Category: Dementia

After Nearly 60 Years of Marriage, This Missouri Couple Stayed Together to the End

Arthur and Maggie Kelley of St. Louis died 30 days apart. Maggie died of complications of dementia in November. Arthur, who had moved into her nursing home to be with her, died a month later of covid. Their family held a double funeral.

If I Have Cancer, Dementia or MS, Should I Get the Covid Vaccine?

Older patients with cancer, dementia or other serious illnesses should check with their doctors, but medical experts recommend the vaccine for most people.

Isolation, Disruption and Confusion: Coping With Dementia During a Pandemic

COVID-19 has upended the lives of people with dementia, limiting their interactions with others and complicating matters for their caregivers.

U.S. Medical Panel Thinks Twice About Pushing Cognitive Screening For Dementia

Because seniors are at higher risk of cognitive impairment, proponents say screening asymptomatic older adults is an important strategy to identify people who may be developing dementia and to improve their care. But the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force cited insufficient evidence the tests are helpful.

Stalked by The Fear That Dementia Is Stalking You

For those worried they have an elevated risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, testing is an option. But words to the wise: It’s hardly foolproof and could even backfire by heightening your fear of memory loss.

Finding Connections And Comfort At The Local Cafe

For Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers, social and emotional isolation is a threat. But hundreds of “Memory Cafes” around the country offer them a chance to be with others who understand, and to receive social and cognitive stimulation in the process.

Extending ‘Healthspan’: Brain Scientists Tap Into The Secrets Of Living Well Longer

New thinking about aging spins on how to stay free of chronic illnesses and cognitive decline later in life.

As His Wife’s Caregiver, A Doctor Discovers What’s Missing At Health Care’s Core

Harvard psychiatrist Arthur Kleinman shed his “veil of ignorance” during 11 years serving as the primary family caregiver for his wife, who had a rare form of early Alzheimer’s disease. In a new book, “The Soul of Care,” he offers suggestions for transforming health care ― just as caregiving transformed him.

The Delicate Issue Of Taking Away A Senior’s Smartphone

Knowing when — and how — to limit a loved one’s access to digital devices is akin to taking their car keys.

The Talk Seniors Need To Have With Doctors Before Surgery

Surgeons are rethinking the old notions of “informed consent.” With older patients especially, a push is on to talk candidly about what a surgery will do, its risks and how it will affect their quality of life.