Caring for Dementia Patients Is Stressful and Isolating – A study from Pennsylvania State University found that caregivers of dementia patients were highly stressed and more likely to suffer from depression and potential mental breakdowns.

New Alzheimer’s Vaccine To Be Tested in Europe – A vaccine developed by Austrian biotechnology company Affiris will be tested in 6 European countries with 420 participants in the trial. The vaccine works by attacking the plaque which is known to cause Alzheimer’s disease.

Domestic Robot May Help Seniors Live Independently – European researchers are linking domestic robots with smart homes fitted with sensors and monitoring devices in an effort to help seniors live independently longer.

New Blood Test Could Help Tailor Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis – A simple blood test can help identify which immune system antibodies can be used to treat suffers of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Brain Images Suggest Alzheimer's Drug Is Working – New image technology suggests that Bapineuzumab, a new Alzheimer’s drug, is working.  Studies show the drug reduces clumps of plaque in the brain by 25% which is important because plaque is an underlying cause of Alzheimer’s. 

Ibuprofen May Reduce Parkinson's Risk – A new study from Harvard University has found that taking Ibuprofen may reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease.  The research showed that people who took three or more Ibuprofen tablets a week had a 40 percent lower risk of contracting the illness than those who didn't take it.  
 

Video Games May Help Battle Depression in Seniors – A new study has found that “exergames,” video games that combine game playing with exercise, can help improving the symptoms of subsyndromal depression (SSD).  
 

Rapid Image Analysis Method Helps Diagnose Alzheimer's Disease – A study from Finland has found that MRIs of the brain can be used to diagnose Alzheimer’s quickly.  Up until this study, diagnosis of Alzheimer’s has been done by review of the symptoms without the aide of brain images.
 

Editors Note - Caregiver News Roundup will now be appearing every 2 weeks.

Industrial Chemical Linked to Increased Risk of Getting Parkinson’s – A new study has found that exposure to the industrial solvent trichloroethylene increases your risk of coming down with Parkinson’s disease by six times.  Trichloroethylene is an industrial cleaner used in dry cleaning, machine shops and in the manufacture of electrical equipment.

Diabetes Drug Increases Risk of Bone Fracture in Older Women – A study has found that women over age 65 who take thiazolidinedione, a drug to treat Type 2 diabetes, were 50% more likely to suffer bone fractures than women not taking the medication.

57 Million Americans Sickened by Swine Flu – The Center for Disease Control estimates that 57 million Americans have come down with the Swine Flu since April 2009.  

Blood Test May Be Able to Predict Rheumatoid Arthritis – A study has found that blood tests maybe able to detect rheumatoid arthritis years before symptoms appear.  This information make it possible for doctors to identify the disease early and help find the most effective treatments for each patient.

Truth about Heart Disease: There Is No Cure – Heart disease is the number 1 cause of the death in the US and as former President Bill Clinton’s stent procedure shows that while it can be treated there is no cure for it.

FDA Wants to Reduce Radiation Exposure in Medical Tests – The Food and Drug Administration has announced a plan to reduce patient’s exposure to radiation in 3 tests – CT scans, nuclear medicine studies and fluoroscopy.  Medical advances over the past 20 years have resulted in a dramatic increase in radiation exposure from tests.

Marijuana Ineffective as a Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease – A new study from Canada has found that marijuana is not effective at combating the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Genetic Link Found for Parkinson’s Disease – A new study has found that a combination of genetic risks, dietary habits and other environment factors lead to the development of Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s Disease Rehabilitation Center Launched – The American Parkinson’s Disease Association and Boston University have opened the first rehabilitation center aimed specifically for people with Parkinson’s disease.  The center will emphasize exercise, a healthy lifestyle and physical therapy as a way to combat and slow progression of the disease.

Blood Pressure Drug Reduces the Risk of Dementia – A new study has found that people who take drugs to reduce their blood pressure have a 50% lower risk of coming down with dementia.

Caregiver Stress Linked to Hire Risk of Stroke – A new study for the journal Stroke found that caregivers who found the role stressful were 23% more likely to have a stroke.

Senate Passes Healthcare Reform Bill – The US Senate passed a healthcare reform bill on Christmas Eve.  The House of Representatives passed a bill in November.  The two bills will be merged and a final vote is expected by late January.

Alzheimer’s May Lessen the Risk of Getting Cancer – A new study found that people who are suffering from Alzheimer’s are 69 percent less likely to get cancer than people not suffering from the disease.

Nursing Shortage Is A Concern for Baby Boomers – The US is expected to face a nursing shortage just as the baby boom generation begins to retire.  By 2025, the US will be facing a shortfall of 260,000 nurses.

Healthcare Will Need to Change as the Nation Ages – A report from the Institute of Medicine says US is not prepared for the coming boom of senior citizens.  A major concern is a lack of medical professionals, such as geriatricians, to treat aging conditions. 

US Senate Set to Pass Healthcare Reform by Christmas – An agreement has been reached in the Senate on a healthcare reform bill and a vote is expected before Christmas.  The bill is expected to be merged with the one passed by the US House of Representatives in the New Year.

Participating in Social Services Activities Can Improve Senior’s Brain Function – A new study has found that volunteer activities such as tutoring students can help improve the brain function of older individuals.

Alzheimer’s Takes A Toll on Finances as Well as Memory – Providing daily care to Alzheimer’s patients including feeding, bathing, and other basic activities is costly and takes a huge toll on the finances of the patient and their families. 

Coffee, Tea May Help Prevent Diabetes – A new Australian study has found that drinking coffee and tea reduce your risk of developing Diabetes Type 2.  The study reports that every cup of coffee you drink reduces the risk of diabetes by 7 percent.

Obesity, Inactivity Are Having a Negative Impact in the Fight Against Heart Disease – New information provided by the American Heart Association finds that medical technology is getting better at treating heart and cardiovascular problems.  However, lack of exercise and obesity are reversing many of the gains being made in medical technology.

Delaying Aging Process May Help Protect Against Alzheimer’s -  A new study has found that slowing the aging process in mice with Alzheimer’s delays the start of the disease.  It has promise to help humans with the disease.

Irregular Arm Swing Maybe A Sign of Parkinson’s Disease – Some neurologists believe irregular arm swings may be an early sign of Parkinson’s.  Early detection of the disease is important for treatment and slowing its progression.

Caregivers Remain Mainly Women – A new study from the National Alliance of Caregiving and AARP found that caregivers remain overwhelmingly women.  The study also found that caregivers are generally employed and spend 19 hours a week caring for a loved one or close friend.

Lowering Medicare Eligibility Age to 55 Proposed As Part of Healthcare Reform – The United States Senate is considering allowing people from ages 55-65 to buy-in to Medicare if they do not have other health insurance.

Home Health Care Payment Changes Generate Concern – Planned reductions in Medicare home health care payments included in health reform are raising concerns because Medicare patients are the biggest users of these services.  

Smoking Increases the Risk of Colorectal Cancer – A new study shows that long time smokers are at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Muscle Cell Infusion Shown to Help with Incontinence – A new study has found that cells grown in labs have helped animals intestines shut properly again.  If successful in humans, this treatment could help people suffering from fecal incontinence and acid reflux disease.

Constipation Maybe an Early Sign of Parkinson’s Disease – A study by the Mayo Clinic has found that people suffering from Parkinson’s disease are twice as likely to have a history of constipation than people who do not have the illness.

Understanding Which Vitamins Are Worth the Money – Americans take many vitamin supplements.  However, many people take vitamins they don’t need which not only can cost you money but may not be good for you.

Apathy Common in Patients with Dementia – A recent study has found that apathy is one of the most common psychological problems affecting people with dementia.  More than half of patients suffering from the disease lack motivation and initiative.

Too Much Exercise May Increase Risk for Arthritis – A new study has found that middle aged people who exercise a lot may be putting their knees at risk for Osteoarthritis.

Smoking May Be A Risk Factor In Lou Gehrig’s Disease – Researchers have established that smoking is risk factor in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Chronic Pain Linked to Increased Falls Amongst Seniors – More than two thirds of older adults suffer from chronic pain.  A new study has found that this pain is a reason for falls in people over 70 years old.

Baby Boomers Getting More Hip Injuries – Today’s senior citizens are more active than previous generations and doctors are seeing more hip and pelvis injuries because of it.  This trend is expected to continue as the baby boomers begin to retire.

A New Cause for Alzheimer’s May Have Been Discovered – Researchers in Spain have discovered that a precursor to nerve growth factor (pro-NGF) may play a role in Alzheimer’s disease.  High levels of pro-NGF are found in Alzheimer’s patients and this accumulation may lead to natural brain cell death.

New Guidelines Recommend Mammograms at 50, Instead of 40 – The United States Preventive Care Task Force changed the recommended age for starting mammograms every two years from age 40 to age 50.  The new guidelines have created controversy and confusion.

Alzheimer’s Caregivers Overlooked – Advocates for Alzheimer’s caregivers are concerned that policy-makers overlook the unique challenges of caring for these patients.

Surgery in Older People Does Not Cause Memory Problems – For many years it was believed that surgery in older people could be the cause for memory lose.  A new study has found that surgery has no impact on memory in older adults.

An Overactive Immune Response May Be Cause of Viral Infections Amongst Seniors – A study at Yale University has found that exaggerated immune response to viruses may be why senior citizens are more likely to contract viral infections that younger people.

Vitamin D May Impact Multiple Sclerosis – Australian researchers have found that the level of Vitamin D in a person’s system impacts the chances of having a Multiple Sclerosis attack.  The study found the higher the level of Vitamin D, the lower the chance of having an attack.

Medicare Prescription Drug Enrollment Begins - The annual enrollment period for the Medicare Prescription Drug program starts November 15 and ends December 31.  Seniors are encouraged to shop around for the coverage that best fits their needs.

Caregiver Crunch Coming – The aging of the baby boomers, fewer family members and the increasing number of children not living near their parents is going to create a shortage of family caregivers in the near future.

New Law Prohibits Genetic Discrimination – A new law will prohibit employers from requesting genetic tests or considering genetic history in hiring, firings or promotions.  The law also prevents health insurers from requiring genetic tests as a condition of coverage or to set premiums.

Lupus Drug Submitted to FDA for Approval – Experimental Lupus drug Benlysta has completed its first round of testing and is headed to the FDA for approval.  If approved, the medicine could be available by late 2010.

Gene Mutation Is Linked to Parkinson’s Disease – A study in Natural Genetics has found that mutations of the alpha-synuclein gene and microtubule associated protein tau increase the risk of getting Parkinson’s disease.

Healthcare Reform Bill Will Lower Medicare Prescription Drug Costs – The healthcare reform bills being considered in Congress will save $24 billion in the Medicare Prescription Drug program which will be used to close coverage gap known as the "donut hole." 

Parkinson’s Disease May Be Slowed by Antioxidant – A new study found that the progression of Parkinson’s can be determined by the level of the antioxidant urate in serum and cerebral spinal cord fluid. Higher levels of this antioxidant can help slow the disease.

Seniors with Dementia Have a Higher Death Rate from the Flu – Senior citizens who suffer from dementia are 50% more likely to die from the flu than those not suffering from dementia. Part of the reason is these patients have a harder time communicating their symptoms to doctors. 

Diabetics Suffering from Alzheimer’s Have Slower Memory Loss – A French study has found that diabetics with Alzheimer’s have slower memory loss than people suffering from only Alzheimer’s. 

Coffee Can Be Good For Your Health –A Harvard Medical School study has found that coffee can help prevent or slow numerous diseases including cancer, diabetes type 2 and Parkinson’s disease. 

Tai Chi Can Help Arthritis of the Knee – A British study has found the Chinese exercise can help relieve osteoarthritis in the knee. 

Robot Can Help Aging Parents Live Independently – A session at TEDMED, a healthcare technology conference, discussed the use of robots to help care for aging parents at home. This technology could eventually help more people stay in their homes.

Swine Flu Emergency Declared – President Obama declared a swine flu emergency Saturday.  This allows hospitals to move emergency services for swine flu into non-emergency room settings which will help speed treatment and protect non-infected patients.

Swine Flu Hits Children and Young Adults the Hardest – Of the 1,000 people who have died from swine flu, approximately 100 have been children.  It is believe that swine flu is hitting this population harder because their immune systems have not been exposed to as many viruses as older people.

eCareDairy.com blog is starting a new feature today which is the Sunday Caregiver News Roundup. We will review important news stories from the previous week with a quick summary of the article and a link to it.

Swine Vaccine Shortage Predicted – The Centers for Disease Control is predicting a shortage of swine flu vaccine. Only 28-30 million doses will be available instead of the 40 million predicted over the summer. The cause is delays from vaccine manufacturers.

Argument About Swine Flu Vaccinations Continues – Concerns about the safety of the swine flu vaccine has fueled debate whether or not people should get a vaccination.

Study Says Surfing the Web Can Help Slow Dementia – A University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) study showed increased brain activity for seniors with dementia who spend at least one hour a day on the Internet. It appears that the old adage of use it or lose it is really true.