BRAIN HEALTH FOLLOWING SURGERY AND ANAESTHESIA FOR OLDER PEOPLE. Immediately following surgery with an anaesthetic older people may become temporarily confused – suffering from ‘delirium’. Up to 65% of older patients may develop postoperative delirium of varying degrees. Once this confusion has cleared, which may take many months, most recover fully but some may continue to show signs of deteriorated cognitive function (especially learning/memory and executive functions) or even clear-cut dementia. Some older people will show signs of deteriorated cognitive…..

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A very large and well designed study from Glasgow strongly supports an association in professional football players between heading the ball and, later in life, ‘neurodegenerative disease’ (dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, non-Alzheimer dementia, motor neuron disease, and Parkinson’s disease). Five percent of the former soccer players were identified with a neurodegenerative disease diagnosis compared with a neurodegenerative disease diagnosis compared with 1.6 percent of matched population control people. Risk of neurodegenerative disease was highest for defenders and lowest for goalkeepers. Defenders…..

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PROLONGED COVID SYMPTOMS (‘LONG COVID’) AFFECTING BRAIN AND OTHER FUNCTIONS. In a recent German study, at 12 months after onset of Covid symptoms, only 22.9% of people were completely free of symptoms. [because of ‘selection bias’ in the study – see below* – the percentage of people without long covid symptoms at 12 months is likely to be less than 22.9%] Most frequently reported symptoms were: reduced exercise capacity (56.3%), fatigue (53.1%), breathlessness (37.5%), concentration problems (26.0%), problems finding words…..

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A recent opinion paper in the well respected Journal ‘Neurology’ nicely summarises research about the ‘glymphatic system’ in our brain. This system, only recently understood, drains fluid from our brain in a way similar to the way the ‘lymphatic’ system drains fluid from our arms and legs. The glymphatic system particularly works during sleep and probably has a major role in clearing away various break-down products of proteins, peptides and solutes. We know that some of these substances, such as…..

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The US Food and Drug Administration has approved this drug (aducanumab or Aduhelm) under their accelerated approval program ‘which provides patients suffering from a serious disease earlier access to drugs when there is an expectation of the clinical benefit despite some uncertainty about the clinical benefit of the drug’. The drug has been shown by brain imaging to reduce brain Amyloid Beta Plaque, which appears to be an important component of the Alzheimer process. One study also showed that the…..

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I just saw a wonderful film about dementia and more by Florian Zeller: ‘THE FATHER’ with Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman and other exceptional actors. Hopkins plays a man experiencing dementia. Colman plays his daughter experiencing the stress and distress associated with her dad’s condition. I won’t spoil it by giving any more detail but I recommend it for everybody who has (or hasn’t!) any involvement with the scourge of dementia. Among many other things, the film raises issues about communicating…..

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A question that comes around again and again. The answer is: ‘yes and no’ or ‘it depends’ but telling fibs should not be ruled out as a way of helping This is discussed in my book on pages 78-79 and 341-345. Rigid, dogmatic, blanket and insensitive application of either ‘Reality Orientation’ or ‘Therapeutic Fibbing’ can be damaging to a person with dementia. This UK Alzheimer’s Society blog (see link) discusses this in practical, wise and compassionate terms. For instance: ‘recognising…..

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OLIVER SACKS: HIS OWN LIFE. A film directed by Ric Burns. I recently saw this documentary film about Oliver Sacks – neurologist, observer of humanity and storyteller. Sacks died in 2015 with melanoma. The film starts, just a few months before his death, with a gathering of people close to him. It explores his life, works, humanity, personal foibles and challenges, and his huge contribution to popular understanding of variants and abnormalities of brain function. If you go to see…..

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APATHY: A POSSIBLE EARLY SIGN OF DEMENTIA. The affected person may reduce their usual social and other activities and sometimes be less concerned about their personal care. They may also have difficulties planning and carrying out more than the most simple activities without prompting. None of these behaviours need to be a matter of concern unless they represent a change for that person. Apathy can challenge the person’s family and professional carers/caregivers who may think that the person is depressed…..

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CLAIM OF ‘BEATING’ ALZHEIMER’S OVERBLOWN AND MISLEADING This ANU press release taken up by many websites and media including the ABC states ‘It may be possible to prevent Alzheimer’s disease for those experiencing cognitive decline’. It may be possible but THIS STUDY DOES NOT ESTABLISH THAT AT ALL. Many other studies have now confirmed that the RISK of developing dementia (including Alzheimer’s – one cause of dementia) can probably be reduced by adopting diet and lifestyle changes. The ANU study…..

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