VitaminBlog.com

Healthnotes Newswire (July 24, 2008)—The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that bright light may help improve symptoms caused by dementia such as altered moods, disturbed sleep, and the inability to carry out activities of daily living.

Dementia is a common condition worldwide, and Alzheimer’s disease is its most common form. Dementia impairs a person’s memory and ability to think normally and is often associated with changes in behavior, mood, sleep, and the ability to carry out activities of daily living such as bathing or eating. With few simple remedies available, these symptoms create challenges for people with dementia and their caregivers.

Testing showed some clear improvements

In this study, 189 elderly people with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia were randomly assigned to receive bright light (indirect, ceiling-mounted, whole-day bright light), melatonin (2.5 mg per day), a combination of bright light and melatonin, or neither melatonin nor bright light. Treatments were given daily for an average of 15 months.

When compared with other treatments or no treatments, bright light was associated with no worsening of mental status, an improvement in depressive symptoms, and improved functioning. Melatonin alone improved the ability to fall asleep earlier and increased sleep duration but had an adverse effect on behavior and mood, and increased withdrawn behavior. Bright light plus melatonin improved sleep disturbances, improved agitated behavior and restlessness during sleep, and decreased the duration of awakenings during sleep.

The study’s authors concluded, “The simple measure of increasing the illumination level in group care facilities ameliorated symptoms of disturbed cognition, mood, behavior, functional abilities and sleep. Melatonin improved sleep, but its long-term use by elderly individuals can only be recommended in combination with light to suppress adverse effects on mood.”

People with dementia need structure and safety

Caring for a person with dementia can be challenging, but the following tips may help make it easier:

• It is important for caregivers to work closely with people who are highly trained and familiar with the specific challenges of dementia, such as geriatricians and/or social workers. These professionals can educate caregivers about ways to improve symptoms and keep a person with dementia safe from harming themselves or others. Medications may help improve symptoms or slow the condition’s progression, but many needed changes are often behavioral or environmental.

• A structured, supervised environment is important for people with moderate to severe dementia who cannot care for themselves. A stimulating and caring environment can help them stay active and functional for a longer period of time.

• Consider the following safety precautious if you are caring for someone with dementia: lock doors so that he or she cannot leave the house unsupervised and get lost; keep car keys in an inaccessible place; and put safety latches on appliances such as ovens. It is also a good idea to get a medical alert bracelet for the person under your care to wear.

(JAMA 2008;299:2642–55)

Healthnotes Newswire (June 5, 2008)—Supplementing with Chinese club moss (Huperzia serrata) may improve brain and behavioral functioning in some people with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new Cochrane Review.

The herbal Chinese club moss product, called Huperzine A, has been shown in to have positive effects on the central nervous system. This review, which included six Chinese trials and 454 patients, showed that compared with people who took placebo, certain symptoms were improved in people with Alzheimer’s disease who took Huperzine A.

“Huperzine A seems to have some beneficial effects on improvement of general cognitive function, global clinical status, behavioral disturbance, and functional performance, with no obvious serious adverse events for patients with Alzheimer’s disease,” said the study authors. They recommend further research to better understand the role of Huperzine A in the management of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that seriously impairs a person’s memory and ability to think. Eventually, the disease also affects the ability to carry out day-to-day activities and they experience behavioral changes such as wandering, agitation, and depression. Environmental and genetic factors play a role in disease development, which occurs more frequently in people over age 60. There is no cure for the disease but there are a number of drugs that have been shown to help delay brain deterioration and improve functioning.

Steps a caregiver can take to improve the life of a person with Alzheimer’s disease include the following:

• Music, art, or exercise classes that are designed specifically for people with Alzheimer’s can help stimulate their mind.

• Interaction with animals—known as pet therapy—may be helpful for people with Alzheimer’s disease. Petting animals can help relax the mind and body.

• Arranging and modifying the home environment to reduce accidents and falls is critical, as people with Alzheimer’s disease may not always have sound judgment or steady balance.

• Build a support network for both the patient and caregiver. It often takes many people to help care for a person with Alzheimer’s disease since the patient eventually becomes dependent on others for care. Support groups are available in senior centers and many local hospitals.

(Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD005592. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005592.pub2)