Across the United States, millions of families are confronting a seemingly impossible question: When dementia changes a relative, how much should they accommodate their new personality and desires?
Katie Engelhart, a writer for The New York Times Magazine, tells the story of one family’s experience.
“I talk to our dog; I talk to our cats. Mind you that these are not deep conversations, such as the ones I have with my wife. It turns out, however, that the presence of pets in the house can have profound effects on slowing the verbal cognitive decline in older individuals. There is one catch: you have to be living alone.”
“I believe this study underscores something that is all too real about disconnectedness in our modern culture. Loneliness and isolation are significant threats to physical and mental health. Recently, the US Surgeon General issued an advisory on the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country.1 Primary care clinicians need to be aware of this and ask patients specifically about their social networks and feelings of loneliness.”
“Reaching out to, and building connections with family, friends, and — importantly — others in our communities who are disconnected, is vitally important to health and well-being. And, in some cases, a household pet can be a big benefit. I tell this to my dog and cats all the time.”
“Sleep has a huge impact on our health. It helps our brains function, protects against heart disease and supports our immune system. And without it we would die.
Although for something so important, we aren’t formally taught how to do it right, says Rebecca Robbins, a sleep scientist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. “In America, you learn about nutrition or sex ed in school, but never about sleep.”
It may be why only a third of Americans get the recommended amount of sleep each night, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
https://www.npr.org/2024/01/09/1196978496/debunking-popular-myths-about-sleep
Neuralink implants brain chip in first human
“The first human patient has received an implant from brain-chip startup Neuralink on Sunday and is recovering well, the company’s billionaire founder Elon Musk said.
“Initial results show promising neuron spike detection,” Musk said in a post on the social media platform X on Monday.
Spikes are activity by neurons, which the National Institute of Health describes as cells that use electrical and chemical signals to send information around the brain and to the body.”
https://www.reuters.com/technology/neuralink-implants-brain-chip-first-human-musk-says-2024-01-29/
GLP-1 agents such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) are game-changers. In addition to weight loss, they may reduce neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimers dementia, due to a reduction in metabolic syndrome, reduction in vascular events and neuroprotective effects.
“GLP-1 plays important role in augmenting insulin signalling inside the brain. GLP-1 receptors, present inside the brain, are also involved in cognition, synaptic transmission in hippocampal neurons, and cell apoptosis. Overexpression of this receptor is responsible for cognition enhancement and neuroprotection, while deficiency increases the chances of seizure and neurodegeneration (81, 82). Therefore, GLP-1 receptors are considered as validated target for exploring candidates with better neuroprotection and cognition enhancing abilities (83).”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9159769/
Want to slow memory loss after 60? A multivitamin may be the answer.
A group taking a multivitamin was two years younger in memory function than a group taking a placebo, research shows
It is the third in a series of studies assessing the cognitive effects of a daily multivitamin on older adults. And a systematic review, or meta-analysis, of the three studies accompanying the most recent paper said their cumulative results were similar: The group taking a multivitamin was two years younger in memory function compared with the group taking a placebo.
And don’t forget exercising and keeping your mind busy by reading and doing puzzles. If you are retired and watching cable TV and Fox News all day, doubt balanced meals or vitamins are going to help.
TL: DR My two favorites: Autosleep on iPhone and Sleep as Android
In today’s fast-paced world, getting a good night’s sleep is more important than ever. To help you monitor and improve your sleep patterns, there are numerous sleep tracker apps available. My recommendations are Autosleep for iPhone and Sleep as Android. In this blog post, we’ll compare these two sleep tracker apps, highlighting their features, user interfaces, and overall performance to help you make an informed choice for tracking your sleep.
Autosleep
Autosleep is a dedicated sleep tracking app exclusively available for iOS devices. Developed by Tantsissa, it offers a user-friendly interface and a robust set of features tailored for iPhone and Apple Watch users.
Automatic Tracking: Autosleep uses advanced algorithms to automatically detect when you fall asleep and wake up, eliminating the need for manual input.
Sleep Score: The app calculates a Sleep Score based on the quality and duration of your sleep, providing insights into your sleep patterns.
Sleep Rings: It visualizes your sleep data in a ring format, making it easy to understand at a glance.
Detailed Sleep Analysis: Autosleep provides in-depth statistics about your sleep cycles, heart rate, and more.
Integration with Health App: The app seamlessly integrates with the Apple Health app, allowing you to centralize your health data.
User Interface: Autosleep boasts an intuitive and visually appealing interface, making it easy for users to navigate through their sleep data. The Sleep Rings feature is particularly engaging and informative.
https://autosleepapp.tantsissa.com/home
Sleep as Android
Sleep as Android is a versatile sleep tracking app available for Android devices. Developed by Urbandroid, it offers a wide range of features and is known for its extensive customization options.:
Comprehensive Tracking: Sleep as Android tracks your sleep cycles, snoring, and even your sleep talk to provide a holistic view of your sleep quality.
Smart Alarms: The app offers smart alarms that wake you up at the optimal time within a set time window, reducing grogginess.
Integration with Wearables: It supports various wearables and sensors, allowing you to use devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers for sleep tracking.
Sleep Notes: You can add custom notes about your sleep, which can help identify patterns and triggers affecting your sleep.
Captivating Sleep Charts: Sleep as Android generates detailed sleep charts and graphs for in-depth analysis.
User Interface: While Sleep as Android offers a wealth of features, some users may find its interface less intuitive compared to Autosleep. However, its customization options make it suitable for those who prefer to tailor their sleep tracking experience.
https://sleep.urbandroid.org
Summary
Both Apps are excellent sleep trackers. Autosleep happily does not require a subscription and only costs $5.99, a worthwhile investment. Autosleep works much better if you have an Apple Watch. Sleep for Android requires a subscription or initial $40 one time payment and also works much better if you have a wearable device.
Please contact your DME supplier if you have a ResMed Mask.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday classified the recall of certain respiratory masks made by ResMed (RMD.N) as most serious as their use could cause major injuries or death.
ResMed was recalling some models of its continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) masks, AirFit and AirTouch, due to possible magnetic interference with certain medical devices and implants which might disrupt their function or position and cause serious harm or death, the FDA said.
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-fda-identifies-recall-resmeds-respiratory-devices-most-serious-2024-01-11/
A preliminary review of side effects from popular drugs used to treat diabetes and obesity shows no link with suicidal thoughts or actions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.
But the agency also said officials cannot definitively rule out that “a small risk may exist” and that they’ll continue to look into reports regarding more than a dozen drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro. Patients taking the drugs should report any concerns to health care providers, the FDA said.
https://apnews.com/article/wegovy-ozempic-obesity-suicide-thoughts-fda-fbe7b158e78c199f8f8d3a551dcaa60d
CNMRI 