"You're Not Alone": Alzheimer's Association Hawaii Fights Stigma Around the Disease

"You're Not Alone": Alzheimer's Association Hawaii Fights Stigma Around the Disease

M Hasan    10:19 AM   

Families in Hawaii who are dealing with dementia are raising their voices to reduce the stigma surrounding this brain disease. For many, the journey is deeply personal and emotional.

LJ Duenas, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Hawaii chapter, shared how his grandfather, a scientist, experienced the decline associated with dementia. “There’s probably shame that he is feeling and experiencing,” Duenas said, highlighting the emotional toll on both patients and families.

Chris Lutz, a board member, echoed these sentiments. His wife, Maria, was diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer’s last year. “It was incredibly scary and I think we both felt isolated and alone to some extent,” he said. “How do you deal with this new diagnosis? It has been a difficult journey, but it’s also been a rewarding one.”

“It is not anyone’s fault; it’s an illness,” he added. “The sooner that one can seek care, the better for the patient and the family.”

Maria Lutz emphasized the importance of socializing. “For me, it’s been really good just to be socializing as much as I can and that really makes a big difference,” she said.

As more people live longer, advocates stress the importance of awareness and education to help prevent or at least delay symptoms. Duenas explained that Alzheimer’s is the inability to retain new memory. “If you notice yourself or your loved one asking the same questions over and over again, or their inability to retain new memory, that’s one of the big signs we would encourage them to go and see their doctor.”

Screening is the first step. A new law effective January 1 requires patients 65 and older to be screened for dementia during their annual Medicare wellness visit. Advocates are also working to get blood test screenings covered.

Once diagnosed, families are encouraged to take advantage of free care consultations, support groups, education, caregiving training, adult day care, and a 24/7 helpline offered by nonprofits, the state, and counties. These resources provide financial assistance, allowing working caregivers to bring their loved ones to adult daycare facilities multiple times a week, offering significant relief.

Even accepting help from friends can make a big difference. “I would advise don’t suffer in silence, seek care, seek support,” Chris Lutz said. “We have a great friend network... so just about every single day we have something to keep Maria as active and engaged and social too.”

The Alzheimer’s Association is launching a statewide Hanai Memory Network to help triage or coordinate care in rural communities. This initiative is designed to bridge the gap between research, clinical care, and community support, ensuring families can access early diagnosis and coordinated care close to home, regardless of where they live or who their doctor is.

The nonprofit is also working with employers to include caregiving resources in work wellness programs and prevent worker burnout. The goal is to relieve some of the burden on 65,000 dementia family caregivers who provide 111 million hours of care worth $2.8 billion each year.

“Sometimes caregivers pass away before their loved one because of stress or reduced capacity to even care for their own selves, they’re concentrating so much on their loved one that their health is now being affected,” said Rowena Dagdag-Andaya with the Maui County Office on Aging and the state Department of Health’s Aging and Disability Resource Center.

“We’ve normalized forgetting with aging and Alzheimer’s needs to be looked at as a disease, like we look at diabetes and other chronic conditions, because it certainly is a public health crisis,” Duenas said.

The public can support families by joining the Walk to End Alzheimer’s fundraiser this Saturday at 8:30 a.m. on Magic Island at Ala Moana Regional Park. Maui will host its Alzheimer’s fundraising walk on Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. at Queen Ka’ahumanu Center. Maui County is also holding a Senior Fair on Nov. 15 at the Queen Ka’ahumanu Shopping Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy free fitness workshops and meet with representatives from over 65 community organizations and health agencies.

Here are more resources from the Alzheimer’s Association:

Caregiver Support Groups

Caregiver support groups offer comfort, reassurance, practical advice, and a community of people who are facing similar challenges. These meetings are for unpaid family members or friends caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s disease, another dementia, or a related disorder. People who attend should be comfortable and open to discussing their experience in a group setting. Support group details are updated regularly and subject to change. Please call or email the meeting contact before attending to confirm that days, times, and locations are accurate as listed. Please note that these groups are not appropriate for professionals or paid caregivers.

Oahu

• Honolulu/Ala Moana/Kakaako (in-person): 1st Tuesday of the month, 5–6:30 p.m.
• East Oahu (virtual): 2nd Monday of the month, 7–9 p.m.
• Central (in-person): 3rd Monday of the month, 6:30–8 p.m. The Plaza at Pearl City, 1048 Kuala Street, Pearl City.

To register, please click here or contact Gina Plummer at 808.518.6648 or email geplummer@alz.org.

Hawaii Island

• Waimea (in-person): 3rd Friday of the month, 2:30–4 p.m. Tutu’s House Waimea, 64-1032 Mamalahoa Hwy # 305, Waimea.
• Hilo (in-person): 3rd Tuesday of the month, 1–2:30 p.m. Aging and Disability Resource Center, 1055 Kino`ole Street, Hilo.
• Hawaii Island One (virtual): 1st Wednesday of the month, 10–11 a.m.
• Hawaii Island Two (virtual): 3rd Thursday of the month, 4:30–5:30 p.m.

To register, please contact Nic Los Banos at nklosbanos@alz.org or call 808.518.6649.

Kauai

• Central Sunset (in-person): 3rd Thursday of the month, 5:30–7 p.m. Regency at Puakea, 2130 Kaneka Street, Lihue.
• Kauai and Maui County (virtual): 3rd Wednesday of the month, 12–1 p.m.
• Westside (in-person): Last Thursday of the month, 5:30–7 p.m. Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital - Conference Room AB, 4643 Waimea Canyon Drive, Waimea.
• Eastside Afternoon (in-person): First Monday of the month, 12:30–2 p.m. Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, 4800 Kawaihau Road, Kapaa.

Questions about any Kauai County Support Groups? Please contact Cindy Fowler at cfowler@alz.org or 808.518.6655.

Maui County

• Maui and Kauai County (virtual): 3rd Wednesday of the month, 12–1 p.m.
• Maui Island (in-person): 4th Thursday of the month, 4–5:30 p.m., Roselani Place, 88 South Papa Avenue, Kahului.

To register, please contact Cindy Fowler at cfowler@alz.org, or call 808.518.6655.

Caregiver County Services/Kupuna Care Program

The Hawaii Executive Office on Aging (EOA) is the designated lead state agency in the coordination of a statewide system of aging and family caregiver support services in the State of Hawaii, as authorized by federal and state laws. EOA works with the four county Area Agencies on Aging to enable older adults to live in their own home for as long as possible.

Through the Kupuna Care Program and Hawaii Aging and Disability Resource Center, caregivers can access county-specific support that may include adult day care, caregiver respite, home-delivered meals, personal care, and other services.

To learn more about the Kupuna Care Program and to request assistance, please visit the Hawaii Aging and Disability Resource Center’s website at hawaiiadrc.org or call 808.643.2372.

Early-stage Support Groups

Early-stage support groups intend to provide a safe and positive environment for individuals who have a physician’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, another dementia, or a related disorder. People who attend should be comfortable and open to discussing their diagnosis and symptoms in a group setting. Prescreening is required prior to enrollment. For more information, call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.

ALZConnected Online Community

ALZConnected is a free online community designed for people living with dementia and those who care for them. Members can post questions about dementia-related issues, offer support, and create public and private groups around specific topics.

24/7 Helpline

Talk to a dementia expert with our free 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900. Help is available any time, day or night. Get confidential emotional support, crisis assistance, local resources, and information in over 200 languages.

Become a Support Group Facilitator

If you’re looking for a volunteer opportunity that gives you in-person contact with families that are coping with Alzheimer’s or other dementia, facilitating a support group might be a good fit for you. Support group facilitators help create a safe, open environment for caregivers or people living with dementia to share their feelings, thoughts, and experiences. Volunteer as a support group facilitator.

Small Walks Could Help Prevent Alzheimer’s

Small Walks Could Help Prevent Alzheimer’s

M Hasan    5:06 AM   

Key Takeaways

A modest increase in physical activity can delay early cognitive decline in older adults at risk of Alzheimer's, according to a new study. Adults who got 3,000 to 7,500 steps per day slowed mental decline by three to seven years compared with inactive adults. The findings highlight that small, consistent amounts of physical activity can boost brain health, particularly in people who have been sedentary.

A new study suggests that increasing daily step count, even by small amounts, could slow the onset of cognitive decline in people at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This is encouraging and suggests that even small, consistent increases in daily activity among sedentary individuals may be meaningful for brain health, although clinical trials will be needed to confirm these observational findings, says the first study author, Wai-Ying Wendy Yau, MD, a cognitive neurologist at the Mass General Brigham neurology department in Boston.

How Many Steps a Day Do You Need to Protect Your Brain?

Researchers analyzed health data from about 300 adults between ages 50 and 90 whose brain scans revealed early biological markers of Alzheimer's disease. At the beginning of the study, they wore pedometers over four to seven days to measure daily steps. At that time, none displayed any symptoms of cognitive impairment.

Over a follow-up of up to 14 years, researchers assessed participants periodically with cognitive tests. Participants also underwent brain imaging to monitor for the buildup of proteins known as beta-amyloid and tau that are connected to Alzheimer's disease progression.

The results showed that participants who began the trial with high levels of beta-amyloid experienced less cognitive decline if they were more physically active. Participants who engaged in low or moderate levels of physical activity had a lower risk of cognitive decline up to 54 percent lower than participants who reported being inactive.

Here’s what the team found:

• In people who walked 3,000 to 5,000 steps per day, cognitive decline was delayed by three years on average.
• In people who walked 5,000 to 7,500 steps per day, cognitive decline was delayed by an average of seven years.
• More than 7,500 steps didn’t appear to make a difference in slowing cognitive decline.
• People with a sedentary lifestyle had a significantly faster buildup of tau proteins in the brain, and quicker declines in cognition and daily functioning.

Notably, compared to sedentary individuals, or those who took less than 3,000 steps per day, even modest activity levels were associated with slower tau accumulation and cognitive decline, with the biggest gains seen at moderate activity levels 5,001 to 7,500 steps per day or above, says Dr. Yau. She adds that this pattern is consistent with previous research.

One potential study limitation is that researchers only measured participants’ physical activity once, at baseline, using pedometer-measured step counts over four to seven days. They did not collect data over the course of the week on factors such as exercise intensity.

The results of the association analyses must be interpreted with great caution, says Martin Burtscher, MD, PhD, a professor of sports science at the University of Innsbruck in Austria who has researched the relationship between exercise and longevity, including age-related cognitive decline, who was not involved in the current study.

The Link Between Exercise and Brain Changes That Lead to Cognitive Decline

Researchers have established that people at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease typically show an elevated buildup of amyloid-beta and tau proteins in the brain.

While recent research has suggested that increased physical activity in cognitively normal people with elevated amyloid levels is linked to slower cognitive decline, experts have still been trying to understand whether this association could be related to changes in amyloid or tau protein over time.

By using direct measures of amyloid and tau in the brain, rather than cognitive symptoms, Yau says this latest study was able to clarify that the physical activity benefits associated with slowed cognitive decline were not attributed to differences in amyloid buildup but rather connected to slower rates of tau protein buildup.

Higher step counts were associated with slower accumulation of tau, the protein most closely tied to cognitive symptoms which largely accounted for the association with slower cognitive decline, she explains.

Taking Steps to Improve Cognitive Health

Dr. Burtscher says that while the latest findings aren't necessarily surprising given previous associations between regular physical activity and improved physical and mental health, they’re key for underscoring a more attainable physical activity goal particularly for sedentary individuals.

What impressed me most is the dose-response, Burtscher says. Cognitive decline hit a plateau at a moderate level of physical activity, or 5,001–7,500 steps per day. This is a relatively easy daily amount of physical activity to achieve.

While getting your daily steps in can support brain health, Burtscher suggests that slightly higher walking intensities should be undertaken occasionally, along with strength and coordination training. To enjoy good health in old age, it is probably more likely that higher daily activity levels, such as perhaps over 10,000 steps for cancer prevention, will be required, he adds.

What’s Next for Alzheimer’s Prevention Research

The study authors say clinical trials are still needed to prove that walking, rather than other behaviors, is responsible for the slowed rate of cognitive decline. They also say additional research is needed to better understand the specific aspects of physical activity such as duration, intensity, or daily patterns that go into supporting long-term brain health.

Yau says she hopes the findings will motivate people to make small, sustainable changes to increase their physical activity to potentially improve brain health.

For people who are currently sedentary, every additional step counts, she says. Setting modest and realistic goals, such as standing up and walking during TV commercials, parking a little farther away, or catching up with a friend on a walk instead of sitting down, can help increase activity in simple, sustainable ways.

12 Hidden Reasons for Memory Loss You Should Know

12 Hidden Reasons for Memory Loss You Should Know

M Hasan    9:00 PM   

Understanding the Causes of Memory Loss

Memory loss, or the inability to recall information within a short period, can be caused by various physical and mental conditions. Some causes may be addressed through lifestyle changes, while others might require medical attention. Understanding these factors is essential for identifying potential solutions and seeking appropriate care.

Common Causes of Memory Loss

1. Thyroid Problems

The thyroid gland, located at the front of the neck, produces hormones that play a role in brain development and memory retention. Imbalances such as hyperthyroidism (excess hormone) or hypothyroidism (insufficient hormone) can affect cognitive functions, leading to confusion or "brain fog."

2. Sleep Disturbances

Sleep is crucial for memory consolidation. Conditions like obstructive sleep apnea or insomnia can interfere with neural processing, making it harder for the brain to process and retain memories. Lack of sleep can also impact higher-level cognitive tasks such as planning and decision-making.

3. Infections

Infections, including viral and bacterial ones, have been linked to memory impairment. A 2022 study showed that infections like COVID-19 can negatively affect cognitive function. Similarly, bacterial infections may trigger inflammation in the brain, which can impair memory and other cognitive abilities.

4. Menopause

Menopause involves a decline in estrogen and progesterone levels, which can impact cognitive function. Many individuals experience memory issues during this time. However, once menopause ends, cognitive function often improves.

5. Nutritional Deficiencies

A diet high in saturated fats or low in key nutrients like vitamin B12 can lead to memory problems. Vitamin B12 is found in animal-based foods, so those with plant-based diets or digestive disorders may be at risk for deficiency.

6. Certain Medications

Some medications used to treat conditions like seizures, anxiety, or pain can cause side effects that impair memory. These include anti-anxiety drugs, antihistamines, anti-seizure medications, opioids, sleeping aids, and tricyclic antidepressants.

7. Stroke

A stroke, which occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted, can cause significant brain damage, including memory loss. Silent infarcts, which are similar to strokes but without obvious symptoms, also increase the risk of cognitive impairment.

8. Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and ischemic heart disease can contribute to memory issues. Research suggests that up to 25% of cognitive impairments are linked to cardiovascular health.

9. Head Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), such as concussions, can affect memory and cognitive function. If you experience persistent memory problems after an injury, consulting a healthcare professional is important.

10. Alcohol and Tobacco Use

Both alcohol and tobacco use are associated with memory issues. Alcohol can impair short-term memory and lead to long-term brain damage. Smoking reduces blood flow to the brain, affecting memory formation.

11. Mental Health Conditions

Stress, anxiety, and depression can all impact memory. These conditions can disrupt brain function and make it difficult to focus or learn new information. Additionally, some medications used to treat mental health conditions may affect memory.

12. Age-Related Changes

As people age, parts of the brain shrink, and communication between neurons slows. While this can make complex tasks take longer, older adults can still learn new skills with more time and effort.

Preventing and Coping With Memory Loss

To help prevent memory loss, consider incorporating regular exercise, a nutrient-rich diet, and sufficient sleep into your daily routine. For those already experiencing memory issues, the following strategies may help:

• Plan your day: Establish a routine that aligns with your energy levels and concentration.
• Exercise your body and mind: Physical activity improves cardiovascular health and releases endorphins, which support cognitive function. Engaging in puzzles or other mentally stimulating activities can also help.
• Get help remembering things: Use electronic devices to store important information, such as phone numbers or emergency details.
• Cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT): This intervention helps individuals regain cognitive function through personalized training programs.

When to Seek Medical Attention

Occasional forgetfulness is normal, but certain signs may indicate a more serious issue. Consult a healthcare provider if you experience any of the following: - Getting lost in familiar places - Frequent confusion about people, places, or time - Difficulty performing basic self-care tasks - Repeating questions or asking the same things multiple times - Struggling to follow instructions or directions