Early on in Alzheimer’s 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 an unsteady person 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.

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By living a healthy lifestyle, you can help keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels normal and lower your risk for heart disease and heart attack.

Choose healthy foods and drinks

Choose healthy meals and snacks to help prevent heart disease and its complications. Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and fewer processed foods.

• Eating lots of foods high in saturated fat and trans fat may contribute to heart disease.
• Eating foods high in fiber and low in saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol can help prevent high cholesterol.
• Limiting salt (sodium) in your diet can also lower your blood pressure.
• Limiting sugar in your diet can lower your blood sugar level to prevent or help control diabetes.
• Do not drink too much alcohol, which can raise your blood pressure. Men should have no more than 2 drinks per day, and women no more than 1 drink per day. For more information, visit CDC’s Alcohol and Public Health website.

Keep a healthy weight

People with overweight or obesity have a higher risk for heart disease. Carrying extra weight can put extra stress on the heart and blood vessels.

Don’t smoke

Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for heart disease. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, quitting will lower your risk for heart disease. Your doctor can suggest ways to help you quit.

Get regular physical activity

Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower your blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. For adults, the Surgeon General recommends 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, like brisk walking or bicycling, every week. Children and adolescents should get 1 hour of physical activity every day.

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If you’re 65 or older, you have a higher risk of having serious health complications from the flu. Get the flu shot to help lower your risk of hospital visits and death. To protect yourself this flu season, make sure you:

• Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about getting a preferred flu shot.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
• Wash your hands and clean surfaces you touch often.

The flu shot protects you from getting it and keeps you from spreading it to others.

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers the seasonal flu shot (or vaccine) once per flu season and additional flu shots if it’s medically necessary.

Preferred flu shots

People 65 and older can get a preferred flu shot, which may be a greater benefit than the standard dose. Ask your doctor about getting one of these three preferred vaccines (if available):

• Fluzone High Dose Quadrivalent
• Flublok Quadrivalent
• Fluad Quadrivalent

You can get the standard flu shot if the preferred vaccine isn’t available.

Your costs in Original Medicare

If your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider accepts the assignment, you pay nothing for a flu shot. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, contact your plan for details.

Things to know

Don’t wait to get the flu shot. There are many places you can get one, including your doctor’s office and your local pharmacy — contact them for details. Find Flu Vaccines

It’s safe to get the flu shot with other vaccines. You can protect yourself against COVID-19 by getting your COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as your flu shot.

Note: Your doctor or other health care provider may recommend you get services more often than Medicare covers. Or, they may recommend services that Medicare doesn’t cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. Ask questions so you understand why your doctor is recommending certain services and if, or how much, Medicare will pay for them.

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The most effective way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine every year. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine. It makes it less likely that you will get the flu. It also reduces your chances of being hospitalized or dying if you do get sick with the flu.

In addition to getting your flu vaccine, you can help stop the spread of flu by:

• Washing your hands
• Covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
• Staying home when you are sick
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces at home, work, or school

Who should get a flu vaccine and which one should you choose?

You can get the flu at any time of year, but it’s most common in the fall and winter. It usually starts to spread in October and peaks between December and February. That’s why this time is called the flu season.

It takes at least two weeks for your flu vaccine to start working, so try to get vaccinated by the end of October. However, getting vaccinated after October can still help protect you from the flu. Because older adults may lose protection from a flu vaccine more quickly, try to avoid getting vaccinated too early (before September).

There are flu vaccines designed specifically for older adults. The CDC recommends that people age 65 and older receive a higher-dose flu vaccine or an adjuvanted flu vaccine (one with an additional ingredient called an adjuvant that helps create a stronger immune response). These vaccines are potentially more effective than the standard flu vaccine for people in this age group. Talk with a healthcare provider or pharmacist about which vaccine is best for you.

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People whose brains have less myelin — the fatty tissue that insulates nerve cells — experience steeper declines in cognition over time, according to an NIA study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia. The findings show the impact of myelin content as healthy people age and underscore myelin as a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment.

Myelin is an insulating layer that forms around nerves, including those in the brain. It helps neurons communicate more efficiently, maintain a healthy water balance, and respond to signals involved in memory formation and other cognitive functions. Previous studies have shown that myelin production slows as people age, but whether changes in myelin are linked to age-related changes in cognition remained unknown. However, some animal study evidence suggests changes in myelin may be responsible for cognitive deficits in neurodegenerative diseases.

For this study, the team of NIA scientists gathered data from 123 cognitively unimpaired adults enrolled in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging and from the Genetic and Epigenetic Signatures of Translational Aging Laboratory Testing study. The researchers tested several different types of cognition and used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans to measure myelin content in the brain. They looked at two different MRI-based measurements to estimate the amount of myelin: myelin water fraction (MWF) and longitudinal relaxation rate (R1).

For both measurements, lower myelin was linked to greater cognitive decline over time. Lower myelin, as measured with MWF, was associated with a steeper decline in executive function, which includes skills such as planning, problem-solving, organization, and multitasking. Lower myelin as measured with R1 was associated with a faster decline in verbal fluency, which measures the ability to retrieve information from memory. These findings contribute to a foundation for further studies that explore how age-related changes in myelin are different in people who develop neurodegenerative diseases.

While, overall, this study establishes a meaningful relationship between myelin content and cognition, the authors noted some limitations, mainly that the cohort size was relatively small and included a higher proportion of men and White participants. Future research should reexamine the link in a larger, more diverse study cohort; explore the link between myelin and cognition in people with neurodegenerative diseases; and test whether promoting myelin production could be an effective strategy to prevent disease.

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Published by: AARP

More than 97,000 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma this year, according to the American Cancer Society, making it one of the most common types of cancer in the U.S., especially among older adults who have endured decades of sun exposure and whose immune systems aren’t as robust as they once were.

The good news: Melanoma is highly curable if it’s caught early. Do you know what to look for?

1. The ‘ugly duckling’

People who have lots of moles are at increased risk for melanoma. That doesn’t mean, however, that you need to panic over every mark on your body. Pay attention to the moles that stand out — those that are darker than the rest, have changed recently or are more oddly shaped. Buchbinder calls these “ugly ducklings.”

2. ‘Where the sun doesn’t shine’

The majority of melanomas are thought to be caused by ultraviolet (UV) light, but not all of them come from sun exposure. Melanoma can develop anywhere on the body, including “in places the sun doesn’t shine,” like the soles of the feet or the palms of the hand, says Elizabeth Quigley, M.D., a dermatologist and associate physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

The cancer can also appear as a dark streak under a fingernail or toenail, which is what happened to musician Bob Marley. He initially mistook his melanoma for a bruise on the toe and eventually died from it. (A clue that you should see a doctor: If you discover a dark spot under the nail bed that doesn’t grow out with the nail over time like a blood blister would, Buchbinder says it’s time to make an appointment.)

3. Red, white, and blue hues

Melanomas are often depicted as dark-brown moles, but they can actually be present in a variety of colors. The cancer may have a blue tint to it, from deeper pigmentation, says Professor Robert Brodell, M.D., chair of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Or it can appear red, the result of an immune response. “The body is attacking it. It knows it’s abnormal and it’s trying to defend itself, and you get inflammation,” Brodell explains.

It’s also possible for a melanoma to “look like a rash,” Quigley says, and to take on a pink hue. But when the spot doesn’t get better with creams and other treatments that normally nix a rash, “you need to check and make sure that that’s not a skin cancer,” she adds.

4. Spots on the skin that bleed or itch

If a mole on your body starts to itch or becomes more painful or tender, you need to get it checked out. The same goes if the surface of a mole changes — maybe it starts to ooze or bleed or take on a scalier appearance and doesn’t heal on its own.

“We think that some of that irritation — the itching, the bleeding — is actually the body starting to recognize [cancer] and starting to attack it a little, making it irritated. That’s why you’ll see some itching and bleeding and irritation near the actual mole,” Buchbinder says.

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Published by: AARP

Diet can have long-term effects on eye health and there is evidence that good nutrition is important for protecting our eyes as we age.

Blueberries

These violet-hued gems are rich in anthocyanins, potent antioxidants that bolster collagen structure in the retina and provide extra vision protection. They also may improve vision in people with normal-tension glaucoma, a form of disease that damages the optic nerve. You’ll also get anthocyanins from other purple, blue, and dark red foods like red or purple grapes, blackberries, pomegranates, and cranberries.

Dark Chocolate

Here’s a guilt-free reason to indulge in a chunk of dark chocolate today: A 2018 study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that adults who ate a bar of dark chocolate could literally see better — with greater improvements in visual clarity and visual contrast sensitivity— about two hours afterward than those who consumed milk chocolate.

Eggs

Egg yolks are loaded with the same powerful eye-protecting antioxidants, lutein, and zeaxanthin, that are found in leafy green vegetables.

Oysters

Shellfish like oysters are among the best sources of the mineral zinc, which protects the eyes against the damaging effects of sunlight.

Oranges 

Vitamin C should really be called “vitamin See” because it has such a profound effect on vision. Like other antioxidants, it helps protect against free-radical damage and may reduce your risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration. It also helps build collagen, which provides a structure for your cornea. You can also get ample doses of C from other citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, red bell pepper, cantaloupe, and broccoli.

Carrots

Vitamin A helps with the production of both rod and cone cells in the eyes, which helps you see in low light conditions and see colors. Beta-carotene also helps fend off disease-causing free-radical damage to the eyes. Eating large amounts may lower your risk for diseases like macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. You can get beta-carotene from yellow, orange, and red fruits and veggies like sweet potatoes and cantaloupes as well as dark leafy greens like kale and broccoli.

Almonds 

Almonds are great sources of vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects the eyes from free-radical damage. Research has also found that people over age 50 who have a high dietary intake of vitamin E — along with vitamin C, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids — have a substantially lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.

Salmon

A 2019 meta-analysis of studies examined the consumption of specific food groups and age-related macular degeneration and found that people who regularly ate fish had an 18 percent reduced risk of developing the sight-stealing disease. Aim for two to three servings a week of cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines, herring, mackerel, or halibut.

Kale

Kale, spinach, and other dark leafy greens like collard greens and turnip greens are packed with lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that are stored in the eye’s macula, which helps shield the eye from damaging light.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain a positive quadruple whammy of nutrients that protect eye health: lycopene, which is part of the carotenoid family, as well as the antioxidants lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene. The antioxidants can help protect against UV-induced damage and the development of cataracts. And lycopene may play a role in preventing age-related macular degeneration: One study found that people with higher blood levels of lycopene and zeaxanthin have a significantly lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. Other good sources of lycopene include watermelon, pink grapefruit, papaya, and dried apricots.

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Published by: AARP

Everyone has stomach issues from time to time, and occasional digestive discomfort is not usually something to worry about. That said, doctors note that there are a few gastrointestinal symptoms you shouldn’t write off, because they could signal something serious.

1. Prolonged diarrhea

Diarrhea can be a symptom of a number of things — from a food allergy to a bacterial infection. It can also be a warning sign of COVID-19, appearing before more well-known symptoms such as cough or fever.

2. Blood in your stool

The most common causes are hemorrhoids and anal fissures (tears in the lining of the anus). But blood in your stool can also be one of the first symptoms of colon cancer, especially if accompanied by a change in your bowel habits or the shape of your stool. Since colon cancer is more common among those over age 50, it’s especially important for older adults to see a doctor without delay. Other possible causes of bleeding are colon polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, and diverticulosis.

3. Severe cramps after eating

Severe cramping is a warning sign of bowel obstruction — a serious condition that requires immediate medical treatment. It’s also a classic symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a chronic digestive disorder that has been on the rise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

4. Difficulty swallowing

Esophageal cancer is more common in adults over 55 and three or four times more likely to occur in men than women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

5. Unexplained weight loss (especially if accompanied by abdominal pain)

Weight loss when you haven’t changed your diet or exercise habits is a common symptom of many serious illnesses, including cancer.

Although such weight loss is a symptom of some types of cancer, a 2014 study published in the journal American Family Physician found that in patients over 65, it is often due to other causes, like peptic ulcers, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or an overactive thyroid.

6. Chronic or prolonged constipation (especially if you’re having pain)

Constipation can be caused by a wide variety of issues, including certain medicines, a diet low in fiber, and medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, thyroid issues, diabetes, or, in rare cases, colorectal cancer.

7. Sudden, intense abdominal pain

A sharp pain that doesn’t let up can indicate acute appendicitis (if it’s on your lower right side), diverticulitis, or a serious infection. The context is important because muscle cramps and other issues can also manifest as sharp pain.

8. Frequent, severe, or worsening heartburn

Occasional heartburn — a burning, uncomfortable sensation in your chest — is common among older adults and can usually be treated with over-the-counter medications. But if your heartburn is frequent and worsening, or if it’s not responding to medication, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a disorder in which the valve between your stomach and esophagus doesn’t close properly. Left untreated, GERD can lead to complications including erosion or narrowing of the esophagus, or a precancerous condition called Barrett’s esophagus. In rare cases, severe heartburn can also indicate a more serious condition such as esophageal cancer or a hiatal hernia.

9. Swollen abdomen

It’s not unusual to feel bloated after you eat a big meal. But there’s a difference between bloating and distension, an actual increase in measured abdominal size.

If the symptom persists after you’ve had plenty of time to digest a meal, it can be a sign that excess fluid or gas is forming in your small intestine as the result of an obstruction, inflammation, bacterial overgrowth, or gastrointestinal disease.

10. Feeling full after eating very little

If you feel stuffed even though you didn’t eat much, the most common cause is gastroparesis, a condition in which food stays in the stomach longer than it should.

The post 10 Stomach Symptoms You Should Never Ignore appeared first on C-Medisolutions.

A simple accident like tripping on a rug or slipping on a wet floor can change your life. If you fall, you could break a bone, which thousands of older adults experience each year. For older people, a broken bone can also be the start of more serious health problems and can lead to long-term disability.

If you or an older adult in your life has fallen, you’re not alone. More than one in four people aged 65 years or older fall each year. The risk of falling — and fall-related problems — rises with age. However, many falls can be prevented. For example, exercising, managing your medications, having your vision checked, and making your home safer are all steps you can take to prevent a fall.

Many older adults fear falling, even if they haven’t fallen before. This fear may lead them to avoid activities such as walking, shopping, or taking part in social activities. But staying active is important to keep your body healthy and actually helps to prevent falls. So don’t let a fear of falling keep you from being active! Learn about what causes falls and how to lower your risk of falling so you can feel more comfortable with staying active.

What causes falls in older adults?

• Many things can cause a fall.
• Your eyesight, hearing, and reflexes might not be as sharp as they were when you were younger.
• Certain conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, or problems with your thyroid, nerves, feet, or blood vessels can affect your balance and lead to a fall.
• Conditions that cause rushed movement to the bathroom, such as incontinence, may also increase the chance of falling.
• Older adults with mild cognitive impairment or certain types of dementia are at higher risk of falling.
• Age-related loss of muscle mass (known as sarcopenia), problems with balance and gait, and blood pressure that drops too much when you get up from lying down or sitting (called postural hypotension) are all risk factors for falling.
• Foot problems that cause pain, and unsafe footwear such as backless shoes or high heels, can also increase your risk of falling.
• Some medications can increase a person’s risk of falling because they cause side effects such as dizziness or confusion. The more medications you take, the more likely you are to fall.
• Safety hazards in the home or community environment can also cause falls.

Steps to take to prevent falls

• If you take care of your overall health, you may have a lower chance of falling. Most of the time falls and accidents don’t just happen for no reason. Here are a few tips to help lessen your risk of falls and broken bones, also known as fractures:
• Stay physically active. Plan an exercise program that is right for you. Regular exercise improves muscles and makes you stronger. Exercise also helps keep your joints, tendons, and ligaments flexible. Mild weight-bearing activities, such as walking or climbing stairs, may slow bone loss from osteoporosis, a disease that makes bones weak and more likely to break
• Try balance and strength training exercises. Yoga, Pilates, and tai chi can all improve balance and muscle strength. You can also try lifting weights or using resistance bands to build strength. Learn more about different types of exercises to improve balance and strength.
• Fall-proof your home. Check out these tips for changes you can make to your home that will help you avoid falls and ensure your safety.
• Have your eyes and hearing tested. Even small changes in sight and hearing are linked to an increased risk for falls. When you get new eyeglasses or contact lenses, take time to get used to them. Wear your glasses or contacts as your eye doctor advises. If you have a hearing aid, be sure it fits well and wear it.
• Find out about the side effects of any medicines you take. If a drug makes you sleepy or dizzy, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
• Get enough sleep. If you are tired, you are more likely to fall.
• Avoid or limit alcohol. Too much alcohol can lead to balance problems and falls, which can result in hip or arm fractures and other injuries.
• Stand up slowly. Getting up too quickly can cause your blood pressure to drop. That can make you feel wobbly. Get your blood pressure checked when lying and standing.
• Use an assistive device if you need help feeling steady when you walk. Using canes and walkers correctly can help prevent falls. If your doctor tells you to use a cane or walker, make sure it’s the right size for you. Walker wheels should roll smoothly. If you borrow walking support equipment from a friend, ask your healthcare provider to make sure the equipment is the correct size and is safe to use. This is exceptionally important when you’re walking in areas you don’t know well or where the walkways are uneven. A physical or occupational therapist can help you decide which devices might be helpful and teach you how to use them safely.
• Take extra caution when walking on wet or icy surfaces. These can be very slippery! Use an ice melt product or sand to clear icy areas by your doors and walkways.
• Keep your hands free. Use a shoulder bag, fanny pack, or backpack to leave your hands free to hold on to railings.
• Choose the right footwear. To fully support your feet, wear nonskid, rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes. Don’t walk on stairs or floors in socks or in shoes and slippers with smooth soles.

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High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major health problem that is common in older adults. Your body’s network of blood vessels, known as the vascular system, changes with age. Arteries get stiffer, causing blood pressure to go up. This can be true even for people who have heart-healthy habits and feel just fine. High blood pressure, sometimes called “the silent killer,” often doesn’t cause signs of illness that you can see or feel. Though high blood pressure affects nearly half of all adults, many may not even be aware they have it.

If high blood pressure isn’t controlled with lifestyle changes and medication, it can lead to serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease (such as heart disease and stroke), vascular dementia, eye problems, and kidney disease. The good news is that blood pressure can be controlled in most people.

How can I control my blood pressure?

You can often lower your blood pressure by changing your day-to-day habits and by taking medication if needed. Treatment requires ongoing evaluation and discussions with your doctor, especially if you have other medical conditions such as diabetes.

Lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent and lower high blood pressure:

• Aim for a healthy weight. Being overweight adds to your risk of high blood pressure. Ask your doctor if you need to lose weight. In general, to maintain a healthy weight, you need to burn the same number of calories as you eat and drink.
• Exercise. Moderate activity, such as brisk walking or swimming, can lower high blood pressure. Set goals so you can exercise safely and work your way up to at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) per week. Check with your doctor before starting an exercise plan if you have any health problems that aren’t being treated.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet. A balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, grains, protein, dairy, and oils — such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan — can lower your blood pressure.
• Cut down on salt. As you get older, the body and blood pressure become more sensitive to salt (sodium), which is added to many foods during processing or preparation. Limiting your amount of salt each day may help. DASH is a low-salt diet.
• Drink less alcohol. Drinking alcohol can affect your blood pressure. For those who drink, men should have no more than two drinks a day and women no more than one a day to lower their risk of high blood pressure.
• Don’t smoke. Smoking increases your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and other health problems. If you smoke, quit. The health benefits of quitting can be seen at any age — you are never too old to quit.
• Get a good night’s sleep. Tell your doctor if you’ve been told you snore or sound like you stop breathing for moments when you sleep. This may be a sign of a problem called sleep apnea. Treating sleep apnea and getting a good night’s sleep can help to lower blood pressure.
• Manage stress. Coping with problems and reducing stress can help lower high blood pressure.

In addition to recommending lifestyle changes, your doctor will likely prescribe medication to lower your blood pressure to a safe level. Isolated systolic hypertension, the most common form of high blood pressure in older adults, is treated in the same way as regular high blood pressure but may require more than one type of blood pressure medication. You may try several kinds or combinations of medications before finding a plan that works best for you. Medication can control your blood pressure, but it can’t cure it. If your doctor starts you on medication for high blood pressure, you may need to take it long-term.

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