Alzheimers Disease Archives - Long Term Care Insurance Expert | Honey Leveen

Preventing Dementia? Walk Away From Those Apps

December 3, 2019 by Honey Leveen Leave a Comment

There’s been a lot written about the value of “brain games” to help reduce the risks of dementia and other loss of cognitive sharpness. In today’s technology-centric world, we have spent almost $2 billion on various brain training apps in 2018. This is four times the amount spent 2012, so they are really gaining popularity.

But are they working?

The most recent research shows mixed results. Sarah Lenz Lock is executive director of the Global Council on Brain Health. A respected expert in her field, Lock cautions, “Cognitive training has shown some promise, but people shouldn’t expect it to be a magic bullet.”

In fact, studies are now recommending a diversified approach combining brain training, healthy diet and exercise.

Reducing Risks of Dementia – A Walk In the Park

According to the New York Times, the World Health Organization (WHO) released new data on reducing risks of dementia. They found that these brain training apps do not show significant, consistent or long term improvement over time. Their recommendation is to focus on moving your body for 150 minutes each week. That’s about 30 minutes a day, taking off for weekends. This is completely manageable, isn’t it?

They emphasize that this activity must begin before signs of cognitive decline appear. Remember: this is about prevention, not cure.

The mind-body connection isn’t new and the evidence continues to build. Research finds that physical activity promotes growth and maintenance of neurons in seniors. And the benefits are much higher for those who enjoy cardio-based exercise instead of simple stretching.

So step to it! And enjoy the benefits of your activity for years to come.

Before you step away from your computer, consider another useful tool for your long term planning. Of course, I’m talking about long term care insurance (LTCi). Affordable premiums today can create a world of difference in the level of care you receive in the future. Click here to receive a free, no-obligation quote for your own LTCi coverage.

Happy Alzheimer’s Awareness Month!

November 16, 2019 by Honey Leveen Leave a Comment

November is Long Term Care Awareness Month as well as Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.

Many factors contribute to causing Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. The video below is a brief interview with Drs. Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, pioneers in the area of dementia. They are renowned researchers that I’ve had the pleasure to meet. I’ve learned a great deal from their work and have great respect for their research.

In this 5 minute video, the Sherzais talk about the differences between good and bad stress. Bad stress can promote Alzheimer’s. It is caused by things by things like demanding, “no boundary” jobs that require us to stay constantly on call and “plugged in”. Other contributors to bad stress include toxic workplaces, financial stress and the push/pull between work and family obligations.

Alzheimer’s Awareness: Good Stress

There is also good stress that occurs when you stretch yourself by learning something new and challenging. Good stress can occur from things like a stimulating profession, a good crossword puzzle, taking piano lessons and being engaged with life, in general.

They explain how this good stress allows the brain to grow and build more connections. Depending on the activity, the brain could grow as many as 30,000 connections! That’s an invaluable benefit.

Here are a few tips Drs. Sherzai offer to manage stress:

Define Your Stress. Learn the difference between your positive and negative stress factors. And be specific! This means when you see a situation that you don’t like, identify exactly what part you don’t like. As a result, you’ll be able to zoom in on the negative and determine what you can do to resolve the challenge.
One Thing At a Time. Train your brain to focus on one specific item at a time. Meditation is an excellent way to build this focus.
Feed Your Brain. Your brain needs information to stay vital and healthy. Without new information, those brain connections begin to collapse. Play a musical instrument. Try creative writing. Take on a leadership role.

Here’s another video where they debunk the Top 5 Myths of Alzheimer’s Disease:

There are other factors that affect the onset of dementia, such as getting sufficient rest, exercise, and eating a mostly or all plant-based diet. Both of the Sherzais are vegans.

Drs. Sherzai are Co-Directors of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Program at Loma Linda University. They are published authors, speak widely.

Caring for Alzheimer’s Patients

While researchers are working hard to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, they still have a long road ahead. For now, it is important that we do our own research when it comes to the future care of our loved ones or ourselves.

A good long term care insurance (LTCi) policy can provide a significant piece of this puzzle, including peace of mind and financial relief for medical costs. Click here to receive a free, no-obligation quote for your own LTCi coverage.

The Special Case for Women and Alzheimer’s

December 19, 2018 by Honey Leveen Leave a Comment

As I reported in October 2015, Alzheimer’s disease has a disproportionate impact on women. As we close out 2018, the statistics have not improved for us. In fact, two-thirds of America’s 6 million Alzheimer’s patients are women. It’s time for us to pay special attention to women and Alzheimer’s disease.

First, some quick facts from the Alzheimer’s Association and the Women and Alzheimers site:

Every 65 seconds, someone in the US develops Alzheimer’s
At age 65, a woman has a 1 in 6 chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Her risk for breast cancer is 1 in 11.
Also by age 65, a woman is twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s than a man. By age 75, she is three times as likely.
More than 60% of unpaid Alzheimer’s caregivers (friends and family of Alzheimer patients) are women.

More Likely In Women

It seems like Alzheimer’s disease can affect any family at any time. So why is it more prevalent among women? Is it because women live longer than men? After all, the disease is more prevalent as we age. But we now know that the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s often begin 20 years before they are ever diagnosed.

Genetic risk factors are now getting more attention and focus. Back in the 1990s, scientists found that the presence of the ApoE4 gene was the primary culprit in the patient’s memory and other mental abilities. Further tests showed that this is more applicable to females.

Heart disease and smoking are also considered contributors to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. So is depression, which is more common in women than in men. And there is always the deepening discussion around hormonal changes that are so much more intense for women as they age.

Because women usually take on the responsibility of caregiving, there is some research that points to this extra emotional burden as a possible risk factor.

Alzheimer’s patients and their families have a great amount of uncertainty and difficult decisions in their future. If you or someone you love is a woman, extra care should be taken to prepare for this disease.

Don’t get caught by surprise when the statistics are this powerful. You can begin by clicking here to receive your free, no-obligation quote for a long term care insurance policy.

Curing Alzheimer’s – Part 2 (See It. Acknowledge It.)

June 14, 2018 by Honey Leveen Leave a Comment

In my last blog post, I shared insights on the current challenges in funding research to support curing Alzheimer’s disease. You’d think that funding would be the biggest step in the treatment process. It’s not.

In order to develop and properly test potential cures, scientists need a viable population of test subjects to study. As Karen Ellen Foley wrote (Quartz, May 20, 2018), it’s incredibly hard to gather these patients. Once a patient appears to have the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, they have usually passed the stage where it can be treated. The damage to the neurons is irreversible and not suitable for testing new cures.

Recognizing Symptoms is Critical to Curing Alzheimer’s

In addition to the late timing of symptoms, there is another complication to the diagnosis process. Not only is it hard to recognize the slow shift in behavior, but patients are often surrounded by family and friends who would rather not admit that their loved one is in need of medical care.

Foley describes a gentleman whose early Alzheimer’s symptoms started in the mid-2000’s. He knew something was wrong because fixing things around the house became difficult and names of friends slipped his mind. He couldn’t remember how to cut his wife’s hair, which he’d been doing throughout their marriage. This man and his wife saw he was having problems and refused to admit it could be serious.

Ten years later, his behavior finally got extreme enough that his wife insisted he see a doctor. For ten years, he was allowed to ignore his medical condition. For ten years, he avoided treatment. And why? They were both afraid how the diagnosis would change their lives. The disease didn’t care. It continued to escalate, with or without their acceptance.

The great majority of my clients refuse to acknowledge how incapacitated they are by dementia, and their families often go out of their way to continue the ruse and deny the obvious.

We have had several dementia sufferers among the members of my Rotary club. Even with my vast experience with my clients who are cognitively impaired, I don’t always notice every case. Alzheimer’s disease is easy to cover up, at least in early-to-mid stages.

Know the Signs

A tell-tell sign of dementia is sometimes a vacuous or a scowling expression. I sometimes misinterpret their mood as, “I don’t want to talk with you”. Message received. I leave them alone. Only later, when I learn of their diagnosis, I can connect the dots. Withdrawal is a classic sign of dementia.

I’ve attended enough Alzheimer’s disease (AD) presentations to know that faulty business decisions are another primary indicator of AD. I’ve had more than one client who insisted they were able to manage their business affairs. When they fall behind in paying their bills, it looks like simple forgetfulness. When one of those bills is their Long Term Care insurance (LTCi) premium, the results are catastrophic.

The Enabling Spouse

In an attempt to keep things feeling “normal”, the spouse will often avoid stepping in to help their loved one. They don’t take over the paying of bills. They make excuses and pretend nothing is wrong.

They still allow their spouse to drive!

The thought of this is terrifying to me. I have a friend who has a dementia diagnosis. She is still highly functional, and still driving, despite the fact that she’s already had a couple of accidents!

I’ve blogged about age-related, normal cognitive decline. This is not what I’m describing, yet this is what people want to believe is happening.

Admitting you have dementia is difficult and requires an honest conversation. Maybe multiple conversations. It creates the possibility for earlier intervention and a life of more grace and dignity. It will allow for more open relationships with friends and family members and reduce stress for the patient and family.

Advance planning for long term care (LTC) is the best way to ensure dignity, options, choices, grace. When you’re ready to explore your options, click here for your personal quote.

Curing Alzheimer’s – Part 1 (Funding the Research is Tricky)

June 1, 2018 by Honey Leveen Leave a Comment

Dementia is the umbrella term for the symptoms some older adults experience as they slowly lose their sense of self and their cognitive abilities. Alzheimer’s disease causes about 60% – 80% of dementia. In the United States, someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s every 66 seconds. When do we get to the task of curing Alzheimer’s?

By the year 2050, we expect to live past 80. We see the need for a cure continue to grow, but the funding for research of Alzheimer’s is shrinking.

Before they can even test potential cures, scientists must be able to identify appropriate test subjects. I’ve written past blogs about the importance of early diagnosis. Once patients are fully symptomatic, curing Alzheimer patients become less likely. So the focus of Alzheimer’s research is finding people in the early stages of the disease.

3 Hurdles to Curing Alzheimer’s

Health and Science reporter, Katherine Ellen Foley, shares the 3 major challenges in getting new drugs to market:

Doctors can’t see evidence of the disease until it’s too advanced to cure. By the time cognitive issues show up, the neurons have already been damaged beyond repair. The drugs simply do not exist to reverse the conditions that may have been building over the last 10-20 years.
There are no reliable tests for the early stages. There is a danger in prescribing Alzheimer’s medication to someone suffering memory loss due to other forms of dementia or aging. However, scientists have identified the amyloid plaques that cause all the damage and are in the earliest stages of creating a blood test to find these early markers.
Scientists can’t gather enough test asymptomatic test subjects for an effective long-term study. The good news is that researchers are now working with the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network. These people are genetically guaranteed to show Alzheimer’s symptoms in their 40s and 50s. While this is only a sliver of the population (only about 1% of all Alzheimer’s patients), it’s a good starting place.

Pharmaceutical Companies Don’t See the ROI

Of course, all of this research requires funding. Historically, the pharmaceutical industry has been behind a lot of medical research, expecting to recover costs through future drug sales.

Many studies have found early lifestyle choices (diet, exercise, social engagement) to play a role in reducing the risk for developing Alzheimer’s. As Foley reports, “Without the promise of a big payoff, it’s doubtful pharmaceutical companies will fund studies to explore lifestyle interventions.”

We are banking on the research efforts in the science community to find some practical results for curing Alzheimer’s disease. With or without the medication, it is important that we each prepare for our own lifestyles in our later years. I’m happy to report that my clients with Long Term Care insurance (LTCi) have built their own safety net that will enable them and their family members some peace of mind.

Click here to receive your customized quote for your own LTCi policy.

Request a Free, No-Obligation LTCi Quote