Spring Arbor Living Blog

In the field of elder care, music has been explored as a way to encourage social interaction, encourage self-expression, and enhance the overall well-being of assisted living residents who fight illnesses such as Alzheimer's, dementia, memory loss, and other cognitive impairments. So through music, Spring Arbor has found that residents with these health conditions are able to live more fully. They are not defined by their conditions or their need for medicines and skilled medical care. They become engaged members of a supportive community that encourages emotional growth, sharing, and self-worth. This can be vitally important to seniors who experience a number of difficult life events such as retirement, the death of a loved one or spouse, and the need for help with common tasks.

So far, experts know of no other single activity that stimulates the entire brain. In addition to this, music increases dopamine levels, and dopamine can cause a corresponding positive sense of well-being. So what does it mean to say that music promotes well-being? Well-being is characterized by a sense of affiliation. Seniors feel connected and have an increased sense of belonging. Music also brings about a feeling of self-competence and independence in seniors. They enjoy life day-to-day and gain a greater sense of fulfillment.

Many research studies indicate that musical activities have several positive benefits. Patients are reported to have better moods, be more sociable, eat better, and react more calmly to stress. Experts say it’s the “cognitive workout” for the brain that brings on these positive traits. Feel free to contact us to learn more about assisted living and how life at Spring Arbor can be relaxing fulfillment.

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As many break throughs in the research of dementia and Alzheimer's continues researchers are getting closer and closer to find a proper medication for this terrible affliction. Recently some medications were approved that help with Alzheimer's. Although current medications cannot cure Alzheimer’s or stop it from progressing, they may help lessen symptoms, such as memory loss and confusion, for a limited time.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two types of medications — cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne, Cognex) and memantine (Namenda) — to treat the cognitive symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, and problems with thinking and reasoning. While these are no cure it is still a huge step in helping to rid patients with Alzhiemer's

As Alzheimer’s progresses, brain cells die and connections among cells are lost, causing cognitive symptoms to worsen. While current medications cannot stop the damage Alzheimer’s causes to brain cells, they may help lessen or stabilize symptoms for a limited time by affecting certain chemicals involved in carrying messages among the brain's nerve cells. Doctors sometimes prescribe both types of medications together. Some doctors also prescribe high doses of vitamin E for cognitive changes of Alzheimer's disease. If you know a loved one who has suffered from this illness, contact us today and we'll be happy to help with any questions or do what we can for you and your loved one.

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"Dementia" is a general term that refers to decline in multiple areas of thinking and/or memory while an individual is awake and alert; the decline is enough to interfere with normal daily functioning, whether on the job or at home.

The term "young-onset dementia" refers to dementia that begins before the age of 65, sometimes as early as the 30s and 40s. This is to be differentiated from "early stage dementia," which has nothing to do with age. Rather, it refers to the beginning of a dementia syndrome regardless of the age at which it starts.
Young-onset dementia can be caused by frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), cerebrovascular conditions (e.g., multi-infarct disease, stroke), Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, prion diseases (e.g., Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease), and other conditions.

These early dementias are devastating neurological conditions that exact a tremendous emotional and financial toll on patients and their families and present a host of challenges never envisioned by the young patients. The condition causes a unique problem not only because it is so unexpected but because most of the potentially helpful programs and services that a younger patient needs have all been carefully designed and targeted for much older people.

One of the major problems with young-onset dementia is that it cuts down a person in their prime wage-earning years. While most older people with dementia are retired, many people with young-onset dementia are still working when they are diagnosed.

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We had a family member recently suggest that we post a blog that defines the common forms of dementia and the associated characteristics.  There is a shared bond between patients and family members of those inflicted with dementia. A common observation by these fine people is how little the general public knows about dementia outside of the relatively well known subject of Alzheimer's.  We will be glad to list below the most prolific forms of dementia in America today:  

Alzheimer’s disease: Most common type of dementia; accounts for an estimated 60–80 percent of cases. Difficulty remembering names and recent events is often an early clinical symptom; apathy and depression are also often early symptoms. Later symptoms include impaired judgment, disorientation, confusion, behavior changes and difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking.

Parkinson’s disease: Many people who have Parkinson’s disease (a disorder that usually involves movement problems) also develop dementia in the later stages of the disease. The hallmark abnormality is Lewy bodies that form inside nerve cells in the brain.

Vascular dementia: Considered the second most common type of dementia. Impairment is caused by decreased blood flow to parts of the brain, often due to a series of small strokes that block arteries. Symptoms often overlap with those of Alzheimer’s, although memory may not be as seriously affected.

Dementia with Lewy bodies: Pattern of decline may be similar to Alzheimer’s, including problems with memory and judgment as well as behavior changes. Alertness and severity of cognitive symptoms may fluctuate daily. Visual hallucinations, muscle rigidity and tremors are common.

Front temporal dementia: Involves damage to brain cells, especially in the front and side regions of the brain. Typical symptoms include changes in personality and behavior and difficulty with language. No distinguishing microscopic abnormality is linked to all cases. Pick’s disease is one type of front temporal dementia.

Mixed dementia: Characterized by the hallmark abnormalities of Alzheimer’s and another type of dementia — most commonly vascular dementia. Recent studies suggest that mixed dementia is more common than previously thought.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: Rapidly fatal disorder that impairs memory and coordination and causes behavior changes. Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is believed to be caused by consumption of products from cattle affected by mad cow disease. Caused by the misfolding of prion protein throughout the brain.

These are some of the most common types of dementia. While Alzheimer's is the leading type of dementia there other forms that we thought everyone should be aware of the many forms of dementia. Each and every one of these disease is devastating on both the patient and their support team.  And always realize, your support team at Spring Arbor Living is always well educated, well versed in these diseased, and most importantly, well stocked in the passionate care of you all.  

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