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A healthy diet and consistent exercise may slow decline in some early-stage Alzheimerās disease patients, according to research published Friday. The study, published in the journal Alzheimerās Research and Therapy, found that patients in a group who implemented āintensiveā lifestyle changes ā like eating whole foods, exercising moderately and performing stress management techniques ā saw their dementia symptoms stabilize. In the other group, patients who did not alter their habits found their thinking and memory continued to worsen https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4711200-diet-exercise-may-slow-decline-in-some-alzheimers-patients-study/
These WIRED-tested and audiologist-approved devices will help you hear sounds more clearly. Never miss out on a dinner conversation again.
āFOR THOSE WITH hearing challenges, thereād long been just one option for dealing with it: an expensive, bulky hearing aid prescribed by a doctor. That changed in 2022 when the US Food and Drug Administration approved over-the-counter hearing aid devices, giving consumers access to a vast and growing array of alternatives.
Today, there are more hearing aids than ever, and they come in all different shapes, sizes, and most importantly, prices. How does a $100 hearing aid compare to a $5,000 prescription device for treating mild to moderate hearing loss? Weāve been testing products for the past two years to answer that question.ā
A breakthrough in Alzheimerās disease The promising potential of klotho
āI have this dream that people might be able someday to benefit from klotho, this factor that naturally circulates in our body, that helps with longevity, that helps with other organ systems and enhances the brain.ā āDena Dubal
Dena Dubal is a physician-scientist and professor of neurology at UCSF whose work focuses on mechanisms of longevity and brain resilience. In this episode, Dena delves into the intricacies of the longevity factor klotho: its formation and distribution in the body, the factors such as stress and exercise that impact its levels, and its profound impact on cognitive function and overall brain health. Dena shares insights from exciting research in animal models showing the potential of klotho in treating neurodegenerative diseases as well as its broader implications for organ health and disease prevention. She concludes with an optimistic outlook for future research in humans and the potential of klotho for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimerās disease.
Prior authorization issues and the quest for profits are major issues with many Medicare Advantage plans, as outlined in this article.
“Traditional Medicare rarely requires so-called prior authorization for services. But virtually all Medicare Advantage plans invoke it before agreeing to cover certain services, particularly those carrying high price tags, such as chemotherapy, hospital stays, nursing home care and home health.
āMost people come across this at some point if they stay in a Medicare Advantage plan,ā said Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, associate director of the program on Medicare policy at KFF, the nonprofit health policy research organization. After years of steep growth, more than half of Medicare beneficiaries are now enrolled in Advantage plans, which are administered by private insurance companies.”
This summer is slated to be a hot one, which means more risk to population health. Last summer, emergency room visits for heat-related illnesses reached an all-time high.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and CDC created a health risk score taking into account temperature, humidity, and other metrics that impact health. The risk score ranges daily from āNo riskā to āExtremeā heat risk.
Warm weather and lush spring vegetation are perfect for ticks to multiply. Ticks carry multiple diseases, especially Lyme, which is endemic in Delaware. Lyme disease often causes flu-like symptoms if it gets systemic along with neurologic and cardiac complications, especially if it becomes chronic.
Protect yourself from ticks by using products containing DEET or picaridin, treating clothing and gear with permethrin (watch out for allergies to this stuff) and carefully checking for ticks after outdoor activities (may need to get near naked š
There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that Botox is a safe and effective treatment for trigeminal neuralgia.
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic facial pain disorder characterized by sudden, severe, electric shock-like pain in one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve. This condition is relatively rare, with about 4.3 new cases per 100,000 people each year in the US.
TN can significantly impact quality of life, often leading to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders compared to the general population. Common triggers like brushing teeth, chewing, and swallowing can be so painful that individuals may neglect oral hygiene, lose weight, become dehydrated, and develop anxiety about these activities. TN can be highly disabling, with up to 45% of sufferers missing daily activities for at least 15 days in six months, and over 50% experiencing severe anxiety and depression related to their pain.
Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatment
The first line of treatment for TN usually includes anticonvulsant medications such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, lamotrigine, gabapentin, lacosamide, or the muscle relaxant baclofen. However, these drugs often have side effects like fatigue, cognitive issues, dizziness, tremors, and electrolyte imbalances, which can limit their use. For acute pain flares, treatments like infusion therapy and trigeminal nerve blocks are used.
Surgical options for classic TN include microvascular decompression, gamma knife radiosurgery, and balloon compression, but these come with concerns about tolerability, long-term efficacy, and safety.
Botox for Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatment
Botox, also known as OnabotulinumtoxinA, FDA-approved for chronic migraine, is used off-label by neurologists for TN. Small studies have shown that it can be a safe and effective treatment, particularly for those who cannot tolerate medications or are not candidates for surgery. This treatment has been shown to reduce pain intensity and attack frequency and improve quality of life compared to a placebo.
Speak with your CNMRI neurologist about this treatment if you are having break through facial pain from TN in spite of multiple medication trials.
Getting loved ones who have memory and executive function problems to stop driving can be tricky. These recommendations may help.
āBecause symptoms emerge at varying rates, every person needs to be assessed individually,ā says Ergun Uc, MD, FAAN, director of the movement disorders division at University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City. āSome people may retain the basic ability to operate a car but may become lost when driving or feel unsure when they have to make a decision quickly.ā
Other problems that could develop include going too fast or too slow, getting confused by stop signs and traffic signals, and having difficulty changing lanes or making turns. If a driver starts getting into fender benders or receiving more traffic tickets than usual, that also could be a red flag. Family members can share their observations with the person’s doctors, who might refer the patient to an occupational therapist, the department of motor vehicles, or a driving-test center that can assess driving skills, says Dr. Morgenstern.
Want to reduce food cravings, lose weight and improve glucose control?
The GLP-1 Probiotic is formulated with beneficial bacterial strains that naturally increase GLP-1, the ‘un-hunger’ hormone that helps curb cravings and appetite. Presently at the time of this post, the Pendulum Probiotics are the only ones that have had double blind research with publications in peer-reviewed medical journals.
There is also a company webinar that is very informative:
You can also use your FSA or HSA account as payment too. Certainly worth a try if you are serious about your health. More information at the Pendulum Life website:
Rare Disorder also called āDemon Face Syndromeā
I Have a Rare Disease That Makes Me See Demon Faces Everywhere. Itās, Uh, Not Fun.
Maggie McCartā¦suffers from an extremely rare disease called prosopometamorphopsia, which inflicts patients with a variety of wild hallucinations when they look at someoneās face.
If you were to look through McCartās eyes, youād experience a world where faces appear to be made of tree bark, or are unnaturally contorted, or, perhaps, completely swapped out with a mythical creature. We asked McCart how she manages to live life while looking through a fun-house mirror.
Prosopometamorphopsia is sometimes referred to as ādemon face syndrome.ā Nobody knows what causes itāgenerally the disorder is linked with various brain traumasāand for a long time, I couldnāt get a diagnosis myself. My early interactions with doctors werenāt helpful. Years ago, I explained my symptoms to a neurologist. I reported what I was seeing, and they scanned my brain and didnāt find anything suspicious. The neurologist said something like, āWell, thereās nothing wrong with your brain.ā And I thought, āI beg to differ.ā But again, itās not like they can see through my eyes. Itās not a simple situation, like asking a doctor to investigate a rash on your skin.
So for most of my life, I did my best to ignore the symptoms and go about my day. I learned to recognize people by their shoes, or their clothes, or the way they walked.
CNMRI 