The highest likelihood for successful treatment of dementia may be in the early or preclinical stages of the condition, when an individual does not show any symptoms but has beta-amyloid, or toxic protein clumps in the brain thought to cause dementia. Determining the...
Making decisions about our lives and having these respected is an essential human right; and whilst this can sometimes be more difficult when a person has dementia, there are many things that can be done to help. Researchers at the universities of Western Australia...
The B vitamins are often linked to brain health. They help to break down an amino acid in our blood called homocysteine, which contributes to cell ageing and to the build-up of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain associated with greater dementia risk. We know a rare...
A quarter of Australians with dementia may be taking antipsychotic medication for symptoms that could be better managed through non-pharmacological means. These symptoms - which include aggression, agitation, hallucinations, wandering, verbal outbursts and delusions...
Of the near half a million Australians currently living with dementia, 91% of these individuals rely on the informal unpaid support of a family member or friend [1]. Most people with dementia and their families prefer that the person with the condition remain...
People living with advanced dementia can experience remarkable moments of spontaneous clarity near the end of their life. An interdisciplinary workgroup is calling for a closer examination into this unusual phenomenon, called terminal or paradoxical lucidity;...
One in four Australian adults are lonely 1. Loneliness is a feeling of distress we experience when our social relations are not the way we would like. It has been linked to poor mental health, and an increased risk for physical health conditions comparable to smoking...
Do you usually listen to what telemarketers have to say? Do you believe that if something sounds too good to be true, that it usually is? These were two of five questions presented to 935 dementia-free 76-86 year old research participants living in Chicago, and then...
Dementia rates among older Australians accessing home or long-term care services are declining according to a large-scale evaluation undertaken by the SAHMRI-based Registry of Older South Australians. Using the largest sample of people accessing aged care services in...
We know exercise is good for our brain, but how? It is well known that regular exercise protects against cognitive decline. The evidence underpins the World Health Organization recommendation that adults aged 65 years and over participate in a minimum 150 minutes of...