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Small Companies Keeping Alzheimer’s Research Alive

Date: August 11, 2019
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
Small Companies Keeping Alzheimer's Research Alive

Alzheimer’s research is expensive and doesn’t always produce a result. Alzheimer’s is complicated, and because of that, many companies are pulling back on research. Doing this is detrimental to everyone because it’s such a prevalent disease. Luckily, there are a lot of small companies taking up the mantle, and even trying a new angle by focusing on the immune system.

Small Companies Keeping Alzheimer's Research Alive

Small Companies Keeping Alzheimer’s Research Alive

 

Back in the 90s, a health-care startup called Partner Therapeutics made a leukemia drug called Luekine. Doctors barely prescribed it, and it faded away into obscurity until a group of researchers in Colorado brought it back. The Rocky Mountain Alzheimer’s Disease Center wanted to see if it can regulate the immune system as a way to battle Alzheimer’s.

Forty participants with Alzheimer’s will be part of the trail. In mice with this disease, the same protein in Luekine cleared amyloid debris from the brain while reversing memory loss. Though, the difference between humans and mice is vast, so we have to wait to know if it will do any good.

Many researchers and companies are looking at different ways to tackle the problem of Alzheimer’s since the usual research has come up with nothing.

Larger pharmaceutical companies have been backing out due to Alzheimer’s research failure. Biogen stopped a clinical trial in March after their latest experimental amyloid plaque drug fell flat. Stopping the test caused their stock to fall twenty-nine percent. Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Eli Lilly, and AstraZeneca have also had failures.

Last year there were more than 70 Alzheimer’s trials in different stages, plus 22 amyloid-targeting drugs were being tested. Compare that to the 1,100 drugs in development for cancer, 445 for other brain diseases, and 200 for heart disease and stroke.

Not all is lost, though. Drugs going after a different protein in the brain called tau protein tangles, anti-inflammation medications, immune modulators, gene therapy, insulin, and cannabis compounds are being looked into.

Immunity and Alzheimer’s

 

The immune system’s connection to Alzheimer’s has been an area of interest for a long time. Now, thanks to advances in human genome mapping, it’s possible to target the roles of specific genes. Three companies in California: Denali Therapeutics, Alector, and INmuneBio, are following this avenue. Too much inflammation, which is the immune system’s reaction to sickness, can cause damage to neurons and mess with the brain.

People at Alector think that researchers have spent too much time on getting rid of amyloid plaque, even though there is a lot of evidence saying it wasn’t working. They want to focus on drugs that help microglia do their job.

Denali is also looking into immunotherapy. They have created experimental molecules that can pass through a membrane called the blood-brain barrier. Doing this will let them affect the brain.

A Canadian company, IntelGenx, is doing a trial of an anti-inflammatory asthma drug called Montelukast. They changed its formula so that it can be taken as a dissolvable strip, making it easier for seniors and have the company stand out at the same time.

There are even more studies happening all over the world that are trying to tackle this problem from all different angles. So, while familiar names are backing away from this challenge, newer and younger names are stepping up.

Read more here.

Most Seniors Who End Up in the ER Can’t Afford Medicine

Date: August 11, 2019
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
Most Seniors Who End Up in the ER Can't Afford Medicine

A new study published in the American Journal Emergency Medicine shows that seniors who end up in the emergency room can’t afford medicine. Even with insurance, medication can be expensive, and depending on the insurance, may not even be covered.

Most Seniors Who End Up in the ER Can't Afford Medicine

Most Seniors Who End Up in the ER Can’t Afford Medicine

 

Lisa Ambrose, the study’s co-author, and her colleagues looked at survey responses from 2017 and 2018 from 281 patients. The patients were 65 and older who visited both city and rural ERs. Even though ninety-nine percent had health insurance, fourteen percent of city patients and twenty-six percent of rural patients said they couldn’t follow doctor’s orders because they couldn’t afford it.

Seniors, in particular, are struggling due to limited income and insurance being stricter with them.

Patients who take many different medications tend to be the people who can’t afford them and had been hospitalized recently. They can also have trouble doing everyday tasks, have depression or dementia, and/or no social support circle.

What do people do to afford medications? Well, there are pharmacy and medication brand discount programs. Most of the time people sacrifice basic needs like food and heat, they borrow money, skip dosages to stretch out medication, create credit card debt, or asks for someone else to buy it for them.

Read more here.

7 Types of Dental and Oral Diseases and Treatments

Date: August 4, 2019
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
Oral Health is Left Behind for Most Seniors

We have been talking about oral health and the importance of keeping up with it. While having a general knowledge is good, knowing specifics is even better. Time to break down the types of dental and oral diseases you can have and how to treat it.

7 Types of Dental and Oral Diseases and Treatments

7 Types of Dental and Oral Diseases and Treatments

 

With how often we use our mouths, it’s not a surprise that they get worn down. Remember that oral health is connected to overall health.

1. Cavities

Cavities are tooth decay. It’s when parts of your tooth are damaged to the point of having holes in them. They are super common.

Cavities happen when bacteria, food, and acid cover your teeth and create plaque. The acid starts to destroy the enamel and underlying dentin.

If these aren’t taken care of, it can lead to permanent damage to your teeth.

2. Gum Disease (Gingivitis)

Gingivitis is a fancy word for gum disease, which is the inflammation of your gums. Plaque builds up because of bad brushing and flossing habits.

It makes your gums swell and even bleed when you brush or floss. If you don’t take care of it, it can lead to periodontitis.

3. Periodontitis

The harsher version of gum disease and can spread to your jaw and bones. It can cause inflammation throughout your whole body.

4. Cracked or Broken Teeth

Teeth can crack or break, despite how tough they seem. It can happen because of an injury to the mouth, chewing hard foods, and grinding your teeth. They can be very painful, and you need to see a professional asap.

5. Sensitivity

You have sensitive teeth if you get pain when having hot or cold food items. It’ also referred to as dentin hypersensitivity.

It is a temporary side effect after having a root canal or filling. It can be a sign of more permanent issues like gum disease, receding gums, a cracked tooth, or old fillings and crowns.

It could be happening to you because you have less enamel on your teeth. Luckily, there are treatments like using toothpaste branded for sensitive teeth.

6. Oral Cancer

There are different types of cancer you can develop, and those include gums, tongue, lips, cheek, the floor of your mouth, and the hard and soft palate.

Dentists are usually the first person to notice signs of oral cancer. Tobacco use is the most significant way to develop oral cancer.

7. Surgeries

Hopefully, it won’t get to this point, but surgeries are another option for treatment.

Flap surgery is when a surgeon cuts a small part in the gum to lift a section of tissue. They remove tartar and bacteria from underneath the gums. The flap is then stitched back into place.

Bone grafting is needed when gum disease has gone too far. The dentist uses either part of your bone, a synthetic bone, or a donated bone to replace your damaged one.

Soft tissue grafts are similar to bone grafts and are a treatment for receding gums.

Tooth extraction happens when a tooth can’t be saved and needs to be removed. It’s also used to get rid of wisdom teeth that are impacted.

Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth due to a disease or accident. Once an implant is put in, your bone will grow around it.

7 Ways to Treat Oral and Dental Diseases

 

The best way to keep your teeth healthy is to keep up with professional appointments.

1. Cleanings

A professional cleaning destroys any plaque you may have missed when you brush or floss. Cleanings will also get rid of tartar, and once in a while, a dentist will use a high-powered toothbrush to brush your teeth.

Deep cleaning can be called a scaling and rooting planning as well.

2. Flouride Treatments

Flouride treatments fight off cavities. It’s a natural mineral and can help strengthen the enamel of your teeth and make them stronger.

3. Antibiotics

If you have any infections or a tooth abscess that has spread to other teeth or jaw, you’ll probably get antibiotics. It can be a mouth rinse, gel, pill, or a capsule. Topical antibiotic gel can be applied to teeth or gums during surgeries.

4. Fillings, Crown, and Sealants

A filling is used to repair a cavity, crack, or a hole in your teeth. A dentist will use a drill to remove the bad area of the tooth and then fill it. They usually use a material like amalgam or composite.

Crowns are used if a large part of your tooth needs to be removed or broken off. There are two kinds. An implant crown fits over an implant, and a regular crown fits over a natural tooth.

Sealants are thin, protective coatings that are put on the back teeth to prevent cavities. Though these are usually used more with kids.

5. Root Canal

You may need a root canal if your teeth get bad enough that the damage reaches down to your nerves. During the procedure, the nerve is removed and replaced with a filling.

6. Probiotics

Probiotics can help prevent plaque and treat bad breath. Some may even help avoid oral cancers and reduces inflammation.

7. Keeping Good Habits

Finally, just keep good habits. Watch what you eat, brush and floss daily, and be aware of your teeth.

Read more here.

Oral Health is Left Behind for Most Seniors

Date: August 4, 2019
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
Oral Health is Left Behind for Most Seniors

Given how important oral health is to overall health, it’s surprising that it isn’t covered by standard insurance. According to a report done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most seniors don’t have dental insurance. People who are over seventy-five, Black, Hispanic, or living below the poverty level are even more unlikely to have coverage.

Oral Health is Left Behind for Most Seniors

Oral Health is Left Behind for Most Seniors

 

Dental benefits aren’t covered by Medicare, which is the federal insurance for seniors. Dental coverage through Medicaid, the insurance for those with limited income, varies by state. Many states only offer emergency services, and four states don’t offer it at all.

So the options for seniors are buying the dental insurance themselves or get it as a part of retirement benefits from their employer.

This is a problem because all older adults, even those with dentures, need a yearly dental checkup. With Baby Boomers reaching retirement age, this will be the problem that affects most families, especially because older people have more oral issues than younger people.

They can have multiple illnesses and take medication for it. The medication can have side effects like dry mouth, inflammation, infections, and mouth sores. Once their oral health starts to slide, everything else will follow.

Even if someone no longer has their teeth, they still need to be checked for oral cancer and have a soft and hard tissue exam. Dentures don’t last forever and will eventually breakdown. Dentures that don’t fit right can lead to poor chewing, inadequate nutrition, speech problems, and more.

Read more here.

7 Ways Your Oral Health Affects Your Body’s Health

Date: July 29, 2019
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
7 Ways Your Oral Health Affects Your Body's Health

You’d be surprised at how much your oral health affects your body’s health. While it may be easy to ignore a sore tooth, that single tooth can have a strong impact on your overall health. Next time you think about skipping a tooth-brushing session, remember these seven ways that your mouth health affects your overall health.

7 Ways Your Oral Health Affects Your Body's Health

7 Ways Your Oral Health Affects Your Body’s Health

 

You would be surprised at how your oral health affects your body’s health.

1. Cardiovascular Health

Inflammed gums are connected to heart disease and stroke because it increases the inflammation throughout your whole body. Inflammation leads to heart disease. People who have severe gum disease have twice the risk of having a fatal heart attack than those without it.

2. Diabetes

It’s already known that those with diabetes tend to have gum disease more than those who don’t have diabetes. Now, it’s thought that severe gum disease can contribute to diabetes because it messes with blood glucose control.

Gum disease has bacteria, and that bacteria can make toxins that mess with the carbohydrate metabolism in each cell. It can also increase insulin resistance.

3. Lung Infections

Once again, gum disease and its bacteria can cause more lung infections. You are breathing in more germs in general, and more specifically germs that lead to lung infections. For those who already have lung issues, the bacteria can make it worse.

4.  Pregnancy

Pregnant women who have gum disease are more likely to develop gestational diabetes, deliver pre-term, or have a smaller baby. Checkups are even more critical if you are pregnant. Poor oral health can lead to higher risks during birth, like being early or the baby being underweight.

Babies born early can have a higher risk of developing development problems, asthma, ear infections, birth abnormalities, behavioral difficulties, and even have a higher risk of death.

5. Joint Health

When you grind your teeth nonstop, it can upset joints in your lower jaw, which can lead to pain, tightness in the joint area, earaches, and headaches. This is on top of it already slowly destroying your teeth.

6.  Smoking

You already know that smoking can lead to all kinds of cancer, but quitting can lower your risk significantly. Smoking can cause oral cancer and painful lesions in your mouth that never heal. It can also make your teeth fall out.

7. Tounge Health

A third of the bacteria on your tongue doesn’t come from any other surface in your mouth. Stuck on germs can lead to bad breath and affect your sense of taste.

Letting the germs go on for too long can make your tongue turn yellow, white, black, or even hairy looking.

Read more here.

Is Doll Therapy Helpful or Hurtful?

Date: July 29, 2019
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
Is Doll Therapy Helpful or Hurtful?

Many times you will see seniors who have dementia with stuffed animals or dolls. Usually, they are petting them or talking to these toys. Doll therapy is when you use dolls to ease stress in those who have dementia or Alzheimer’s. This type of treatment is controversial at the moment because it could be seen as demeaning to have an older adult play with a doll as if they were a kid.

Is Doll Therapy Helpful or Hurtful?

Is Doll Therapy Helpful or Hurtful?

 

Despite the controversy, many senior communities around the country are using doll therapy. It can bring out the best in people and even encourage social activity. Many times, those with dementia or Alzheimer’s still want to feel useful and feel a connection, even if they can’t remember much of their own life.

Those who use this therapy never try to convince seniors the dolls are real, and they aren’t trying to make them seem like children. They see it as a new form of communication.

The benefits of this type of therapy are that it can reduce the need for medications, lower anxiety, and allow seniors to communicate better. Some people believe that the doll can give older adults an anchor in uncertain times. It can also provide them with a sense of independence. It can even allow individuals who can’t participate in activities a way to interact with others.

Read more here.

American Seniors are Dying From Falls

Date: July 21, 2019
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
American Seniors are Dying From Falls

We all know how dangerous falls are for seniors, but a new study found that more American seniors are dying from them. According to the study, nearly 25,000 people 75 and older died because of falls in 2016. That’s three times more than in 2000. This number will most likely increase as the older American population rises.

American Seniors are Dying From Falls

American Seniors are Dying From Falls

 

We’ve talked a lot about falls already and different ways to prevent them. Now, we have numbers. Around $50 billion was spent on medical care due to falls in 2015. The rate of death by fall for men rose from 61 per 100,000 to 116. For women, the rate jumped from 46 to 106 every 100,000.

Plus the older you get, the more deadly falls can become. Death due to falls for people 75-79 was 42 per 100,000 while those who are 95 and older had a rate of 591 per 100,000.

Now no one is quite sure why the rates are rising, but what researchers do know is that they are preventable.

It’s not just age that can cause falls. Other factors include a sedentary lifestyle, chronic diseases, neurological issues and incontinence, and higher use of prescription drugs.

But why do people die from falls? Some reasons are head trauma, internal bleeding, and complications of a bone fracture. Fractures can lead to hospitalization, immobility in bed, and infections, which can be deadly.

Make sure to check out our other articles about falls to learn about how to prevent them.

Read more about the study here.

Robotic Caregiving Research is Expanding

Date: July 21, 2019
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
How Robotics Are Helping Chinese Seniors with Rehab

We’ve talked a lot about how robotic caregiving could greatly enhance a senior’s life and seems like a lot of other people agree. More research is being done on how to integrate technology into a senior’s life to allow them to be independent longer. The range of robotic caregiving is vast and could change a senior’s life.

Robotic Caregiving Research is Expanding

Robotic Caregiving Research is Expanding

 

Remember our article about robotic pets? Well, that idea is expanding into more human-like robotic companions. Japan, in particular, has been looking into this possibility because their senior population is larger than their younger one. Having robotic caregivers can help supplement human caregivers and assist in not only menial tasks, but offer comfort to seniors as well.

Robotic pets are getting looked at more closely too. It’s been shown that they offer seniors comfort and emotional support. Even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration supports these robots because of the comfort they give. The problem is that these robots’ care are costly. They can cost around $6,400. Because of that, many people are trying to create less expensive versions so they can be more accessible.

Robots Aren’t As Cold As Most Think

While some people may believe there is no replacement for a human caregiver, they may be surprised at how well seniors and robots get along. In fact, some research has shown that robots, like a robotic pet, can encourage more social interaction in seniors. These robots can improve the overall mood in a room or in an individual to make them more friendly.

They are especially great for those with dementia. Often these robotic pets bring back memories of old pets they had and brings comfort to them.

Robotic Backup for Human Caregivers

 

The biggest help could be for caregivers. Robots can help with more physical tasks, allowing fewer accidents to happen. Even more so, they can support the mental health of the caregivers who often give their all to their aging loved one.

Laurel Riek, an Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California San Diego, has been working with caregivers for a while. Riek and a team of scientists spent six months working with family members, caregivers, and social workers to create a robot to help with those who have dementia.

For those in the early stage of dementia, caregivers wanted robots that were in the background. They helped mediate interactions between caregiver and caregivee. In the later stages, caregivers wanted robots to be more active and offer caregivers a respite.

Riek and her team are now creating prototypes based on the robot designs the caregivers came up with and will be running tests soon.

Robotics Offering Independence

 

It’s not just in the caregiving field that robots and technology can be helpful in, they can also keep seniors independent longer. Tools like a robotic exoskeleton can help those with limited mobility to move easier. Creating smart homes can allow seniors to stay in their home longer. It can be simple things like voice recognition to turn lights on and off and other types of tasks. It can also be more depth with the house watching out for the senior to see there is anything wrong with them.

IBM Research U.K. is going to partner up with a British startup called Cera Care to do a six-month study on Lidar technology. Lidar technology is bounced laser tech that helps autonomous cars “see.” This can be used as a way to monitor someone without infringing on their privacy.

They will be putting these sensors in fifteen different houses to see if this technology, along with machine learning tools, could be helpful with keeping on eye on the senior’s health. The best part of all, once the sensors are set up, they don’t need any servicing.

Read more here.

7 Ways to Stop Snoring

Date: July 14, 2019
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
7 Ways to Stop Snoring

Nothing is more frustrating than snoring. Around twenty percent of people snore regularly. Whether you or your partner is the one that’s snoring it disrupts sleep. Disrupted sleep makes for grumpy people. Sleep is vital for your overall health, so here are seven ways to stop snoring.

7 Ways to Stop Snoring

7 Ways to Stop Snoring

 

1. Keep Your Mouth Closed

Humans are made, so we breathe through our noses, and there’s a specific reason for that. Sleeping with your mouth open allows air to hit the soft tissue at the back of your throat, which makes it vibrate and cause the snoring sound. Mouth breathing is probably the most common reason for snoring.

Try using a chin strap that loops under the chin and over your head, or you can try a mouth guard. Whatever is most comfortable for you.

2. Your Nose Needs to Be Open

Having your nasal passages open reduces the chances of you mouth-breathing or snoring. Try using nasal sprays and antihistamines to clear congestion caused by allergies and other parts of life.

Alcohol and smoking also can stuff up your nose, while quitting is the best option. We understand that it’s easier said than done. So, try not to smoke in the four hours before you go to sleep and limit your alcohol intake to two days a week.

Old injuries to your nose could cause your nasal passage to be closed, like a deviated nasal septum. Press hard on one side of the nose and breathe in with your mouth shut. If the other side of your nose collapses inwards and air can’t get through, then you have an obstruction.

You can use nasal strips or dilators that sit inside the blocked nostril to open things up. Septoplasty, aka nose job, can also help.

3. Losing Weight

Having a bigger neck makes you snore because it compresses your airway. Men tend to store excess fat around the neck more than women, therefore tend to snore more. Losing weight will help stop snoring.

4. Look at Your Jaw

A receding jaw, also known as retrognathia, can cause snoring because the tongue is more likely to go back and block the airway when you sleep. To see if you have this, bite together on your back teeth, if your lower teeth are really behind the upper ones, then you have may a receding jaw.

Different devices can help with this issue.

5. Sleep on Your Side

You’re less likely to snore laying on your side versus your back. You can get specific pillows that will prop you up on your side.

6. See Your Doctor

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is when your throat closes, and you stop breathing for ten seconds or more. Oxygen levels in your blood fall and your brain restarts, usually with a jolt, gasp, or grunt. OSA is horrible for your health. It’s connected to daytime sleepiness that leads to accidents, high blood pressure, increased risk of stroke, diabetes, and depression.

7. Use Your CPAP

If you have OSA, you need a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. It’s a small pump that gives you a constant supply of compressed air into your nose and mouth through a mask to stop your throat from closing.

Read more here.

Could Parkinson’s Start in the Stomach

Date: July 14, 2019
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
What Happens When a Potential Alzheimer's Treatment Fails?

New research is showing that Parkinson’s could start in the stomach. It says proteins that are a main part of the disease can come from the gastrointestinal tract and go up into the brain. The body makes a protein called alpha-synuclein, and it can be found in the brain’s nerve cell endings. When the shape of this protein gets messed up, it’s connected to damaged nerve cells, a deterioration of the dopamine system, and problems with movement and speech. All of which are staples of Parkinson’s disease.

Could Parkinson's Start in the Stomach

Could Parkinson’s Start in the Stomach

 

The research results come from studies in mice. The studies confirm a long-held theory that folded alpha-synuclein could start in the stomach and spread to the brain through the vagus nerve. A vagus nerve is a group of fibers that begins in the brainstem and sends signals to different parts of the body. The way the misshapen proteins spread throughout mice’s bodies similar to human’s bodies.

This study comes after a different one that found people whose appendix was taken out early in life have a reduced risk of later developing Parkinson’s disease. Having both these studies come out so closely helps prove each other’s findings.

How the Study was Done

 

The researchers introduced the misshapen alpha-synuclein to the stomach of healthy mice and followed where the protein appeared in their bodies. After a month, the protein was found in different parts of the brain stem. At three months, it was in parts of the brain like the amygdala and regions of the midbrain rich in dopamine neurons. After seven months, it was found in even more places.

The way the proteins were discovered was similar to the way markers of Parkinson’s disease are released throughout the human brain within different stages of the disease.

More work found that the mice had a drop in dopamine levels in the brain, followed by a slow loss of dopamine neurons after seven months. The mice also had issues with their motor skills, memory, anxiety, and behavior problems.

Mice who had a severed vagus nerve did not develop these proteins in their brain, damage to their dopamine system, or any other problems.

Read more here.