Memory - Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research …35 Keeping Your Mind Sharp Brainteasers to help...

Research:Making Strides

Toward an Alzheimer’s Cure

What America Thinks:

The Alzheimer’s Survey

Try These Brainteasers!

Keep Your Memory Sharp

Memorypreserving your Summer 2007

Oscar® winner Julie Christie stars with Gordon Pinsent in

Away From Heran Alzheimer’s love story of courage, compassion, and finding the strength to let go

The Magazine of Health and Hope

He has Alzheimer’s. She suffers from it.

A leader in finding an Alzheimer’s cure

The pain of Alzheimer’s extends far beyond the person with the disease. That’s whyMetLife Foundation, through our Awards for Medical Research program, has contributedmillions of dollars for research by scientists who have dedicated themselves to finding acure. This year we honor David M. Holtzman, MD, Washington University School ofMedicine, St. Louis, MO and Berislav V. Zlokovic, MD, PhD, University of RochesterMedical Center, Rochester, NY for their invaluable efforts to bring us closer to a cure.To learn more about our contributions to Alzheimer’s research, visit www.metlife.org.

© 2007 MetLife Foundation, New York, NY

A740 MetLife Foundation.indd 1 5/10/07 1:30:49 PM

summer 2007 www.ALZinfo.org �

Features

7 InSearchofanAlzheimer’sCure Clinicaltrialsprovidehopefornewmedical

treatmentstohelppreservememory

16 WhatAmericaThinks:MetLife FoundationAlzheimer’sSurvey

Howpreparedareweinthefaceofthisdisease?

22 AwayFromHer Anewmotionpictureportrayingacouple

comingtogripswithAlzheimer’s:theultimatelovestory

7

16

22

Preserving Your Memory is published by

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Contributing Writers:

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Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research FoundationWest 46th Street & 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036

1-800-ALZ-INFO • www.ALZinfo.org

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Departments5 Welcome IntroducingPreserving Your Memorymagazine

11 Celebrity Chefs World-renownedchefDanielOrrpresentsa

MediterraneandietrichinOmega-3s

14 Ask the Experts FindanswerstoyourquestionsbytheAlzheimer’s

expertsattheFisherCenterforAlzheimer’sResearchFoundation

19 Long-term Planning Addressingyourestateplanningneedsisessentialfor

thosedealingwithAlzheimer’s.Elder-lawexpertBernardA.Krooksshowsyouhowtoavoidcostlyerrors

20 About Us GettoknowtheFisherCenterforAlzheimer’sResearch

FoundationandtheMichaelSternParkinson’sResearchFoundation

25 Caregiver Voices Caregiversfacechallengeseveryday;youarenotalone

26 Treat Yourself Thespaexperiencedoesn’thavetocostafortune—in

fact,youcandoitathome

28 Fisher Center Research ScientistsattheFisherCenterFoundationareatthe

forefrontofpioneeringresearchintoAlzheimer’scauseandcure

30 Take Action JointheracetofindacureforAlzheimer’sandachance

towinanall-expense-paidNASCARrace-dayexperiencewithdriverMichaelWaltrip

31 Medicinal Laughter Introducing“Agnes”

32 Work Out! Scientificresearchisconfirmingthatmoderatephysical

exercisebyAlzheimer’spatientscanmakeabigdifference

35 Keeping Your Mind Sharp Brainteaserstohelpkeepyourmindingoodshape

39 ALZinfo.org: Your Online Resource MakeyourfirststoptheALZinfo.orgwebsitefora

wealthofAlzheimer’sinformation,researchandsupport

Board of TrusteesZachary Fisher, Founder (1910-1999)

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Dr. E. Ratcliffe Anderson, Jr.Gerry ByrneLammot DuPontMartin EdelmanHadley FisherHon. Betsy GotbaumHon. Henry HydeHoward LutnickHon. Carolyn B. MaloneyTony Marano

Bruce MoslerJames L. Nederlander, Jr.Stuart RothRichard J. SalemDr. Moshe ShikeRichard ShortwayBarry R, SloaneMargaret SternDavid TurnerSteven C. Witkoff

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Betsey OdellFisher Center Foundation

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� Preserving Your Memory summer 2007

© Copyright 2007 by the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. Articles in this publication are written by professional journalists who strive to present reliable, up-to-date health information. However, personal decisions regarding health, finance, exercise, and other matters should be made only after consultation with the reader’s physician or professional adviser. All editorial rights reserved. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.

Cover photo: Michael Gibson


&

MetLifeFoundationispleasedtosponsorPreservingYourMemorymagazine.

Thegrowingneedsofouragingpopulationconcernusall.Asthebabyboomgenerationturns60,agingwillhaveanenormousimpactonallaspectsofsociety.Toaddressthoseneeds,promotehealthyaging,andprovideinsightfularticlesonunderstandingAlzheimer’sdisease,weareproudtosponsorthisnewmagazine.

Forovertwodecades,MetLifeFoundationhasbeencommittedtohelpingfindacureforAlzheimer’s,aswellashelpingthoselivingwiththediseaseandtheircaregivers.Currently,anestimated5millionpeoplelivewithAlzheimer’sintheUnitedStates.Aslifeexpec-tancyincreasesandthehugeboomerpopulationages,thatnumberwillincreasedramaticallyandcreatenewprioritiesandissuesneverbeforefaced.ThispremiereissueofPreserving Your MemoryincludesMetLifeFoundation’sAlzheimer’ssurvey,What America Thinks,whichrevealsthefearsAmericanshaveaboutthisillnessandtheirlackofpreparednesstofaceafuturethatmayincludeAlzheimer’s.

ThisnewpublicationcreatedbytheFisherCenterforAlzheimer’sResearchFoundationwill increasepublicawarenessaboutAl-zheimer’sandbrainhealthandprovideimportantinformationtohelpyouprepareforthefuture.Wehopeyoufindittobeavaluableresource.

SybilJacobsonMetLifeFoundation

Health Hope…WelcometothepremiereissueofPreserving Your Memory, The Magazine of Health and HopefromtheFisherCenterforAlzheimer’sResearchFoundation—theworld’sleadingresearchteamcombatingAlzheimer’sdisease.

Themessageofthismagazineishope,aboveallelse.WewillusethesepagestoletyouknowwheresciencestandsinthebattleagainstAlzheimer’s,theleadingcauseofmemoryloss,andhowwearecommittedtolivinginanAlzheimer’sfreeworld.Wearefightingagainstthedegenerativefactorsthatinfectthememorysectionsofthebrain.Unitedwithusinthisenterprisearethreepowerfulinstitutions:theAMAFoundation,theNIHLibraryofMedicine,andtheFisherCenterforAlzheimer’sResearch.NewandmoreeffectivetreatmentsforAlzheimer’sarecloseathand.Asyouwillreadinourfeaturearticle,“InSearchofanAlzheimer’sCure,”therearenewdrugsinthelastphaseoftestingbeforebeingeligibleforFDAapproval.Eachissuewillfeaturearticlesbasedonsoundresearchfindingsfromtheworld’sforemostlaboratories,demonstratingthestridesthatmedicalresearchismakingtowardcombatingthisdevastatingdisease.

WhethersomeonewilldevelopAlzheimer’sornotisdeterminedbyacombinationofbothgeneticandenvironmentalhealthfactors.Whileyoucannotalteryourgeneticmakeup,youcantakepositivestepstoimproveyourhealth.Eachissueofthismagazinewillfeaturehealthyrecipes,exercisetips,stressreducingtechniques,andevenwordgamesandpuzzlestosharpenyourmindandpreservegoodbrainhealth.

ThismagazineisalsoabouttheAlzheimer’scommunity.Ineveryissueyouwillhavethechancetoshareyourexperiencesandinsightswithotherreaders,whetherbyofferingyourtipsoncaring,ortellingusyourpersonalstory.Youwillhavetheopportunitytogetanswerstoyourquestionsfromourexperts.IfyouarecaringforapersonwithAlzheimer’s,orsomeonewiththedisease,wewanttohearfromyou.

Sincerely,

MichaelSternPresident/CEOFisherCenterforAlzheimer’sResearchFoundationMember/BoardofTrusteesAMAFoundationNIHPublicAccessWorkingGroups,NLMBoardofRegents


Welcome

Please send your tips, stories, or questions to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, West 46th St. & 12th Ave., New York, NY 10036, or by e-mail to [email protected]

summer 2007 www.ALZinfo.org 7

InSearchofan

Alzheimer’sCure


By Toby Bilanow

� Preserving Your Memory summer 2007

In Search of an Alzheimer’s CureAcureforAlzheimer’sdiseaseremainsaholygrailfora

growingnumberofscientistsandmedicalresearchersaroundtheglobe,includingthosefundedbytheFisherCenterforAlzheimer’sResearchFoundation.WithfivemillionAmericanscurrentlysufferingfromAlzheimer’s,andthatnumberexpectedtotripleinthecomingdecades,aneffectivetreatmentisneededmorethanever.“OneofthekeyfeaturesofAlzheimer’sisthedevastatinglossofmemoryandothermentalskills,causedprimarilybythelossormalfunctionofconnectionsbetweenbraincells,”saysPaulGreengard,Ph.D.,theFisherCenterforAlzheimer’sResearchdirectoratTheRockefellerUniversity.“Bybeingabletocontrolthegrowthofnewbraincellconnectionsorstoppingthelossofoldconnections,doctorsmayonedaybeabletopreventorreversedementia.”

WhileexistingAlzheimer’sdrugsofferlimitedbenefits,newdrugcandidatesinthetestingpipelineofferhopeforthemillionsofAlzheimer’ssufferersworldwide.

Currently,drugsknownascholinesteraseinhibitorsthatareprescribedforAlzheimer’sdiseasemayforsomelessensymptomsmodestlyandslowprogressionofthediseaseduringitsearlystages.However,theydonotstopthedisease’sinevitableworsening;andtheydonotworkforeveryone.Todate,onlyfivedrugshavebeenapprovedtotreatAlzheimer’s.Thelastonetobeapproved,Namenda(memantine),formoderatetoseveredisease,wasin2003.

NewdrugcandidatesthattargettheunderlyingmechanismsoftheAlzheimer’sdiseaseprocessarecurrentlyundergoingtestinginmedicalcentersandlaboratoriesworldwide.Thesepotentialmedicinesarecalled“diseasemodifyingdrugs”

because,intheoryatleast,suchdrugsmightstoporevenreversethementaldeclinethatoccurswithAlzheimer’s.TheymightevenpreventAlzheimer’sfromtakingholdinthefirstplace.

Promising Experimental TreatmentsThefieldofAlzheimer’sresearchhasbeenheatingupin

recentyears,andinvestigatorsareexcitedbythepossibilitythatnewtreatmentscouldbecomeavailableinthenextseveralyears.Severalpotential,disease-modifyingdrugsarecurrentlyundergoingtesting.Atotalofnineareinphase3clinicaltrials,thelastphaseoftesting,whosesuccessfulcompletionisrequiredforFDAapproval.

Phase3trialswererecentlycompletedforanewdrugcandidatecalledAlzhemedthatmayslowthecourseofAlzheimer’sdisease,andwearecurrentlyawaitingtheirfindings.InAlzheimer’stheprogressivelossofcognitivefunctionisaccompaniedbypathologic(disease-associated)changesinthebrain.Oneoftheseisthebuildupofatoxicproteininthebrain,calledbeta-amyloid.Itresultsintheformationofplaquessometimesdescribedastiny“Brillopads”inthespacebetweennervecells.Unlikeplaquesinarterywalls,whichcontainthefattysubstancecholesterol,thebrainplaquesinAlzheimer’sarecomprisedofastringyproteincalledbeta-amyloid.Manyscientistsbelieveamyloidbuild-up,whetherintheformofplaquesorinotherforms,injuresandkillsbraincellsandbringsonthedisease.Alzhemedissupposedtolowertheformationofclumps,oraggregates,ofbeta-amyloid.Resultsofthatstudyinvolvedmorethan1,000menandwomenwithmildtomoderateAlzheimer’sdisease.Ifthedrugdoesprovesafeandeffective,itcouldbeapotentnewweaponinthebattleagainstAlzheimer’s.

Anotherdrugcandidate,calledFlurizan,isalsoinlate-stagetrialstoseeifithelpsslow,orhalt,thecourseofdisease.Resultsofthosestudies,however,willlikelynotbeavailableforatleastayear.Othercompaniesaretestingvaccinesthatgenerateantibodiesagainstthetoxicproteinbeta-amyloid.Suchvaccinesaredesignedtotraintheimmunesystemtorecognizeandattackbeta-amyloid,causingittobeclearedfromthebrainandtherebyhelpingtodelayorpreventfurtherdamagetothebrain.

Whilevaccinetrialscarriedoutafewyearsagoinhumanslookedpromising,somepeoplewithAlzheimer’swhoreceivedoneexperimentalvaccinedevelopedencephalitis,alife-threateninginflammationofthebrain.However,somepatientswhogotthevaccinedevelopedantibodiesagainstbeta-amyloidandexperienceddelayedprogressionoftheirsymptoms.Drug

Drug companies are looking into safer alternative vaccines that prod the immune system into clearing the brain of beta-amyloid and beta-amyloid plaques.

Someday, these promising new drugs may prove useful for those with Alzheimer’s disease.

With five million Americans currently suffering from Alzheimer’s, an effective treatment is needed more than ever.


companiesarelookingintosaferalternativevaccinesthatprodtheimmunesystemintoclearingthebrainofbeta-amyloidandbeta-amyloidplaques.Othercompaniesaredevelopingantibodiesagainstbeta-amyloidthatcanbeadministereddirectlywithouttrainingthepatient’simmunesystem.

Dozensofadditionaldrugsareindevelopment.Somearenovelmedicinesandothersareoldermedications,alreadyusedtotreatdiseasessuchasdiabetesorprostatecancer,whichmayhavebenefitsforthebrainaswell.

Someday,thesepromisingnewdrugsmayproveusefulforthosewithAlzheimer’sdisease.TheymaybemixedwithexistingAlzheimer’smedications,inthesamewaythatdrugcocktailsareprescribedforpeoplewithAIDSorcancer.Someofthesedisease-modifyingdrugsmayalsoproveusefulforthosewithmildcognitiveimpairment,alesssevereformofmemoryandcognitivelossthatoftenprogressestoAlzheimer’sdisease.Drugsmayeventuallybegiventohealthy,mentallysharpindividualstopreventAlzheimer’sfromevertakingholdatall.■

10 Preserving Your Memory summer 2007

*Note: All the drug candidates listed in the boxes are being tested as treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. The statements in “How it Works,” therefore, represent hypotheses rather than established facts.

DRUG COMPANY HOW IT WORKS*

Alzhemed (medical name: tramiprosate)

Neurochem Designed to prevent the formation and deposition of beta-amyloid aggregates, the toxic protein clumps that build up in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s. May also reduce inflammation that occurs with beta-amyloid build-up.

Flurizan (R-flurbiprofen) Myriad Genetics An “ibuprofen-like” drug that does not have anti- inflammatory properties and reduces production of toxic beta-amyloid plaques. May slow or halt progression of Alzheimer’s disease by lowering production of a toxic form of beta-amyloid.

Memryte (leuprolide acetate)

Voyager Pharmaceuticals A small implant that releases a drug called leuprolide acetate, currently used to treat prostate cancer. The substance may stabilize thinking and memory by blocking the effects of a brain chemical called luteinizing hormone.

Avandia (rosiglitazone) GlaxoSmithKline A diabetes medicine that makes the body more sensitive to insulin. May boost cognitive function in people with early Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment by reducing inflammation and boosting the ability of brain cells to process blood sugar (glucose).

Neramexane Merz & Co Blocks the effects of too much glutamate, a brain chemical that in excess may damage brain cells and contribute to memory loss and thinking problems. Targets the NMDA receptor in the brain, similar to the currently available Alzheimer’s drug Namenda (memantine) for moderate to severe Alzheimer’s.

Xaliproden Sanofi-Aventis A novel substance that mimics and boosts the effects of nerve growth factors in the brain. Nerve growth factors, critical for healthy nerve cell growth, function, and repair, play a role in healthy memory and thinking.

Lecozotan Targacept/AstraZeneca Alters levels of the brain chemical serotonin. Being tested in combination with existing Alzheimer’s medications.

Evista (raloxifene) Eli Lilly An estrogen-like medicine used to treat brittle bones. Women who took the drug for osteoporosis showed cognitive benefits as well.

Atomoxetine Eli Lilly May boost the effects of existing Alzheimer’s medications.

Valproate Multiple drug companies An anti-seizure drug that may delay the onset of agitation and psychosis in people with Alzheimer’s who have not yet exhibited behavioral problems. May also slow progression of disease.

The following drugs are all currently in phase 3 testing:


DanielOrrwasraisedonthecom-fort foods of theMidwest. Then,asachef inEurope,creams,cus-

tards, and sauces surrounded him. Butwhen he moved to the Provence regionofFrance,hetookupjogging.Anditwasduringhisrunsthroughthefragrant,pic-turesquecountrysidethathewasinspiredto come up with a healthier cuisine, onethatwouldreflectnaturalgrowingseasonsandingredients.

Chef Orr spent his remaining time insoutheasternFrance—andlaterintheCa-ribbean—perfectingadietthatwasheavyon fresh, local, organic proteins and veg-etables, light on starches, and absent anyartificialingredients.Thisdietisaconcepthecalls“realfood,”andthebestexampleistheMediterraneandiet.

The Mediterranean DietA Mediterranean-style diet, rich in

fruits, vegetables, whole grains, andheart-healthy fats, may be good for thebrain. Those are the findings of a newstudy from Columbia University Medi-calCenterinNewYork,whereresearch-ers looked at the eating habits of nearly2,000seniors.Theyfoundthatthosewhoate plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes,cereals,oliveoil,fish;moderateamountsof wine; and little red meat or high-fatdairyproductshadalowerriskofgettingAlzheimer’sdisease.

TheMediterraneandiet,namedforthetraditional diet of the Greeks and othersliving along the Mediterranean Sea, haslongbeenadvocatedasaheart-healthydiettowardoffheartattacksandstrokes.

The new findings, published online inthe Archives of Neurology, complement a

studyfromthesameresearchteamearlierthis year that found that a heart-healthydiet like those people traditionally eat inItaly, Greece, and other MediterraneancountriesmayhelptoprotectmemoryandstaveoffAlzheimer’sdisease.

ThemainelementsoftheMediterraneandietinclude:

• Anabundanceofplantfoods,suchasfruits, vegetables, cereals, nuts, andbeans;

• Using “good” fats, such as olive orcanolaoil,ratherthanbutterorlard,andlimitingdairyproductslikehigh-fatcheeseandmilk;

• Eatingmoderateamountsoffishandpoultry,ratherthanredmeat;and

• Drinkingaglassortwoofredwineaday.

ChefOrr,whoistheauthorofthecook-bookReal Food,explainsthatfarthernorthinEurope,peoplehadtomakemoreuseofsalt,butter,andcheeses—foodsthatwerericher and heartier, but that would getthemthroughthewinter.

“The people in the Mediterraneanarea could eat a healthier diet becausethe healthy foods were available prettymuch all the time,” he says. “You couldbegardeningsomethingyearround,oratleastpreserveingredientsforashortwin-ter.Theycooked likeanynativeofmostplaces would cook during their summerseason.”

A Recipe for HealthCooking in season isn’t just key to the

Mediterraneandiet,it’sappropriateforthemodernAmericandietaswell.

“MostAmericanscomefromafarmingstockofpeople,”ChefOrrsays.“Thefoodthat our ancestors ate—country ham,friedchicken,biscuits,andgravy—thosehavebecomeourcomfort foods.Wefeellikewedeservetoeatthoseeventhoughwe’renotgoingoutandworkinginafieldallday.”

By learning healthier ways of cooking,Americanscancorrectthisunhealthydiet.And the best place to start, according toChefOrr,isatyourlocalfarmers’market.“Usefresh,localingredientswheneveryoucan;enjoythethingsthatareinseason.”hesays.“Ifyou’rebuyingasparagusandyouseethe faceof thepersonselling itat thefarmers’market,youknowit’sgoingtobemuch,muchbetter thanwhatyouwouldbuyatasuperstore.”

And,of course, the importanceof bal-ance can’t be overlooked in any lifestyle,even a healthy one. “If you have to haveyourcomfortfoods,say‘OK,I’mgoingtoeat these biscuits and gravy four times ayearwhenmybrother’sintown,butthenI’ll go out and walk for an hour,’” saysChefOrr. “And the restof the time, youcanmakehealthierfoodchoices.

“Youcanlivethiskindoffoodchannellifestyle where there’s all this great stuffaround and you’re not missing any of it,but you’re doing it in a smart way, andyou’relearningtobalanceyourlife.”

Fish Is Brain FoodInaddition to the fresh fruits andveg-

etables that comprise the Mediterraneandietandotherhealthfulcuisines,anothermajor element for healthy eating is fish.Chef Orr regularly makes fish a primarycomponent of his menus. Fish is known

RealFood,RealHealthWorld-Renowned Chef Daniel Orr Shows the Way to a Natural, Healthy Diet Rich in Omega-3s

By Jennifer SellersCelebrityChefs


tohaveomega-3 fattyacids that areben-eficialforeverythingfromshinyhairtoahealthyheart.AndrecentstudiesindicatethatitmayevenbekeyinhelpingpreventAlzheimer’sdisease.

In fact, findings of the ongoing Fram-inghamHeartStudyshowthatpeoplewhoconsume high levels of docosahexaenoicacid(DHA),betterknownasanomega-3fattyacid,mayhavealowerriskofdevel-opingAlzheimer’sdisease.Thispolyunsat-uratedfatcanbefoundinmanyfish,espe-ciallyoily,deep-waterfishsuchassalmonandmackerel.Morestudyisneeded,how-ever, before doctors can routinely recom-mend fish oils or supplements to treat orpreventAlzheimer’sdisease.

It’snosecret,though,thatfatsandoilsmakeupabout50percentto60percentof the brain’s dry weight, and omega-3sare the most abundant fatty acid foundinthecellmembranesofthebrain’sgraymatter.

The Spice of LifeWhether you’re cooking fish, veg-

etables,orchicken,therearemanywaystoaddflavortoanotherwisepedestriandish. Variety is, of course, the spice oflife. To the untrained chef who hasn’ttraveled the world, however, it can bedauntingcomingupwithcreativeorex-oticmeals.

“It’sintimidatingifyoudon’tknowhowflavorswork together,” saysChefOrr.Toremedythis,hehascreatedalineofspiceblendsthateachoffersaflavorfromadif-ferentplaceintheworld.Withexperiencein European, South American, and Ca-ribbeancooking,ChefOrrisabletotakethe guesswork out of herb and seasoningcombinations:“Withmyspices,youcouldcooksalmonsevendaysaweekandhaveittastedifferenteveryday.Youcanhaveallofthesewonderful,differentflavorswith-out really changing what you’re doing inthekitchen.”

ChefOrr’sspices(nineblendsandaBrit-tanySalt)canbeorderedthroughhisWebsite,www.chef-daniel-orr.com.The spicesare$5each.

In addition to his line of spice blends,ChefOrrhasseveralprojectsintheworks,includingaseriesofhealthy,casualrestau-rants;achildren’sbookcalledThe Chef and Ms. Cluckles; and a diet book called The Chef ’s Diet: Sautéing off the Pounds,whichisbasedonhisownsuccessstory.

Alloftheseprojects—thebooks,theres-taurants, the recipes—come back aroundtoChefOrr’scoremessage:“Real foodisthebestfood.” ■

6 Steps to Getting More Fish in Your DietFishisn’toftenthoughtofasthemostpracticalfood.Infact,manypeopleareintimidatedbyit.Unsurehowtoprepareitappropriately,orjustwaryoftheodor,manypeopleenduprelegatingtheirfishconsumptiontoacanoftunaoradinnerout.Fish,however,canbeasversatileaschicken.ChefDanielOrroffersthefollowingtipsforincorporatingfishintoyoureverydaylife.1.Forbreakfast,mixsmokedtroutorsalmon(youcanbuythemalreadycooked)

inwithyouromelet,orhaveitwithscrambledeggsonapieceoftoast.2.Whenyoucookfishfordinner,chillanextrapieceortwotohaveforlunchor

dinnerthenextdaycrumbledoverasalad.3.Chopupchilledfishandeatitwithaneggsaladinawhole-wheatpita.4.Ifyouhaveanoutdoorgrill,grillyourfish,thiskeepstheodoroutofthehouse

andaddsauniqueflavor.5.Flakeleftoversalmonwithcrushed-upredpotatoesforasalmonhash.6.Eachtimeyoucookacertainfishtrypreparingitinadifferentregionalstyle.

ChefOrrcreatedspiceblendssuchasMediterranean,GreekGarlic,RussianRed,andAnguillianJerk,whichcanbeboughtonhiswebsite.

ChefOrrhasmanymorehealthyrecipesandlifestyletipsonhiswebsite.

Didyouknow…Omega-3s, the beneficial fatty acids found in a variety of fish, can be found in other foods as well. Flaxseed, walnuts, kiwi, acai palm fruit, eggs from free-range chickens, and pork, lamb, and beef from grass-fed livestock all contain these “good” fats.

Chef Daniel Orr

ChefOrr’sSalmonSaladPlease see the next page for Chef Orr’s Salmon Salad with Sesame, Citrus, and Ginger recipe, full of Omega-3s.

summer 2007 www.ALZinfo.org 1�

SalmonSaladwithSesame,Citrus,andGingerServes 4

FortheSalmon1 8-oz. Can Wild Salmon or

1lb. fresh (grilled, broiled, or poached—flaked in large bits)

1 Cup Fresh bean sprouts (such as large mung bean or lentil sprouts)

1 Cup Sliced Shiitake mushrooms (if dried, soak in warm water until tender)

1 Cup Hijiki seaweed or thinly sliced kelp (available in Asian and health-food markets) soaked and drained

½ Onion—thinly sliced julienne4 Radishes—cut into matchsticks 1 stalk Celery—cut thinly on a bias (as for Asian stir-fries)½ Cup Chopped herbs (such as cilantro, mint, chives, parsley, or a mixture)

FortheDressing(may be made in large batches and kept in a jar in the fridge, great on tofu, veggies, and meats) 1 clove Garlic—minced 1 Tbs. Minced fresh ginger½ Chili pepper (your favorite) minced ¼ Cup Olive oil1 Tbs. Toasted sesame oil2 Tbs. Soy sauce¼ Cup Fresh lemon juice—plus 2 tsp of the lemon’s zest2 Tbs. Vinegar (rice wine, white, cider, or red depending on taste)2 Tbs. Toasted sesame seeds (white, black, or combination)

Use favorite salad greens and citrus wedges as garnish.

Drain salmon (if canned) and flake lightly—set aside.

Combine remaining salad ingredients and toss well.

Combine all ingredients for dressing in a glass jar with a lid. Shake to mix and taste. Adjust seasoning as needed.

Dress salad ingredients and toss well. Add salmon and toss lightly, so as not to break up the fish.

Plate portions over greens and spoon any additional dressing over salad and around plate as desired.

Garnish with lemon wedges and serve at once.

Serve with iced or hot green tea.

This salad can be made with any type of fish. Remember, fattier fish have more Omega-3s. Also try with sliced chicken breast or pork tenderloin. Add additional ingredients according to what you have on hand. I love colorful peppers and julienned carrots, water chestnuts, or bamboo shoots.

HealthyRecipe

Photo: Daniel Orr

1� Preserving Your Memory summer 2007

AsktheExperts

I want to keep my loved one with Alzheimer’s at home, but don’t know if I can handle it. Any suggestions?

TakingcareofapersonwithAlzheimer’sathomecanbeextraordinarilyoverwhelm-ing.That’swhyit’sveryimportanttoseeksupport.By joining a support group, you

canlearnalotofcaregivingstrategies.Youcanalsolearnaboutgovernmentresourcesandhowtofile forMedicaidandgettingoutside support. If you need respite as acaregiver,forexample,thereareresourcesavailablethroughyourlocaldepartmentofagingthatwillgiveyouabreakfromthesituation. In addition, you can educateyourselfandlearnsomeofthestrategiesofcaregivingthatcanmakehomecarealittlemoremanageable.

It is also important to remember thateveryperson’ssituationisdifferent.Itisre-allyafamilymatterinwhichyouneedtositdownanddecidewhetherkeeping theperson with Alzheimer’s at home is rightfor you andbest forhimorher. Identifyresourcesinyourarea.Contactthemandspeakwithyourdoctorstohelpyoureachtherightdecision.

My father has Alzheimer’s and is very agitated. What do I do?

Thefirstthingyouneedtodoistoedu-cate yourself about what causes agitationinanAlzheimer’spatientandtolearnsomeoftheresourcesandstrategiesfordealingwithagitation.

The following are questions frequently asked of the scientists and other Alzheimer’s experts at the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. If you would like to submit a question or need additional information, please call 1-800-ALZINFO, visit ALZinfo.org or send surface mail to: Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, West 46th Street & 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036.


Approachyourfather inacalm,sooth-ing manner. Use short, easy words andstraightforward communication. In ad-dition, try to figure out what is causingthe agitationby lookingatwhathappensright before the episode of agitation andrightafterit.Then,bychangingwhateveris triggering the agitation or its conse-quences,youmaybeabletocorrectit.

Sometimes, this means just giving apersonalittlebitoftime.Thiscanbeveryhelpful.Forcaregivers, joiningasupportgroupandgettinghelpisalsoveryimpor-tant. If the agitation persists, then con-sultthepatient’sdoctorforhelp.Variousdrugs, such as anti-depressants are usedsuccessfullytotreatagitationinAlzheim-er’sdisease.

What new Alzheimer’s drugs and vaccines are on the hori-zon?

Becauseoftheadvancesinrecentyearsinourunderstandingof thebasic scienceandgeneticsofAlzheimer’sdisease,nowforthefirsttimeinmedicalhistoryit ispos-sible todevelopmedicines thatareaimedattheunderlyingcauseofthedisease.Thecurrentlyavailablemedicines,likeAricept,Exelon, Razadyne, and Namenda all re-lieve the symptoms somewhat, but nonedirectly attacks the cause of the disease.Themajorcompoundsbeingassessednowallhavethecommonfeatureofattackingthe toxic amyloid substance that poisonsthebrainsof thosewithAlzheimer’s, andthegoal istoeradicatetoxic levelsofthissubstancefromthebrain.(SeeIn Search of an Alzheimer’s Cure,page7)

What are some things you can do to help an Alzheimer’s pa-tient maintain mental acuity as long as possible?

Alzheimer’s care has become more“strengths-based”inrecentyears,reflectingachange inhowhealth-carepractitionerslook at the families and the person withAlzheimer’s. In other words, determinewhat the person can do and what skills

theydoretain,andthengivethemtaskstoencourage the typesofactivities thatwillkeepthoseskillsassharpaspossibleforaslongas theycan.As avery simple exam-ple,ifthepersonhasbeenusedtofoldingclothes,encouragethemtofoldclothesin-steadoftakingthis“job”awayfromthem.Empower the person with Alzheimer’s todothethingstheycando.

What is “memory coaching,” and how can it help someone with Alzheimer’s?

Memory coaching is a method thatcaregiverscanusetohelppeoplewithAl-zheimer’sdisease learnforgottenandnewskills.IntheearlystagesofAlzheimer’s,forinstance,wecan teachapatient tobrushtheirteeth,exercise,anddosomeofthosethings that they presently no longer do.In the middle stages, we can teach themtoeatwithaknifeandfork,forexample,orhelpwithincontinence.Andintheendstages, we can help people with walkingandlearningtositupindependently.

The earlier that we work with patientsonmemorycoaching,thebettertheresult.Memorycoachingisencouragingbecausewe do work with people so they are abletoenhancetheirfunctioning.It’sbasedonexperience.Itallowspeopletocontinuetolivetheirlifeandtoparticipateintheirlifeas much as possible. They don’t becomecompletely independent, and they stillhave toworkwith thecaregiver.But it isagreathelp.

I read somewhere that re-search is being done on rats using the spice curry to see if it slows/stops the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Is this true?

Evidently,currycontainsanoilknownascurcumin,whichinratshasbeenshowntoraisetheactivityofanenzymethatpro-tects cells against free radicals,whicharethebyproducts of cellular processes. Freeradicalsarebelievedtocontributetoava-rietyofdiseasesthat includeneurodegen-

erativedisease(e.g.,Alzheimer’s).ThereisnocurrentevidencethatcurrycanpreventAlzheimer’s disease.However, it does ap-pearthatthereislessAlzheimer’sdiseaseinIndia, a countryknown for its consump-tionofcurries.

How do I know the difference between Alzheimer’s and ordi-nary forgetfulness?

It’snotalwaysapparent,andyourphysi-cianisthebestsourcetohelpdistinguishbetweenordinary forgetfulness,Alzheim-er’sdisease,orothertypesofmemoryloss.

Doctors apply a number of technicaltermstodifferentstagesorlevelsofmemoryimpairment.Dementiaisdefinedasalossofthinkingabilitythatmakestheaffectedindividualunabletoliveindependently.ItcanoccurasaresultofHIVinfection,forexample,inyoungerpeople.Butintheel-derly,morethantwo-thirdsofalldementiaisaresultofAlzheimer’sdisease.

As memory and thinking ability in el-derlypeoplehavebeen studied in greaterdetail, a syndrome called “mild cognitiveimpairment,”orMCI,hascometobeap-preciatedbydoctors.MCIisanotherformofcognitivedeclinebut isnotconsidereddementia because people with MCI areable to live independently and maintaintheiroccupations.However,itismorese-verethanthemildforgetfulnesscommonto many elderly, a condition not associ-ated with the disease. In MCI, cognitiveproblemsmaybeconfined toonepartofthinking. For example, memory mightbe involved, but reasoning or personalitymightnot.Orlanguagemightbeinvolvedand memory spared. There is a risk thatMCIwillprogress toAlzheimer’sdisease,especially when it involves loss of short-term memory, but its progression is notguaranteed and many with MCI will re-mainstableforyears.Neuropsychologicaltestingbyanexpert is requiredtodistin-guishbetweennormalforgetfulness,MCIandAlzheimer’sdisease. ■


Knowledgeispower,andthemoreweknowaboutAlzheimer’sdiseaseanditseffectsonfamilies,friends,lovedones,caregivers,andpatients,themoreconfidence

wecanhaveinthefaceofthedisease.ThenewsthatthenumberofAlzheimer’spatientsmay

growfromitscurrentlevelofalmost5millionAmericansto,potentially,astaggering16millionby2050isbracing,eventerrifying,tomanyofus.Butthere’sknowledgehere,aswell;knowledgethat’salsohopefulinsomeways.

WeknowmorenowaboutAlzheimer’s—thediseaseitself,itssymptoms,effects,andtreatment,aswellasthepowerfulandoftenexhaustingdemandsitmakesonfamily,friends,andcaregivers.Thisknowledgeismoreimportantthanever:TherecentMetLifeFoundationstudyofwhatAmericansthinkaboutAlzheimer’sdiseaserevealsthatthefearofAlzheimer’shasreachednear-epidemiclevelsintheUnitedStates.

AccordingtoarecentsurveyconductedbyHarrisInteractiveforMetLifeFoundation,Alzheimer’sissecondonlytocancerasthenation’smostfeareddisease.We’remorefrightenedofAlzheimer’sthanweareofheartdisease,stroke,anddiabetes.Andyet,weindividuallymayknowlessaboutAlzheimer’sthanwedoabouttheotherhigh-feardiseases.

While90percentofuswillacknowledgeknowingalittleaboutAlzheimer’s,barely25percentofthosesurveyedfelttheyknewalot.Womendidalittlebetterasagroup,with32

percentconfidentthatthey’rewellinformedaboutAlzheimer’s,comparedtoonly20percentofmenwhofelttheirAlzheimer’sknowledgewasthorough.Eventhewell-informedwomen’spercentageistroubling:33percentofusalreadyhaveafamilymemberorfriendwithAlzheimer’s,afigurethat’sonlygoingtorise.

Partofthatriseisstatisticalandunavoidable.Alzheimer’saffectsonein10peopleover65,andalmosthalfofallpeopleover85.Asthepopulationincreases,sowilltherateofAlzheimer’sdiagnoses.ButitseemslikelythatourunderstandingofthediseaseandthewaysinwhichitaffectsthelivesofAlzheimer’spatientsand,equallyimportant,thelivesoftheircaregivers,familymembers,andfriendsisgoingtoriseaswell.

Already,we’reseeingoneofthetrendsthatwillpromptustogathermoreAlzheimer’sinformation:ThemajorityofAmericans—morethan80percent—believeit’simportanttobeginplanningforAlzheimer’scare,eitherforourselvesorourlovedones.Thesheersizeofthatnumberisitselfimportant;andyetveryfewofushavetakenanystepstowardthatpreparation.Infact,closeto90percentofAmericansfallintothecompletelyunpreparedcategory,accordingtothesurvey.

Ifeducatingourselvesaboutthenatureofthediseaseisagrowingpriority,soiseducatingourselvesaboutthenatureofpreparingforAlzheimer’sanditsconsequencesandeffects.Basicsofsuchpreparationinclude:

“What America Thinks”MetLife Foundation Alzheimer’s Survey

9% 13% 14%20%

38%

Diabetes Stroke Heart Alzheimer’s Cancer Disease DiseaseDon’t Know = 5%

Alzheimer’s disease is the 2nd most feared disease in America, ranking after cancer and ahead of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

14%

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+

19%

34%28%

16%15%

Adults aged 55 and over are much more likely than younger adults to be afraid of getting Alzheimer’s disease.

NOTE: Percentages for those aged 55-64 and 65+ are significantly higher than all younger ages.

Due to sample size, the difference between those aged 55-64 and those aged 65+ is not statistically significant.

By Keith Ferrell


• Designating the person who will take over and manage your affairs should you be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

• Openly discussing the possibility and possible consequences of Alzheimer’s with your family and loved ones.

• Considering the various care and caregiver options that would be available to you should you receive a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, and considering what sorts of care you would want.

• Making specific financial plans to offset the expense of Alzheimer’s care and treatment —and to provide for your family and loved ones, while sparing them the often-devastating expenses the disease’s treatment can incur.

Clearly,someofthesestepsshouldbetakeninconsultationwithfinancialplanners,insuranceprofessionals,andyourattorney,butthemostimportantstepistogetstartedonasolidplanofpreparationforthepossibilityofAlzheimer’sinyourlifeorthatofalovedone.Mappingoutastrategyforlearningaboutthediseaseandpreparingforitspossibleappearanceinyourownlifeorthatofafamilymembergrowsmoreimportantbytheday.

Youcan’tgetstartedtoosoon.TheaveragecostoflifetimecareforanAlzheimer’spatientwas$174,000inthe1990s.Notonlyhavecostsincreasedsincethen—asinglepaidcaregiverforanAlzheimer’spatientcancostcloseto$20,000ayear,ormore—butwe’realsochallengedbythefactthatadvancesintreatmentmeanthatAlzheimer’spatientslivelongerand,inturn,incuradditionalcostsforcare.

Notallofthecostspurelyarefinancial,ofcourse.Amajorpartofthepreparationforcopingwiththediseaseispreparingyourselfandyourfamilyfortheemotionalandphysicalcaregivingresponsibilitiesanddemandsthatarrivesidebysidewiththeonsetofthedisease.OneoutofeveryfourAlzheimer’scaregivers,forexample,givesmorethan40hoursaweek—sometimesmanymore—ofherorhistimecaringforthepatient.Andmanyofthesedosoformorethanayear,andoftenmuchmorethanayear.

Butforewarnedreallyisforearmed,andthat’snowheremoretruethaninpreparingyourselfandyourfamilyforthepossibilityofAlzheimer’saffectingafamilymember.Thatpreparationshouldincludelearningasmuchasyoucanaboutthediseaseitself.

Knowledge,aswenotedearlier,givesuspoweragainstfear.It’simportanttobearinmindthatwhilethestatisticsinthisarticleareimportant,they’realsomorethanjustnumbers.Eachof

7 out of 10 Americans feel that at the most they know only a little about Alzheimer’s disease.

A little, 67%

A lot, 26%

Nothing at all, 7%

74%

By Keith Ferrell


Have you… Yes % No %

Designated who would take care of your affairs were you to get Alzheimer’s

42 58

Talked to your family about Alzheimer’s disease

36 64

Considered what care options would be available to you if you were to get Alzheimer’s

26 72

Made financial arrangements for the possibility of your getting Alzheimer’s

16 83

Most Americans have not taken basic steps to make arrangements for the possibility of getting Alzheimer’s disease.

thosenumbersrepresentsgroupsofindividuals,ourpopulation,families,caregivers,andAlzheimer’spatients.Themoreweknowaboutthediseaseandtheroleweplayinfacingit,aswellastheroleitplaysinincreasingnumbersofourlives,thelesswehavetofear. ■

(The full report on the survey can be found at www.metlife.org.) 36%

Not at Somewhat Very Extremely all concerned concerned concerned concerned

3 out of 5 Americans are concerned that they will have to provide for or care for someone with Alzheimer’s.

63%

5%13%

44%

Don’t Know = 1%


Long-termPlanning

It is essential for individuals to addresstheirestateplanningsoonerratherthanlater.However,itisequallyimportantto

make sure that the planning is done cor-rectly.Toooften,peoplefailtoaddresstheissues involved in proper estate planning.Hereareeightimportantpointstokeepinmind:• Lack of, or inadequate, disability

planning.Manypeoplefailtoplanforthe management of their financial andmedicalaffairsshouldtheybecomeinca-pacitated.Acustomized,durablepowerofattorneyandanadvancemedicaldi-rectiveshouldbepartsoftheestateplanofeveryperson.

• Failure to plan for the cost of long-term care. Long-term care is extremelyexpensive. The cost of staying at an as-sisted living facility could run in excessof$50,000peryear,andcareatanursinghomecouldcostmorethan$150,000peryear.Allwho can afford long-termcareinsuranceshouldconsiderit.

• Outdatedwillsandbeneficiarydesig-nations. Many people fail to regularlyreviewandrevisetheirestateplans.Theyfrequentlyhavewills,beneficiarydesig-nations,orretirementplanaccountsthatare outdated. Review these wheneverthere has been a significant change incircumstancesorat leastevery three tofiveyears.Informing a family member about where these documents can be found also helps eliminate confusion.

• Poor choice of agent, trustee, or ex-ecutor.Thechoiceofanagentunderapowerofattorneyandanadvancemedi-caldirective, a trusteeof a trust,or anexecutor of an estate is an importantdecision.Manypeoplechooseanagent,trustee, or executor for the wrong rea-

sons.Forexample,theychoosetheirold-est child or the child who lives closestto them;however, they fail to considerwhether this child has the ability, thetime, the respectofother familymem-bers,orthewillingnesstocarefortheirparents.Incaseswherefamilymembersarenotgettingalong,itmaybewisetoappointaprofessionaltoserveasagent,trustee,orexecutor.

• Lackofadequaterecords.Manyindi-viduals fail to keep organized records.Thismakes itdifficult to assist them ifthey become disabled or to settle theirestatesupontheirdeaths.

• Overuse of revocable trusts, jointownership, or beneficiary designa-tions. Many people fear probate. As aresult, they seek to avoid it by execut-ing revocable trusts, creating payable-on-deathaccounts, and re-titlingassetsjointly with the right of survivorship.However,theconsequencesofsettingupthesetypesofaccountsareoftenmisun-derstood.Formany,awill is thebetterchoice.

• Failuretoholdafamilymeeting.Manyfamilydisputescanbeeliminatedorthedamage minimized if the individualwouldholdafamilymeetingtodiscusshis estate planning objectives and thetermsoftheestateplanningdocuments.

• Inadequate financial planning. Manyindividuals have accumulated diverse in-vestmentsovertheirlifetimes.Frequently,they hold these investments in accountsat several financial institutions withoutanoverallinvestmentplan.Itisgenerallya good idea for you to retain afinancialplannertoassistindeterminingtheappro-priate level of investment risk to assumeandtodevelopanassetallocationtomaxi-mizethe investmentreturnbasedontheassumedlevelofinvestmentrisk. ■

Bernard A. Krooks, J.D., CPA, LL.M (in taxation), CELA is President, and a founding member, of the NY Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and a na-tionally known and widely quoted expert on elder law. For more information, visit www.littmankrooks.com.

CommonEstatePlanningErrorsHave you and your family thought through all of the issues related to long-term planning? Find out by using this checklist from nationally known elder-law expert Bernard A. Krooks, Esq.

By Bernard A. Krooks, Esq.


WhoWeAre…The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation and its sister foundation, The Michael Stern Parkin-son’s Research Foundation support the nation’s most ambitious research endeavors dedicated to understanding, treating, and finding cures for these two devastating diseases. At the center of our research efforts is Dr. Paul Green-gard, the year 2000 recipient of the Nobel Prize for his research on how the brain functions. Dr. Greengard heads the 10,000-square-foot Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience at The Rockefeller University—one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the country, if not the world, outfitted with the latest equipment necessary to undertake an assault on Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Together, the two founda-tions support research programs at leading centers around the country and internationally.

AboutUs

The Fisher Alzheimer’s Education and Resources Program at New York School of Medicine

UnderthedirectionofDr.BarryReisberg,inter-nationallyknownexpertinthefieldofAlzheimer’spatientcare,thisprogramhasdevelopedthetoolsandscalesforresearch,evaluation,andascienceofdiseasemanagement that areused indrug treat-mentstudiesandcaresettingsforAlzheimer’sdis-easearoundtheworld.

The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research at The Rockefeller University

The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research at TheRockefellerUniversityhasbeenseminalinprovidingaconcep-tualframeworkformoderndayinvestigationsinthefieldofAl-zheimer’s.Theirresearchhasprovidedabasisforunderstandinghowcellscommunicatewithoneanother,howbeta-amyloidisproducedinthebrain,andhowitcausesdamageinAlzheimer’sdisease.Agoaloftheirresearchistocreatenewdrugtreatmentsthatwilllowerbeta-amyloidlevelsinthebrainandtreatmentsthatwillpreventitfromdamagingthebrain.Theyhaveshownintesttubeexperimentsthatbeta-amyloidcreationcouldbecutbyupto90percent.SuchareductionmightstopAlzheimer’sfrom progressing or, alternatively, might delay the disease inhealthypeopleatriskforAlzheimer’sforyears,effectivelyplac-ingitbeyondthelifespanoftheaverageperson.

All photos for these two pages: Guy Kloppenburg


The Michael Stern Center for Parkinson’s Research at The Rockefeller University

TheRockefellerUniversityalsohousestheMichaelSternCenterforParkinson’sResearchunder thedirectionofDr.PaulGreengard.Thelaboratory’swork isleadingthewayinunderstandingthepathologyofParkinson’sdiseaseandwhysomedopamine-producingcellsdiewhileother,verysimilarcells,survive.TheyarealsostudyinghowthebrainregulatesresponsestodopamineandexploringnewmeansofimprovingL-dopareplacementtherapy.

Throughtheirwork,theresearchershaveidentifiedaprotein,“p11,”thatcon-trolstheamountofserotoninreceptorsoncertainbraincells.Thisdiscoveryhasbeenhailedasamajorbreakthroughinthestudyofdepressionandhaspresentedanewpathwayforpotentialdrugtreatmentsfordepression.

The Michael Stern Center at The McLean Hospital of Harvard University

Dr. Ole Isacson’s laboratories are workingonfindingmoleculesthatprotectnervecellsand their connections in the Parkinsonianbrain.Furthermore, this researchhas foundnewwaysofderivingcelltherapiesfromstemcells.Theseexperimentsareleadingthewayfordiscoveriesinregeneration,andprovidingnewtreatmentsforParkinson’sdisease.

The Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders at New Haven

TheInstitute forNeurodegenerativeDisorders’primaryresearchgoal is todevelopbrainimagingtechnologiestoenableearlydiagnosisandtodevelopimprovedtreatments forneurologicaldisorders suchasParkinson’sdiseaseandAlzheimer’sdisease.Theseimagingmethodsprovideawindowtobrainfunctionevenbeforesymptomsofdiseasebeginandatooltomonitortheeffectofmedicationsondisease.Theteamhasalreadyidentifiedseveralnewimagingtracersandhasmovedontotestingtheminhumanstudies.

Insitituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, ItalyTheInstitutoSuperiorediSanita,theNIHofItaly,haspartneredwiththeFisherCentertodevelopastrainoftransgenicmicethatwillmodelmid-andlater-stageAlzheimer’sdisease.Thiswillgreatlydecreasethetimeneededforexperimentationofnewtreatmentmodelsinthelaboratory.


Away From Her:AnAlzheimer’sLoveStoryA major motion picture presents a bittersweet love story that captures the confusion, compassion, courage, and fear of the Alzheimer’s experience. Along the way, the film also shows us the enduring grace of unconditional love — in the midst of irrecoverable loss.

By Selby Bateman


HowcanyouexplaintothosenottouchedbyAlzheimer’stheintimateexperiencesof

thisravagingdisease:thelarge,long-termlosses;thesmall,momentaryvictories;thedailyuncertainties;andtheconflictingtrajectoriesofhopeandfear?

Now,ayoungCanadianwriter,director,andactressandasuperbcastofcharactershavedonejustthatinaremarkablenewmotionpicture,Away From Her.Basedonashortstory,“TheBearCameOvertheMountain,”byacclaimedauthorAliceMunro,thefilmisauniqueportraitofAlzheimer’sasseenthroughthelensofacoupletryingtodealwiththediseaseafteralmost50yearsofmarriage.Whatismostimportantisthatthefilmneverdescendstoalevelofmaudlinmelodramaorrose-tintedromance.What28-year-olddirectorSarahPolleyandhercasthavedoneistocreateanuanced,believable,andfinelydetailedviewofhowAlzheimer’srobsthoseaffectedofacrucialelementoflifeandlove—sharedmemory—andhowthatlossripplesthrougheveryonewhoisapartoftheexperience.

“Lovestoriesaboutolderpeopletendtobeeitherextremelysentimentalizedorjustifiedbyamillionflashbackstowhentheywereyoung,whichIthinkisalotlessinteresting,”saysPolley,anaccomplishedactresswhomakesherdirectorialdebutwiththisfilm.“Iwantedtomakethisrelationshiparealonethat’sbeenthroughincrediblethingsandcomeouttheotherside.It’smadeupofallthatexperienceandemotionandtransgression.”

Tobringtolifethecouple,FionaandGrantAndersson,PolleyselectedAcademyAward-winningactressJulieChristieandaward-winningveteranactorGordonPinsent.OthercastmembersincludeAcademyAwardwinnerOlympiaDukakisandanotheraward-winningfavorite,MichaelMurphy.ItisFiona(Christie)whoisslowlyslidingintoAlzheimer’s,afactthatthecoupleatfirstdeniesandfinally

“ I wanted to make this relationship a real one that’s been through incredible things and come out the other side. It’s made up of all that experience and emotion and transgression.”—Sarah Polley, Away From Her writer and director


mustconfront.Asthediseaseprogresses,thelivesofthoseinvolvedtakedirectionsimpossibletoforecast.CriticsandaudiencesalikehavebeenmesmerizedbyChristie’son-screenevolutionasthediseasetakesitsinevitabletollandthecomplexinterplayofemotionsamongthecharactersastheymustdealwithsomuchthatisunexpected.

Fiona’sslowdeteriorationwasnoteasytoportray,accordingtoChristie.“Youcan’tpossiblyknowwhathappensinthatmomentwhenthatpersongoesaway,”shesays.“Thatwasthedifficultyforme,nothavinganyideawheresheisgoing.”

ChristieandtherestofthecasthavecreatedafullyrealizedpictureofAlzheimer’sinastoryaboutmemoryanddevotion.TheirsuccesshasalreadybeenconfirmedbyawardsatmajorfilmfestivalsinBerlin,Sundance,andToronto,priortonationaltheaterreleaseinearlyMay.

“TheroleofAlzheimer’sinthefilmisametaphorforhowmemoryplaysoutinalongrelationship,”saysoneofthemovie’sproducers,SimoneUrdl,“whatwechoosetoremember,whatwechoosetoforget.”

WhilethefilmdoesnotattempttocreateafalseoptimismaboutFiona’scondition,neitherdoesitbecomearelentlessstoryofloss.Onthecontrary,itisintherealistic,subtle,andhonestdepictionoftheall-too-humanstrugglebythoseinvolvedthatAway From Herbecomesaveryspecialmotionpicture.

“Thislovestorymovesyoubecauseyoulookatitfromyourownperspectiveandbringtoityourownexperiences,”saysJenniferWeiss,anotherofthemovie’sproducers.“Itconfirmsthatlifeiscyclical,andweallgothroughthechallengesofloveandmarriageandcommitment.”

IntertwinedwithFiona’sandGrant’sstoryarethoseofMarianandAubrey(DukakisandMurphy);MarianismarriedtoAubrey,whohascontractedadebilitatingbraindiseasethatleaveshim

totallyincapacitatedandwithouttheabilitytospeak.Asthesefourpeopleinteract,theirrelationshipsinevitablyevolve.

“It’sanon-traditionallookatloveandtheongoing-nessoflife,”saysDukakis,whohashelpedpromoteAlzheimer’sresearch.“Wethinkthingsend,but,really,lifecontinuestoreinventitself.”

ForthoseassociatedwithAlzheimer’s,Away From Herwillbebothfamiliaranduniquelyfresh.ThefilmalsounderscorestheneedtopromoteandsupportAlzheimer’sresearchsothatinthefuturenoonewillhavetodealwiththisdisease.

Asthefilm’spromotionaltaglinestates:“Sometimesyouhavetoletgoofwhatyoucan’tlivewithout.”Andthattakescourageandcompassionandlove. ■

“ This love story moves you because you look at it from your own perspective and bring to it your own experiences. It confirms that life is cyclical, and we all go through the challenges of love and marriage and commitment.”—Jennifer Weiss, an Away From Her producer


CaregiverVoices

The Sustaining Value of Support

By Catherine Minor

Ican’temphasizehowimportantIbelieveitisforcaregivers,aswellaspatients,tohavesomekindofsupportgroup,either face-to-faceoronline.Ihavebeeninbothsituationsandfeelthateachkindofgroupoffersuniquebenefits.Iamcurrentlydevelopingasupportgroup tailored toyoungadults in their20sand30s,whohaveparentsdiagnosedwithEarlyOnsetAlzheimer’sdisease.

Ibelievethatpeoplemyagehaveverydif-ferent needs than people who are dealingwithAlzheimer’s that isnotEarlyOnset. IhavebeenworkingwithmylocalchapteroftheAlzheimer’sAssociation inKansasCityto develop this group and hope to have itfunctioninginthenextfewmonths.

My mom was diagnosed at the age of56.Atthattime,IhadneverheardofEarlyOnsetAlzheimer’sDisease,soIneverevenknewthatthiswasapossibility.TherewasabsolutelynowaytopreparemyselfforthejourneythatIwasabouttoembarkon.

The very first thing I had to do was tochangeoneverybadhabitthatIhad.Iwasnotoriousforhavingabsolutelynopatience.When you are caregiving for a loved onewithAlzheimer’sdisease, ifyoudon’thaveanover-abundanceofpatience,youshouldnot be caregiving. I have listened to mymom ask me the same question 25 or 30times,andIhaveansweredthequestion25or30times, justas if shehadneveraskedmethequestionbefore.Youmayhavetositfor20or30minuteswaitingforyourlovedonetofinishasimplesentence.Youhavetobewillingtodothat.

Theothervitalingredientiscompassion.OneofthechallengesrelatedtocaringforalovedonewithAlzheimer’sistherolere-versal.Youarenowparentingyourparent.Youhavetoparentthemwiththeloveandcompassion that they parented you. The

emotional consequences of the disease arethat you are forced to watch your parent,orotherlovedone,facethisdisease.Ithasbeenthreeyearssincemymom’sdiagnosis,and I stillhave adifficult timecoming totermswiththefactthatIcan’tdoanythingtohelpmymom.Ican’t“fix”thisforher,andIstrugglewiththateverysingleday.

Ihavebecomeextremelyprotectiveofmymom,whereverweare.Ifeelthatcaregivershavetohavethatsenseofprotectivenessinorder toreallydevelopthenecessarybondwiththeirlovedones.IknowthatthereisnothingIwouldn’tdoformymom,andIregretthatittookadiseaselikethistoopenmyeyestothat.

Forpatients,supportgroupsaresoessen-tialaswell,sothatthepatientsknowthat,notonlyaretheynotaloneinthisjourney,butthattheycanlearnfromothershowtomakethemostoftheirlives,andbuildnewbondsonanewlevel.

I have developed a support grouponline (www.simplesite.com/CatsCorner/7482921),aswellasachatroomonlineforboth caregivers and patients, which I feelisthemostbeneficial,becausewealllearnfromeachother.

Therearethingsthatmymomcannottellmethatthepeopleinmysupportgroupandinmychatroomcantellme.Theyteachmethethingsthatyoucannotlearninbooks.Real, hands on tools ... and, in turn, thecaregivers teach each other about whatworks,andthenthepatientscantakethosesuggestionsandutilizethemiftheywouldlike. It’s an incredible learning experienceforeveryone.

Take Care To Care For Yourself

By Terry Griggs

Having helped care for my fatherthroughouthisAlzheimer’sexperience,onethingI’velearnedistobealerttothewarn-

ingsignsthatthecaregiverisoverloaded—whetherit’smeorothers.

The warning signs are important. Notsleeping, not eating, showing signs of de-pression,andotherindicationsareremind-ersofthestressyou’reunder.Eachoftheseshouldbeasignaltoyou—andtoothersinyoursupportgroup—thatyouneedabreak,achancetore-charge.Notonlywillyoubehelpedbythis,thequalityofcareyoupro-videdependsonit.

It’simportant,also,tohaveoutsideactivi-ties;somethingyoucandoorparticipateinthatliesoutsidetheday’scaregivingrespon-sibilities,yourjobobligations,familyneeds,andallofthose“everyday”itemsthatdon’tgoawaywhenyou’reacaregiver.

Make sure that you have an outlet thatyoucancontinue.Mymother,whocaresformydadwithAlzheimer’s,hasfoundrenewalthroughherpaintings.Hertimespentwork-ing on a painting helps keep my mother’senergy levels andemotionsonanevenkeelasshefacestheeffectsofAlzheimer’sonmydad. Social activities are just as importantashobbiesandotherprivateactivities.BothmymotherandIhavefoundthatchurchisawonderfuloutlet.

It’s also absolutely vital that you keepyour sense of humor throughout. Humorreallyhelps;andithelpsthepatientaswellasthecaregiver.WeletDadtellhisstories,andwe laughwithhim. Ithelpsallofus.Youcanfindhumor,eveninthemiddleofthedisease andallof itsdevastation.Dadwassupposedtogetahaircutoneday,wan-deredoff,andcouldn’tbefoundanywhere.ItturnedoutthatevenasMomwasfranti-callylookingforhim,dadhadgoneintoahigh-endbeautyparlorandgottenthefulltreatment,includingafacial.Hefeltgreat!Andoncewecalmeddown,wewereallabletolaughaboutit.

Finally,Iremindeveryoneoftheimpor-tanceofhugs.Givethepatientahugeverychance you get. We hug my Dad all thetime—andithelpsallofus.■

Caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients face challenges every day. But you are not alone, as these stories from other caregivers clearly show. Please send us your personal stories of support, problem solving, solutions to daily challenges, and lessons learned, so that we may share them with others.

26 spring 2007

TreatYourself

to refresh and renewCaregivers of those with Alzheimer’s disease often neglect the most essential aspect of their patients’ care — themselves. To give your loved one the best care possible, consider rest and spa relaxation.

By Mary Best

SpaTime

C aringforalovedonewithAlzheim-er’sdisease isdifficultanddemand-ing work. Everyday tasks, bathing,

dressing, eating, even talking, becomelaborious and unpredictable. Adding tomanycaregivers’stressistheirexistingre-sponsibilitiestootherfamilymembersandtheirowndailylives.It’simpossibletobeallthingstoallpeople,andthefirstpersonusuallyneglectedisyou.Thesymptomsofstressarenothardtodetect—anger,socialwithdrawal, anxiety, depression, exhaus-tion,insomnia,irritability,lackofconcen-tration,forgetfulness,andhealthproblemsare common among people overwhelmedbytherelentlessnessofpatientcare.

That’swhyitisessentialtotakecareofyourself and listen to your body when ittellsyouthatyouneedabreak.Rememberthatifyoudon’tcareforyourphysicalandemotional well-being, caring for a lovedonebecomesevenmorestressful.

One popular way to relax and pamperyourself is to spend a few days at a spa.

However,mostcaregiversknowthatjettingawaytoanexoticresort fora fewdaysofhot stonemassages, aromatherapy facials,caviarpedicures,andseaweedbodywrapsis impractical and expensive. Of course,you don’t have to travel to a destinationspatotakeafewhourstopamperyourself.Hereareafewspa-inspiredsuggestionsoncreatingyourownsanctuaryathomethatwillleaveyourefreshedandrejuvenated.

• Everyfewmonths,designatea“spaday”duringwhichyoucansetasideacoupleofhourstopamperyourselfwithoutin-terruption. Establish a schedule to en-sure that someone—a family member,friend, adult daycare, or an in-homecompanion service—will care for yourlovedoneduring“yourtime.”

• Begin your adventure by taking a 20-minutewalk.Thiswillenableyoutogetsome exercise and fresh air, and it willputsomedistancebetweenyouandtheeverydaystressesyouface.

• When you return home, retire to yourbathroom, light a few aromatherapycandles (lavender is known to relievestress),andputonyourfavoriterobe.

• PlayasoothingCD,aninstrumentalist,orthesoundsofnature.Makesureyourelectronic CD player is far away fromyourbathtub.

• Begin by cleansing your face with acommercialorhomemadefacial,andletitworkitsmagic.AccordingtoSpaIn-dex (www.spaindex.com) the followinghomemadefacialissimplyirresistible.

Chocolate Facial MaskThisdecadentmaskisactuallyanexcellentmoisturizer—itleavesyourskinbabysoft.Itisrecommendedfornormalskin.

1/3cupcocoapowder3Tbsp.heavycream2tsp.cottagecheese1/4cuphoney3tsp.Oatmeal



5 reasons to look for a good dealWhile the price of many spas can be intimidating, there are ways to negotiate lower prices. Here are few ideas: • Attend a spa during the middle of the week when rates are reduced.• Destination and resort spas often offer special deals during their off-

season. • According to Anita Brown at spas.about.com, save on a massage by

visiting a school where massage therapists are trained.• And then, there’s always Spa Week—hundreds of spas in the United

States and Canada offer treatments at special prices. For more information, visit www.spaweek.org.

• SpaFinder.com offers a comprehensive list of spas, including best buys, group specials, and package deals.

The following five spas, ranging in price and location, give you some examples of the many types of spas across the United States.

Sanivan Holistic Retreat and SpaHurleyville, New Yorkwww.sanivan.comSurroundedbythetranquilityoftheCatskillMountains,youcanrelaxherejusttwohoursfromNewYorkCity.Sanivanserveshealthfulmealsusingonlyorganicingredients,offersholisticskinandbodycaretherapyaswellasraindroptherapy.Inexpensive: $100-$200 per night

Casa Madrona HotelSausalito, Californiawww.casamadrona.comThis63-roomVictorianmansionoverlookingtheSanFranciscoBayprovidesspa-goerswithpicturesqueviews,leisurelyshopping,andacharmingrespitefromyourbusylife.Moderate: $200-$300 per night

The Heartland SpaGilman, Illinoiswww.heartlandspa.comOnly90milessouthofChicago,thisprivatehealthretreatsitsona32-acreestateinAmerica’sheartland.Here,guestscanchoosefromavarietyofactivities,includingstressmanagement,personaldevelopment,fitness,wellness,andnutrition.Moderate: $200-$300 per night

Grove Park Inn and SpaAsheville, North Carolinawww.groveparkinn.comLuxuryisthefirstwordthatcomestomindwhenyoustepinsidethespaattheGroveParkInn.But,ofcourse,thegranitehoteloverlookingAsheville,NorthCarolina,hasperfectedtheartofindulgenceoverits100-yearhistory.Themountainsidespaelevatesindulgencetoanewlevel.Expensive: $300-$400 per night

Canyon Ranch in the BerkshiresLenox, Massachusettswww.canyonranch.com/resorts/lenox-home.aspxNewEngland’snaturalbeautyandcharmgreetguestsatthissprawlingdestinationresort,where,acenturyago,theworld’swealthiestmingled.Today,the26-roominnoffersgraciousaccommodations,whileguestsgatherintheelegantlyrenovatedBellefontaineMansionforgourmetcuisineandprograms.Expensive: $500-plus per night

Mix all ingredients together (a bulletblenderisideal)andsmoothontoface.Re-laxfor10minutes,andthenwashoffwithwarmwater.

• Take what commercial spas call “hy-drotherapytreatment”—oralongbath.Add special oils, herbs, soaps, bubblebath,andarubberduckyofyourchoicetothewater.SpaIndexalsosuggeststhispopularhomemadebathconcoction:

Roman Bath SoakThis easy but indulgent soak is ideal forwinterdryskin.

1 cup of fine grade oil (consider sesame,olive,apricot,oravocadooil)1 cup of mild shampoo or liquid castilesoap1/2tsp.offragranceoiloressentialoilofyourchoice

Combine all the ingredients in a cleanbottleorjar.Shakevigorouslybeforeeachuse,anddispenseoneto twotablespoonsintoyourrapidlyrunningbathwater.

You’ll find the addition of mild sham-poo helps to both emulsify and disbursethe oil liberally throughout the bath wa-ter—forevendistributionandcoverageonyourskininsteadofthetub.

• Washyourhairthenapplyaneasyhome-maderinse,suchasmassagingabottleofbeer into your scalp. It will leave yourhair shiny and full. A homemade con-ditioner that works well on dry hair istoworkadollopofmayonnaisethroughyourhair, letitsoakforafewminutes,thenrinseandshampooagain.

• Afteryourbath,giveyourselfamanicureandpedicure.

• Finally, treat yourself to one of yourfavorite snacks—albeit a healthy one—suchasasmoothie,afruitandcheeseplate,orapitawithhummus.Youmayevenwanttopreparethisthenightbe-fore.Iftheweathercooperates,eatout-sideinthesunshine. ■

Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires

By Mary Best


A lzheimer’sisaslowkillerthatrobsits victims of their memory andidentity.Itsonslaughtonthebrain

impairs intelligence and steals the abilityto reason. This disease turns the last de-cadeoflifeintoadownwardspiralofmen-talandphysicaldisintegration.

The research provided by the FisherCenter for Alzheimer’s Research at TheRockefeller University in New York CityunderthedirectionofNobellaureatePaulGreengard,isprovidingabasisformodernday investigations intoAlzheimer’s.Theirscientistsproducedaconceptbasedonananti-cancer drug already in general usecalledGleevec.

Beta-AmyloidThe brain toxin beta-amyloid is pro-

ducedwhenalargeproteincalledAPP,oramyloidprecursorprotein,ischoppedintosmallerpiecesbyscissor-likeproteinscalledbeta-secretase(alsoknownasBACE)andgamma-secretase. Drug researchers havebeensearchingforcompoundsthatinhibitthese secretases, because blocking theiractivitywouldreduceproductionofbeta-amyloid, which could potentially halt orcureAlzheimer’sdisease.

Researchers at the Fisher Center dem-onstratedthatGleevecandasimilarcom-poundcalled inhibitor2dramaticallydi-minished the production of beta-amyloidin the brain. Some scientists predict thatbydiminishingbeta-amyloidlevelsinthebrain, the onset of Alzheimer’s could bedelayed by as much as 10 to 20 years oraltogether prevented. Since the averageage of a person getting this disease is 72(intheU.S.)andtheaveragelifespanofanAmericanis78,agoodbeta-amyloidlow-ering drug might prevent Alzheimer’s inhealthy individuals and provide an effec-tivetreatmentforthosewhoalreadyhavethedisease.

Severalothergamma-secretaseblockers,forexample,haveundergoneearlytestingas potential Alzheimer’s drugs. Unfortu-nately,whiletheyblockgamma-secretase,theyalsoappear toblockanotherproteincalledNotch-1thatisessentialforproperfunctioningof thedigestive and immunesystems.

Notch-1Gleevec also blocks the activities of

gamma-secretase but, as Fisher Centerresearchers have now shown, it does notinhibitNotch-1.Therefore,Gleevecorre-lated compoundshold greatpromise as apotentiallysaferAlzheimer’streatment.In-deed, incancerpatients,Gleevechashadmuchfewermajorsideeffectscomparedtootherformsofchemotherapy.

The successful outcome of these ex-periments provides great hope for con-queringthisdisease,andforpreservingmemories.Significantproblemsstill re-maintobesolved.Thebrainisprotectedby a blood brain barrier that preventsGleevecfromreachingthebrainineffec-tiveamounts.TheresearchersattheFisherCenterareworkingtoovercomethisobstacle.

Successisthisareacouldlead to an effective anti-Alzheimer’s drug, onecapable of stopping theprogression of the diseaseandalleviatingsymptoms.The Fisher Center forAlzheimer’s ResearchFoundation will high-light their findings inthis magazine once thestudy is complete, whichcould occur within the nextyear. Based on Fisher Centerfindings, pharmaceutical com-paniesmaybeable todesignand

engineer new drugs for the treatment ofAlzheimer’sdisease.

“We are very excited by this discovery,because itprovidesanovelapproachtothedevelopmentofnewtherapies forAlzheim-er’sdisease,”saysDr.Greengard,oneofthestudy’s authors. “It reveals apreviouslyun-knownmechanismbywhichthetoxicsub-stancebeta-amyloidiscontrolled,andopensup a new area of research for developingdrugsforthetreatmentofAlzheimer’s.” ■

Behind the Scenes at the Fisher Center

FisherCenterResearch

The research publication abstract on Gleevec’s effect on beta-amyloid is reproducedon the following page.

Photo: Guy Kloppenburg

�0 Preserving Your Memory summer 2007

TaketheWaltripChallenge!

The Race to Find a Cure for Alzheimer’s

TakeAction

NASCARdriverMichaelWaltripischallenginghisfanstoarace.Notontheracetrack—ontheWeb.

On Feb. 18, Waltrip, in partnershipwithTheFisherCenterforAlzheimer’sRe-search, launched www.WaltripChallenge.com,awebsitededicatedtoraisingfundsforAlzheimer’sresearchandraisingaware-nessaboutthedisease.

“MygrandfatherdiedwithAlzheimer’s,andhislastyearswerereallytoughonthefamily…soawonderfulgroupoutofNewYork,theFisherCenterforAlzheimer’sRe-search, reached out to me and asked if Iwould be interested in participating withthem,” Waltrip says. “They’re just very,very good people raising a whole lot ofmoney for that disease, so I told them ifIcouldsomehowfigureoutawaytohelpthemraisesomemoney,thenthat’swhatIwantedtodo.”

How It WorksThe Waltrip Challenge offers fans the

chancetowinanall-expensepaidrace-dayexperience for two. Fans can register tocreatetheirownwebsitetoraisefunds,andtheninvitetheirfamiliesandfriendstodonatemoneytothechallenge.(TheFisher Center provides tips forfundraising.) The website thatraisesthemostmoneywinsanall-expensepaidtripfortwotomeet Michael Waltrip and at-tendthe2008Daytona500.

“With Michael Waltrip’shelp, we are trying to changethe misconception that Alzheimer’s

is an old person’s disease. The 5 millionAmericans affected by Alzheimer’s don’tevencomeclosetoidentifyingthetensofmillionsofAmericansthatarecaregivers,family, and friends. Every seven seconds,thereisanewcaseofdementiareported,”saysAlanWhiteof theFisherCenter forAlzheimer’sResearchFoundation.

“I know, through personal experience,the devastation and destruction this dis-ease causes to our loved ones,” Waltripadds.“Itisadiseasethatstrikesfearinmyheartforthosewhoaredirectlyandindi-rectly affected. My hope is that throughtheWaltripChallengeweareabletoraisemoney for Alzheimer’s research and in-crease awareness throughout the countryandtheNASCARcommunity.”

The Waltrip Challenge continuesthroughNovember18,atwhichtimethewinnerswillbeannouncedat theMi-amiHomesteadrace.

Waltrip, younger brother of NASCARCup champion Darrell Waltrip, beganracingstockcars in1981andenteredtheCup series in 1985, at Charlotte MotorSpeedway(nowLowe’sMotorSpeedway).Hedidn’twinhisfirstCupraceuntil2001,463starts later,attheDaytona500.Lastyear,Waltripannouncedthathewasstart-ing his own race team, Michael WaltripRacing, and would be partnering withToyota, entering three NASCAR NEX-TELCupSeriesteamsandoneNASCARBuschSeriesteamin2007. ■

ForMoreInformationwww.WaltripChallenge.com

www.ALZinfo.org

summer 2007 www.ALZinfo.org �1

Look forward to seeing more adventures of Wellness Woman in upcoming issues.

MedicinalLaughter

Introducing Agnes

The birth of Wellness Woman

We are happy to introduce to our readers the indomitable Agnes — also sometimes known as “Wellness Woman” — the delightful cartoon creation of artist Tony Cochran. Win, lose, or draw, Agnes faces life’s challenges with spirit, humor, and a never-give-up attitude.


WorkOut!

Exercise ismore important thanyoumight think. Scientific evidence isincreasingly showing that physical

exerciseisnotonlygoodforyourfigure,it’salsogoodforyourmemory.It’san impor-tanttoolinslowingtheeffectsofagingonthebrainandpossiblyevendelayingtheon-setofAlzheimer’s.Healthcareprofessionalshavelongtoutedthebenefitsofexerciseforahealthyheart,butexercisealsohelpswitheaseofmovement, improvesyourposture,makesyourjointsmorestable,anddecreaseschronicpain.Didyouknowthatitalsocanleadtobettersleeppatternsandemotionalwell-being?So,whatareyouwaitingfor?

It’s Never Too Early to Start …Regular exercise during your middle

years may lower your risk of developingAlzheimer’s disease in old age, say re-searchersfromSweden.Theystudiedmenand women aged 65 to 79 who had pre-viouslybeengivendetailed surveys abouttheirphysicalactivitiesbackin1972,1977,1982,and1987,whenmostwere intheirthirties, forties, or fifties. When the re-searchers assessed these individuals againin 1998, they found that those who, intheirmiddle years, exercisedduring theirfree time at least twice a week were 60percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’sdisease,comparedtothemenandwomenwhoexercisedless.Theywerealso50per-cent less likely to develop other forms ofdementiaandmemoryloss.Physicalactiv-ity appeared to be particularly beneficialfor those who carried the APO-E4 gene,aninheritedtraitthatincreasesaperson’sriskofdevelopingAlzheimer’sinoldage.

“Thesefindingsmayhavewideimplica-tionsforpreventivehealthcare,”saysstudy

author Miia Kivipelto of the Aging Re-search Center at the Karolinska InstituteinStockholm.“Ifanindividualadoptsanactivelifestyleinyouthandatmidlife,thismayincreasetheirprobabilityofenjoyingbothphysicallyandcognitivelyvitalyearslaterinlife.”

And It’s Never Too Late …Exercise benefits healthy older seniors, aswell.Researchersat theRushAlzheimer’sDiseaseCenterinChicagofoundthatforhealthyseniorswithintactmemory(aver-ageagewas80),theriskofbecomingdis-abled fell 7 percent for every hour spent

FitnessandGoodMentalHealth:Exercise Brings Many Benefits

summer 2007 www.ALZinfo.org ��

eachweekbeingphysicallyactive.Regularphysicalactivityalsogreatlycuttheriskofdying.Exerciseallowedolderadultstobet-tercarryouteverydayactivitieslikewalk-ing short distances, eating meals, gettingdressed, preparing meals, shopping, andhousekeeping. Regular physical activityboosts blood flow to organs throughoutthe body, including the brain, and mayprovideanextraboostforseniorswithorwithoutAlzheimer’s.

Before You Start …Ifyouareamanover40,awomanover

50,orifyouhavebeeninactiveforanex-tended period of time, the U.S. SurgeonGeneralrecommendsconsultingwithyourphysicianbeforestartinganyseriousphysi-calfitnessregime.Youneedtobeawareofanyhealth risks that arepresent anddis-cuss any pre-existing medical conditionsthat may impact your activity level (e.g.respiratoryproblems,etc.).

WiththenumberofcasesofAlzheim-er’sexpectedtotripleincomingdecadesas the baby boom generation contin-ues to age, physical fitness could havea huge overall impact on preventingordelaying theonsetofAlzheimer’s inmany.Whilenoknownsinglelifestylecandeterminewhoactuallycomesdownwiththememory-ravagingailment,exerciseap-pearstobeoneimportantfactorthatlow-erstherisk. ■

Whichexercisesarebest?There are four types of exercise that are of benefit to older Americans, and everyone needs some of each, according to the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health:

• Enduranceactivities — like walking, swimming, water aerobics, or stationary bicycling — build “staying power” and improve the health of the heart and circulatory system. These are exercises that increase heart rate and breathing for an extended period of time. Build up endurance gradually, starting with as little as five minutes of endurance activities at a time, if needed.

• Strengtheningexercises, which build muscle tissue and reduce muscle loss, also increase metabolism, which helps keep weight and blood sugar in check.

• Stretchingexercises help keep the body limber and flexible, and they give more freedom of movement. But stretching exercises alone will not improve endurance or strength.

• Balanceexercises build leg muscles and help prevent falls. Each year, U.S. hospitals have 300,000 admissions for broken hips, and falling is often the cause of those fractures. Balance exercises can help adults stay independent by helping to avoid disabilities that may result from falling.

These ladies combine both endurance and strengthening exercises by walking with hand weights.

Yoga involves stretching and balance exercises.

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D C C E L E E C I E G O N F B OU T H E M S E H K N O W O K N OW Y S E S S T I R N T S O S O S S T

Brain-Boosting Puzzles“Use it or lose it.” The message is simple. If you don’t use your muscles,they will no longer be as effective as they should be. Of course the brain isnot a muscle; however, it has recently come to light that “mental work-outs,” such as solving crosswords and other puzzles, can help ward offAlzheimer’s. In these pages, we offer a variety of different types of puzzlesthat will work out your various skills involving memory, deduction, andletter manipulation, and, we hope, also provide you with a ton of fun!

Take the letters in the top half of each column belowand distribute them in the blanks of the bottom half sothat the letters spell out a short quotation fromAristotle Onassis. The black squares are the spacesbetween words. One letter has been dropped in place tostart you off.

1. P O L I ___ ___ I N E

2. R E L A ___ ___ L L

3. U M P I ___ ___ F E R E E

4. V E R B ___ ___ O U D

5. V I T ___ ___ I V E

6. B E N ___ ___ A I R

7. A D M I ___ ___ S P E C T

8. A P P ___ ___ M O N

Insert two letters in the spaces below so thatyou form two words related in subject to eachother. The two letters will be the end of the firstword and the beginning of the second word.

A R R E ___ ___ O PS T

D R O P L I N ETWO IN THE MIDDLE

Can you identify these U.S. presidents by matching them to their “firsts”?

1. _____ Martin Van Buren a. First U.S. president born after WWII2. _____ John F. Kennedy b. First U.S. president to have electricity in the White House3. _____ Franklin D. Roosevelt c. First U.S. president to wear a beard4. _____ Jimmy Carter d. First U.S. president to be voted for by women5. _____ Warren G. Harding e. First U.S. president to be left-handed6. _____ George Washington f. First U.S. president to be born a U.S. citizen7. _____ Bill Clinton g. First U.S. president to have been divorced8. _____ Abraham Lincoln h. First U.S. president born in a hospital9. _____ Dwight D. Eisenhower i. First U.S. president

10. _____ Ronald Reagan j. First U.S. president to be Catholic11. _____ Benjamin Harrison k. First U.S. president to be elected four times12. _____ James Garfield l. First U.S. president to appear on color television

MATCH THESE

KeepingYourMindSharp

summer 2007 ��

(Answers on page 38)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11

12 13

14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24

25 26 27

28 29

30 31 32 33 34 35 36

37 38

39 40

1. Make a mistakedisappear

6. Barbershopemblem

10. Type of paint11. ___ corn

(barbecueserving, 2 wds.)

12. Macy’sgiveaway(2 wds.)

14. Otherwise15. Remember19. French friar23. Kuwait native24. Close by25. Sounds from

toy dogs26. Changes to fit28. Relaxation30. Fast food side

(2 wds.)37. Low card

38. Opera voice39. Land measure40. Laurel

and Musial

1. City railways2. Cheering shout3. From ___ Z

(2 wds.)4. Between Aug.

and Oct.5. Throw out

of school6. Beauty contest7. Globe-shaped

object8. Mauna ___9. D-H connectors

11. Naval off.13. Sick15. Bit of sunshine16. Historic age17. Pitcher’s wear

18. It makes theheartgrow fonder

20. Honey producer21. Tavern22. Hesitation

sounds26. Volcanic

sprinkling27. ___ and rights29. Expert30. Drug-regulating

org.31. ___ room32. Italy’s cont.33. Go on a

pension (abbr.)34. ___ jiffy

(2 wds.)35. Very long time36. Last-year

students (abbr.)

BRAIN-BOOSTING CROSSWORDS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14

15 16 17

18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30

31 32 33 34 35

36 37 38 39

40 41 42

43 44 45 46 47 48

49 50 51 52 53

54 55 56

57 58 59

1. “What Kind ofFool ___?”

4. Slanted typestyle: abbr.

8. Sci. workroom11. Hair divider13. Defense

group: abbr.14. O’Hare info15. He sang “If I

Only Hada Brain”

17. Soaked18. Written

assignment19. World’s Sexiest

Vegetarianssponsor

21. Corporate execs24. ___ flush27. “Get moving!”30. One of the

Great Lakes31. Larter of TV’s

“Heroes”32. Is a bust at the

box office35. Asner

and Bradley36. Apartment

dweller’spayment

38. Gives twothumbs up to

40. Its world seriesis in Vegas

42. Shout atan auction

43. Almanaccover’s number

45. Reds andBrowns, e.g.

49. Quiet ___ mouse51. He wrote

“Broca’s Brain”54. Tuna holder55. Ticklish Muppet56. Carson’s

successor57. Finish58. E-mailed59. Embroider

1. Churchprojection

2. Apple products3. Gershwin

and Glass4. Business abbr.5. Roofing material6. Spin like ___7. Limbo cry8. Star of 1953’s

“Donovan’sBrain”

9. Had a snack10. Dracula, at times12. Parcel of land

16. “Beauty is inthe ___ thebeholder”

20. Little piggy22. Tanker cargo23. Halts25. Hospital worker26. Not so much27. Source of

angelic music28. Bread spread29. “___ the Brain”

(Spielbergcartoon)

33. In favor of34. Sprinkles

the popcorn37. Golfing start39. Perfect in

every way41. Track events44. Abnormal

chest sound46. Has another

birthday47. Filly feature48. Winter

Olympics need49. Crack aviator50. ___ Juan52. After LBJ53. Great quantity

BRAIN TRUSTWe have provided two crosswords here to sharpen your puzzleskills. Start with the one on the left, which is the easier puzzle.In this one we have provided solving aids, such as the numberof words in multi-word clues. The puzzle on the right is amedium-level puzzle and the number of words in the answershave been eliminated. The second puzzle is also a thematicpuzzle: the title “Brain Trust” is a hint. Have fun testing yourknowledge while doing something that’s good for you!


summer 2007 www.ALZinfo.org �7


T H G I R B I W M A S N T

E G G H E A D A S I K S E

M X A R L E A R N I N G R

D N A T S R E D N U O D U

T E T M N H F E Y N W S T

G D A S I A S G Q R L C L

N U I W C N I U A A E H U

I C M T I D E L I L D O C

K A S N O S O O L N G O W

N T B R T H D E U I E L T

I I P I C W T O H O R G E

H O O S E N S E M V E B R

T N E G I L L E T N I I S

BRIGHT

BRILLIANT

CULTURE

EDUCATION

EGGHEAD

EXAMINE

FACTS

GENIUS

INTELLECT

INTELLIGENT

KNOWLEDGE

LEARNING

MIND

PRODIGY

QUESTION

SCHOLAR

SCHOOL

SENSE

THINKING

UNDERSTAND

WISDOM

All the words in the list can be found in the letter grid reading across, up and down, and diagonally.When you have found them all, read the leftover letters to discover an apt quote by Tina Turner.

You are looking for a 37-letter phrase.

BRAIN-BOOSTING PUZZLESHIDDEN-MESSAGE WORD-FIND

To complete the puzzle below, fill in the squares so that each digit 1 through 9 will appear exactly once ineach row, in each column, and in each enclosed nine-unit block.

9 8 7 1

4 5

7 3 9

4 9 8

9 1 4 5

7 8 4

2 4 6

5 6

2 1 9 4

SUDOKU

�� Preserving Your Memory summer 2007


3 9 4 5 2 8 7 1 68 6 2 4 7 1 9 3 51 5 7 6 3 9 4 8 24 1 5 7 6 2 3 9 82 3 9 1 8 4 5 6 77 8 6 3 9 5 1 2 49 7 8 2 4 3 6 5 15 4 3 8 1 6 2 7 96 2 1 9 5 7 8 4 3














E R A S E P O L E

L A T E X E A R O F

S H O P P I N G B A G

E L S E

R E C A L L A B B E

A R A B N E A R

Y A P S A L T E R S

E A S E

F R E N C H F R I E S

D E U C E T E N O R

A C R E S T A N S

A M I I T A L L A B

P A R T N A T O E T A

S C A R E C R O W W E T

E S S A Y P E T A

C E O S R O Y A L

H O P T O I T E R I E

A L I F L O P S E D S

R E N T P R A I S E S

P O K E R S O L D

Y E A R T E A M S

A S A C A R L S A G A N

C A N E L M O L E N O

E N D S E N T S E W

Droplines

Two in the Middle

Match These

Hidden Message

Crossword 1

Crossword 2

Word-Find

Sudoku

The secret of success is to knowsomething nobody else knows.

1. polish/shine, 2. relate/tell, 3.umpire/referee, 4. verbal/aloud,5. vital/alive, 6. bench/chair, 7.admire/respect, 8. apple/lemon.

1f, 2j, 3k, 4h, 5d, 6i, 7a, 8c, 9l,10g, 11b, 12e.

I wasn’t as smart then as I amnow. But who ever is?

PUZZLE ANSWERS

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

NAME ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CITY ________________________________________STATE______________________ZIP____________________

E-mail address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This is a gift from ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Blue Ribbon Crosswords SpecialLarge-print crosswords that are fun to

solve and easy on the eyes.

■ 12 issues for $37.90 (1 YEAR)■ 24 issues for $67.20 (2 YEAR)

Blue Ribbon SudokuThe perfect magazine for every solving

ability, from one-star to four-star difficulty.


TOTAL PAYMENT ENCLOSED $_________■ Check or Money order (Payable to KAPPA PUBLISHING GROUP, INC.)

■ VISA ■ MASTERCARD # _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Expiration date: ___ / ___ Signature ______________________________________MO YR

SEND THIS MONEY-SAVING COUPON TO: KAPPA PUBLISHING GROUP, INC., PO BOX 2021, MARION, OH 43306-8121

8FCARF

PLEASE ALLOW 8 WEEKS FOR SUBSCRIPTION TO BEGIN. *CANADIAN FUNDS ACCEPTED; HOWEVER, OUTSIDE THE U.S. ADD POSTAGE: $4.20-6 ISSUES; $4.90-7 ISSUES; $8.40-12 ISSUES;$9.80-14 ISSUES. OUTSIDE U.S. AND CANADA, PAY WITH CHECK DRAWN ON A U.S. BANK OR A MONEY ORDER ISSUED IN U.S. FUNDS. OFFER EXPIRES 12/31/07.

Now here is how you can do your part to support the cause to find a cure!Subscribe to one of these magazines, and a percentage of the proceeds will go to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.

summer 2007 www.ALZinfo.org ��

ALZinfo.org

ALZinfo.org:AWorldofOnlineAlzheimer’sResourcesFrom the latest Alzheimer’s news and research studies to information on support groups and continuing care, ALZinfo.org is your essential Alzheimer’s resource center. ALZinfo.org received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator*.

Bringing the Alzheimer’s community together with message boards, online chat rooms, and more Stay up to date on the latest Alzheimer’s news

Share your own personal story with others.

Have news alerts and newsletters delivered directly to your e-mail

Provides access to listings of hundreds of thousands of professional resources in your area

Be part of the search for a cure

Create your own community page, share photos, videos, and events with others

Watch exclusive video interviews with our scientists


3 9 4 5 2 8 7 1 68 6 2 4 7 1 9 3 51 5 7 6 3 9 4 8 24 1 5 7 6 2 3 9 82 3 9 1 8 4 5 6 77 8 6 3 9 5 1 2 49 7 8 2 4 3 6 5 15 4 3 8 1 6 2 7 96 2 1 9 5 7 8 4 3














E R A S E P O L E

L A T E X E A R O F

S H O P P I N G B A G

E L S E

R E C A L L A B B E

A R A B N E A R

Y A P S A L T E R S

E A S E

F R E N C H F R I E S

D E U C E T E N O R

A C R E S T A N S

A M I I T A L L A B

P A R T N A T O E T A

S C A R E C R O W W E T

E S S A Y P E T A

C E O S R O Y A L

H O P T O I T E R I E

A L I F L O P S E D S

R E N T P R A I S E S

P O K E R S O L D

Y E A R T E A M S

A S A C A R L S A G A N

C A N E L M O L E N O

E N D S E N T S E W

Droplines

Two in the Middle

Match These

Hidden Message

Crossword 1

Crossword 2

Word-Find

Sudoku

The secret of success is to knowsomething nobody else knows.

1. polish/shine, 2. relate/tell, 3.umpire/referee, 4. verbal/aloud,5. vital/alive, 6. bench/chair, 7.admire/respect, 8. apple/lemon.

1f, 2j, 3k, 4h, 5d, 6i, 7a, 8c, 9l,10g, 11b, 12e.

I wasn’t as smart then as I amnow. But who ever is?

PUZZLE ANSWERS

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

NAME ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CITY ________________________________________STATE______________________ZIP____________________

E-mail address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This is a gift from ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Blue Ribbon Crosswords SpecialLarge-print crosswords that are fun to

solve and easy on the eyes.


Blue Ribbon SudokuThe perfect magazine for every solving

ability, from one-star to four-star difficulty.


TOTAL PAYMENT ENCLOSED $_________■ Check or Money order (Payable to KAPPA PUBLISHING GROUP, INC.)

■ VISA ■ MASTERCARD # _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Expiration date: ___ / ___ Signature ______________________________________MO YR

SEND THIS MONEY-SAVING COUPON TO: KAPPA PUBLISHING GROUP, INC., PO BOX 2021, MARION, OH 43306-8121

8FCARF

PLEASE ALLOW 8 WEEKS FOR SUBSCRIPTION TO BEGIN. *CANADIAN FUNDS ACCEPTED; HOWEVER, OUTSIDE THE U.S. ADD POSTAGE: $4.20-6 ISSUES; $4.90-7 ISSUES; $8.40-12 ISSUES;$9.80-14 ISSUES. OUTSIDE U.S. AND CANADA, PAY WITH CHECK DRAWN ON A U.S. BANK OR A MONEY ORDER ISSUED IN U.S. FUNDS. OFFER EXPIRES 12/31/07.

Now here is how you can do your part to support the cause to find a cure!Subscribe to one of these magazines, and a percentage of the proceeds will go to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.

* Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator, defines a four-star rating to mean the non-profit is “exceptional and exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause.”

Jenny Thompson. Eight Years Old. Big Sister. Avid Reader. Awesome Flute Player. Alzheimer’s Sufferer.

Because Jenny’s grandmother has Alzheimer’s, Jenny suffers. Her whole family does. Gramma doesn’t know Jenny anymore. And that hurts. Caring for Gramma takes its toll on Jenny’s Mom. And Dad. And the family finances.

But there is hope. At the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research, our team of international scientists, led by Nobel laureate Dr. Paul Greengard, is rapidly closing in on the cure. And you can help.

For more information or to donate (95¢ of every dollar we raise goes directly to our research labs), please visit ALZinfo.org or call 1-800-ALZ-INFO.

Because the devastation of Alzheimer’s doesn’t stop with the person afflicted.

WORKING TO MAKE ALZHEIMER’S NOTHING BUT AMEMORY. FOR EVERYONE.Donate now for the cure. ALZINFO.ORG 1-800-ALZ-INFO

JennyPRINTbackcover.qxd 5/15/07 5:53 PM Page 1

NONPROFITU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERmIT NO. 4

lONG PRAIRIE, mN

Zachary & Elizabeth M. Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research FoundationOne Intrepid SquareWest 46th Street & 12th AvenueNew York, NY 10036

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Preserving Your Memory:The Magazine of Health and HopeSince 1995, the Fisher Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been providing hope and help to the public by funding research into the cause, care and cure of Alzheimer’s disease and creating much needed educational programs. Over 5 million people currently suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. The Fisher Center Foundation recognizes a need to increase awareness of the disease as well as educate the public on Alzheimer’s research and patient care.

To subscribe to Preserving Your Memory, please see reverse side.

Preserving Your Memory: The Magazine of Health and HopeSubscription Rates (U.S. Residents): $16 for one year (4 issues)Complete the information below, place in a stamped envelope along with check or credit card information, and mail to:

Preserving Your Memory, c/o Vitality CommunicationsP.O. Box 18427, Greensboro, NC 27419

Or fax to: (336) 547-0768

Name:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone: ( )

E-mail address:

o Check (payment enclosed) o Please charge my: oVisa o MasterCard

Card Number: Card Expiration Date:

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Please help us increase awareness of the impact of Alzheimer’s on patients, their families and their caregivers by taking a moment to fill out this brief survey:

• Are you: Male Female (please circle one)

• Are you: 18-28 29-39 40-50 51-59 60-70 71+ (please circle one)

• Do you know of someone with Alzheimer’s disease? Y/N (circle one)

• Are you caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease? Y/N (circle one)

• Do you feel that this magazine has given you a better understanding of Alzheimer’s disease? Y/N (circle one)

• Which article in this magazine was the most helpful to you?

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Memory - Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research …35 Keeping Your Mind Sharp Brainteasers to help...

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