By Meredith Kimple

As technology evolves at a break-neck speed, we often hear cautionary reminders that we are becoming too reliant on our cellphones, tablets, and computers. While there is nothing wrong with encouraging us to detach from these objects, such warnings ultimately sell the truly helpful aspects of new technology short.

Older people may be the most resistant to these developments, and understandably. But there’s a new incentive to invest in your interactive screen of choice; recent research shows that activities like regularly using email may help protect against dementia.

The Mayo Clinic conducted a study that followed nearly 2,000 cognitively normal individuals over the age of 70 for a span of four years. Participants received neurocognitive evaluations every 15 months for the duration of the study, and were ultimately labeled either cognitively normal or mildly impaired. Researchers found that individuals who engaged in certain activities at least once or twice a week experienced less cognitive decline than those who only performed them a few times a month, if that.

What were these activities?

You might guess something like puzzles or knitting, or perhaps regular social interaction, but the activity that had the greatest bearing on participants’ cognitive health was computer use.

Those who used a computer a few times per week lowered their risk of new-onset mild cognitive impairment by roughly 30 percent; other activities, including arts and crafts, social interaction, and games, brought a 20 percent decrease. Even participants who were genetically predisposed to developing cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease saw some benefit from engaging in weekly computer use.

The results of the study corroborate earlier findings that certain mentally stimulating activities can offer a degree of protection against mild cognitive impairment. You might think that in order to take full advantage of these benefits, these activities must have been performed for many years. However, research suggests that beginning these practices at a more advanced age can still decrease one’s risk.

Another study showed a possible connection between mentally stimulating activities and a reduced risk for suffering delirium, a state of sudden confusion that the elderly sometimes experience after a major procedure. Researchers found that the 32 percent of participants who developed post-operative delirium engaged in fewer leisure activities than their counterparts who were not delirious. The activities that most reduced their risk for delirium were reading books, playing computer games, and using email. Researchers concluded that the more time older individuals invested in these leisure activities, the less likely they were to develop delirium after surgery. Because delirium can increase an older person’s risk for decline and dementia, regular engagement in mentally stimulating activities may be vital for preserving their cognitive health.

In both studies, computer use played a surprising role in lowering seniors’ risk for developing a cognitive impairment. But why might this surprise us? Reading, even when done on the computer, helps to keep our minds sharp. Using a computer requires practice and to a certain extent, keen concentration.

Yet, since the advent of in-home television, society has denounced the convenient practice of gleaning information from screens.

Though we rush to buy the newest smart phone upgrade and gladly spend hours on social media, deep down, we harbor a fragment of guilt. As a culture, we simultaneously glorify and decry the ever-changing face of technological advancement. Feelings towards the latest innovations are highly charged, and perhaps most so among the elderly population.

Our senior loved ones grew up without computers and cellphones, and depending on their age, without television. While many older people have embraced the most recent developments in technology, others are frustrated and afraid of it. Part of this may be an ornery loyalty to the traditional ways of doing things, or a belief that computers and smartphones offer nothing to their demographic. However, these dismissals may attempt to mask an inability to use the technology.

Because computer-related activities seem to have a positive effect on seniors’ “cognitive reserve”, encouraging our loved ones to jump on the bandwagon may help to preserve their mental faculties. We should do everything we can to help them feel comfortable using a computer; search for local classes geared towards senior learning, and offer to demonstrate basic applications, like email.

While computer usage is certainly not the only mentally stimulating activity, being able to access email and search the Internet provides a link to public life. It’s a great way to keep in touch with long-distance friends and family, stay up-to-date on the news, or watch TV shows and viral videos. Computers can help seniors with limited mobility maintain a strong connection with the world, and this inclusivity may help boost their self-esteem.

By Meredith Kimple

While some of us pursue healthier choices for a fit physique, many of us are also concerned with keeping our bodies functioning at their best. A part of this maintenance should include eating foods that support our brain health.

In our youth, we are blessed with excellent cognitive function naturally, but as we age, we must actively bolster the brain’s faculties to maintain sharpness. Certain foods have been linked to memory improvement and are beneficial to our body’s overall wellness; by adding them to our diet, we may be able to stave off cognitive decline and preserve our mental health well into old age.

So, what are these exotic miracle foods?

It may disappoint you to learn that they are things you already eat! And even if you don’t eat them now, they are easily obtained:

1. Blueberries

There have been a number of studies that show the positive effect these little berries have on cognitive function. Blueberries are full of compounds called anthocyanins, which promote anti-inflammation in the body; research suggests that blueberries help boost neural signaling in the brain and may even improve short-term memory loss.

And the best part is, they can be added to just about anything. Put them on your morning cereal or oatmeal, add them to salads and smoothies, or just grab a handful for a refreshing afternoon snack.

2. Fish

A study at the University of Pittsburgh found that participants who ate baked or broiled fish at least once a week had brains with a larger volume in the areas associated with memory. Omega-3 fatty acids are prevalent in oily fish, like salmon, and have been found to aid in the memory of facts and object recognition. Omega-3 is also great for heart health, so incorporating fish into your diet can bring twice the benefits.

Fresh fish that is baked or broiled is preferable to fried, but try swapping out a meat dish for fish at least once a week.

3. Walnuts

These meaty nuts even resemble a human brain! Packed with Vitamin E, they may help slow or prevent cognitive decline. A UCLA study found that adults who ate walnuts showed consistently greater cognitive function than those who did not, regardless of ethnicity, gender, and age. While more research is needed to verify those results, walnuts are a great source for healthy fat, and like salmon, contain Omega-3, making them beneficial for heart health as well.

4. Leafy Greens

Bad news for those of us who loathe spinach.

Whether it’s kale, spinach, or collards, leafy greens are bursting with nutrients like Vitamin K and beta-carotene that help slow cognitive decline. A recent study showed that eating as few as two servings of leafy greens a day gave participants the cognitive function of someone 10 years younger, compared to those participants who ate none.

And if you have a real aversion to your greens, never fear. These powerful nutrients can also be found in brightly colored fruits and vegetables! Still, trying to add more greens to your meals is highly recommended.

5. Green Tea

We know that green tea is full of antioxidants, but recently a university in China conducted a study to show that it may in fact be beneficial for spatial learning and memory too. Green tea contains an antioxidant called ECCG (epigallocatechin-3 gallate) that produces highly adaptive neural progenitor cells. This cell production seems to improve both impaired spatial memory and object recognition. Green tea may therefore be helpful in slowing or even improving aspects of cognitive degeneration.

Brewed green tea has stronger properties than canned or bottled, and is very easy to find. If you’re someone who drinks coffee or black tea frequently, try swapping it out for green tea from time to time. It will give you energy while helping you preserve cognitive function.

6. Eggs

Eggs have long been dubbed “brain food.” They contain a large amount of choline, a nutrient that aids in the communication between cells in the brain and the body. Choline can help to preserve brain chemistry as the body ages, which can protect against cognitive decline.

Vegetable omelets are a great way to incorporate multiple brain foods into one simple dish.

These are just a handful of the foods that can provide our brains with some protection against cognitive decline; other foods that can promote healthy cognitive aging include tomatoes, broccoli, avocados, and dark chocolate.

Planning meals in advance and having these foods handy can ensure that we eat in a way that is not just beneficial to our bodies, but to our minds. And these are not recommended to seniors only; there is some evidence that the longer we eat brain-healthy foods, the stronger our guard against cognitive decline. By incorporating these nutrients into our diets, we and our older loved ones can take an active role in maintaining our cognitive function for as long as possible.

None of the foods in this list are miracle workers, and none are foolproof drugs that can guarantee protection. Research has yet to provide answers that can satisfy all of our questions, but it confirms what has been previously theorized; it is no coincidence that many of the foods that are beneficial to our brains are also good for our hearts, and for our overall health.

So as we enter a new year, consider adding these brain-empowering foods to your diet, rather than focusing only on what you can remove.

Of the many incurable diseases which plague humanity, none may experience so prevalent a rise in a few decades’ time as Alzheimer’s. As those of the “Baby Boomer” generation age, it is estimated that as many as 13 million Americans could develop the disease by 2050; the global escalation of Alzheimer’s and the absence of any concrete treatment is disheartening, to say the least.

But in the last few months Alzheimer’s research has yielded potential methods by which the disease may be reversed.

In June, the exciting findings from a study produced by the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and the UCLA Easton Laboratories for Neurodegenerative Disease Research were published, showing the first objective evidence that Alzheimer’s can be reversed. Ten participants, most in the early stages of the disease, followed a personalized program incorporating dietary changes, sleep improvement, supplement usage, and regular exercise, among other things.

The study was designed to test the hypothesis that Alzheimer’s, like cardiovascular disease and HIV, can benefit from a combination of therapies tailored to the patient and their specific needs. A drug may only treat one aspect of the disease, which would ultimately prove ineffective if, like some researchers believe, Alzheimer’s is the result of a series of molecular interactions and not simply a disease of “toxicity”. Dr. Dale Bredesen, a professor at the Buck Institute and UCLA Easton Laboratories, likens a brain affected by Alzheimer’s to a roof with 36 holes; while medication could patch up one hole, there are 35 other holes that require a combination of various treatments.

Following their personalized programs, nine of the ten participants saw significant improvement, and in some cases, they were able to retain the functions lost in their initial decline. Those who had been forced to quit their jobs because of memory impairment were able to return to work with improved performance.

Though the results of the study are very encouraging, they have not yet been replicated in a larger sample size. While nine out of ten improving is astounding, it is worth noting that the participant who did not improve was in the later stages of the disease. All other participants were either in the very early stages of Alzheimer’s, or in a pre-Alzheimer’s stage; these 36-point therapeutic programs may primarily benefit those who are diagnosed early. Most participants tested positive for the APOE4 allele, which put them at an increased risk of developing the disease; as the majority of Alzheimer’s cases in the United States are caused by APOE4, Dr. Bredesen encourages people to have this same test so that they can begin preventative measures as soon as possible.

And just last month, Tel Aviv University published the results of a study to observe the APOE gene’s role in Alzheimer’s disease. APOE moves lipids in and out of cells, but can appear in one of two forms: the effective APOE3 and the impaired APOE4. Researchers studied the APOE4 gene in mice, and found that its presence led to memory and learning difficulties, as well as damaged synapses in the brain. They then activated ABCA1, an enzyme that can help APOE4 with the transport of lipids through cells; this process reversed the impairment of APOE4 and, amazingly, seemed to reverse the impaired mental faculties of the mice.

While neither of these studies offers us an immediate solution to Alzheimer’s disease, the progress evident in their results are exciting and should give us hope for the future. It goes without saying that Alzheimer’s is extraordinarily complex, and the answer to the disease will be equally so. There is no such thing as an overnight cure, or a wonder drug. There are no foolproof diets or other health programs that can guarantee protection.

But a few decades ago researchers had no idea of the role APOE4 plays in the development of Alzheimer’s. There was no evidence that a multi-therapy approach to the disease could have any impact, let alone lead to a reversal of memory impairments. And these new developments in Alzheimer’s research have only occurred in the last few months; the prognosis of the disease can only improve over time, and by exploring multiple potential methods, the odds that a variety of treatments may be found increase.

In the meantime, all we can do is continue to take care of our bodies to the best of our ability, and ensure that our senior loved ones do the same. There is still so much we don’t understand about Alzheimer’s, and our efforts to eat healthily, keep our minds sharp and bodies fit, may not be enough to prevent development of the disease. But maintaining a healthy lifestyle, making sure we get enough sleep, exercising, and staying positive can only help us as we age.

Contributed by Meredith Kimple

Study: Elderly’s Family Caregivers Need Help, Too

By Rachel Bluth

Republished from Kaiser Health News.

Elderly Americans’ well-being is at risk unless the U.S. does much more to help millions of family caregivers who sacrifice their own health, finances and personal lives to look out for loved ones, reported a study released Tuesday.

Nearly 18 million people care for a relative who is 65 or older and needs help, yet “the need to recognize and support caregivers is among the most significant challenges” facing the nation’s swelling elderly population, their families and society, according to the report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. Describing family caregiving as “a critical issue of public policy,” a committee of experts in health care and aging said the next presidential administration in 2017 should direct a national strategy to develop ways to support caregivers, including economically.

According to the report, people who help elderly family members with three or more personal tasks a day devote 253 hours a month to caregiving — almost the equivalent of two full-time jobs.

Five years is the median duration that family members care for older adults with high needs, the report said.

For some Americans who accept that responsibility, that can mean taking a less demanding job, foregoing promotions or dropping out of the workforce.

Lost wages and benefits average $303,880 over the lifetimes of people 50 and older who stop working to care for a parent, according to a study cited in the report. That’s not all: A lower earnings history also means reduced Social Security payments for caregivers when they become eligible.

A possible fix for that problem, proposed by researchers in 2009, is to provide caregivers with a Social Security credit for a defined level of deemed wages during a specified time period, the report said.

Leave programs do exist for some workers shouldering caregiving duties, but many lack such job protections.

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act doesn’t cover 40 percent of the workforce. It allows eligible employees to take 12 weeks of unpaid time off to care for certain family members, but the law only applies to those who work federal, state and local governments and private companies with more than 50 employees. But ineligible family relationships for leave include sons- and daughters-in-law, stepchildren, grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews. Many workers can’t afford to give up their incomes for 12 weeks.

In 2011, 17 percent of caregivers didn’t take leave because they feared losing their jobs, according to a national survey cited in the report.

The report recommends that family caregivers receive status as a protected class under existing job discrimination laws and that employers get guidance and training on ways to support workers caring for family members.

Beyond the economic costs of caregiving, the report notes that the social and physical toll of caregiving should get more attention than it does.

“If their needs are not recognized and addressed, family caregivers risk burnout from the prolonged distress and physical demands of caregiving, and the nation will bear the costs,” the report said.

Instead of delivering “patient-centered” care, health care providers should adopt “family-centered” models that include checking with caregivers to ensure they are healthy and capable of filling the role. The report also recommended wellness visits, counseling sessions and better training for caregivers who must understand increasingly complicated medical instructions.

Dealing with feeding and drainage tubes, catheters and other complicated medical devices causes stress, and the study’s authors noted that caregivers report “learning by trial and error and fearing that they will make a life-threatening mistake.”

The study was funded by 13 private foundations, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and an anonymous donor that requested the National Academies undertake the research in 2014.

KHN’s coverage of late life and geriatric care is supported by The John A. Hartford Foundation. KHN’s coverage of aging and long-term care issues is supported by The SCAN Foundation.

It has been some time since I have had the opportunity to check in here at our blog. Since that time, my Dad declined in a heart-breaking spiral which can be typical in the last stages of Alzheimer’s, and we said good-bye to him on August 22, 2015. Over the last months, we wrestled with the pain of watching Dad lose function and mobility day by day, and toggled between spending our time savoring what we knew to be our final days with him and making frantic attempts to prevent him from slipping away. In that short time, Dad’s care needs began to exceed what even our own Aegis caregivers could safely provide in the home, so we hastily arranged for his transition to a skilled nursing facility nearby. The “paper” transition was smooth, but the Dad transition was not.

At every turn, we tried to handle the demands of our own families and the challenges that came with Dad’s confusion and frustration in his new environment. We experienced the gnawing second-guessing of whether we had done the right thing (there was no other choice, was there?), and the guilt (newness and unfamiliarity had to be the worst possible thing for a person with dementia, didn’t it?), but also gained a small measure of peace that Mom (87) was finally getting a full night’s sleep, and not pushing herself to the brink of a major health crash. Dad was also going to have more access to more comprehensive services that a facility could provide to try to preserve as much of his functioning as possible. Yet, it was still wrenching to see my parents physically separated for the very first time after 64 years of marriage. They had always shared that same bed, and the thought of Dad calling my mom’s name when we weren’t there, even for just a few hours, was devastating.

We are so grateful that Dad’s needs were well-served and he received professional and compassionate care until his death. And I am grateful, too, that our out of town family members bore the news of the advancing changes with understanding. No shaming. No resentment. Just a collective wistfulness and profoundly joyful appreciation for the life of a man who by many would be called a quiet hero. I know it’s what he was and continues to be for me and our family–an example of deep faith and integrity.

For each person, for each family, the path takes it own kind of turn, but it is never easy. On a routine basis we expertly transition families or help families enable their loved ones to age in place with abundant support. Yet because we have had to weather these very storms ourselves, we get it.  We never take for granted that although it might look smooth on the outside, families will still need support to cope with deeply intimate challenges.  It is our promise that we are here to provide it.

I’d like to tell you that Aegis Care Advisors was a long time in the making, and was rolled out with strategic military precision, but if I did, I would be lying. We took a somewhat circuitous route to get to this spot, and as often is the case in life, we are guided by the meanderings of personal experience.  So I feel like now is probably a good time to share a little something about my Dad.  He is 88, and has Alzheimer’s disease.

My Twitter feed lights up with purple these days, as the ENDALZ logo pops up minute after minute, recounting the celebrity appearances for a popular event meant to raise funds to fight Alzheimer’s disease. If I were a more healthy-minded person, I would be excited and proud of the people toiling over this effort, but I struggle to cheer this on, since I am still angry. We have been victimized by this thief, and our family has felt the chronic helplessness of being forced to stand by while our Dad is stolen from us — little by little — no matter how tightly we try to hold him in our grasp. Along with his intellect, a lifetime of professional knowledge in the field of textile chemistry, and his fatherly wisdom, the thief has stolen my Dad’s story. And over time, as the stealthy stalker was making away with golden pieces of treasure that is my Dad, I was ignoring my own weak promptings to gather in the nuggets of my parents’ earlier lives, and I failed to do important things like ask how he felt when he asked  Mom for their first date, or how he managed to get himself to South Bend alone at the age of 18 to pursue his Masters’ Degree in Chemistry at Notre Dame. Now, like the lover rushing to intercept the train at the platform, my heart sinks as I feel the crushing weight of regret that I have arrived too late.

We do have the well-worn stories that we yearned to hear told and retold over the years, like the turbulent time when brain cancer took Dad’s youngest brother, our would-be uncle Jimmy, at the age of 11, whose last days were spent in a hospital room with a singular, dismal view of a building bearing an advertisement for a coffin company. Or the time when Dad, in the days when young children were allowed to be adventurers, benevolently spruced up a neighbor’s car with a fresh coat of paint after coming across a can and brush found in their garage–doing so with the bright-eyed, whimsical earnestness of the 4 year old artist eager to present a lovingly crafted gift. But now these stories are like bulky pixels that make us want to rush to focus and readjust the picture into crisper clarity. We are desperate to bring into view the rich, brilliant colors and detail of the rest of the story, but the thief has craftily and irreparably scrambled the settings to do this.

Now we feel cheated. And violated. And afraid.

So we push ahead in our helplessness, and offset our heavy hearts with a larger counterweight of gratitude for this father, son, husband, friend, and disciple. We remember how Dad was–the coach, the advisor, the business man, the prayer giant. The guy who let you know that faith in God, honesty, integrity, and strength of character were paramount. The guy who was always in your corner. But today, I think maybe Dad is telling us his greater story more eloquently now than ever. No day goes by without Dad’s kindness and gentle, loving spirit shining through–a flash revealing the authentic man. The wide and warm smile, the willingness to chuckle and be playful remains while Dad continues his valiant quest to somehow convey to us the drama unfolding, yet locked, inside his brilliant mind. His gestures and words are strung together to form a language that we struggle to make sense of much of the time, but he speaks a language today that outshines and outperforms any form of conventional wording. He beams with recognition and love when we walk in to greet him, with an expression that is unfailingly joyful, hopeful, grateful, and unconditional, but the greatest expression of this must be witnessed first-hand when Mom comes in after short respite times, as the love Dad has for her, the mother of their seven children, and wife of 64 years, defies any form of written description. Underneath all of this, you cannot miss the relentless desire my Dad has to continue to share. He wants to share his moments with others, with us–he wants to just “be with.”

Dad was always one to advise us and encourage us to take on as many challenges as we could withstand and recognize opportunities in front of us. So hopefully that’s what we are doing now–sharing what we have with whomever might find what we say and do to be valuable. In the end, we are all here to need each other.

So Dad, thank you. You have revealed that you are the opportunity in front of us–our opportunity to share back, reassure you with our presence and care; and in this way, your life is perhaps even more eminently valuable now than it ever has been. And — you continue to be brilliant, for in this way, you have managed to foil, outsmart and outmaneuver your thief.