From the desk of Rosemary Laird, MD
Founder of Navigating Aging Needs (NAN), LLC
Quiet Down!
For a caregiver of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s, noise pollution is more than an annoyance. Alzheimer’s impairs the brain’s ability to process sensations, causing noises to blend in with each other and sow confusion. Loud noises also trigger the brain’s “fight or flight” response, which can lead to an agitated state in your loved one.
The Gift of Gratitude
Being a caregiver is one of the most difficult jobs in the world—and being a caregiver of someone with Alzheimer’s disease even more so! It’s hard work, full of ups and downs, deep uncertainties, and the heartache of seeing someone you love slowly lose their abilities.
Coping with an Uncertain Future
While anxiety might perhaps seem like a natural response in these troubled times, it still isn’t good for you. Studies have shown that having long-term anxiety can trigger a host of issues in a person’s physical and mental health, including high blood pressure, digestive troubles, a weakened immune system, sleep disturbances, and fatigue.
Finding the Calm After a Storm
Like all big storms, Milton left in its wake a loss of sleep, a flooding of stress hormones, and the exhaustion of being buffeted by the winds of change. As a caregiver, you must dig out, take stock, and make a plan for the path ahead.
Your Body On Fire
The new drug known as Ozempic is being seen as something of a wonder drug for helping people lose weight. But the drug also points to a new way to think about the causes and treatment of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. That’s because Ozempic, and other drugs like it (which are known as “GLP-1 receptor agonists”) appear to target what is rapidly beginning to be realized as a major factor in many of the diseases that affect modern civilization — inflammation.