Insights and Inspiration
4 Common Types of Dementia in…
Are you dealing with a diagnosis of dementia? If so, you might be wondering what type of dementia you are dealing with. Or, perhaps you’ve heard someone say it’s important to find out what type of dementia it is. It’s true that there certainly are different types of dementia, and it’s often said that the
Symptoms, 10 Common Causes & What…
Have you ever been told that an older relative has anemia, and wondered about anemia symptoms? Or perhaps you noticed the red blood cell count flagged as “low” in the bloodwork report? Or noticed “low hemoglobin” in a doctor’s report? Anemia means having a red blood cell count that is lower than normal, and it’s
What to Know & What to…
Signs of cerebral small vessel disease. From Inzitari et al, BMJ. 2009 Jul 6;339:b2477. doi: 10.1136/bmj.b2477 This article is about the most common aging brain problem that you may have never heard of. While leading a fall prevention workshop a few years ago, I mentioned that an older person’s walking and balance problems might well
How to Manage 12 Cardiovascular Risk…
A while back, I wrote an article on cerebral small vessel disease, a very common condition in which the small blood vessels of the brain develop signs of damage. If you’re an older adult and you’ve had an MRI done of your brain, chances are pretty good that your scan showed signs of at least
The 2-Step Skincare Ritual Every Busy…
Between school drop-offs, inbox overload, and the mysterious disappearance of personal time, skincare can feel like just another thing on your to-do list but when your skin looks calm, clear, and luminous, it changes everything. You move through the day with more ease. More confidence. More you. With only 2-steps… Joanna Vargas’ Eden and Twilight
How Alzheimer’s Medications Work & FAQs…
If someone in your family has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, chances are that they’ve been prescribed one of the “memory medications,” such as donepezil (brand name Aricept) or memantine (brand name Namenda). But were they told what to expect, and how to judge if the medication is worth continuing? I’ve noticed that
What to Know & How Much…
Confused by all the back and forth in the media about vitamin D? That’s understandable. Once touted as the thing to take for health and well-being, vitamin D has actually not been meeting expectations in randomized trials. It’s even been demoted in some expert recommendations. That said, there is still a pretty easy and straightforward
Is My Aging Parent Incompetent? What…
Q: My 87-year-old father lives alone. His house has become increasingly dirty, but he refuses to get help, even though I’m sure he needs it. I’m worried that he’s becoming incompetent and in need of elder care, but he doesn’t want to go see the doctor. What can I do? A: This situation does come
6 Ways that Cognitive Function Changes…
It’s annoying but unfortunately true: most parts of the body work less well as one gets older and older. This is even true of the brain, which is part of why it becomes more common to experience a “tip of the tongue” moment as one gets older. Such age-related changes in how the brain manages
How to Manage Sleep Problems in…
Sleep problems are common in Alzheimer’s and other dementias. They also commonly drive family caregivers crazy, because when your spouse or parent with Alzheimer’s doesn’t sleep well, this often means that you don’t sleep well. To make matters even worse, not getting enough sleep can worsen the thinking or behavior of someone with dementia. Of
