Senior Living Residences and our Compass Memory Support Communities stay up-to-date with the latest news and scientific discoveries in Alzheimer’s disease. By understanding the causes and effects of this disease, we can better understand how to help our residents and their families in coping with this disease.

According to a recent article in ScienceDaily (June 16, 2010), researchers may have uncovered additional evidence that several previously studied genetic variants are associated with the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and also may have identified new genetic risk factors for further study. These findings are reported in the June issue of Archives of Neurology. Researchers were able to draw these conclusions by investigating the association between genetic loci related to Alzheimer’s disease and neuroimaging measures related to disease risk.

For the full article, visit ScienceDaily.com.

A recent study by Dr. Sudha Seshadri, a faculty member of the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Senior Living Residences academic affiliate, finds that carrying excess belly fat my increase your risk of developing a dementing illness.

The study found that the larger the amount of deep belly fat, visceral fat, the smaller the brain. Smaller brain size is associated with a lower level of cognitive function on testing and an increased risk for dementia, said the study published in the Annals of Neurology.

Midlife obesity was previously linked as a risk factor of dementia, but central obesity increases that risk. In this current study, individuals with the largest centrally located obesity had a three times higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder, as compared to smaller-sized study participants.

This study again points to diet and exercise as potentially protective factors against developing Alzheimer’s disease

Recently, a group of researchers from Tufts University came to Compass on the Bay to screen residents for the VIVE study, focused on exercise and nutrition in the elderly. The study includes an exercise intervention, aimed at increasing individual’s exercise levels. The researchers were surprised to learn, upon interview, that many of the residents were not qualified for the study.

The reason: current and frequent exercise routines.

Exercise is an important component of Compass Memory Support. Research shows the exercise is associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and may slow the progression of the disease. Our exercise programs are important for residents’ physical, mental and cognitive health and may include supervised walking groups, strength training, dancing, gentle stretching, yoga and tai chi.

Daily exercise routines can be viewed, frequently, at all of the Compass Memory Support communities. Apparently, the residents are more active than researchers ever imagined!

What types of exercise do you find useful for people living with Alzheimer’s disease?

Senior Living Residences’ Compass Memory Support Assisted Living offers individuals with Alzheimer’s disease the opportunity to live fully. Compass Memory Support’s unique program includes a focus on research, diet, learning, and exercise. In combination, these innovative research-based programs work to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in the assisted living setting.

At SLR, residents with Alzheimer’s disease are recognized as individuals with a disabling illness. Treating the symptoms of their disease provides the opportunity to uncover and regain some of their lost abilities. In the right setting with the right support, these individuals can lead active, purposeful and inspiring lives.

A recent article in Science Daily reports a new study conducted at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) which indicates that people with Alzheimer’s disease can better recall information when it is conveyed by music. This new research may be helpful in leading to new ways of treating people with Alzheimer’s disease.

A recent study conducted by a group of New York researches have found that certain foods can help ward off the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers examined the dietary habits of 2,148 older men and women, age 65 or older and free of memory loss or other symptoms of Alzheimer’s. The study determined that brain-healthy foods including salad dressing, nuts, fish, tomatoes, poultry, cruciferous vegetables, fruits, and dark and green leafy vegetables may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease. Conversely, particular foods may be bad for brain health and may be linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s including total fats, particularly saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids.

At Senior Living Residences, we have a truly holistic approach aiming to improve our residents’ quality of life. Nutrition is one of the most important. SLR is the first assisted living company in the nation to offer the Memory Preservation Nutrition® program, developed by internationally recognized expert Nancy Emerson Lombardo, PhD. With our years of experience, we know there is a better way to provide care for individuals with dementia.

A recent study conducted at the University of Iowa proves that people with memory loss can still feel and remember both happy and sad emotions well after having forgotten the memory that caused the sentiment. This research confirms what we at Senior Living Residences have recognized for years, that simple actions taken by family members and caregivers of Alzheimer’s residents can have a significant effect on a patient’s mood, although they may not remember why. This discovery provides another reason why respect and dignity are essential elements to an Alzheimer’s patient’s care and an integral part of our mission at SLR.

This just in! The Alzheimer’s Association’s “2010 Facts and Figures Report” presents a thorough and comprehensible breakdown of the information that is currently available regarding Alzheimer’s and dementia in the US. It touches on all the major topics, including the suspected causes and available treatments of the disease, prevalence and risk estimates, care-giving and mortality and the costs and effects on individuals and society as a whole.

Basically, the report states what experts have been saying for some time now – that we are at the brink of an epidemic that needs to be addressed, and measures need to be set in place so that we as a nation can be better prepared to deal with the impending circumstances as they arrive. Some of the most pressing facts that the report states are:

-         One in eight people over the age of 65 (13 percent) have Alzheimer’s disease.

-         In 2000, there were an estimated 411,000 new (incident) cases of Alzheimer’s disease. For 2010, that number is projected to be 454,000 new cases; by 2030, 615,000; and by 2050, 959,000.

-         An estimated 3.5 million additional formally trained healthcare providers will be needed by 2030 – more than a 35% increase in the current ratio of providers to the total population – just to maintain current levels of staffing.

The numbers are out there. It is time to take action and start preparing for the future needs of our population. I am proud to be part of an organization that has recognized this issue and is actively doing their part to help. SLR and the BU School of Medicine Alzheimer’s Disease Center continue to work together to develop a state-of-the-art research-based senior living environment to care for individuals with Alzheimer’s and work towards creating a brighter future for those currently affected by the disease and the generations yet to come.

Resident of Standish Village, a Senior Living Residences community in Dorchester, MA, celebrate St. Patrick's Day

Residents living in the Memory Support Neighborhood at Standish Village spent today celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Standish Village, like many other assisted living communities, offered a performance from an Irish Step Dancer. Unlike other assisted living communities, residents spent the morning engaged in an innovative adult learning course, studying Ireland, its history, land and people.

Each week residents at Standish Village and other Senior Living Residences’ communities participate in the Reconnections Program. Reconnections is an experiential-based adult learning program designed specifically for individuals with memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease based on research that cognitive stimulation may slow the progression of the disease. The material-rich learning courses key in on residents’ past and present interests to elicit engaged responses.

As the residents celebrated today, they focused not only on watching a dance performance, but also learning about its origins, history, and relevance in their own lives.

Diabetes is a known risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists believe this risk is due to blood vessel problems as well as tissue damage from fluctuating blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. Major depression has also been noted as a risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.

A recent study has found that major depression more than doubles the risk factor for dementia in adults living with diabetes. The study article in the Journal of General Internal Medicine noted that depression is common among people with diabetes and advised clinicians to add appropriate screening and treatment measures. Additionally, the study noted the need for exercise as well as weight and blood sugar control to protect people with diabetes from developing cognitive deficits.

It is not known how diabetes and depression interact to result in the increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.

Noting, the link between exercise, diet, and brain health, Senior Living Residences offers an exercise program in all of its communities as well as an innovative nutrition program.