Ology For The Inventory
Federal departments, including HHS, the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, used the following search terms to identify projects that they supported during FY2010: Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, mild cognitive impairment, and frontotemporal dementias. Representatives from each agency then sorted the projects they identified into the categories below, as defined by federal interagency subgroups on research, clinical care, and long-term services and support programs:
Research Subgroup
- Planning for future care needs
In the report below, programs and initiatives are organized by these categories. In the Supplementary Material section at the end of the document, this material is presented in tabular form and organized by agency.
What Causes Alzheimers Disease
Alzheimers disease is caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in the brain. The build-up of these proteins called amyloid protein and tau protein leads to cell death.
The human brain contains over 100 billion nerve cells as well as other cells. The nerve cells work together to fulfill all the communications needed to perform such functions as thinking, learning, remembering, and planning. Scientists believe that amyloid protein builds up in the brain cells, forming larger masses called plaques. Twisted fibers of another protein called tau form into tangles. These plaques and tangles block the communication between nerve cells, which prevents them from carrying out their processes. The slow and ongoing death of the nerve cells, starting in one area of the brain then spreading to other areas, results in the symptoms seen in patients with Alzheimers disease.
Targets Of Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Research
Researchers are exploring these and other interventions that may help prevent, delay, or slow Alzheimer’s dementia or age-related cognitive decline. Other research targets include:
- New drugs to delay onset or slow disease progression
- Diabetes treatment
- Blood pressure- and lipid-lowering treatments
- Sleep interventions
- Vitamins such as B12 plus folic acid supplements and D
- Combined physical and mental exercises
You May Like: How To Write A Letter To Someone With Dementia
Goal : Prevent And Effectively Treat Alzheimer’s Disease By 2025
Research continues to expand our understanding of the causes of, treatments for, and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. This goal seeks to develop effective prevention and treatment modalities by 2025. Ongoing research and clinical inquiry can inform our ability to delay onset of Alzheimer’s disease, minimize its symptoms, and delay its progression. Under this goal, HHS will prioritize and accelerate the pace of scientific research and ensure that as evidence-based solutions are identified they are quickly translated, put into practice, and brought to scale so that individuals with Alzheimer’s disease can benefit from increases in scientific knowledge. HHS will identify interim milestones and set ambitious deadlines for achieving these milestones in order to meet this goal.
Key to advancing this goal is the Obama Administration’s investment of $50 million in new Alzheimer’s disease research funding in fiscal year 2012 and $80 million in new Alzheimer’s disease research funding in fiscal year 2013. These investments will open new opportunities in Alzheimer’s disease research and jumpstart efforts to reach the 2025 goal.
Strategy 1e: Facilitate Translation Of Findings Into Medical Practice And Public Health Programs
Currently, promising research and interventions are published in the research literature and presented at scientific meetings. Additional steps are needed to highlight promising findings and to facilitate dissemination and implementation of effective interventions to the general public, medical practitioners, the pharmaceutical industry, and public health systems, quickly and accurately.
Action 1.E.1: Identify ways to compress the time between target identification and release of pharmacological treatments
HHS will convene a group to examine ways to speed up the processes for bringing pharmacological treatments to market, including: identifying and validating therapeutic targets developing new interventions testing efficacy and safety and regulatory approval. The group will look at the current average time and will identify places where the timeline could be shortened. The group will include representatives from the Food and Drug Administration, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation , and NIH who will consult with academic researchers and representatives from the private sector.
Action 1.E.2: Leverage public and private collaborations to facilitate dissemination, translation, and implementation of research findings
Action 1.E.3: Educate the public about the latest research findings
Read Also: How Do You Know What Type Of Dementia You Have
Dont Forget To Take Care Of Yourself
Caregiving for a loved one with dementia can be extremely demanding and stressful. Each day can bring more challenges and higher levels of anxiety, often without any signs of appreciation from the person youre caring for. Taking care of yourself and getting help and support is essential for both your well-being and your loved ones quality of life.
Respite care can provide a break to help you relieve stress and restore energy. Make use of any services available to you and ask for help from family members. It can make all the difference to your success as a caregiver and the well-being of your patient.
- References
Neurocognitive Disorders. . In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. American Psychiatric Association.
American Psychiatric Association. . Neurocognitive Disorders. In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. American Psychiatric Association.
Brodaty, H., & Donkin, M. . Family caregivers of people with dementia. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 11, 217228.
Grossberg, G. T., & Desai, A. K. . Management of Alzheimers Disease. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 58, M331M353.
Tips For Coping With Agitation Or Aggression
Here are some ways you can cope with agitation or aggression:
- Reassure the person. Speak calmly. Listen to his or her concerns and frustrations. Try to show that you understand if the person is angry or fearful.
- Allow the person to keep as much control in his or her life as possible.
- Try to keep a routine, such as bathing, dressing, and eating at the same time each day.
- Build quiet times into the day, along with activities.
- Keep well-loved objects and photographs around the house to help the person feel more secure.
- Try gentle touching, soothing music, reading, or walks.
- Reduce noise, clutter, or the number of people in the room.
- Try to distract the person with a favorite snack, object, or activity.
- Limit the amount of caffeine the person drinks and eats.
Here are some things you can do:
- Slow down and try to relax if you think your own worries may be affecting the person with Alzheimers.
- Try to find a way to take a break from caregiving.
You May Like: How Does Alzheimer’s Cause Death
National Alzheimer’s Project Act
On January 4, 2011, President Barack Obama signed into law the National Alzheimer’s Project Act , requiring the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish the National Alzheimer’s Project to:
-
Create and maintain an integrated national plan to overcome Alzheimer’s disease.
-
Coordinate Alzheimer’s disease research and services across all federal agencies.
-
Accelerate the development of treatments that would prevent, halt, or reverse the course of Alzheimer’s disease.
-
Improve early diagnosis and coordination of care and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
-
Improve outcomes for ethnic and racial minority populations that are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
-
Coordinate with international bodies to fight Alzheimer’s globally.
The law also establishes the Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care, and Services and requires the Secretary of HHS, in collaboration with the Advisory Council, to create and maintain a national plan to overcome Alzheimer’s disease .
NAPA offers a historic opportunity to address the many challenges facing people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. Given the great demographic shifts that will occur over the next 30 years, including the doubling of the population of older adults, the success of this effort is of great importance to people with AD and their family members, public policy makers, and health and social service providers.
Can Controlling High Blood Pressure Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
Controlling high blood pressure is known to reduce a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke. The NASEM committee of experts concluded that managing blood pressure when it’s high, particularly for middle-aged adults, also might help prevent or delay Alzheimer’s dementia.
Many types of studies show a connection between high blood pressure, cerebrovascular disease , and dementia. For example, it’s common for people with Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain to also have signs of vascular damage in the brain, autopsy studies show. In addition, observational studies have found that high blood pressure in middle age, along with other cerebrovascular risk factors such as diabetes and smoking, increase the risk of developing dementia.
Clinical trialsthe gold standard of medical proofare underway to determine whether managing high blood pressure in individuals with hypertension can prevent Alzheimer’s dementia or cognitive decline.
One large clinical trialcalled SPRINT-MIND found that lowering systolic blood pressure to less than 120 mmHg, compared to a target of less than 140 mmHg, did not significantly reduce the risk of dementia. Participants were adults age 50 and older who were at high risk of cardiovascular disease but had no history of stroke or diabetes.
Also Check: What Does Alzheimer Dementia Look Like On Ct
Disorders Of Mood And Emotion
The patient with Alzheimer’s disease should be assessed periodically for behavioral problems, psychotic symptoms, and depression. Behavioral problems eventually occur in nearly all patients with the disease.17 These problems are a major cause of caregiver distress and one of the principal determinants of institutionalization. Behavioral disturbances may be directly observed by the physician but are more often reported by the primary caregiver.
The patient should be evaluated for drug toxicity and medical, psychiatric, psychosocial, or environmental problems that may underlie behavioral changes. In general, reassessment every six months is necessary because new behaviors emerge over the course of Alzheimer’s disease. The care plan should include potentially useful nonpharmacologic interventions as well as adequate precautions to reduce the risk of harm to the patient and others, to minimize excess disability associated with treatable behavioral or mood disturbances, and to reduce the risk of residential placement.
Tips For Everyday Care For People With Dementia
Early on in Alzheimers and related dementias, people experience changes in thinking, remembering, and reasoning in a way that affects daily life and activities. Eventually, people with these diseases will need more help with simple, everyday tasks. This may include bathing, grooming, and dressing. It may be upsetting to the person to need help with such personal activities. Here are a few tips to consider early on and as the disease progresses:
- Try to keep a routine, such as bathing, dressing, and eating at the same time each day.
- Help the person write down to-do lists, appointments, and events in a notebook or calendar.
- Plan activities that the person enjoys and try to do them at the same time each day.
- Consider a system or reminders for helping those who must take medications regularly.
- When dressing or bathing, allow the person to do as much as possible.
- Buy loose-fitting, comfortable, easy-to-use clothing, such as clothes with elastic waistbands, fabric fasteners, or large zipper pulls instead of shoelaces, buttons, or buckles.
- Use a sturdy shower chair to support a person who is unsteady and to prevent falls. You can buy shower chairs at drug stores and medical supply stores.
- Be gentle and respectful. Tell the person what you are going to do, step by step while you help them bathe or get dressed.
- Serve meals in a consistent, familiar place and give the person enough time to eat.
Don’t Miss: Does Aluminum Foil Cause Dementia
Reminiscence And Life Story Work
Reminiscence work involves talking about things and events from your past. It usually involves using props such as photos, favourite possessions or music.
Life story work involves a compilation of photos, notes and keepsakes from your childhood to the present day. It can be either a physical book or a digital version.
These approaches are sometimes combined. Evidence shows they can improve mood and wellbeing.
Find out how to live well with dementia and more useful information in the NHS Dementia Guide.
Page last reviewed: 05 July 2021 Next review due: 05 July 2024
Help Them Keep Their Animal Companion
There are many benefits to having a pet for older people. Cats, dogs, and other animals can provide continuing love and companionship for someone with Alzheimers. For those in the early stages, taking care of a pet can help them keep active.
If it becomes more difficult for the person to care for their pet, people can consider ways to keep them together. This may mean asking a neighbor or community member to take a dog for walks or ensure a cat receives its food on time.
Some organizations, such as Meals on Wheels America, may also be able to deliver pet food. Look for local charities that provide dog walking, cat sitting, and temporary fostering services for older adults with health conditions.
Read Also: Where Does Dementia Come From
What Is Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimers disease is a brain disorder that cannot be stopped or reversed. The disease severely affects memory, thinking, learning and organizing skills and eventually affects a persons ability to carry out simple daily activities. Alzheimers disease is not a normal part of the aging process.
Alzheimers is a disease whose symptoms worsen over time. In fact, scientists believe the disease process may go on for 10 years or longer before the first symptoms of Alzheimers disease appear.
When memory problems do begin to be noticeable, they are often identified as mild cognitive impairment . At this stage, intellectual function is affected but the ability to function and live independently remain intact as the brain compensates for disease-related changes.
In some people, MCI can hold steady at this stage. However, people with MCI are at high risk for progressing to dementia. Alzheimers disease is the most common form of dementia. With dementia, in contrast to MCI, daily function is affected.
As dementia due to Alzheimers disease progresses to late stages, affected individuals cannot carry on a conversation, recognize family and friends, or care for themselves.
What Are The Symptoms Of Alzheimers Disease
Symptoms of Alzheimers disease vary from person to person and worsen over time. Symptoms of the disease include:
- Memory loss. This is usually one of the first symptoms of Alzheimers disease.
- Putting objects in odd places
- Confusion about events, time and place
- Repeating questions
For more information on the stage of disease, click here.
Also Check: Can Flu Make Dementia Worse
Can Cognitive Training Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
Cognitive training involves structured activities designed to enhance memory, reasoning, and speed of processing. There is encouraging but inconclusive evidence that a specific, computer-based cognitive training may help delay or slow age-related cognitive decline. However, there is no evidence that it can prevent or delay Alzheimer’s-related cognitive impairment.
Studies show that cognitive training can improve the type of cognition a person is trained in. For example, older adults who received 10 hours of practice designed to enhance their speed and accuracy in responding to pictures presented briefly on a computer screen got faster and better at this specific task and other tasks in which enhanced speed of processing is important. Similarly, older adults who received several hours of instruction on effective memory strategies showed improved memory when using those strategies. The important question is whether such training has long-term benefits or translates into improved performance on daily activities like driving and remembering to take medicine.
Understanding Alzheimers Or Dementia Behavior Problems
One of the major challenges of caring for a loved one with Alzheimers or another dementia is coping with the troubling behavior and personality changes that often occur. Aggressiveness, hallucinations, wandering, or eating or sleeping difficulties can be upsetting and make your role as caregiver even more difficult. Whatever problems youre dealing with, its important to remember that the person with dementia is not being deliberately difficult. Often, your loved ones behavioral issues are made worse by their environment, their inability to deal with stress, or their frustrated attempts to communicate.
As you try to identify the causes, its important to remember that a patient with dementia responds to your facial expression, tone of voice, and body language far more than the words that you choose. So, use eye contact, a smile, or reassuring touch to help convey your message and show your compassion. And rather than take problem behaviors personally, do your best to maintain your sense of humor.
You May Like: How To Diagnose Alzheimer’s Early Onset
Evaluating The Latest Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Research
A recent review of research looked carefully at the evidence on ways to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s dementia or age-related cognitive decline. Led by a committee of experts from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine , the review found “encouraging but inconclusive” evidence for three types of interventions:
The evidence for other interventions, such as medications and diet, was not as strong. However, scientists are continuing to explore these and other possible preventions.
Strategy 4c: Coordinate Us Efforts With Those Of The Global Community
Many nations have developed Alzheimer’s plans of their own that involve improved care and supports for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers, as well as enhanced research and public awareness. In implementing the actions in this plan, HHS and its federal partners will coordinate with global partners to enhance these plans, avoid duplication of effort, and optimize existing resources.
Action 4.C.1: Work with global partners to enhance collaboration
HHS will expand outreach to international partners on Alzheimer’s disease through its Office of Global Affairs and other relevant federal agencies. HHS will invite colleagues and representatives of other countries and international organizations to meet and discuss ongoing Alzheimer’s disease plans. These meetings will focus on shared research agendas, recent research findings, best practices in care across the continuum, and supports for informal caregivers.
Read Also: Can Dementia Get Worse Suddenly