Category Archives: Awareness & Activism

March 18, 2024 · 8:00 am

New study sheds new light on cognitive decline’s impact on speech functions

Changes in speech and word recall can be among the earlier signs of cognitive decline. We’ve all experienced this, no matter what the age: “It’s on the tip of my tongue!” While not always a precursor to Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, it’s important to recognize changes and talk to your doctor about them.

A recent study, albeit with a small sample size of 125 people, shed new light on what is a frustrating yet common complaint among older adults: difficulty in finding words. Among the findings: “Overall reaction time for word retrieval (controlling for psychomotor slowing) was the best predictor of spontaneous WFD (word finding difficulty) and executive function decline, suggesting processing speed as the key factor, and that verbal reaction time may be an important clinical measure.”

AI software was used to extract data such as speech speed, word variety and pauses in speech, according to The Conversation report. The study participants also completed a series of tasks designed to gauge executive function ability, and the results found a link between age-related decline in executive task ability and speech pace.

The findings are interesting but of course more research will be needed with a larger study group. If confirmed, the findings could help in forming more accurate tests for cognitive decline.

Image created by Microsoft Copilot.

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March 4, 2024 · 8:00 am

Wendy Williams diagnosed with FTD, aphasia

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Former talk show host Wendy Williams recently revealed that she has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The update on her medical condition was provided as a new documentary about Williams and her whereabouts since leaving her talk show aired and generated a great deal of controversy.

I watched the documentary, “Where is Wendy Williams?” and while it was difficult to watch her cognitive struggles, a lot of people got an eye-opening education on the varied forms of dementia. While Alzheimer’s has moved more into the public awareness in recent years, dementia variants like FTD are less known and understood. For those who think dementia is just “memory loss” witnessing the symptoms Williams displayed, combined with the aphasia, should raise awareness of the distinct symptoms that dementia variants can present.

FTD can trigger personality-driven changes, with erratic behavior and mood swings. For the former radio personality and talk show host, aphasia is a particularly cruel diagnosis, as it impacts speech and language skills. All of these symptoms are on display in the documentary, further aggravated because of Williams self-medicating with alcohol. Williams was previously diagnosed with Graves’ disease and lymphedema.

The documentary also puts a spotlight on court-appointed guardianships, and how a system supposedly designed to protect the vulnerable can isolate the person and cause further harm. The Williams family feels cut off from providing care for their struggling family member, while those in Williams orbit approved by the guardian seem not equipped to handle such a complex case. There is also the challenge of convincing a loved one that they need help, which is something many families dealing with dementia are all too familiar with.

Actor Bruce Willis has also been diagnosed with FTD and aphasia. I’m grateful that both celebrities have chosen to go public with their dual diagnosis, as it will help raise awareness and hopefully funding for these conditions.

I’m participating in the Smashwords  2024 Read an Ebook Week promotion that runs from March 3-9. During this time, get my award-winning personal essay collection, The Reluctant Caregiver, as well as CBD for Caregivers, for half off.

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February 24, 2024 · 3:47 pm

Remembering Wendy Mitchell, who shared her dementia experience with candor, compassion

I was saddened to learn that Wendy Mitchell, who so generously and insightfully shared her experience living with dementia through her blog and books, died this week. However, I take solace in knowing that Mitchell left this world in a way that honored the agency she still had over her own life.

I mostly knew Mitchell through her blog, Which me am I today? The blog’s title captures the dementia experience so well. I enjoyed the photos she shared from her sunrise walks, which included gorgeous skies as well as a variety of birds and other animals. Mitchell was dedicated to her nature walks, writing that the “miracle of nature would thin the glue in my head and bring me alive again.” Mitchell shared the full spectrum of the dementia experience, demonstrating that memory impairment does not prevent those with dementia from continuing to feel a wide range of emotions, maintaining a sense of humor, and achieving new milestones.

At the same time, Mitchell was clear-eyed about what the end of the dementia journey looks like for many people, and she was determined to not have her life end that way. She had been making her end of life plans for awhile, consulting with family and getting their blessing. Because assisted dying isn’t a legal option in the UK, Mitchell planned to travel to Switzerland and utilize the services available at Dignitas. But a recent fall in which she spent a week in the hospital derailed those plans. With her mobility limited, Mitchell chose to stop eating and drinking. You can read Mitchell’s final blog post which goes into detail about her decision process. I encourage you to read it, even if you disagree with her choice.

For the record, I support assisted dying and would consider that option for myself. I think it’s a decision for an individual, in consultation with family members, medical providers and spiritual advisers to make, NOT government officials.

Mitchell shared on her blog what she hoped to accomplish by sharing her dementia journey: “What I want is not sympathy. What I want is simply to raise awareness.” Mission accomplished.

Mitchell was a cherished member of AlzAuthors, read their lovely tribute.

Illustration by Microsoft Copilot.

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February 19, 2024 · 8:00 am

How creating GenAI prompts reminds me of dementia communication

For the past year, I’ve immersed myself in the emerging generative AI technologies. Mostly for my job, but also for my personal curiosity. Every industry is being impacted by AI, including caregiving. If you’ve followed any of the AI discussion, you’ll know that while the technology offers great potential in certain areas, it also can produce errors, which are referred to as “hallucinations.”

Users of these gen AI models are given the responsibility of creating suitable prompts for whatever tasks they are asking the model to complete. There are now people being hired as “prompt engineers” solely for that purpose. The reasoning goes that the better the prompt, the better the execution.

Instead of just typing in a few keywords into a search engine bar, one has to think about a variety of details. There’s a lot of trial and error in the process, with the accompanying frustration and wonder when you get it just right.

This made me think about communicating with someone in the earlier stages of dementia. The person’s communication skills are typically not that impaired early on, but some aspects may be slightly off. The misuse of a word. The incorrect memory recall. The out of left field response. Not understanding a routine request the person’s done many times before.

I remember having conversations with my father during those early stages of the disease and it was disconcerting because our discussion was mostly normal, until it suddenly wasn’t. And that’s how it feels to me working with generative AI technology. It’s accurate a good deal of the time but there’s still something just a bit askew.

If gen AI is characterized as being almost human, we sometimes feel our loved ones with dementia are not the people they once were. Creating AI prompts reminds me to be thoughtful when assembling the building blocks of communication, and how we may be required to reconstruct our typical communication style with our loved ones with dementia, by reframing questions and devising ingenious ways to keep the conversation, and the connection, alive.

The prompt used for the blog post image: “A digital illustration of an adult daughter and her 80-year-old mother with dementia setting at the dining room table, having a conversation with each other, with hearts floating around them.”

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February 12, 2024 · 8:00 am

Study explores link between vision issues and Alzheimer’s disease

A recent study published in The Lancet takes a closer look at a specific vision issue that previous research suggests has a link to Alzheimer’s disease.

The new meta analysis reviewed previous research studies on posterior cortical atrophy. The rare condition causes damage to an area of the brain that results in visual impairment. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, symptoms can include difficulty in “judging distances, distinguishing between moving objects and stationary objects, inability to perceive more than one object at a time, disorientation, and difficulty maneuvering, identifying, and using tools or common objects.” Other symptoms can include hallucinations, and difficulty in performing tasks like spelling and math problems. In the latter stages, memory can be impacted.

Because of the overlapping symptoms of posterior cortical atrophy and Alzheimer’s, there’s ongoing clinical debate as to whether it should be considered a form of Alzheimer’s disease or a distinct disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The new study “found a strong association between posterior cortical atrophy syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology” and “emphasize the importance of Alzheimer’s disease biomarker testing
as part of the diagnostic assessment of individuals with posterior cortical atrophy.” Medical News Today reported that among the study findings, “94% of study participants with posterior cortical atrophy also had Alzheimer’s disease pathology.”

It’s important to note that according to the Alzheimer’s Association, misdiagnosis of posterior cortical atrophy is common as most people would first go to their ophthalmologist if concerned about changes in vision. Those who are experiencing vision issues that persist and who are concerned about their risk of Alzheimer’s disease should seek further testing.

While there’s no specific treatment for posterior cortical atrophy, understanding its potential connection to Alzheimer’s could lead to an earlier diagnosis of the latter. Most of the newer Alzheimer’s drugs on the market are designed for those in the early stages of the disease, so diagnosis timing is critical.

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February 5, 2024 · 8:00 am

Controversial Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm to be discontinued by Biogen

The rocky road that the Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm experienced on its way to FDA approval was considered a hard-fought victory by proponents, but skeptics and critics may feel redeemed as Biogen announced Jan. 31 that it will discontinue production and research of the controversial drug.

Biogen’s announcement to abandon Aduhelm comes just two and a half years after the drug received accelerated approval from the FDA in 2021. The Alzheimer’s Association and other advocacy groups had urged the FDA to approve Aduhelm despite underwhelming benefits demonstrated in trials and concerning side effects such as brain bleeds and swelling associated with a condition known as ARIA. A congressional investigation found that the FDA’s approval process of Aduhelm was “rife with irregularities.”

While a disappointing outcome, there will be minimal impact, as Aduhelm was only being used by approximately 2,500 patients worldwide, according to NBC News. Why such a low number? The high cost (initially set at $56,000 annually by Biogen), Medicare’s hesitancy to cover treatment, and the intravenous delivery requirement were significant roadblocks.

In its response to the news, the Alzheimer’s Association said that Aduhelm gave hope to millions and helped pave the way for new medications to treat the disease, such as Leqembi, which has been approved by the FDA and remains on the market.

The frustrating and disappointing journey of Aduhelm should be viewed as a cautionary tale for all of us who yearn for a legitimate, effective treatment for Alzheimer’s and other dementias. The pharmaceutical industry responsible for developing innovative treatments are driven by profit and the demands of investors. The FDA’s questionable approval process of Aduhelm also didn’t appear to put patient safety first. At least four deaths were reported among those taking Aduhelm, though it was unclear if the drug played any role.

As I wrote at the time of the FDA’s accelerated approval of Aduhelm “It has been a long wait, and that is why the drug’s approval has been met with a mixture of hope and skepticism.” When it comes to future treatments for Alzheimer’s, take time to do your own research, talk to your doctor, and take a realistic look at the pros and cons to make an informed decision.

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January 29, 2024 · 8:00 am

Accessible writing for those with dementia can benefit us all

Dementia can make many daily tasks difficult, if not impossible. One of those tasks is reading. My father was an avid reader throughout his life so as his dementia progressed, his one true hobby and passion in life was rudely stolen from him.

Reading skills are necessary to navigate daily life beyond reading for pleasure. Being able to interpret signs, recipes, instruction manuals, etc. all take various levels of reading comprehension. Is there a way to write that can make it easier for those with dementia to comprehend?

Innovations in Dementia has released new guidelines on accessible writing for people with dementia. It’s an insightful and useful manual offering real world examples and explaining the whys behind the recommendations. It’s written with a good dose of humor, which is hard to do with a style guide! Everything from font choice and size to page layout and navigation and word choice are covered in the manual.

Researchers found through surveys that many of the recommendations on how to make writing clearer for those with dementia were also useful for those without dementia. The guide points out some similarities in reading challenges for those with dementia and those with dyslexia. Many of us find ourselves increasingly distracted and overwhelmed by the information flooding our minds on a daily basis. If you are familiar with the concept of “smart brevity” that powers the concise writing style used by Axios, you may see some similarities with the clear and direct writing style recommended in the writing for those with dementia guide.

Recently I read a book, Writing for Busy Readers, that I found insightful in how we can all improve our written communication to express ourselves more clearly and be understood by others. From corporate boardrooms to schools, there are opportunities each day to express ourselves more effectively.

Communicating in a way that is more accessible to those with dementia could benefit us all.

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January 22, 2024 · 8:00 am

Can robots help those with dementia engage with past and present?

Social robots have been met with an understandable level of skepticism by elder care advocates. Can generative AI take such technology to the next level? A recent Wired article highlighted interesting developments in this field. Instead of focusing on robots substituting for human companionship or serving as a virtual caretaker, a group of researchers are developing robots “for the soul.”

One group that is being targeted for this technology designed to spark sensations and experiences are those with dementia, with technology meeting them where they are, whether that is surreal or relived memories. One example cited in the article is a robot playing birdsong that prompts an introverted woman with dementia to mimic a bird and speak about her love of birds. Another product that has been created is a pillow with panels that can be personalized to one’s life experience. When a panel is touched, a familiar sound is played. For example, if I was programming this for my father I would include a rendition of Danny Boy, my father’s favorite song. I might include the sounds of a ship, because my father loved ships.

Most of the article focuses on the development of QT, a chatty robot being tested at a memory care center. The technology has a ways to go, but one of the interesting developments is how the robot can spark conversations between residents and visitors. Encouraging such interactions can have a positive impact on all involved.

While I don’t envision a flood of robots caring for the elder population anytime soon, assistive technology is rapidly developing. Fall detection products are commonplace now, and proved to be an essential tool when caring for my mother. Smart, connected devices like the Amazon Echo Show and the Alexa Emergency Assist service keep busy caregivers connected to their elder loved ones, allowing them to monitor virtually. These products provide long-distance caregivers like I was with some peace of mind.

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January 15, 2024 · 8:00 am

Keeping your loved ones with dementia warm and safe during winter weather

The new year has started off with a blast of winter weather that is impacting a large portion of the U.S. The frigid temperatures are a sobering reminder to take special precautions if you are caring for someone with dementia.

Each year, cases are reported of those with dementia wandering away from home and dying from exposure during the winter. My dad was a dementia wanderer, so these tragic cases hit close to home for me. There are several things to keep in mind when caring for loved ones with dementia on top of normal winter weather safety tips.

Creative Carer had a Facebook post this past week that offered excellent tips on how she kept her mother warm and comfortable during the winter. Some tips to keep in mind:

  • Depending upon the stage of the disease, your loved one may not be able to accurately communicate if they are comfortable temperature-wise. It’s important to be hands-on and monitor for signs of discomfort.
  • As Creative Carer points out, pay special attention to the extremities during cold weather.
  • Think about smart layers. A fidget blanket could serve dual purposes, by occupying restless hands while keeping the body warm. Be cautious about bundling with too many layers of clothes, as it could make it difficult to use the restroom and restrict movement.
  • When severe winter weather limits outdoor activities, make plans to keep loved ones occupied indoors. Restlessness can lead to wandering attempts.
  • Don’t forget about bath time and take extra precautious to keep your loved one warm and comfortable.
  • Knowing your loved one’s preferences before they developed dementia can serve as a guide to maintaining comfort even once they become non-verbal. My father didn’t like things around his neck, as it made him feel like he was being strangled, so scarves would not have been a good choice for him. However, Dad liked wearing hats, so that would have been acceptable.

I hope you and your loved ones stay safe during this winter season.

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January 6, 2024 · 3:08 pm

New year, new opportunities for caregivers

Happy New Year! I hope you and your loved ones had a good holiday season. While we enter another year fraught with tension on many fronts, one way to harness anxiety is by focusing on positive actions you can take to make a difference.

Such actions can come in many forms. Maybe this is the year you finally join a caregiver support group. It’s an election year so perhaps you join forces with a group like Caring Across Generations and their campaign for paid leave for family caregivers. Have you thought about your end-of-life care wishes and do you know the wishes of your loved ones? Make it a priority this year to document these choices in a form that’s legal where you reside.

Perhaps you or a family member have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia and you are seeking trusted information. Consider an excellent community resource like AlzAuthors, where you can read books from dementia caregivers, medical professionals, and those who are living with dementia. That includes my award-winning book, The Reluctant Caregiver.

If you’d like to get involved in Alzheimer’s research, explore the Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch. On that note, the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) is seeking individuals age 65+ living in the U.S. diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s and/or their caregivers to participate in a virtual interview project. Note that CISCRP is not recruiting volunteers for a clinical trial, but rather to learn from patients how to best create a clinical trial that addresses the unique needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s. For more information about the interview project, please contact research associate Madeline Heaney at mheaney@ciscrp.org or call 617-725-2750 ext. 416.

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