Page 50 - June 2023 Issue.indd

caregivers of individuals with forms of dementia—a combination of two or
dementia. more types of dementia. For example,
some people have both Alzheimer’s
Caroline Medical Adult Day Care disease and vascular dementia.
would like to share some information
from the National Institute of Health Preventing Alzheimer’s disease: What
about dementia and brain health. Do We Know? - As they get older,
many people worry about developing
What Is Dementia? - Dementia is the Alzheimer’s disease or a related

loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, dementia. If they have a family member
remembering, and reasoning—and
ĂŝůLJ ĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ with Alzheimer’s, they may wonder
behavioral abilities to such an extent
RN on Call about their family history and genetic
that it interferes with a person’s daily risk. As many as 5.5 million Americans
,ŽŵĞ ŽŽŬĞĚ DĞĂůƐ͕ life and activities.
^ŶĂĐŬƐ Θ ĞǀĞƌĂŐĞƐ age 65 and older live with Alzheimer.
Many more are expected to develop the
>ĂƵŶĚƌLJ Θ ,ŽƵƐĞŬĞĞƉŝŶŐ These functions include memory,
>ŝĐĞŶƐĞĚ ƚŽ WƌŽǀŝĚĞ language skills, visual perception, disease as the population ages—unless
ĂƌĞ ĨŽƌ >ĞǀĞůƐ ϭ͕Ϯ͕ϯ problem solving, self-management, and ways to prevent or delay it are found.
DĞŵŽƌLJ ĂƌĞ the ability to focus and pay attention. Although scientists have conducted
^ƉĞĐŝĂů ŝĞƚ Θ ŝŶŝŶŐ ƐƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ Some people with dementia cannot many studies, and more are ongoing,
so far nothing has been proven to
WŽƐƚͲƌĞŚĂďŝůŝƚĂƟŽŶ WĂƌƚŶĞƌƐŚŝƉƐ control their emotions, and their prevent or delay dementia caused by
ǁŝƚŚ ŽĐƚŽƌƐ ĂŶĚ dŚĞƌĂƉŝƐƚƐ personalities may change. Dementia Alzheimer’s Disease. But researchers
ĂŶĚ ŵƵĐŚ ŵŽƌĞ͘͘͘ ranges in severity from the mildest have identified promising strategies
stage, when it is just beginning to aff ect
www.arcadia-living.com and are learning more about what
a person’s functioning, to the most

severe stage, when the person must might and might not work. We know
depend completely on others for basic that changes in the brain can occur

activities of living. many years before the fi rst symptoms

Come Home to Arcadia of Alzheimer’s appear. These early brain
Signs and symptoms of dementia result changes point to a possible window
Medical Needs / Medical Adult Day when once-healthy neurons (nerve of opportunity to prevent or delay
Care program tab. Then schedule to cells) in the brain stop working, lose debilitating memory loss and other
visit the Center located in the HAPS connections with other brain cells, symptoms of dementia. While research

Building on 7th Street in Denton. Th e and die. While everyone loses some may identify specific interventions that
Center is open Monday through Friday neurons as they age, people with will prevent or delay the disease in some
from 9 - 3 for visitors. Any questions, dementia experience far greater loss. people, it’s likely that many individuals
please feel free to contact the Center may need a combination of treatments
While dementia is more common as based on their own risk factors.
at 410-479-8065 and let us know
people grow older (up to half of all
how we can help. The Medical Adult people age 85 or older may have some As June is Alzheimer’s and Brain

Day Center offers medical oversight,
form of dementia), it is not a normal Awareness month, we would like to
health services, nutritional services,
part of aging. Many people live into talk about maintaining healthy brains
personal care services, social activities, their 90s and beyond without any signs and cognitive health in older adults.
and respite for caregivers as well as
of dementia. One type of dementia, Cognitive health is the ability to clearly
assistance with social services. think, learn, and remember and is an
frontotemporal disorders, is more
Caregivers, we hope you are all doing common in middle-aged than older important component of brain health.
well and remembering to practice self- adults. Others include:
care. • Motor function—how well you
The causes of dementia can vary,
make and control movements
As we come into a new month we depending on the types of brain
would like to remind everyone changes that may be taking place. • Emotional function—how
that June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Alzheimer’s disease is the most well you interpret and
Awareness Month. We are asking that common cause of dementia in older respond to emotions
all wear purple on the longest day, adults. Other dementias include: • Sensory function—how well you
June 21 to recognize the eff orts upheld Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal feel and respond to sensations
by supporters, family members, and disorders, and vascular dementia. It of touch, including pressure,
is common for people to have mixed pain, and temperature.

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