Science Daily, recently reported on new findings regarding neuroimaging and an increased ability to ‘see’ Alzheimer’s disease at its earliest stage. As you’ve read here before, earlier diagnosis will ultimately to improved treatment, possibly slowing the progression of the disease.

Researches at UCLA followed 169 study participants diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), the stage between the cognitive decline associated with normal aging and the more serious changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Over a three year period, they took pictures of the brains of the individuals in the study, using sophisticated imaging and noting subtle changes over time.

After three years, the researches observed that the individuals who converted from MCI to Alzheimer’s disease showed changes in the hippocampus of the brain, specifically a 10-30 percent atrophy. The early changes noted in the brain imaging appeared before participants reported any decrease in functional ability related to Alzheimer’s disease.

Lianna Apostolova, senior author, of the study’s related paper and a member of the UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging stated, ““We feel this is an important finding because it is in living humans.” She went on to say, “Now we have a sensitive technique that shows the ‘invisible’ – this is, the progression of a disease before symptoms appear.”

The early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include decreased judgment, lack of initiative, challenges in solving problems, difficulty completing tasks, and withdrawal from social activities.

Residents at Senior Living Residences' Standish Village organized a fundraiser to benefit Haiti Relief.

I have a different picture of Alzheimer’s for you today, shared with me by Brooke Patterson, Memory Support Neighborhood (MSN) Program Director at Standish Village, a community owned and managed by Senior Living Residences.

Most days Brooke begins her day by encouraging the residents, living on the MSN, to come to her daily activity program. The day after the earthquake in Haiti, she came into the community and asked the residents to do just that. The residents all looked at her and asked, “What are we going to do?” She smiled and replied, “Something fun,” the response she offers on most days. The residents looked at her and said “Don’t you know what is going on in the world? We shouldn’t be having fun, we need to do something to help!”

More residents of Standish Village who are organizing a food and water drive to benefit haiti Relief efforts

Hearing about the tragic earthquake that occurred in Haiti, the residents were driven to action to offer compassionate assistance to those in need like many of us across the globe. Responding to the crisis, they have organized a community-wide food and water drive to donate to the Haitian Relief efforts.

The resident-directed drive was organized by individuals who are actively engaged, directed in their purpose, and proud of their compassionate efforts. Each one is living with Alzheimer’s disease.

www.nature.com/.../n1s/full/jcbfm2009170a.html

As with Alzheimer’s disease, there is no simple way to reach a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Individuals who notice symptoms associated with MCI, including forgetting appointments and details of recent events or conversations as well as frequently repeating conversations and information, should speak to their physician.

During the diagnostic process, one can expect to be asked a number of questions about noted changes, history of symptoms and a family health history. In addition, the physician may ask to speak with a family member or close friend, to ask about observation of symptoms.

From there, a number of tests will be conducted to eliminate other potential causes for memory loss including: a complete physical exam, blood tests, an evaluation for depression or other mental illness, brain imaging, and a neuropsychological assessment.

The process is very involved, but once completed offers a clear picture of what is causing memory changes. It is important to note that not all memory change is caused by Alzheimer’s disease. At times, memory loss may be caused by an acute condition that can be treated. Also, as researchers learn more and more about memory loss, recognition of the earliest changes in cognition will lead to the most effective treatment.

A recent study from the University of Central Florida (UCF), provides new information about the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease, where preventative treatment is possible.

Among scientists and many lay people, it is well known that beta-amyloid is a destructive force to nerve cells in people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Beta-amyloid builds up in the brain, clumping in neurons and forming damaging deposits knows as plaque. This plaque is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.

In the disease process, the beta-amyloid damages and eventually kills neurons, brain cells. Many research studies have focused on the damaged nerve cells in trying to understand this process towards seeking a possible prevention and treatment.

In this new study, researchers from UCF looked at smaller amounts of beta-amyloid and its effect on healthy nerve cells. The scientists found that this more moderate exposure to the beta-amyloid has an effect on the cells, preventing the normal transfer of electronic signals in the brain.

The discovery is important in that it provides evidence that changes are occurring in the brain well before there are any noted changes to memory or behavior, that is, symptoms of the disease. This information may be valuable in the quest for a treatment that works in the earliest stages of the disease, suitable for an individual with the mild cognitive impairment.

More research is needed to fully understand the role of beta-amyloid in Alzheimer’s disease as well as potential treatments.

Have you ever heard the term Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)?

More and more, I see this term used for the general public: to describe newsworthy findings of studies about memory and aging, in educational materials from leading organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association, and from neurologists caring for people experiencing memory loss.

MCI refers to the stage between the cognitive decline associated with normal aging and the more serious changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease, marked by progressive loss of memory and day to day functional abilities.

Researchers and scientist are particularly interested in studying people with MCI as they may be seeing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) at its earliest stage. People with MCI are an important part of research studies seeking information about biomarkers, risk factors, and prevention of AD.

Senior Living Residences, www.seniorlivingresidences, is currently implementing a number of cognitive health initiatives to help people living with the memory changes associated with MCI and the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

Visit this blog again for information on the diagnosis, treatment, and services available for people with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

I have recently been inspired by a group of residents, living with Alzheimer’s disease, at Neville Place, a community managed by Senior Living Residences (www.SeniorLivingResidences.com). The residents have spent the last three months working on an exercise program with two students from Tufts University’s Occupational Therapy Department.

The student interns and the residents worked on building endurance and strength with exciting results. In the exercise group, the students asked the residents to do a little more each week, pushing them towards a new, but reachable goal. Over a period of ten weeks, the residents increased the amount of time they spent exercising, increased their repetitions in the movement group, and enjoyed the results.

Prior to the work with the student interns, the residents had participated in daily exercise, but they were all willing and able to do a little more. Research shows that exercise is an important part of maintaining cognitive health and may slow the progression of cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Having enjoyed all of my holiday celebrations, I now begin to think about the new year. It certainly seems that exercise should be a priority.  And, do I have some motivation!

Today, I heard an interesting interview with Judith Fox, a professional photographer.  Her husband has Alzheimer’s and she has been documenting his disease process in photographs and recently published a book, I Still Do.

Her photos and voice speak to remaining love despite the losses associated with Alzheimer’s disease. You can listen to the interview here, http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120568216&ft=1&f=13, see the photos here, www.judithfox.com , and read her blog here, http://judithfox.wordpress.com/.

Recently,  Senior Living Residences (SLR), www.SeniorLivngResidences.com,  teamed up with its academic affiliate, the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center (BU ADC), www.bu.edu/alzresearch, to raise more than $10,000 for research, education and care in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.

Our team included faculty, professionals, and volunteers from both SLR and the BU ADC. We joined thousand of other Massachusetts residents taking part in Memory Walk, www.alz.org/memorywalk, a nationwide effort to raise vital funds for care, education, and research.

Memory Walk is the nation’s largest Alzheimer’s event with more than 25,000 teams walking across the country. Across the Commonwealth, nearly 5,000 walk participants raised more than $1.7 million (and counting) to support the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter, www.alz.org/manh.

Having my own family history of Alzheimer’s disease, I was particularly interested in some recent research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association(JAMA). Last month, JAMA reported findings from a compelling study describing a direct connection between diet and cognitive health. Researchers found that individuals who follow a “Mediterranean-type diet” have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. In the study, individuals who adhered to a Mediterranean diet had a 32-40 percent decreased risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. In the same study, adherence to the diet combined with physical activity resulted in a 61-67 percent risk reduction for developing the disease.

Focusing on innovation, Senior Living Residences, www.seniorlivingresidences.com, has been implementing a cognitively protective diet and nutrition program for the past two years. The Memory Preservation Nutrition® program, developed by and implemented in conjunction with Nancy Emerson Lombardo, PhD, is a unique evidence-based program incorporating foods and spices, specifically selected for their nutrient-rich properties and linked in research to healthy cognition, into everyday diet to improve overall brain health. The program seeks to improve brain function, decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease for an individual who has already been diagnosed.

The main foods that are indicated through the program include fresh fruits and vegetables, especially leafy green vegetables, specific spices, whole grains, and foods containing omega-three fatty acids. All of the healthy foods in the right combinations provide the body with important disease-fighting antioxidants, nutrients with anti-inflammatory properties and also help to regulate blood sugar. These changes are all important for brain health, yours and mine.

To read more about the Memory Preservation Nutrition® program, visit http://www.seniorlivingresidences.com/senior-living-residences-launches-innovative-nutrition-program.

Senior Living Residences, www.seniorlivingresidences.com,  recently received a Recognition Award from  the Boston University School of Medicine’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center (BU ADC), www.bu.edu/alzresearch. The Award was presented to SLR for its contribution to Alzheimer’s disease research and community outreach, including the research and education initiatives of the  BU ADC. The BU ADC is one of the 31 National Institute on Aging funded Alzheimer’s Disease Centers nationwide.

Dr. Robert Stern, Associate Professor of  Neurology and Co-Director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical and Research Program at BU ADC, presented the award, saying that he viewed, “SLR as one of the most innovative and expert senior living and Alzheimer’s care organizations in the country.” SLR’s innovative focus on Alzheimer’s care is research-based. Affiliations with nationally recognized academic programs such as the BU ADC inform the cutting edge programs that residents receive.