Will Comprehensive Health, Lifestyle Choices Help Stave Off Dementia? Scientists Want To Find Out
A $20 million study will try to figure out if "life hacks" -- like more exercise -- can have an effect on protecting from dementia.
Los Angeles Times:
U.S. Researchers Are Trying A Series Of Life Hacks To Try To Ward Off Dementia
Facing a predicted tidal wave of dementia sufferers, researchers across the United States are launching an ambitious clinical trial to test whether a package of low-tech life hacks can do something no pill or therapy currently can: prevent or delay cognitive impairment in Americans. (Healy, 7/19)
In other news on aging —
California Healthline:
These Preventive Measures Might Help Delay Dementia Or Cognitive Decline
In a landmark report, scientists have endorsed three strategies for preventing dementia and cognitive decline associated with normal aging — being physically active, engaging in cognitive training and controlling high blood pressure. This is the first time experts convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine have deemed scientific evidence strong enough to suggest that preventing dementia and age-related cognitive decline might be possible. (Graham, 7/20)
The San Diego Union-Tribune:
Alzheimer's Diagnosis Often Mistaken, But New Blood Test May Improve Accuracy
The discovery that many people diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s instead suffer from some other type of memory loss was made through the IDEAS study, which presented results among nearly 4,000 people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Those participants’ brains were scanned with PET imaging technology to detect plaques of beta amyloid, a toxic protein that defines Alzheimer’s...The IDEAS undertaking was launched last year at UC San Francisco to better document the use of PET scans in diagnosing and treating Alzheimer’s. Each of these scans costs thousands of dollars, and it hasn’t been entirely clear whether the results are clinically useful. (Fikes, 6/19)
The Bakersfield Californian:
'I'm Falling, I'm Falling.' State Blames Elderly Dementia Patient's Death On Valley Convalescent Hospital Care, Fines Facility $100,000
An 80-year-old dementia patient fell from his bed and died at Valley Convalescent Hospital in February, something a state public health investigation determined this month came as a direct result of poor care at that facility.The hospital has been fined $100,000 and received a “Class AA Citation,” the most severe penalty under state law, the California Department of Public Health announced Wednesday morning. If the facility incurs another Class AA Citation in a two-year period, it could risk losing its license. (Pierce, 7/19)