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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AZHEIMER’S WIFE & CARER STORY: often told but always worth repeating. A full account of the Alzheimer’s carer journey written by Dr Muriel Porter, whose husband developed Alzheimer’s and who is now in an Aged Care Facility (Nursing Home), shut down and unvisited because of covid 19. A story of ongoing grief and courageous coping. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-29/aged-care-living-with-unmourned-grief/12570328

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BLOOD TEST FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. PROMISING – BUT. The blood test (for P-Tau 217) examined in this research (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2768841) appears to distinguish Alzheimer’s disease from other common causes of dementia. That is potentially useful for research and could be practically and clinically useful as well, for at least two reasons: (1) to provide a diagnosis – an explanation for a person experiencing problems with functions such as memory or word-finding. (2) to allow early interventions which could stop or slow…..

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Using MRI imaging it is now possible to picture in detail the nerve connections between different parts of the brain – the ‘connectome’, the wiring diagram. This Scientific American article describes some studies comparing connections in different animals. One huge seven year study by Yaniv Assef and Yossi Yovel compares the brains of 123 mammalian species. Another by Martijn van den Heuvel compared our brain connections to those of chimpanzees and found that, although we share 255 connections, 33 connections…..

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