U.S. Physician and Adult Perspectives on the Future of Alzheimer’s Diagnostics and Treatment
The new report from “Quest Diagnostics, reveals physician and US adult perspectives on the current and future landscape of dementia and AD evaluation, testing, treatment, and care. Findings highlight the important role diagnostics may play in the next era of AD healthcare.” Seventy-seven percent of physicians say new therapies will transform Alzheimer’s disease into a chronic, manageable disease. Five key findings at the bottom of page 4 of the 14-page PDF document at the link above.] Click for one-page Fact Sheet.
The Relationship Between Gut Health and Anxiety
Anxiety is the human body’s natural and intuitive response to stress. Mentally, someone with anxiety can have racing thoughts, uncontrollable over-thinking, and/or difficulty concentrating. [Like most people these days!] Physically, the symptoms may include dizziness, dry mouth, hair loss, hot flushes, sweating, and/or nausea. The article includes seven tips including deep breathing and sleep to manage anxiety by managing the microbes in our digestive tract.
Hearing and Vision Loss Raise the Risk for Dementia with Age
“Compared with adults who have no sensory impairment, those with “dual” hearing and vision loss are nearly three times as likely to develop some form of dementia… People with dual sensory impairment are also at nearly four-fold higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease.” Take steps now to improve your hearing and vision. This also helps you to socialize more, which has been found to delay dementia. Ongoing research in new treatments include the drug sodium selenate, which “may slow cognitive decline and neurodegenerative damage caused by many dementias.”
Tiny Channels Discovered Inside the Human Skull Could Be Vital for the Brain
“[S]cientists assumed that the immune system connects with the brain by slipping through a kind of neurological customs gate – a barrier separating blood channels from important neural tissue. Now it seems… [i]mmune cells inside the very bone that surrounds the brain appear to have a more direct path… Not only can immune cells in the skull cap flow to the brain, researchers found that cerebrospinal fluid can also seep through to the skull.” This has implications for Alzheimer’s attributed to inflammation in that “[m]ost of the time, this pathway is helpful. By consistently checking cerebrospinal fluid for invaders and responding accordingly, the skull’s immune system keeps the… brain healthy.”
Protect Yourself from Running out of Money when You Retire
This article offers a comforting perspective when you apply your income sources in retirement such as Social Security, pension, and even dividends and interest to your basic living expenses (rent/mortgage, food, utilities, and transportation). Is there a shortfall? If so, take action now. Work another year to shore up your savings and pay-off more debt. Consider postponing Social Security benefits until at least your full retirement age. Reduce your optional expenses. If you have tax-deferred retirement accounts, you’ll be taking required minimum distributions starting at age 72. Give yourself peace-of-mind. Start planning now.
