Happy New Year! Stanford May Have Just Cured Alzheimer’s

by Rod D. Martin | Jan 1, 2015 | Rod's Blog, Tech Blog

If indeed Stanford University researchers have discovered an Alzheimer’s cure, 2015 may be as great a year as 1915 was a catastrophe.
It turns out that solving one of man’s worst nightmares may be a simple matter of boosting the immune system. The Telegraph reports:

Researchers discovered that nerve cells die because cells which are supposed to clear the brain of bacteria, viruses and dangerous deposits, stop working.

These cells, called ‘microglia’ function well when people are young, but when they age, a single protein called EP2 stops them operating efficiently.

Now scientists have shown that blocking the protein allows the microglia to function normally again so they can hoover up the dangerous sticky amyloid-beta plaques which damage nerve cells in Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers found that, in mice, blocking EP2 with a drug reversed memory loss and myriad other Alzheimer’s-like features in the animals.

One other interesting possibility. The researchers genetically engineered some mice not to have EP2 at all. In those mice, they were unable to induce dementia, suggesting an even more advanced cure down the line.
Alzheimer’s is America’s sixth leading cause of death. 36 million people have Alzheimer’s worldwide, and only 1-in-4 have been diagnosed. 1-in-9 Americans over 65 have it, and 1-in-3 Americans over 85. 2-in-3 Alzheimer’s patients are women, and the disease is twice as likely in blacks and Hispanics. The human cost is incalculable; the financial cost is pretty staggering too, at over $220 billion annually in the United States alone.
And this year, or as soon as the FDA will allow your grandmother to get help anyway, all of that may just go away.
Happy New Year!
SEE ALSO:
New Alzheimer’s Drug Shows Promise In Early Trial.
Closing in on the Cure: New Alzheimer’s Treatment Complete Restores Memory Function
A $1 Billion Prize to Cure Alzheimer’s?



http://rodmartin.org/happy-new-year-stanford-may-just-cured-alzheimers/#

Act Now for the Elder Justice Act

I cared for my mother for 13 years who expressed her gratitude in the repeated phrase of “what do old women do who don’t have a daughter.” In pursuing my career as a social worker servicing vulnerable older adults I discovered the answer to this question.

Take for instance, Elaine, a wealthy New York'er who had many friends from years of working and years of acting in community theaters, as well as from the role of the wife of a university professor. In early cognitive decline, she did not recognize the devious designs of her sister’s daughter, who had supposedly come to help while Elaine’s husband was in rehab. The niece first isolated her from all her friends, near and far, and next accompanied Elaine on a cruise while the niece’s boyfriend absconded with the contents of Elaine’s home. Also over a hundred thousand dollars was removed from Elaine and her husband’s accounts before the husband was alerted. Meanwhile, Elaine was transported to Texas and deposited into a nursing home.

Or take David, on the other hand, who struggled hard all his life to make a living. But by his 70’s, he owned his small frame home, had a pre-need funeral–plan, and a nice little retirement savings. With his savings to supplement his social security, he should have been able to live a good long time, providing he lived frugally. By the time APS stepped in and actually rescued him, David’s nephew with friends, had emptied his savings, cashed in his burial plan, burned down his garage to collect the insurance, all the while cashing his monthly social security checks.

These two were lucky compared to the disabled grandmother whose grand-daughter allowed her to lay in her filth without benefit of medication or medical attention for so long that she had worn through her thin mattress top and the wire’s of the springs below were imbedded into her flesh.

One study suggests that in the United States 4% of all adults older than 65 are subjected to some form of elder abuse. Another estimates that there are 6 million victims of Elder abuse in America today and that only one out of 24 cases are reported to authorities. An estimated $2.9 billion a year is believed to be lost by financially exploited older adults.

No one, no race, no ethnicity, no level of economic security, no social status, no number of children and grand-children provides exemption from the possibility of being abused, neglected, or exploited often by someone thought to be worthy of trust.

The first federal law targeting the prevention of elder abuse is the Elder Justice Act passed though insertion into Obama’s Health Care Initiative in 2010. The strategies of this act can be bundled into three components. First is the creation of entities to research the most effective methods to reduce elder abuse including the gathering of more accurate statistics. Second has to do with the provision of both grants and incentives to improve state regulatory services including ombudsman programs and the now inadequately funded adult protective services. The third is to ensure that facilities providing elder care institute effective self-reporting procedures and require criminal background checks for care providers. But in order for this Elder Justice Act to have any effect it needs to be funded now and the act must be renewed by September.

What does an old woman do who does not have a loving daughter? She counts on you to call and write your federal representatives and let them know you want protection for elder adults with funding of the Elder Justice Act. Please act now to protect the vulnerable older adults of America. written by Beverly Jo Flach LMSW TxCG

THE BACK NINE

VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING. MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK. READ SLOWLY!

AND THEN IT IS WINTER

You know ... time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.

But, here it is... the "back nine" of my life and it catches me by surprise...How did I get here so fast? Where did
the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that "I was only on the first hole" and the "back nine" was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.

But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting gray...they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me...but, I see the great change...Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd become.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so...now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know, that though I'm on the "back nine", and I'm not sure how long it will last...this I know, that when it's over on this earth...it's over. A new adventure will begin! Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done...things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime.

So, if you're not on the "back nine" yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can
never be sure whether you're on the "back nine" or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!

"Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one. LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY ! HAVE A GREAT DAY Remember "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver. LIVE HAPPY IN 2014!

LASTLY, CONSIDER THIS: ~Your kids are becoming you......but your grandchildren are perfect! ~Going out is good.. Coming home is better! ~You forget names.... But it's OK because other people forgot they even knew you!!! ~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything.... especially golf. ~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore. ~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep". ~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch.. ~You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"..." ??? ~Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere. ~You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!! ~What used to be freckles are now liver spots. ~Everybody whispers. ~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will never wear. ~~~But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!

Stay well, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!" and let them
laugh in AGREEMENT!!! It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived.

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE, SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.

GROWING OLDER AND GROWING UP

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?'

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze..

'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked.

She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...'

'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.

We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up t o the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.
Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.'

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, ' We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.

We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!

There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.

If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.

Anybody! Can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.

The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets..'

She concluded her speech by courageously singing 'The Rose.'

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those months ago.

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

Over two thousand college students attended her fu neral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!

These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a Living by what we get. We make a Life by what we give.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

GRANDPA'S HANDS...

      I'll  never look at my hands the  same!

 

Grandpa,  some  ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. He   didn't move, just sat with his head down staring at his   hands. When I sat down beside him he didn't acknowledge my  presence  and  the longer I sat,  I wondered  if he was  OK.

Finally,  not really wanting to disturb  him but wanting to check on him at the same time, I asked  him if  he was OK.

He  raised his head  and looked at me and smiled.  "Yes, I'm  fine.  Thank you for  asking," he said in a clear strong  voice.

"I  didn't mean to  disturb you, Grandpa, but you were just  sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make  sure you were  OK," I explained to him.  

"Have  you ever  looked at your hands," he asked.  "I mean really  looked at  your hands?"  

I  slowly opened my  hands and stared down at them. I turned  them over, palms

up and then palms down. No, I guess I had  never really  looked at my hands  as I

tried to  figure out the point he was making. Grandpa  smiled and  related this story:

"Stop  and think  for a moment about the hands you have, how they  have  served you well throughout your years. These hands,  though  wrinkled, shriveled, and weak  have been the tools  I  have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace  life.  They put food in my mouth and clothes on my  back.  

 

*  As a  child  my mother taught me to fold them in prayer.

*  They  tied my shoes and pulled on my boots.

*  They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and   bent.

*  They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son.

*  Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married  and loved  someone special.

*  They  trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse and walked my daughter down the  aisle. 

*  They  have  covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. 

*  They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. 

*  And  to this  day, when not much of anything else of me works real  well, these hands hold me up, lay me down, and  again continue to fold in prayer.

*  These  hands  are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of my life.

*  But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home.

*  And  with my  hands He will lift me to His side and there I  will use  these hands to touch the face of  Christ."

 

I will  never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out  and took my grandpa's hands and led him  home.

When  my hands are  hurt or sore I think of Grandpa.  I know he  has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of  God.   I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His  hands upon my face.

When  you receive  this, say a prayer for the person who sent it to you and  watch God's answer to prayer work in your life.  Let's continue praying for one another.

 

 

Healing power of music

Here are a couple of video's that shed some light on how music can influence Alzheimer's patients.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XLdSdfuMz8

Henry's Story

Enjoy

The gift of music experienced!!

Try this link to see how aging can bless your life and the life of others around you. Share what you have. Click anywhere in this post to see the video.