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Omega 3 and Dementia Prevention

Rok Krivec Blog, Prevention January 24, 2021October 18, 2021dementia, omega 3, omega 3 and dementia

In the quest to find some of the most effective ways of preventing dementia, experts have been pursuing an angle that is worth looking into – omega 3 and dementia.

Omega 3 remains one of the diet components that come highly recommended concerning brain health.

New reports also link the consumption of omega 3 to dementia prevention.

Read on to find out more about how omega 3 may potentially help with the prevention of dementia.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids For Dementia Treatment

What is Omega 3?

To better understand the topic of omega 3 and dementia, it is best to start with explaining what omega 3 is.

It is a type of polyunsaturated fat present in the cell membrane. It is an umbrella term for all omega 3 fatty acids. These include docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

The human body produces omega 3 but at a very slow rate which means that you should get it from your diet. Plant-based omega 3 rich nuts, vegetables, and seeds are good sources.

Oily fish like tuna, mackerel, salmon, and herring are rich in omega 3.

Importance of Omega 3

Omega 3 plays a significant role in the brain from when the fetus is developing to old age.

Omega 3 fatty acids are vital for the structural development of the brain because they improve mood and support neurotransmitter signaling according to a nutritionist at BioCare Mana, Chouchane.

Scientists believe that the brain cells with high omega 3 levels communicate better with other cells, a move that is crucial for brain function.

When the body takes the fat, it breaks down some of it to carry out various functions. Some of these reduce the immune response in the body.

Others are responsible for protecting cells from oxidative stress.

In addition to brain health, omega 3 also helps with heart health, energy production, supporting hormone synthesis, and regulating inflammation.

How Omega 3 May Help with Dementia Prevention

Now that you have some background information on what omega 3 is and its importance in the body, let’s look at some of the reasons omega 3 and dementia prevention correlate.

To start off, research indicates that oxidative stress and immune response are some of the key contributors to dementia development.

The fact that omega 3 protects against these goes to show that it may have a hand in the prevention of dementia.

Several studies have already been conducted to investigate these claims. These have taken different directions.

Some studies looked into what people with and without the disease eat and how often to see if this has an effect on the disease.

Others involved clinical trials where a percentage of participants were given omega 3 supplements and the rest placebo to compare dementia risk.

The studies focusing on risk of dementia and the consumption of fish produced varying results.

One of the studies supported the notion. It has 2233 participants all older individuals. They were followed for about six years.

The researchers concluded that those participants that were eating fish two times a week has reduced dementia risk by 41% compared to the elderly who were eating it once a month.

Another study had conflicting results where the experts found that there was no difference in dementia risk based on the amount of fish that a person consumed. This is after studying 5,395 individuals for ten years.

While discussing omega 3 and dementia, stakeholders also talk about the anti-inflammatory properties that omega 3 has. These might help with the risk of dementia development.

Raise DHA levels

Persons with dementia usually have low DHA levels in the brain when compared to individuals who do not have the disease.

Many omega 3 supplements contain DHA and EPA according to information on the packaging.

These are essential for human health because they are the main types of omega 3 that exert the most benefit.

DHA helps with cell membrane structural role while EPA assists with body functions like inflammation.

There are also claims that omega 3 fatty acids help to reduce levels of beta-amyloid. These are a marker for dementia in the brain.

One study published in the journal Neurology researchers stated that people who ate the highest omega 3 levels had the lowest levels of beta-amyloid buildup in the blood.

Clinical trials, on the other hand, although small, have also tried to show the relationship between omega 3 and dementia.

For instance, one study offered 171 people with dementia omega 3 supplements.

It found that there was no cognitive improvement after two years compared to weak persons who were not on the supplements.

Another clinical study studied 437 healthy people who were begging to show some dementia symptoms like troubles with memory recall.

They reported that after taking the omega 3 supplements for 24 weeks there were improvements in learning and recall.

This suggests that omega 3 may improve symptoms during the onset of dementia. On the other hand, it has no effect during the later stages.

Closing Thoughts

To date, the topic on omega 3 and dementia prevention remains highly controversial. Indeed, omega 3 may be good for brain health.

However, there is no overwhelming evidence that it may help prevent dementia development.

Further research is still necessary on this topic. Only that, it will be clearer, whether or not omega 3 is instrumental in the prevention of dementia development.

Acupuncture and Dementia for Improved Memory

Rok Krivec Blog, Prevention January 24, 2021October 18, 2021acupuncture and dementia, dementia, dementia prevention

There have been several studies looking into acupuncture and dementia. This is because there is an assumption that the treatment technique can help improve memory in persons with neurodegenerative illnesses.

Professionals perform acupuncture on a holistic perspective in a bid to defeat various exogenous factors.

Reports confirm that acupuncture may help protect neurons from deterioration to stimulate axonal regrowth in neurodegenerative illnesses like dementia.

Check out more details on what acupuncture is and how it can help improve memory in persons with dementia.

What is Acupuncture?

We can describe acupuncture as an ancient Chinese healing method.

It primarily treats various disorders by having expert insert needles into the skin. When the practitioner does things properly, acupuncture is very safe.

WHO (World Health Organization) recommends the use of this healing technique for 43 diseases.

Experts base this theory on acupoints and meridians that play a crucial role in maintaining and regulating the “yin” and “yang” in the human body system.

This is all about Qi which is patterns of energy in the body that are important for good health. When a person’s Qi is interrupted, many believe that this can cause diseases.

Acupuncturists believe that they can fix this by inserting needles in specific locations on the skin to restore energy flow, hence treat the illness.

How Acupuncture Helps Improve Memory of Persons with Dementia?

For many people with dementia, acupuncture is not a foreign concept. One of the ways of using acupuncture is to treat some dementia symptoms like behavioral disturbances.

New studies, however, claim that acupuncture can also help to enhance memory for persons with dementia.

Several studies have been conducted to explain the relationship between acupuncture and dementia such as:

Acupuncture Outperforms Use of Drugs

Multiple clinical trials reveal that acupuncture works better than drug therapy when it comes to treating vascular dementia.

While there are different types of acupuncture several studies conclude that scalp acupuncture is the most beneficial for persons who have vascular dementia.

Researchers from Wuhan University of Science and Technology found out that acupuncture is more effective at alleviating dementia than conventional drug therapy.

Their study indicates that acupuncture is also a safe treatment option for vascular dementia.

It is important to note that dementia affects the flow of blood to the brain.

Consequently depriving this organ of essential nutrients and oxygen. When this happens, it affects language skills, memory, personality, and emotions.

The researchers cite TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) theory as the basis of their study which involved three groups of people.

One group was on drug therapy where they received 0.8 g tablets of piracetam for 30 days three times a day. This is a drug that helps to enhance cognition or memory.

It is also an anticonvulsant, neuroprotective, and improves neuroplasticity. The second group was on conventional acupuncture, and the third on scalp acupuncture.

Scalp Acupuncture is Most Effective

This went on for 30 days where the acupuncture protocols were applied once a day for six days a week. The researchers said that using scalp acupuncture protocol achieved a 90% total effective rate.

Conventional acupuncture was slightly lower at 80% while drug therapy came in last at 60%.

In the future, the researchers were interested in combining scalp acupuncture with the use of piracetam to determine if this would produce more effective results.

A similar study with 184 participants all with vascular dementia also showed that acupuncture is an effective treatment modality.

It went on to conclude that scalp acupuncture works well to not only boost memory but daily living activities, social behavior and mental state as well.

In related MRI research touching on acupuncture and dementia, there was a conclusion that acupuncture can help improve hippocampal connectivity in persons with dementia.

The study involved the measuring of some regions that experience disrupted brain connectivity in people with dementia.

After acupuncture sessions, the subjects of the study demonstrated significant improvements in the connectivity for lateral and frontal-temporal hippocampus regions.

Researchers in this study made use of fMRI technology to determine the effects of two acupuncture points in the brain i.e. L14 (Hegu) and LV3 (Taichong).

Acupuncture Weakens Mental Problems that Dementia Cause

When talking about acupuncture and dementia, worth mentioning is that the healing technique can improve memory by treating mental illnesses that are dementia led.

This is done through amelioration of outside symptoms like lack of sleep which makes memory loss more severe.

One of the studies that came up with this conclusion followed 19 participants who researchers observed in the control stage for one and a half months.

From here, the participants went through 30-minute acupuncture sessions for six weeks.

At the end of these six weeks, the participants recorded improvements in both sleeping and resting times. Another study was performed on persons with dementia and depression.

The study took place in 2000 at Wellesley College.

This followed 11 human subjects who went through acupuncture sessions 2-3 times every week for three months.

The participants recorded improvements in anxiety and depression some of the symptoms that make memory loss worse.

They also experienced more energy levels.

Dr. Nancy Emerson the lead researcher also added that acupuncture helps to relieve pain from other ailments that develop with age encouraging persons with dementia to try out this healing method.

Closing Thoughts

As scientists continue to work on a cure for dementia, multiple studies on acupuncture and dementia show promising results on how the treatment technique can enhance memory in persons with dementia.

The studies out there, nonetheless, are not enough to include acupuncture on the list of dementia treatment options.

They have, however, laid a foundation for more studies that may bring forth more conclusive evidence on whether acupuncture will be established as a treatment option for dementia.

10 Foods That Dementia Diet Should Include

Rok Krivec Blog January 23, 2021August 5, 2023dementia, dementia diet, diet

One of the most important things to consider while caring for a person who has dementia is a dementia diet.

Proper nutrition is paramount for wellbeing, independence, and health.

When an individual with dementia fails to eat right, it can lead to weight loss and an increase in behavioral symptoms.

For some caregivers, identify the right foods to include in a weak person’s diet may be challenging.

If you are in such a dilemma, you will find the solution below as we highlight foods that are ideal for persons with dementia.

10 Best Dementia Diet Foods

Oily Fish and Omega 3

Essential fatty acids present in omega 3’s are important for maintaining, functioning and health of the brain.

Researchers agree that eating omega 3 or oily fish on a regular basis helps to enhance cognitive functioning as a person grows older.

The human body does not have the capacity to manufacture omega 3-fatty acids from scratch. This means that a person must get this from the foods they consume.

Foods that are rich in omega 3 include nuts, fish, vegetable oils, leafy vegetables, flax seeds and oil.

Leafy Greens and Cruciferous Veggies

Leafy greens should make a huge part of the dementia diet. Veggies like mustard and collard greens, spinach, arugula, kale, and swiss chard are great sources of vitamin B9 or folate.

These are known to better cognition in the elderly.

Folate is also important in that it helps to fight against depression by boosting serotine levels.

Leafy greens also offer Vitamin E which is beneficial to the brain.

Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, bok choy, and brussel sprouts are great for memory.

They contain folate and carotenoids that lower homocysteine levels an amino acid that nutritionists link to cognitive impairment.

Persons with dementia should take vegetables on a daily basis.

Nuts

Nuts are an excellent snack for people who have dementia. According to the MIND diet study, nuts are good for the health of the brain. This is because they are rich in fiber and antioxidants.

Other studies also show that they can help to lower levels of bad cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.

The MIND diet suggests that people should eat different types of nuts five times a week.

Berries and Cherries

Experts recommend the inclusion of berries in the dementia diet.

Blueberries, cherries, strawberries, and acacia fruit are perfect examples. These are fruits that have been linked to multiple benefits for the brain.

Some studies correlate this with enhanced memory. An example is a study that was published in 2013.

It uncovered that participants who consumed greater berry amounts showed a slower cognitive decline of about two and a half years as they grew older.

Berry varieties also contain a phytochemical known as anthocyanin that protects the brain from the damage that free radicals cause.

Beans

Legumes are a great addition to the foods that a person with dementia eats. Beans, in particular, come highly recommended for several reasons.

Among these include the fact that they are low in fat and calories and rich in protein and fiber.

This is a good combination that helps to keep the mind sharp.

Individuals with cognitive decline should try to eat beans at least three times weekly.

Alternatively, the ill person can also eat chickpeas and lentils which are equally great for the brain.

Whole Grains

Whole grains are a must-have in a dementia diet. They are a better choice when you compare them to refined grains because they retain more nutrients.

They also come with the entire grain seed or kernel which is made of fibrous bran.

Eating more whole grains also helps to increase fiber intake, lowers blood pressure, they offer a myriad of vitamins, and reduce inflammation amongst other perks.

Impaired individuals should eat at least 2 servings of whole grains daily.

Seeds

Seeds are another great snack option for persons who have dementia. A variety of seeds are rich in Vitamin E.

This is one of the vitamins that help to lower the rates of cognitive decline as people grow older.

Sunflower seeds are rich in choline a compound that helps to enhance brain function.

Pumpkin seeds contain Zinc that improves cognitive function and memory.

Most of the seeds also have tryptophan that is effective in fighting depression. Flax seeds are rich in omega 3s making them an excellent fish alternative.

Mushrooms

It is highly beneficial to include mushrooms in the dementia diet. Don’t eat them on pizza though because this will not do you any good.

Source for fresh or dried mushrooms that you can eat plain or add to a veggie burger, soup, or frittata. These are rich in vitamin B12.

Mushrooms are also known to enhance metabolism, strengthen the immune system, and improve bladder function.

Mushrooms are also great for the body in that they help protect cell health because they are rich in antioxidants.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are great for individuals dealing with dementia. These offer minerals and vitamins that may have anti-inflammatory benefits.

Scientists reckon that persons who have higher levels of zeaxanthin and lutein found in sweet potatoes and other vegetables do not need a lot of brain activity to complete tasks.

Sweet potato meals are also known to enhance brain power which also improves cognitive ability.

Poultry

Poultry should without a doubt be part of the dementia diet. Turkey and chicken are healthy protein choices that offer multiple benefits to people with dementia.

In addition to being rich in protein, poultry products also offer different minerals and vitamins that help to support healthy bodies.

These are a great protein option because affected individuals can consume them in different ways without the meal becoming monotonous.

Closing Remarks

It is important to be very careful about what goes into your mouth if you have dementia. Above are some of the foods that should feature in a healthy dementia diet.

While these foods may not cure this disease, they can help prevent some symptoms which will help you to better manage the illness.

Loss Of Smell And Dementia

Rok Krivec Blog, Signs January 22, 2021October 18, 2021dementia, loss of smell

There is a need to have a conversation about the loss of smell and dementia.

This is after several studies suggest that a poor sense of smell, especially in old age, may be a warning sign for dementia.

In the past, experts linked the inability to identify certain smells to untimely deaths.

In a new study, researchers now claim that individuals who cannot name at least four out of five common fragrances are at risk of developing dementia in five years.

Why make this conclusion.

Find out more about the study below.

Loss Of Smell can be a Sign of Dementia

To begin with, it is vital to point out that the study on loss of smell and dementia had three thousand adult participants aged 57-85.

The five scents experts used for the study are:

Leather
Peppermint
Rose
Orange
Fish

At the begging of the study, 78% of persons tested had a normal sense of smell because they could name at least four of all the five scents.

14% were only able to identify three smells while 5% could name two. 2% of that population were able to identify a single smell, and 1% could not tell any scent from the list above.

Results of the Study

The study to determine the relationship between loss of smell and dementia was conducted over five years.

After this period, the researchers found out that almost everyone who could not identify a scent was diagnosed with dementia.

This was the case for the participants who could only identify one or two smells because almost 80% also developed dementia.

Take-Home from the Study

Based on the results of the study, Jayant M. Pinto otolaryngologist and the lead author of the study deduced that sense of smell has a close connection to how the brain functions and overall health.

She continued to state that it is not only smell ability but the overall sensory function that may be a significant warning sign for persons who are at greater risk of developing dementia.

Pinto also added that it is vital to understand the basic principles so that the team can have a more in-depth insight into the disease to perhaps develop new preventative measures as well as treatments for loss of smell and dementia.

Related Studies

After the above study was conducted, more researchers gained an interest in the topic. An example of this is a study by researchers from Stockholm University.

The experts looked into a person’s sense of smell in association with the inability to identify odors and the increased risk of early deaths.

The study involved persons aged 40-90 for ten years.

They uncovered that those who lost their sense of smell had a higher risk of early death as compared to those with a normal sense of smell.

Mayo Clinic’s Rosebud Roberts and a team of researchers also conducted a study to assess the sense of smell of 1,430 persons without any cognitive disorders.

The study ran from 2004 to 2010 with participants getting clinical evaluations after 15 months. The professionals used six food-related smells and the same number of non-food related odors.

These included turpentine, soap, smoke, paint thinner, gasoline, rose, pineapple, lemon, onion, cinnamon, banana, and chocolate.

After about three and a half years, it was evident that people whose smelling ability decreased were also having trouble with their thinking capacity.

Many persons with dementia usually have problems with thinking.

How Loss of Sense of Smell can lead to Dementia Development

The smell ranks amongst the most primitive human senses.

Loss of this sense can negatively affect an individual’s lifestyle, wellbeing, mental health, and nutrition.

The inability to smell is also associated with depression because affected people do not get to enjoy life as much.

Persons with an inability to smell face challenges every day. These are individuals who cannot detect smoke in the event of a fire.

Assess whether they need to jump into the shower after a long day. Or even tell whether food is spoilt, etc.

As a person loses their sense of smell, experts reckon that it also affects the brain’s ability to rebuild some key components that decline naturally with age.

This according to Professor Martha McClintock results in the pathological changes that people with different types of dementias experience.

Closing Thoughts

At this point, it is not enough to conduct a simple smell test as a means of identifying the risk of dementia. However, there is also a somewhat successful study about the peanut butter test, which you should also investigate.

With time, however, things might change after more conclusive research has been conducted. Who knows, this may be a breakthrough in regards to preventing and curing dementia.

Dressing and Grooming – Best Practices & Tips

Rok Krivec Blog January 22, 2021October 18, 2021dementia, dressing, grooming

Persons with dementia face a lot of challenges one of them being dressing and grooming.

In addition to causing memory problems and confusion, dementia also affects a person’s physical functioning, which makes it challenging to handle tasks like maintaining appearance and dressing up.

As the disease progresses, it may reach a point where caregivers must step in and help individuals with the illness wear proper clothes, look, and smell pleasant.

Because this is a sensitive and private matter, you must be very tactful when you are offering a hand so that the person you are helping does not feel like you are belittling them.

To help caregivers on this front, here are a few tips you can use when looking for the best ways to assist the ill person with grooming.

Best Dressing and Grooming Practices & Tips

Encourage Independence

It can be embarrassing for seniors to have other people dress them.

If an individual still has the strength and ability to wear clothes on their own, it is best to let them, so they can remain as independent as possible for longer.

You should only be in the room if it is necessary.

Remember to ensure as much privacy as possible. Some of the tips you can work with to encourage independence while dressing include:

Laying out clothes in the order that they are worn. Start with underwear, then pants or a dress, and a cardigan if it is not hot. Ensure that the items are not inside out. (If you are in the room, you can give the person one item to wear at a time).
Undo all buttons, and zips, etc. to ease the burden of putting on outfits.
If a person wants to wear the same clothes day in day out, get four or more sets so that they do not put on dirty clothes.
Get comfortable and loose-fitting clothing. Attires need to be easy to take off and put on. The material should be soft and not binding so that the wearer can move with ease.
Labels closets and other places the elderly put clothing items and accessories to guide them on where they can find their things with ease. You can use a combination of pictures and words as these tend to be more effective.

Offer Choices

Even though a person has dementia, it is important that they retain the dignity of choosing what to wear for as long as they can.

They need to express their own style and identity.

Because picking out clothes might be a challenging task you have to ensure that what they put on is clean, comfortable, and suitable for the current weather conditions.

You can do this by picking out two outfits so that the weak individual can choose the one they like best.

Instead of laying all the options out, you can ask the person simple questions like, “Will you wear the blue or red t-shirt?”

Wait patiently as they make a decision.

You must respect their decisions even when they make some unusual clothing choices as long as it will put them in harm’s way.

For example, if the person insists on sleeping with a hat on just agree instead of being confrontational.

Cleaning out the closet and retaining only the necessary items is a move that comes highly recommended.

Allow Enough Time for Grooming

Remember to offer persons with dementia adequate time when putting on clothes and getting their looks together.

You can offer step by step instructions with gestures if you notice that the person is getting stuck somewhere.

For instance, when fumbling to get an arm in the sleeve you can show them how to do it in a polite and kind manner.

Do not make a big deal of things like mismatching clothing items.

Instead, focus on the fact that the person was able to dress. You must also be very careful when correcting mistakes for example when a person puts both feet on one side of the pants.

Don’t shout at the person that they are wrong.

Depending on the mood, you can find a way that both of you can laugh about it as they put on the attire correctly.

Keep Routines as Long as Possible

Where possible, ensure you continue using the products that the person loved utilizing before they needed help with grooming.

Purchase the toiletries they prefer and keep up routines. For example, if the lady loved going to the hair salon, book appointments and ensure they go on a regular basis as long as possible.

While here, they can get relaxing manicures and pedicures as they get their hair done. When caring for a man, you can encourage shaving.

If going to the salon proves to be difficult, you can always organize home visits from professionals.

Prioritize on Safety

Putting safety first is non-negotiable when offering a hand with dressing and grooming.

When choosing footwear always go for a pair that is comfortable, well-fitting and has non-slip soles.

You are also responsible for making safer choices. For instance, if you are helping an individual to file their nails, avoid a metal file and use a cardboard one.

Using an electric razor for shaving can enhance safety.

You should also remember to keep an eye for discomfort signs especially when the suffering person cannot tell if they are too hot or too cold.

Carry out Some Activities Together

Another way you can help with grooming is by doing some things together. For instance, when it is time to brush teeth, you can do it while guiding the ill individual on how to properly brush their teeth.

You can assist with cleaning dentures to ensure that the person with dementia using cleaning material properly.

Closing Thoughts

Not being able to handle tasks such as dressing and grooming can be frustrating for a person with dementia.

Don’t just leave them to wallow in sorrow when it comes to taking care of their looks.

Offer the ill person the assistance they need in a respectful, fun, and tactful manner so that they are always presentable and comfortable.

Nursing Homes for Dementia Patients

Rok Krivec Blog January 22, 2021August 3, 2023dementia, nursing homes

As dementia progresses, it may be prudent for the suffering person and their carers to think about alternative accommodation like nursing homes for dementia patients.

These are ideal for persons who have late-stage dementia and cannot get the care they need at home or in assisted living facilities.

The nursing homes typically admit individuals who can no longer care for themselves.

This implies that the person may be incontinent, cannot walk and bath or feed themselves, or even communicate effectively.

On this note, it is important to note that nursing homes have undergone major transitions over the years.

They are no longer the boring and scary homes that the elderly detested.

They have upgraded to try and offer cozy and fun accommodation to those in need.

Let’s look at some of the reasons nursing homes for dementia patients are a great choice for weak individuals.

Why Nursing Homes are Great for Dementia Patients

Round The Clock Supervision

Nursing homes are well-equipped to handle the needs of persons who need 24/7 care. Staff members undergo specialized training to provide quality care for all the people in the facilities.

A majority usually have different degrees of medical training which means that they can comfortably offer assistance with tasks such as administering IVs, medications, injections, caring for wounds, breathing treatments, and other medical responsibilities.

Also known as skilled nursing facilities, the homes also provide other services such as speech therapy, physical occupation, and rehabilitation services.

Offers Caregivers Great Peace of Mind

It can be very stressful to leave a person who has late-stage dementia alone at home.

You might even stay with them all day and night and still not offer the proper care they require.

Relatives and friends get to enjoy great peace of mind when their loved one is in a good nursing home. It also creates opportunities for spending quality time together when they visit the ill person in the home.

When the person with dementia is at a premium nursing home, it also implies that relatives and friends can go back to their normal routines seeing that the ill person is in the right environment.

Relief from some of the caregiving responsibilities is always welcome from the caregivers.

Availability of Suitable Programs

Good nursing homes for dementia patients usually put in place appropriate programs that help to enrich the lives of the residents.

These include fun group and solo activities that the weak people can engage in comfortably depending on their abilities. These are put in place to help with things like socialization.

Dementia can be a very lonely disease where affected persons opt to keep to themselves.

The nursing homes can take care of these because they offer a place where peers can live together, open up and share their experiences as they engage in some fun activities.

This is important because it helps to keep away from health issues like depression and anxiety.

Proper Nutrition

There are high chances that a person with dementia will get proper nutrition when they are in a nursing home.

The level of expertise, as well as experience of the staff in such homes, gives them an upper hand when it comes to choosing the right foods for the residents.

They also have the know-how of feeding persons who have challenges with this daily activity.

This also contributes to the peace of mind of their loved ones because they will go about knowing that their ailing relatives or friends are eating and drinking well.

Eating proper foods and healthy diet help to boost the immune system enhancing the health of an individual.

Enhanced Safety

When a person has dementia, loved ones live in constant fear of their security. This is because a person may wander a lot, or they may be at risk of falling and getting hurt.

These are some of the fears you get to burry when dealing with reputable nursing homes for dementia patients. These facilities are designed with the residents in mind.

Here you will not find long flights of stairs or slippery flooring.

The homes put in place all the necessary safety measures so that the weak persons have nothing to worry about. Note that the homes are also highly-regulated; thus, must stick to a certain code of conduct if they want to continue operating.

Counseling Services

Because of the changes that people go through because of dementia, many nursing homes also extend counseling services to residents.

This is where weak persons get to talk to professionals about their problems. It may help a person to accept their current situation especially for those who are still in denial so that they can better manage the illness.

Counselling has also been known to improve quality of life by reducing feelings of depression and aggression amongst others.

Physical Exercise

When a person with dementia lives at home without round the clock care, they might lead a sedentary life that is not good for their health.

Nursing homes for dementia patients try and get the residents moving as a means of enhancing their health. Some even have in-built gyms and professional trainers who guide the residents through age-appropriate workouts and activities.

It is especially useful for seniors recovering from accidents because it speeds up the restoration of joint function and movement.

Encourage Independence

Great nursing homes encourage residents to be as independent as possible. The care units are built in such a way that they factor in the evolving needs of residents.

This allows them to move more freely than they would at home. Residents in nursing homes also have state and federal rights.

This is where they can choose personal schedules so that they can be as comfortable as possible.

Closing Thoughts

In most cases, people end up living in nursing homes for dementia patients permanently. This means that choosing a facility should not be taken lightly.

You must perform due diligence to ensure you select a nursing home that meets all the needs of the person with dementia in a satisfactory manner.
After all, you do not want your loved one to be miserable over controllable factors during their last days.

Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home neglect and abuse is a horrifying reality happening in some of our communities and affecting our elderly. When we place our loved ones in a nursing home, we expect staff members to treat them with respect and dignity. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Levin & Perconti have put together a great guide on everything to know about nursing home abuse, including signs of it, how to prevent it, statistics, and a ton more. Check it out: Nursing Home Abuse Guide

Understanding Dementia and Delusions

Rok Krivec Blog January 21, 2021October 18, 2021dementia, dementia and delusions

There is a need to discuss the symptoms that persons with dementia may experience, one of them being dementia and delusions.

Delusions can be described as false beliefs.

They feel true to a person and they cannot change their mind even when evidence is brought forth.

Consequently, affected individuals may lose or misplace things, appear to be living in the past, or have challenges recognizing their environment or people close to them.

About 1/3rd of individuals with dementia develop delusions as the illness progresses.

This mostly happens when the brain misinterprets information coming from the basic five senses causing a person to hold different realities from what is right.

Hallucinations and Delusions Associated with Dementia

Let’s look at some of the factors that may cause delusions and ways of managing them.

How to Recognize That Someone Has Delusions

There are plenty of clues that may allude to the fact that a person has both dementia and delusions. These are some of the instances:

Make accusations that a person is hurting them in some way or stealing from them
Calls the police frequently
Hides possession in their living space purportedly to keep them safe
Constantly loses or misplaces things
Refuses to communicate with the persons they are suspicious of and may even refuse to open the door when a friend or family member visits
Think they are younger than they are and want to do things they have done in the past like go to work or school
Believes that they are in a different place
Want to communicate in whispers because they are afraid that “imaginary” people are listening in on their conversations
Sees crawling insects
Makes mistakes while identifying people
Re-lives past events or traumas

Possible Causes of Delusions

It is not clear why an individual with dementia may end up believing something that is not true and end up sticking to their beliefs even when evidence is presented.

Experts, however, believe that certain factors may lead to the development of hallucinations.

For starters, changes that happen in the brain play a considerable role in causing dementia and delusions. Confusion and memory loss also play their part.

If a person with dementia forgets where they placed their keys, lack of awareness and poor memory can make them conclude that a person stole them.

Other possible causes of delusions for persons with dementia may include:

Unfamiliar environments and people
Different medicine combinations
Inadequate lighting
Changes in routine
Overstimulation in the environment e.g., too many distractions, too much noise, too many people, etc.
Sundowning

Delusion Treatment Options

It is not fair to ignore dementia and delusions. This is because they can be very distressing to the persons with the illness as well as those who are caring for them.

These delusions or different realities can make a person feel frightened which causes them to resist care attempts from relatives, friends, and professionals.

There are few practical tips caregivers can work with to help persons with delusions like:

Doctor’s appointment

Make a doctor’s appointment to ensure that it is not other medical conditions like constipation or infections that are causing the person to be delusional. Remember to also check into the side effects of medication a person is taking because some drugs can cause delusions or make them worse.

Organization and routines

If possible, during the early dementia stages have an obvious place where the suffering person keeps their handbag, keys, glasses, money, and things they use often so that it becomes easier to locate them. As the illness progresses, it is also advisable to try and keep a routine and limit changes in the person’s environment.

Sight and hearing tests

Ensure that the individual with the illness gets regular sight and hearing tests

Diet and nutrition

A person with dementia and delusions should be on a balanced diet and adequate healthy fluids.

Photos

To help with recognition of the present time, it might help to keep photos of close friends and family in different life stages around the house.

Positive distractions

If possible, try and distract the person by involving them in other things they enjoy. If this does not work, it may be wise to just play along until they move on or are calmer.

Medication

At times the delusions may escalate to a point where the person needs to be under drug treatment to help manage the situation.

Friendly environment

Controlling the environment may also offer a much-needed solution. Ensure that the weak person stays in a place that is well lit and does not have too many distractions. A TV or radio that is too loud may be the cause of a person hearing voices. Pulling shades or curtains may offer comfort to a person who believes that other individuals are watching them.

Always remember that it is the disease that is making them have different realities. This means that you should understand their emotions and offer reassurance and explanations without correcting or challenging their false beliefs.

For instance, if someone believes that one of their possessions has been stolen, you can always respond with a statement like “I know that someone stealing from you must be very unsettling. Perhaps we should look around and try and see if we will spot it in case it was accidentally misplaced.”

This acknowledges how they feel while at the same time offers a solution. This said, do not always assume that a person is delusional when they state that someone is stealing from them.

Because the disease makes them vulnerable some unscrupulous individuals may take advantage and steal from the elderly.

Carefully check these claims before jumping to conclusions and saying that the ill person is making false accusations.

Closing Remarks

Unfortunately, the science behind dementia and delusions is not yet understood comprehensively. This is something that makes prevention, treatment, and management somewhat challenging.

If the delusions are not causing too much distress, a kind word, redirection, and reassurance may be enough.

However, a more aggressive approach is a requirement when delusions are causing too much distress to the person with dementia.

It is advisable to work under the direction of a professional doctor to offer appropriate treatment.

Coping with Dementia and Paranoia

Rok Krivec Blog January 21, 2021October 18, 2021dementia, dementia and paranoia, paranoia

If you have dementia or are caring for a person with the illness, it is prudent to be aware of some psychotic symptoms that may affect the weak person like dementia and paranoia.

Because of the changes that happen in the brain, individuals living with dementia may experience paranoia episodes.

It is estimated that about 70% of people with dementia experience paranoia during the course of the illness.

Paranoia is a common trait during the later stages of dementia even though it can occur at any stage.

When someone has paranoia, they tend to believe in false things.

For instance, a person may think that the police are always after them, they may think that an individual they trust is stealing from them, or even believe that their home is not theirs.

In most cases, the incidences of paranoia are usually misidentifications that are brought about by cognitive impairment and not true psychotic conditions.

Practical Approach on Dementia and Paranoia

If a person with dementia has paranoia, there are several steps caregivers can take to help cope with the symptom such as:

Consulting a Professional or Doctor

Speaking to your GP is a great place to start if you want to help a person with paranoia.

The professional can conduct appropriate tests to determine if there are any physical causes behind paranoia.

It can be anything from bladder or kidney infections, pain, anxiety disorders, dehydration, or drug/alcohol abuse.

In most cases, treating these can help put an end to paranoia.

In some instances, the physician may uncover possible prescribed treatments that are causing paranoia. Experts also advise that professionals check the hearing and eyesight of the ill individual regularly.

Ensure that the person with dementia wears functional hearing aids or prescribed glasses if they need to.

If the paranoia is severe, the doctor may have to prescribe some medication that will help deal with the condition.

Antipsychotic medications like chlorpromazine and haloperidol are effective for treating paranoia.

Non-Drug Approaches

Away from medicine, there are also other ways of dealing with dementia and paranoia.

However, you should only try this after ruling out all other possible treatable causes outside dementia. Some of the options you can try out include:

Modifying Living Environment

For some people with dementia, it will only take a few changes around the house to stop them from being “paranoid.”

For example, if a person is always looking at the curtains in their bedroom and they see faces, removing or changing them can offer a much-needed solution for the trouble the person is going through because of dementia and paranoia.

Moving them to another room if they are comfortable with this can also help out. Ensure that the person is always in a well-lit area because this reduces frightening shadows.

Some people may look in the mirror and see strange people.

This can be an indication that the impaired individual no longer recognizes their reflection. Doing away with mirrors, in this case, is necessary.

For a person who always complains of people stealing from him/her, it may help to have duplicate items of the things they need. This way, you can always offer them the item quickly if it is lost.

Ignore the Person

It might be strange reading this as advice for coping with dementia and paranoia.

Worth noting is that not all cases of paranoia are upsetting or frightening to the person with the illness.

At times, they may crop up as a way of making sense of things. For example, an individual with dementia may not remember where they put their keys; thus, they conclude that another person stole them.

This means that you must assess the situation before you think of how to act.

If the paranoia episodes are not dangerous to the suffering person and those around him or her it may be best not to intervene.

Offer Support and Reassurance

Remaining calm and supportive is necessary when you are handling a person who has dementia and paranoia.

Do not try and get into a fight with them trying to convince them that they are wrong and they should not believe in false things.

This will only make the situation worse.

Learn to accept their realities and be tactful when offering a response so that you are always honest without annoying the weak person.

It is recommended that you use a gentle touch and kind words. You can tell the suffering person that you are there for them and you will offer protection.

You can also politely ask whether you can hold their hand and take a walk to reduce the symptom.

If the person you are interacting with needs answers, make them simple and short to avoid overwhelming them with lengthy reasons or explanations.

Switch Focus

Another option you have when tacking dementia and paranoia is to switch the focus of the individual to another activity.

You can ask for help with a house chore or suddenly start to talk about something they love.

If the person loves music, you can play them some of their favorite tunes.

Another suggestion is to engage the individual with paranoia where you can play a game or try and complete a puzzle. If this does not work, do no push it too much because it can be frustrating to the person with dementia.

Instead, pick up another coping technique that offers more validation. Aim for such approaches that make them happy.

You can ask to hug the person and let them know that they are in safe hands. You might also want to explain to others that it is dementia causing the ill person to behave the way they are so that everyone around is on the same page.

Dementia and Paranoia Closing Thoughts

Dealing with a person who has dementia and paranoia may be quite challenging. You want to do all that is in your power to get rid of this symptom.

Always remember that it is the disease that is making the weak person paranoid and they are not doing it on purpose.

Caregivers may want to join support groups where they can share experiences with others as they learn new techniques of effectively dealing with the symptom.

The Importance of Nutrition and Alzheimer’s Disease

Rok Krivec Blog, Prevention January 21, 2021October 18, 2021alzheimer's disease, nutrition

A lot of research has gone into nutrition and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Researchers agree that a healthy diet plays a vital role in brain health.

WHO (World Health Organization) concluded that adopting a healthier lifestyle can prevent or delay the progression of numerous cases of cognitive decline.

People with Alzheimer’s may miss out on the perks of eating a healthy diet for numerous reasons like:

1. Lack of appetite: elderly people with AD may feel like they do not have an appetite during meal times. This may be a result of medical interactions which cause reduced appetite as a side effect.

2. Confusion with cutlery: Most seniors with AD often experience reduced physical motor skills when they are eating. This is where you might observe a person using a fork to eat soup and so forth.

3. Loneliness: For most seniors, eating is a social activity. If a person is alone they may leave food on their plate because they feel they are missing out on socialization.

4. Filling up with desert: Most people with AD tend to have sweet tooth. They might prefer to eat dessert treats instead of nutritious foods. It may be because taste buds weaken as a person grows older; thus, the reason many may want to fill up on sweet treats.

5. Chewing and swallowing difficulties: Mouth sores or other dental conditions may prevent the suffering person from eating because they cannot chew or swallow the food without any difficulties.

6. Too much on the plate makes a person feel overwhelmed on what to eat first.

Essential Role of Nutrition and Alzheimer’s Disease

Caregivers must identify the reason a person with AD is not eating well.

They should offer a practical solution that will ensure the weak person eats foods that are beneficial to their health.

For instance, if a person has a lack of appetite because of the medicine they are taking, consulting a doctor is the way the go.

The medic may change his or her prescription to more suitable medicines that will not affect appetite significantly.

Going back to nutrition and Alzheimer’s disease, check out information about the foods that should feature in the diet of a person with the illness.

Not just that, but the “bad” foods that persons should avoid.

Does Diet Increase Alzheimer’s Risk?

Unhealthy diets indeed promote a myriad of health problems including cognitive decline.

Scientists, in particular, have studied the “western diet” for years.

These are foods that are not only processed, convenient, and rich in animal products. But they are also high in saturated fats, sodium, cholesterol, total fat, and sugar.

Experts link eating these to the development of diabetes, obesity, and heart diseases.

Consuming a diet that is rich in saturated and trans-fats also increases the levels of the inflammatory response and oxidative stress in the body.

These are factors that contribute to dementia development. This is why it is advisable to cut down on sugar, trans-fats, saturated fats, and total caloric intake.

Foods that May Reduce the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

Now that you are aware of the foods to eliminate or reduce in your diet, it is time to educate you on the foods that come highly recommended when talking about nutrition and Alzheimer’s disease.

There are a couple of diets that people should focus on whether they already have the disease or not. Some of these include:

Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet (MD) emphasizes the consumption of healthy fats such as olive oil, red meat, fewer dairy foods, legumes, vegetables, margarine or butter, pastries, and sweetened beverages. Some also advise on moderate consumption of wine. A majority of Middle Eastern and European populations follow the MD eating patterns.

DASH Diet

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood institute came up with the DASH (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) diet after there were major concerns about the lifestyle of people in the USA and the high percentages of people developing and living with high blood pressure.

The DASH diet incorporates a lot of components from the MD diet.

Also, the reduction of the consumption of sodium and carbohydrates. This has been known to be successful in the reduction of blood pressure cases.

Neurodegenerative Delay Diet

This is one of the most common diets there is when discussing nutrition and Alzheimer’s disease. It blends some elements of the DASH and Mediterranean diets. It is also known as the MIND diet.

Moreover, it recommends the consumption of green leafy vegetables amongst other veggies, whole grains, poultry, fish, berries, olive oil, nuts, and beans.

The diet also advises that people should eliminate or reduce greatly the consumption of sweets, cheese, fast foods, butter, margarine, and red meats.

A study revealed that sticking to this diet aids in better cognitive aging offering protection against AD.

While discussing nutrition and Alzheimer’s disease, it is also important that people with this illness stay hydrated by drinking enough water during the day.

What about Vitamins and Supplements?

Looking at the current market place, you will notice that many companies are in the front-line marketing various dietary supplements as having the power to treat or prevent cognitive decline.

In most cases, these usually do not have credible evidence that is well documented according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

This said it is important to note that many supplements or vitamins are being studied concerning nutrition and Alzheimer’s disease.

This is because the body needs adequate essential vitamins like Vitamin D, E, B12, and folic acid. They need to be at certain levels in your body because the accumulation of excessive vitamins is not beneficial.

It is best for a person with Alzheimer’s to always talk to a doctor before they begin taking any kind of supplements.

Closing Thoughts

The topic of nutrition and Alzheimer’s disease is not one that you should ignore even when you are not suffering. It is important to identify the foods that should feature in a person’s diet and the ones to avoid.

This may help to prevent the disease from developing or even slow down its progression.

All in all, people should focus on letting the foods they eat become their medicine.

The Link Between Dementia and Hearing Loss

Rok Krivec Blog, Signs January 21, 2021October 18, 2021dementia, dementia and hearing loss, hearing loss

Researchers continue to work hard to establish the exact relationship between dementia and hearing loss.

This is after numerous studies suggest that hearing loss can increase dementia risk.

Dementia is a medical term that describes multiple symptoms characterized by deterioration in a person’s cognitive abilities.

Previously, experts believed that hearing loss was a normal aging process. Recent findings, however, point to the fact that it may play a significant role in brain health.

Worth noting is that there are common symptoms of both hearing loss and dementia such as:

Changes in communication methods
Confusion during conversations
Challenges in completing daily tasks
Feelings of stress or fatigue

Statistics reveal that hearing loss is the 3rd most common health condition in elderly persons.

About 30% of individuals aged over 65 and 55% of seniors over 80 suffer from some degree of hearing loss.

Around the globe, it is estimated that about 580 million people are affected by hearing loss. The Lancet Commissions published a study in 2015, revealing that 47 million in different parts of the world are living with dementia.

By 2050, this number will most likely be up by X3 or more.

The Link Between Hearing Loss and Dementia

An associate professor of epidemiology and otolaryngology at Johns Hopkins University Frank Lin M.D, Ph.D. kin 2011 conducted one of the studies seeking to uncover the link between dementia and hearing loss.

His study involved 639 cognitively stable participants. The individuals underwent regular supervision for 12-18 years.

The results of this study stated that participants with normal hearing had lower risks of developing dementia.

The risk of developing dementia was twice as much for older adults with mild hearing loss, triple for the ones with moderate hearing loss and shoots to up to 5 times for the elderly with severe hearing loss according to Lin’s findings.

Let’s gain more insight into how hearing loss increases the risk of dementia. Not just that, but some of the solutions that experts recommend.

Theories on How Hearing Loss can Increase Risk of Dementia

Several theories try to explain how dementia and hearing loss relate because the exact link is still a mystery such as:

Cognitive Load

One of the theories that try to explain how hearing loss increases dementia risk; states that the brain has a difficult time with degraded sounds.

As a result, the organ allocates more resources to processing the sounds causing a “cognitive load” which leads to a decrease in cognitive functioning because the brain is working overtime to try and figure out what other people are saying.

Straining to hear for long periods depletes mental energy and taps into the brainpower that the brain uses for other functions like thinking, remembering and acting.

Additionally, hearing loss has been known to accelerate atrophy in the cerebrum; a part of the brain that plays a role in memory and the processing of sound.

Changes in Brain Structure

Another theory on the relationship between dementia and hearing loss is that loss of hearing can affect the normal brain structure in that it leads to cognitive issues.

Through brain imaging studies, it has been noted that seniors with hearing loss tend to have less gray matter in the section of the brain that is responsible for receiving and processing sounds from the ears.

In most cases, this does not mean that a person is losing brain cells. It might imply that some brain cell structures are shrinking because of a lack of adequate stimulation.

Social Isolation

Social isolation also comes into play when talking about hearing loss and cognitive issues.

A study by NCOA (National Council on the Aging) of 2,300 hearing-impaired participants found that persons who go through untreated hearing loss are most likely to experience worry, loneliness, paranoia, depression, and anxiety.

When a person is hard of hearing, a majority would rather not socialize in groups.

They will also avoid going to social places like restaurants or clubs.

Social isolation for the longest time has been recognized as one of the risk factors that intensify the risk of dementia and cognitive decline.

Solutions

Although there has not been much research in terms of looking into treating hearing loss to treat dementia, there are a few studies that can offer hope.

Isabelle Mosnier, M.D a French researcher recommends the use of cochlear implants for individuals who have intense hearing loss.

This is after conducting a study with 94 seniors who were experiencing profound deafness for at least one year.

She found that hearing rehabilitation enhanced cognitive functioning and speech perception.

Closing Thoughts

If experts can establish the exact link between dementia and hearing loss, it will not be all gloom and doom.

This is because it may lead to more aggressiveness when treating hearing loss a factor that might end up starving off dementia and cognitive decline.

In the meantime, it is vital for any person experiencing hearing loss to get appropriate treatment as soon as possible.

This is because untreated hearing loss is one of the conditions that increase the risk of developing dementia.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids For Dementia Treatment

What is Omega 3?

Importance of Omega 3

How Omega 3 May Help with Dementia Prevention

Raise DHA levels

Closing Thoughts

What is Acupuncture?

How Acupuncture Helps Improve Memory of Persons with Dementia?

Acupuncture Outperforms Use of Drugs

Scalp Acupuncture is Most Effective

Acupuncture Weakens Mental Problems that Dementia Cause

Closing Thoughts

10 Best Dementia Diet Foods

Oily Fish and Omega 3

Leafy Greens and Cruciferous Veggies

Nuts

Berries and Cherries

Beans

Whole Grains

Seeds

Mushrooms

Sweet Potatoes

Poultry

Closing Remarks

Loss Of Smell can be a Sign of Dementia

Results of the Study

Take-Home from the Study

Related Studies

How Loss of Sense of Smell can lead to Dementia Development

Recommended Solutions

Closing Thoughts

Best Dressing and Grooming Practices & Tips

Encourage Independence

Offer Choices

Allow Enough Time for Grooming

Keep Routines as Long as Possible

Prioritize on Safety

Carry out Some Activities Together

Closing Thoughts

Why Nursing Homes are Great for Dementia Patients

Round The Clock Supervision

Offers Caregivers Great Peace of Mind

Availability of Suitable Programs

Proper Nutrition

Enhanced Safety

Counseling Services

Physical Exercise

Encourage Independence

Closing Thoughts

Nursing Home Abuse

Hallucinations and Delusions Associated with Dementia

How to Recognize That Someone Has Delusions

Possible Causes of Delusions

Delusion Treatment Options

Doctor’s appointment

Organization and routines

Sight and hearing tests

Diet and nutrition

Photos

Positive distractions

Medication

Friendly environment

Closing Remarks

Practical Approach on Dementia and Paranoia

Consulting a Professional or Doctor

Non-Drug Approaches

Modifying Living Environment

Ignore the Person

Offer Support and Reassurance

Switch Focus

Dementia and Paranoia Closing Thoughts

Essential Role of Nutrition and Alzheimer’s Disease

Does Diet Increase Alzheimer’s Risk?

Foods that May Reduce the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

Mediterranean Diet

DASH Diet

Neurodegenerative Delay Diet

What about Vitamins and Supplements?

Closing Thoughts

The Link Between Hearing Loss and Dementia