Dementia Crowd Research

"Whoever said it was best to love than not at all; Was totally without a clue about what would befall A woman who has loved so much, With so much to share; She's lost a loved one in his mind, Like she was never there." Excerpt from the book "In the Quiet... Reflections on Senior Living" – Thanks to Anamaria R. Meeker #dementia #alzheimers #endalz #research #brainhealth

I am getting closer everyday to understanding dementia theoretically. The many years of research has shed light and helped to localise the disease. Converting theory into practice is never easy and requires an element of faith to jump the gap. Clinical work in this area requires a judicious approach and the determination to continue until patients get better. We cannot find solutions without taking some risk, with wisdom directing the actions. #dementia #alzheimers #endalz #research #brainhealth

It has been asked whether A.A. Milne understood dementia when he created Winnie the Pooh. It was noted that this lovable character exhibits signs of forgetfulness and cognitive impairment, and sometimes struggles to get the right words out. All of these can be associated with early stage dementia. Winnie the Pooh remains central to so many wonderful stories and life lessons. Dementia does not make the loved one any less of a person, and it can be beautiful in its own unique way. #dementia #alzheimers #endalz #research #brainhealth

There is an experience that I have observed on multiple occasions when someone with dementia is admitted to hospital. If the loved one is confused while close family members are visiting, I ask a question designed to assess the level of cognition in a very simple way. Who is this? It is often better than asking the date or place as many patients are disoriented in a hospital environment. When there is some recognition of the relatives, but an inability to identify who they are, it touches them to the core. The pain of the family members is obvious. It is especially difficult for the spouse and children. This can only be understood if experienced. Dementia not only makes you feel alone, it can also make you question if you have had any impact at all on the life of your loved one. #dementia #alzheimers #endalz #research #brainhealth

Dementia is largely a disease of older people, but there is a hidden statistic – the rapid increase in cases in the younger generation. And the gradual deterioration of brain function starts about 15 years prior to obvious symptoms. Loss of love is one of our greatest fears, and it can become a reality through dementia. Let us increase our determination to stop a disease that is impacting couples, families and health systems across the world. #dementia #alzheimers #endalz #research #brainhealth

The journey of dementia research can be a lonely one. I am focused on explaining the background and pathophysiology related to this devastating disease. The angle that I have taken in research over the years has been first to understand dementia as a disease and then to use that knowledge to explain Alzheimer's and other specific forms of dementia. I am convinced that this is the right approach, but bringing the academic and broader research community along is not easy. I am prepared to walk alone. Anyone interested in joining me? #dementia #alzheimers #endalz #research #brainhealth

Robin Williams suffered from Lewy Body dementia, but this was not well known at the time of his death. It has been fascinating to look in more detail at this more aggressive form of the disease. Using my analytical principles to look at the pattern of disease in Lewy Body, it became clear that the disease is outside of the brain, with secondary neuronal involvement. It sounds counterintuitive for dementia not to be a brain disease, however, in many conditions, there may be cerebral symptoms caused by primary disease elsewhere. I have taken on the challenge of demonstrating the pathophysiology of this innovative concept. Time to stop dementia. #dementia #alzheimers #endalz #research #brainhealth

Several important points have come from reviewing basic neuroanatomy. Cerebrospinal fluid recirculation, when properly demonstrated, will change our understanding of brain physiology. - End stage (terminal) dementia indicates hypothalamic involvement, and it is likely to be the primary location of disease pathology. - The role of melatonin in preventing brain pathology has been grossly underestimated. These points reflect a significant step forward in my grasp of dementia and a potential turning point in the ability to impact positively on this disease. #dementia #alzheimers #endalz #research #brainhealth

Lack of attention to personal hygiene is part of the picture in dementia. It represents a big challenge for the carer as it adds another layer of difficulty on a daily basis. What is the reason? There does not seem to be a clear answer, but we know that personal hygiene is a learnt behaviour. The evidence is most clearly noted with children as their parents need to train them in the regular habit of bathing. It is unlikely that a child would bathe of its own accord. Additionally, one of the early indicators of improvement with psychosis is the tendency for the individual to resume actions of personal hygiene. In frontal lobe brain injuries and frontotemporal dementia, bathing has also been noted to be problematic. In dementia, this issue of bathing may indicate the specific involvement of the frontal lobe. This is relevant as carers can be taught to improve the prediction of other frontal lobe-associated behaviours which may become more prominent. The more we understand about dementia, the better we can prepare. #dementia #alzheimers #endalz #research #brainhealth #carer

I'm currently focusing my research on Alzheimer's dementia. It may seem strange to have started with Multiple Sclerosis and the associated cognitive problems. The principle is to understand dementia as a disease, then use that knowledge to identify primary pathology in Alzheimer's. It has been difficult as many of my original theories cannot explain all of the patterns in Alzheimer's. The principle of linking it to cerebrospinal fluid movement still holds. However, I went back to neuroanatomy recently and recognised some very important patterns. Alzheimer's affects the brain symmetrically, which suggests a central location of primary pathology. The two critical regions of the brain are likely to be the hypothalamus and third ventricle. This is an ongoing piece of research, but I am closer to achieving my aim of localising the disease. #dementia #alzheimers #endalz #research #brainhealth