmanor.com.

Dementia is a loss of cognitive functioning and behavioral abilities to the extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. There are many reasons why someone may develop dementia. The causes can vary depending on the type of changes occurring in the brain. Some conditions can be controlled and are referred to as reversible forms of dementia. Some of these conditions include:

Medication Reaction/Interactions

Various Infections

Nutritional or Vitamin Deficiencies

Metabolic/Endocrine Abnormalities

Anoxia: Lack of Oxygen

Brain Bleeds

Brain Tumors or Blood Clots in the Brain

Head Injuries such as a Concussion

These conditions can cause dementia symptoms that once treated can sometimes halt the progression of dementia or even result in the dementia symptoms being reversed. Some other conditions that have been identified by professionals in the field that can cause dementia include:

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease a rare brain disorder

Huntington’s Disease a hereditary disorder caused by a faulty gene

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) caused by repeated traumatic brain injury

Subdural Hematoma bleeding between the brain’s surface and its outer covering

Sometimes the way symptoms manifest can make proper diagnosis of dementia difficult, which makes beginning your search for the right treatment and diagnosis even more important. Starting the treatment process early can help you and your family adjust to how to begin caregiving for your loved one with dementia, as there are also many types of irreversible or neurodegenerative forms of dementia including:

Vascular Dementia created by damage to blood vessels, blockage or brain bleeds, cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure

Parkinson’s Disease which is hallmarked by uncontrollable movements that progresses into dementia

Lewy Body Disease accompanies visual hallucinations and has abnormal protein deposits in the brain

Frontotemporal Degeneration where you typically see personality changes and language difficulties first

Wernicke Korsakoff typically due to prolonged misuse of alcohol with severe nutritional deficiencies

As we begin to notice signs of dementia it is important to be in touch with your medical professional and seek out the proper diagnosis. Seeking out support for you and your loved one is also something to consider during your search for an accurate diagnosis. Consider attending a dementia support group near you. The Tanglewood Group offers a Memory Care Support Group the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of the month from 2:00-3:30pm at Comfort Today. Please call for additional information (716) 488-9434 or email nmucheck@tanglewoodmanor.com

*Information gathered from the National Institute on Aging