Group Activities For People With Dementia

Results from a dissertation in Umee University found that an active exercise program and a non-exercise group activity lowered the depressive symptoms of elderly patients with dementia.
The author of the dissertation and doctoral student at the Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gustaf Bostrvm, clarifies, Unfortunately, depression is common among older people, especially in people with dementia.
He also adds, Treatment with antidepressant drugs is often ineffective in older people and people with dementia. In addition, the risk of drug-related side effects increases with higher age and poor health, which is yet another reason to find other treatments.
Bostrvm examined the two groups. The exercise group participated in a 45-minute exercise every other weekday for four months. This includes balance and leg strengthening exercises. The non-exercise group performed songs, listened to readings, and conversed with each other with the same duration and frequency.
It was found that there were no major differences in effect between the two groups however; the results show that depressive symptoms among the elderly were significantly decreased.
Bostrvm continued, Previous studies have shown that people with dementia at residential care facilities have few social interactions, which can negatively affect a person's well-being. The positive effects could therefore be the results of social interactions in these kinds of group activities. However, more research is needed to confirm this.
He looked into the link in impaired balance and depression in the elderly. There were 392 participants, and the findings indicate that there is indeed a connection between the impaired balance and depressive state.
Bostrvm comments, The link between impaired balance, dependency in transfer or dressing, and depression is an important finding and may be the subject of future studies focusing on prevention or treatment of depression among people in older age.
Gustaf Bostrvm evaluated the possibility of increased mortality rate for the elderly undergoing a continuous antidepressant treatment. The results came up and depicted that the likelihood of these groups to be at risk is very slim but there are gender differences to be considered.
For the elderly patients, women showed to be more at risk with antidepressant use compared to men. If we take Dementia as a factor, it shows that antidepressant use in men is relevant to a lower mortality risk.
These results imply that there are a lot of factors that should be deliberated. It suggests the need to further study these issues in the future.

Alzheimer's and Rosacea

A new study found out about the link between Rosacea and Alzheimer's. People who have Rosacea are likely to develop Alzheimer's. The researchers in Denmark inferred that older patients are high at risk and those diagnosed by hospital dermatologists.
The research team decided to go through with the study because of the strong evidence linking rosacea to high level proteins, matrix metalloproteinases and antimicrobial peptides. These proteins are involved with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
In the journal Annals of Neurology, the team studied the connection between rosacea and dementia from the Danish registers. They covered the time period from 1997-2012. This includes 6 million Danish citizens (18 years old and above), with 83,500 individuals diagnosed with rosacea.
At the end of 2012, these people were monitored. The results showed an increase in the number of those diagnosed with brain disorders. Around 99,000 developed dementia and 29,000 were diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
When the research team looked into the data, they discovered that patients with rosacea had a 7 percent increased risk of dementia, and 25 percent risk of Alzheimer's.
Women face a higher risk of Alzheimer's related to rosacea than men. It was noted to be 28 percent risk for women, while only 16 percent for men.
Dr. Alexander Egeberg, the first author and from the Department of Dermato-allergology at Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen states, "A subtype of patients have prominent neurological symptoms such as burning and stinging pain in the skin, migraines, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, suggesting a link between rosacea and neurological diseases."
Dr. Egeberg continues, "Indeed, emerging evidence suggests that rosacea may be linked with neurological disorders includingParkinson's disease and now also Alzheimer's disease."
He said that there are particular mechanisms that rosacea and Alzheimer's share. This indicates the connection, however, it cannot be explained if one causes the other.
They are urging doctors to be on the lookout for any signs and symptoms of cognitive impairment in older rosacea patients. Only future studies can tell if rosacea treatment may be beneficial for lowering the risk of developing dementia.
Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Alzheimer's and memory loss patients. His participation at the Age Matters Clinic allows him to understand the 10 things you should do when you are young to reduce the chance of Alzheimer's.

Yoga May Reduce Dementia Risk

A recent study released by the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease has concluded that a yoga and meditation program may be effective in lowering the risk of adults developing cognitive problems related to dementia and Alzheimer’s.
The team from University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) and Dr. Helen Lavretsky from the Department of Psychiatry led the study.
One of the greatest challenges of patients experiencing cognitive disorders is MCI or Mild Cognitive Impairment. It starts by affecting the individual’s basic cognitive functions like memory retention and thinking capabilities. These symptoms can get worse and eventually leads to Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for MCI. A lot of experts recommend having older adults remain active especially in doing mentally stimulating tasks like crossword puzzles, and other thinking games to reduce their risk for cognitive disorders.
In the study, the participants were carefully chosen ranging from age 55 and above. There were a total of 25 participants. The group was divided into two.
14 of the participants attended a 1-hour Kundalini yoga class once a week, and participated in a 20-minute Kirtan Kriya meditation every day for 12 weeks.
The yoga class is known to be the "yoga of awareness." They were taught breathing techniques, chanting and meditation. As for the Kirtan Kriya meditation, they took part in chanting, hand movements, and light visualization.
The other 11 participants had memory enhancement training for 1 hour. This involves crossword puzzles or computer games once a week for 12 weeks. They allotted 20 minutes a day in completing memory exercises as well.
Within the 12-week duration of the experiment, all participants finished their memory tests and underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This helps the researchers investigate the participants’ progress in the study.
Both groups exhibited great results in terms of verbal memory skills. They showed improvements in their basic skills by remembering names and lists of words.
It was noted though that participants who did the yoga and meditation program had increased improvements in visual-spatial memory skills. This is the skill of an individual to navigate and remember locations. They did better than the other group.
The results showed that the yoga-meditation group did better in handling anxiety and depression. They had excellent coping skills and stress resilience. These improvements were related to the changes in brain connectivity. The researchers noticed that the yoga-meditation group proved to have brain connectivity changes that were highly significant.
The researchers found that this is connected to the increased production of brain-derived neurotrophic growth factor (BDNF). This accounts for boosting connections between brain cells and maintains these brain cell connections.
With this in mind, the research team believes that the yoga and meditation program are excellent strategies for decreasing the risk of cognitive decline in older adults.

Researcher's discovery: a breakthrough for Alzheimer's treatment

Let's talk about the man who has spent most of his life helping Alzheimer's and dementia patients. This is more than just research for St. Paul scientist, William H. Frey II. It's personal.
Brain disorders took the lives of his relatives. Since 1977, he has been fighting this battle against Alzheimer's. He spearheaded the research in Regions Hospital in St. Paul. For 40 years, Frey has been dedicated to his work in finding the solution how to end Alzheimer's.
He is a senior research director in HealthPartners Center for Memory and Aging. He gathered the biggest collections of brains for dementia research, and his work became the center of Alzheimer's disease management.
After 27 years, the researcher has made a big discovery. A new treatment is on the works, and it is going through a clinical trial in St. Paul. This is not only beneficial for Alzheimer's patients but for Parkinson's, stroke, brain injury and other medical issues.
The said treatment might take at least 10 years to be available in pharmacies based on Dr. Michael Rosenbloom, Frey's colleague. Dr. Rosenbloom remains to be positive about the technique's efficacy.
For decades, Alzheimer's research was most commonly relegated to the study of amyloids, or protein fragments, which clump together and prevent the brain from working properly.
Alzheimer's research was mostly concentrated on the study of beta-amyloid proteins, the one responsible for the disease. Terry Barclay, a neuropsychologist involved in the study at HealthPartners says, "Unfortunately, that line of research has not given us as many useful treatments as was hoped for." Barclay adds that a new technique for treatment is greatly needed.
Frey discovered the mist treatment in 1989, but people were not excited about it. They had a hard time trusting the idea. Just to patent his invention, he spent at least eight years trying to get it done. In 1997, he finally had his patent. He eventually made a more precise method using the intranasal procedure.
To certain scientists, they think of Alzheimer's as the "diabetes of the brain." The skill to remember is driven by energy. Glucose or blood sugar produces energy. However, those with Alzheimer's have a hard time processing glucose. As insulin provides patients the ability to breakdown glucose in the blood, patients with Alzheimer's may have a better memory if insulin is administered. It doesn't even interfere with the blood glucose levels.
Alzheimer's cases are expected to rise for about 40 percent on 2025. In 2050, there is a possibility that about 16 million people might be diagnosed with it.
Frey says, "I've seen firsthand the consequences of having someone you love and care about get Alzheimer's or get Parkinson's and die from it." He adds that this is really motivating for him.
Brains with Alzheimer's usually appear to have free-floating iron - molecules would collide into the good and healthy cells, and then cause damage to them.
Frey conducted an experiment wherein he gave iron-binding drugs to the mice through their noses. These mice experienced stroke before and the scientists discovered their brain damage decreased at 55 percent after the administration of the drug. On another note, giving this drug to healthy animals will reduce stroke damage.
There is a big possibility that people who are at risk of brain damage, like football players, may be protected from chronic traumatic encephalopathy before the actual trauma happens. Frey says, "That's the direction we're going, if we can get the funding."
Other scientists in Europe have discovered that the intranasal insulin helps enhance memory in adults. Frey's work is indeed a good thing - it's something that we will look forward to in the future.

Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Alzheimer's and memory loss patients of any age. His participation at the Age Matters Clinic allows him to share his knowledge with patients and their families.

Promising Study: Memory Retrieval In Mice With Early Alzheimer's

Promising Study: Memory retrieval in mice with early Alzheimer's
Memory retrieval is a tricky thing if diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer's.
It seems that there's new hope for Alzheimer's patients. Based on a recent study from Nature, senior author Susumu Tonegawa says that patients still have the ability to form memories. Retrieving them though is a hefty task for them.
Tonegawa and his team facilitated a study last year which involves retrieving lost memories of mice and the process of optogenetics. Their technique, optogenetics, uses light to stimulate and
In that study, Tonegawa and colleagues found they were able to retrieve the "lost" memories of these mice using a technique known as optogenetics, which involves the use of light to activate and manage neurons or brain cells. This prompted the scientists to spearhead another investigation with their recent research.
The researchers genetically modified the two kinds of mice. This would prompt them to develop beta-amyloid protein, which is responsible for plaques in the brain that cause memory loss in humans.
The researchers did an experiment with the mice. They put them in a container with healthy mice where they all got an electric shock to the foot. All of them exhibited fear.
After a few days, the normal mice still showed fear which means that they remembered the shock whereas the ones with Alzheimer's did not exhibit any fear which suggests they don't remember the shock.
The lead study author Dheeraj Roy explains, "Short-term memory seems to be normal, on the order of hours. But for long-term memory, these early Alzheimer's mice seem to be impaired."
However, upon using optogenetics, they discovered that the little creatures still had recollection of the foot shock.
The group designed the mice to release a light-delicate protein called channelrhodopsin in neurons in the hippocampus associated to fearful events. The researchers activated the engineered neurons through light. They shone the light on the mice - the creatures exhibited fear instantly.
Roy states, "Directly activating the cells that we believe are holding the memory gets them to retrieve it." He added as well, "This suggests that it is indeed an access problem to the information, not that they're unable to learn or store this memory."
The next day, when the Alzheimer's mice were returned to their containers, not one showed any fear. This means that their memories of the shock were lost. The researchers looked into the possibility of using optogenetics to retrieve memories for longer retention.
Within the span of 3 hours, the scientists shone light on the cells continually. They did this in the entorhinal cortex of the mice which is linked to the cells in the hippocampus.
After one week, the mice were put back into their chamber and they exhibited fear. This means that they remembered the shock this time, even without optogenetics.
The researchers discovered that the cells connected to the fearful memory had dendritic spines which are longer. These spines help neurons communicate with others.
The longer spines mean that the optogenetic process was effective - it enhanced the link between the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex. In Alzheimer's, one would find that these links are damaged. The researchers discovered that the process would fail if the targeted cells area was too large. In humans, the technique should have to be well-precise. It is too risky for use in humans as it affects too much of the brain.
Tonegawa believes though that there is a chance for a better process for memory retrieval. He says, "It's possible that in the future some technology will be developed to activate or inactivate cells deep inside the brain, like the hippocampus or entorhinal cortex, with more precision. Basic research as conducted in this study provides information on cell populations to be targeted, which is critical for future treatments and technologies."


Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Alzheimer's and memory loss patients of any age. His participation at the Age Matters Clinic allows him to share his knowledge with patients and their families.

Implantable capsule might help prevent Alzheimer's

New study: Implantable capsule might help prevent Alzheimer's
To see a loved one suffer because of this crippling disease is truly heartbreaking. As a human being, it is in our nature to protect our families and loved ones against this pain. But there is no way to stop illness from taking over. Our only way to cope for now is to learn how to be experts in managing this condition.
In line with this, a recent discovery might prove to be beneficial in managing Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests the use of an implantable capsule.
Researchers from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland published the findings in the journal Brain. They disclosed the information how the implant mechanism would work. Once the capsule has been implanted under the skin, it will emit antibodies to the brain which will be responsible for the activation of the immune system in order to eliminate beta-amyloid protein.
Beta-amyloid protein facilitates the progression of the disease. What it does is it bundles the protein together and creates plaques that collect in between the spaces of nerve cells. This alters the ability of the cells to survive.
The scientists are constantly in search of methods to solve the problems with the plaques, and they have an interesting idea how to. The idea is to mark the beta-amyloid proteins with antibodies which in turn would prompt the immune system to destroy them before they transform into plaques.
But the process is still not in its finest form; the treatment should be done in the early stages of the disease for it to be deemed effective. This means multiple injections that might have side effects.
Aebischer claims that the implantable capsule is another method for a safer treatment.
The macroencapsulation device has the following measurements: 27 mm in length, 12 mm wide and 1.2 mm thick. The device is composed of genetically engineered cells from muscle tissue that releases increased levels of antibodies which identify and target beta-amyloid proteins in the brain. These cells must also be compatible with the patient's to prevent any rejection from the immune system.
The capsule will discharge the antibodies into the bloodstream. From this, they will go to the brain to hunt and tag beta-amyloid protein. This will call the immune system to attack.
Aebischer and the team conducted an experiment on mouse models with early onset of Alzheimer's. These were evaluated for 39 weeks.
The brains depicted reduced levels of beta-amyloid protein and plaques. This is indicative that the experiment prevented the plaque formation. The mice also had lower phosphorylation of the tau protein which accounts for tangle formation inside the nerve cells.
The study authors find that the research is something that provides a helpful concept in formulating an effective approach for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.


Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Alzheimer's and memory loss patients of any age. His participation at the Age Matters Clinic allows him to share his knowledge with patients and their families.

New Cancer Drug Holds Promising Results For Treatment Against Alzheimer's

As we age, there is an apparent increased risk factor for Alzheimer s disease. What can we do about it? How can we help our loved ones who are exhibiting early symptoms? These questions would arise eventually and we have no way of stopping this disease.
However, a team of scientists conducted an observation of the disease and after noticing its effects, found that there is a certain anti-cancer drug that combats the disease before it even starts. The disease forms crystallized protein clumps which get clogged up and eventually kill the brain cells. The main function of the drug is to prevent the plaques from forming; that is if disseminated early enough to affected individuals.
Based on the Science Advances journal, the scientists studied that the lymphoma treatment drug bexarotene aims to prevent primary nucleation which initiates a response resulting to protein clumps and amyloid plaques.
Although this is a huge breakthrough, the scientists claim that the drug is not a cure for the disease. The drug strengthens the defenses of the human body against the affected proteins in the brain. It decreases the risk factor, but not eliminate the disease entity.
A professor in chemistry at the University of Cambridge and senior author Michele Vendruscolo clarifies that as we get older, our natural defenses against plaques become vulnerable. The professor states though that if the mechanisms of the natural defenses are understood, they might be able to design drugs that act in the same way.
Professor Vendruscolo, as well as other researchers from University of Cambridge, University of Groningen and Lund University, was able to facilitate an experiment that involves giving bexarotene to nematode worms that were genetically modified to exhibit signs of Alzheimer s.
The scientists' findings proved that the drug was effective in suppressing the first phases of plaque formation. However, it was ineffective once the disease symptoms are already present.
When this phase happens, natural proteins change into the wrong shape and latch to other proteins. This creates the amyloid fibrils and oligomers which causes brain damage for patients with Alzheimer s.
The study showcases what happens for each stage in Alzheimer s disease. It reveals the outcome as well if a stage is interrupted or turned off.
A thorough search of a library of 10,000 small molecules was all it took for the scientists to discover the bexarotene. The molecules were compiled when the scientists searched for compounds that interact with amyloid beta (a sticky protein molecule that is vital in the plaque formation for Alzheimer s.)
Professor Chris Dobson, co-author from the chemistry department at University of Cambridge, says that the unsuccessful previous trials do not necessarily mean that it is the wrong molecule. Failure may be attributed to the timing of delivery. The professor explains, "Even if you have an effective molecule, if you target the wrong step in the process, you can actually make things worse by causing toxic protein assemblies to build up elsewhere."
The head of research for Alzheimer s in the UK, Dr. Rosa Sancho, says that the clinical trial involving humans was not a success. Based on Dr. Sancho, the worms experiment will be effective if given in the early stages of Alzheimer s.


Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Alzheimer's and memory loss patients of any age. His participation at the Age Matters Clinic allows him to share his knowledge with patients and their families.

Acid Reflux Drugs increases the risk of Dementia and Neuropathy

Do you know a loved one experiencing memory loss lately? Are they complaining about unexplained weakness, pain, numbness or some tingling especially in the arms or legs? Have they been using reflux drugs such as Nexium, Prevacid or others for several years? Then they could be victims of the side effects reflux drugs.

Acid reflux drugs

Acid reflux drugs are used to treat acid reflux, and they are sold over the counter. The problem starts when acid leaks and gets into the esophagus. Unlike the stomach, the esophagus does not have any protective lining. It means that when the stomach acid gets into contact with the delicate part, its causes a scorching effect known as acid reflux. The body has a big valve known as Lower Esophageal Sphincter that is located between the stomach and the esophagus. This valve is designed to prevent acid reflux. Acid reflux is as a result of the dysfunctioning of the LES muscles.
People who are experiencing acid reflux need to understand the cause before buying any acid reflux drugs. It is easier to cure the disorder by focusing on the causes as opposed to symptoms. .Taking acid reflux drugs to block the natural secretion of the acid results in severe side effects.

Acid Reflux Drugs have been linked to Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Some acid reflux drugs such as Nexium have a history of causing some serious side effects to the patients. People using this medication have high chances of getting anemia, osteoporosis, heart problems and more digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome. Experts say that the drugs used to treat acid reflux do not treat the condition but only the symptoms. These medications are not made to deal with the problem. Due to this, the condition worsens as the patient continues taking them. As the drug treatment is prolonged, the drug side effects continue to deteriorate.
New research has brought more clarity to this problem. It shows that individuals taking some acid reflux medication will experience vitaminB12 deficiency. The research indicates that proton pump inhibitors like Nexium, Prilosec, and some histamine two receptor antagonists like Pepcid and Zantac have serious side effects to the consumers. Proton pump inhibitors were proven to be the worst.
According to the study, patients using these drugs should not stop using them. They should, however, get their vitamin B12 levels checked. If the patient realizes that their levels are not enough, then that should be treated as a symptom. It is impossible to treat Vitamin B12 deficiency if the cause is not addressed, and the acid reflux drug might be the cause.

Vitamin B12 deficiency effects on the body

If the issues are not addressed immediately, a patient will experience fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, anemia, dementia, hypertension, depression and even neuropathy. It can be dangerous and costly to keep on treating symptoms of a medical condition rather than treating the cause. Patients may opt for natural remedies for the condition and avoid the drugs. This way, the body heals naturally, and the patient avoids these serious side effects.
Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Dementia Patients. His participation at the Age Matters Clinic allows him to share his knowledge with patients and their families.

Dementia Patients Rehab: Back To Basics

Dementia is a serious neurodegenerative, progressively deteriorating and terminal clinical condition. Dementia is characterized by the loss or decline of a patient's memory or any other cognitive abilities. Research shows that dementia can be because of several diseases and conditions. Over 27.7million, people in the world suffer from this medical condition. The most common kind of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, and it accounts for almost 80% of all the dementia cases in the world today. Other types include mixed dementia, vascular dementia, and Parkinson dementia among others.

Dementia management

Now, there is no cure for dementia, but some promising experimental treatments are being tested on animals and human beings. Experts in the medical field say that the specific treatment to either slow or arrest the disease progression will take many years to be discovered. It has led to the developing and implementing of none- pharmacological approaches in clinical settings to help manage the condition. These methods support and enhance the quality of life for the people suffering from dementia together with their families.

Rehabilitation for dementia patients

The primary purpose of rehabilitating patients is to ensure that they achieve their optimal level of function. In 1986, Cohen and Eisdorfer suggested that dementia rehabilitation is the only way to help patients suffering from this condition. The primary focus of dementia rehabilitation is to use facilitative, compensatory and none- pharmacological approaches that can modify behaviors or the social and physical environment to help people suffering from the condition to cope with it and participate in their daily activities as usual. Dementia rehabilitation will enable the patient to live for a longer time without getting too many problems.
The focus in dementia rehabilitation is strength based, and it concentrates of the capabilities of the patient to help them achieve the best life they can regardless of the level of the condition.
It is quite different from the traditional therapies used in rehabilitation that mainly focused on addressing, curing, or decreasing impairment, or sometimes addressing the underlying pathophysiological or the neurological level to get the improvements in status.

Challenges facing dementia rehabilitation

Dementia has always been considered a terminal condition, and this has made many healthcare providers not to consider the patients as appropriate candidates for rehabilitation. In fact, many health professionals are still unaware on how to support people suffering from the condition.

Communication strategies for dementia rehabilitation

People suffering from dementia should be handled with a lot of care during rehabilitation. The health care provider taking care of this population must be very patient and understanding. When talking, they should maintain a lot of calm. The verbal instructions given to the patients must be simple, and each should be paid at a time. It is not advisable to rush when dealing with these patients. Dementia rehabilitation should be conducted in places with no distraction or noise so that they cannot concentrate. The caregiver should always assure them that they are doing well. It is also advisable always to express some affection when around the patients.
Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Dementia Patients. His participation at the Age Matters Clinic allows him to share his knowledge with patients and their families.

Top Lessons You Need To Learn About Dementia & Benzodiazepines

Dementia is a common term referring to a group of symptoms that affects the brain capacity. The condition emanates from brain cells damage often caused by diseases, physical injuries, and strokes. The medical disorder impairs the ability to make sound judgments and conduct daily activities. While dementia remains prevalent at the ages beyond 65 years, it's not a common occurrence amongst the elderly as it occurs in people in their 40s and 50s.
Diagnosing dementia
Despite the disorder having noticeable symptoms, several health conditions are bearing similar symptoms. They include hormone deficiencies, brain tumors, depression, medication clashes and bacterial infections. Once the symptoms appear, it's vital to diagnose at an early age to ensure early treatment for those with treatable disorders. The initial signs are the personality change, gradual loss of memory, withdrawal, confusion and partial to full physical disability.
There are many causes of Dementia as there are many forms of the disorder. The most prevalent types of the illness are vascular dementia, Huntington's disorder, FTLD, Korsakoff's syndrome, Parkinson's disease and Cruetzfeldt-Jacob disorder. Unlike other chronic illness, dementia is not a hereditary disease.
Managing the condition
Visit a doctor when you notice the signs above in your relatives or a colleague to determine the ultimate cause. Several types of the disorder such as Alzheimer's disease deteriorates one's health over time. Currently, there are no preventive and curative medicines for most types of the illness. However, some drugs have tested positive for reducing the symptoms. The victims need moral support to manage the condition positively.
Does Benzodiazepines increase the risk of Dementia?
Most of the commonly used drugs for chronic illnesses comes with undesirable side effects. According to recent studies, close to 19% of the adults at the age of 50 and above uses drugs that cause anticholinergic activity. Previous surveys have shown several people using the drugs for years leading to severe withdrawal signs. The drugs contain a chemical acetylcholine that causes low blood pressure, agitation, memory problems, dry mouths and confusion.
Benzodiazepines are a group of drugs commonly known as tranquilizers, often prescribed for people suffering from insomnia, fatigue, alcoholism, anxiety and as anesthesia before surgeries. They are usually administered for few weeks as they are highly addictive when used for prolonged periods. Benzodiazepines works on the central nervous system, triggers muscle relaxation, produces sedation while lowering the level of anxiety.
A group study conducted on about 1000 French elderly people showed increased risk of up to 50% among those that used the drugs in a span of 15 years, compared to those that had not taken the medicine. An independent research conducted in Quebec, Canada identified increased risk of contracting Alzheimer's disorder for people with increased exposure to benzodiazepine. Strong links were found in people with more than six months. Also, those with a half-life of more than 20 hours showed higher risk than the short acting medications.
Despite the medical advances that have seen the development of more than 2000 brands of benzodiazepine, only 15 are currently approved for use. However, the past studies have failed to establish whether the cognitive effects are permanent and or can be reversed with counter prescriptions.
Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Dementia Patients. His participation at the Age Matters Clinic allows him to share his knowledge with patients and their families.