A DRUG THAT CAN SLOW ALZHEIMER’S DETERIORATION; OR MAYBE NOT! ‘Aducanumab’, which may clear from the brain the protein (beta amyloid) which forms the Alzheimer ‘plaques’, has been tested in several trials, some of which were carried out in Australia. Earlier this year a trial was stopped because there did not appear to be any or sufficient benefit demonstrated. Now the drug company has shown data that appears to show a benefit when the drug is given at higher doses…..
MAKING SENSIBLE DECISIONS AND CARRYING OUT SENSIBLE ACTIONS: Humans do this using our ‘Executive Functions’ – nothing to do with chief executive officers – everything to do with human ability to carry out (execute) actions, plans, thoughts, analysis, information processing based on our experience, knowledge and judgment about the effects of our actions. This helpful flow-chart is from Chapter 8, ‘Problems with Common Sense’ in my book ‘Your Brain in Sickness and in Health’.
Is it OK telling fibs to a person with dementia? The answer is: ‘yes and no’ or ‘it depends’. This is discussed in my book on pages 78-79 and 341-345. Rigid, dogmatic, blanket and insensitive application of ‘Reality Orientation’ or ‘Therapeutic Fibbing’ can be damaging to a person with dementia. But the account of therapeutic fibbing in the link below is helpful and not dogmatic in considering situations where this approach is necessary, indeed essential. Therapeutic Fibbing: Why Experts Recommend…..