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	<title>Life and Memory Center</title>
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	<link>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com</link>
	<description>That Memory Guy</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 17 Jun 2013 02:49:19 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>General Anesthesia May Not Cause Dementia</title>
		<link>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/general-anesthesia-may-not-cause-dementia/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/general-anesthesia-may-not-cause-dementia/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jun 2013 02:49:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Dementia]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/?p=698</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[To quote from my article for August 2011,  “It is clear that anesthetic agents may be neurotoxic for some and more so after 60.”  This statement was predicated on findings from that time suggesting that undergoing general anesthesia may cause cognitive decline especially in the elderly.  Delirium and postoperative cognitive decline are the two most common untoward effects of surgery.  Delirium is transient and obvious but may last days to weeks.  Postoperative cognitive decline is a more long lasting condition, often subtle at first. But not so fast, understanding is a process that evolves over time and must integrate new information as it becomes available.  A new study (Mayo Clinic Proceedings, May 2013) states that there is no association between anesthesia and dementia.  The data were obtained from medical records on nearly 2000 cases.  Results were based on individuals that [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Making Rounds with Oscar</title>
		<link>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/making-rounds-with-oscar/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/making-rounds-with-oscar/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Jun 2013 02:18:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/?p=694</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I just finished reading a very interesting book that was suggested by a couple of my clients.  They are aware that I love cats.  I recall the empty feeling that Pamela and I had between cats.  Pepper, our cat of 22 years, died and we spent a year and a half without another cat.  Our home lacked completion during that time.  We are so pleased to have Gracie and Vanna add their energies to our home. Making Rounds with Oscar is set in a nursing home. David Dosa, the author of the book, and a special cat named Oscar are the two main characters in this memoir.  David Dorsa is the attending physician at a nursing home in the northeast.   Being classically trained, he begins by being skeptical about the ability of a resident cat, Oscar, to sense and to [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Treating Progressive Memory Loss – Promising New Directions</title>
		<link>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/treating-progressive-memory-loss-promising-new-directions/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/treating-progressive-memory-loss-promising-new-directions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 Jun 2013 02:07:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Alzheimer’s]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Diabetes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/?p=691</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I am often asked about potential treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.  The intention behind the question is to solicit my assessment of whether there are any medications that show promise for the future.  Anyone who has talked to me or followed my columns knows that I am frustrated by the rigid commitment and inflexibility of many clinical trials that focus on treating brain proteins called amyloids that cause the build up of plaques in the brain.  This strategy has channeled so many intellectual and financial resources into a collective tunnel vision despite many failures of the concept. There are two recent studies that merit attention in that they each add intriguing findings that are not directly connected to amyloid pathology.  They focus on slowing progressive diseases as well as suggest new strategies in the search for disease modifying treatments of Alzheimer’s [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Treating Progressive Memory Loss – Stay Engaged in Life</title>
		<link>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/treating-progressive-memory-loss-stay-engaged-in-life/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/treating-progressive-memory-loss-stay-engaged-in-life/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 May 2013 02:47:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Memory]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self Help]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/?p=689</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I just returned from a speaking engagement in Tampa where I discussed “Treating progressive memory loss.”  The thing to note in the title is that the focus is on treating memory –there’s something you can do &#8211; rather than treating a disease – there’s confusion about what to do.  The treatment for Alzheimer’s disease needs to be proactive rather than reactive.  The focus of treatment is to plan for a good life (everyone’s long-term goal regardless of memory) as you age even if your memory declines.  There are two requirements of a good treatment plan.  First, build memory supports before you need them – use the One Minute Rule.  Second, build a life of engagement.  The popular advice is to learn something new or buy a brain fitness program.  Indeed, I recently read a neurologist’s suggested treatment plan for a [...]]]></description>
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		<title>What’s Good for Your Heart is Good for Your Brain</title>
		<link>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/whats-good-for-your-heart-is-good-for-your-brain/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/whats-good-for-your-heart-is-good-for-your-brain/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2013 01:55:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/?p=686</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There is a strong belief among both the general population and medical practitioners that physical inactivity and poor diet are associated with cognitive decline as we age.  Physical conditioning and diet are closely associated with cardiovascular health that, in turn, is associated with heart disease and stroke.  Indeed, better physical condition as we age reduces some of the wear and tear of aging on the brain as evidenced by less atrophy and white matter disease with aging.  Another recent study adds to the evidence that what’s good for the heart is good for the brain.  The study (“Cardiovascular health through young adulthood and cognitive function in midlife, Annals of Neurology, 2013, 73: 170-179) followed cardiovascular health of participants over the course of 25 years starting age 18-30.  The assumption was that those who maintained greater levels of cardiovascular heath would [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>We Need More Practical Studies of Alzheimer’s Disease</title>
		<link>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/we-need-more-practical-studies-of-alzheimers-disease/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/we-need-more-practical-studies-of-alzheimers-disease/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2013 03:06:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Alzheimer’s]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dementia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medication]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/?p=682</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I keep hoping for more useful research on treatments and management techniques that may potentially benefit those with memory loss and their caregivers.  There are three recent studies that caught my attention as examples of movement in the right direction. First, “The effect of stimulation therapy and donepezil on cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease” (BMC Neurology, 2012, 12, 59).  The study compared the effects of stimulation therapy, treatment with donepezil (Aricept), or to combined treatment during the first year after diagnosis with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.  Stimulation therapy consisted of multiple elements including physical activity (e.g., dancing, walking, fitness training), as well as cognitive and social activities (e.g., reading, listening to music, crossword puzzles, reminiscence) for at least 30 minutes each day 5 times per week.  Donepezil (or placebo) was started at 5 mg and increased after four weeks [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>We Should Stop Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease</title>
		<link>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/we-should-stop-diagnosing-alzheimers-disease/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/we-should-stop-diagnosing-alzheimers-disease/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:46:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/?p=680</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I read yet another newspaper article on Alzheimer’s disease touting “early diagnosis.” Now that it is clear that brain changes of Alzheimer’s disease develop decades before there are symptoms, the push is to make a medical diagnosis well before there are any symptoms. Furthermore, if we pursue this strategy, many (based on current data as many as 30%) will be diagnosed who will never develop symptoms. We will instill fear and hopelessness needlessly. “Alzheimer’s disease’ a label that has no usefulness in the real world. Everyone with Alzheimer’s disease does not become demented. The label provides a false level of understanding along with an expectation that there is nothing that can be done. There are effective treatments for memory loss but they are not medical and therefore undervalued. Furthermore, a diagnosis should direct you to actions that tell you what [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Alzheimer’s Disease: “Mimics and Chameleons”</title>
		<link>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/alzheimers-disease-mimics-and-chameleons/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/alzheimers-disease-mimics-and-chameleons/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2013 01:35:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/?p=678</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The second most feared medical diagnosis – next to cancer – is Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia.   What is Alzheimer’s disease?  This not such an easy question to answer as it may seem.  Ultimately, the diagnosis requires confirmation by autopsy or biopsy but even here the diagnoses is uncertain.  A diagnosis is made by clinical criteria based on typical features. “Typical Alzheimer’s disease” mainly affects the elderly – onset over 65.   Most often Alzheimer’s disease is “sporadic” – meaning there is no prior family history.  The symptoms do not develop rapidly but rather come on slowly over the course of many years.  The first sign of possible Alzheimer’s disease is short-term memory slips such as forgetting conversations, getting lost, or forgetting events.  As the condition progresses there are deficits in skills in addition to memory such as [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/alzheimers-disease-mimics-and-chameleons/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Increased Levels of Fitness in Midlife Reduce the Risk of Dementia</title>
		<link>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/increased-levels-of-fitness-in-midlife-reduce-the-risk-of-dementia/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/increased-levels-of-fitness-in-midlife-reduce-the-risk-of-dementia/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Apr 2013 02:52:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Self Help]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/?p=674</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It has become increasingly clear that most progressive dementias slowly unfold over the course of several decades.  For example, Alzheimer’s disease forms decades before there are any signs or symptoms.  It doesn’t appear suddenly or show up as a “conversion” from Mild Cognitive Impairment.   This is good news.  We can be proactive by life style and planning years ahead instead of just reacting to changes after they occur.  Life style interventions must start decades before problems show themselves.  The issue to resolve is what life style changes is worth the effort.  Exercise is the one factor that is emerging as a clearly protective of the brain.  Many short-term studies have suggested that increasing levels of fitness now pays benefits for future brain health.  The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study, Cooper Clinic in Dallas, published a study that prospectively followed a large [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/increased-levels-of-fitness-in-midlife-reduce-the-risk-of-dementia/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Proactively Managing the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease</title>
		<link>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/proactively-managing-the-risk-of-alzheimers-disease/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/proactively-managing-the-risk-of-alzheimers-disease/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Mar 2013 03:01:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Alzheimer’s]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self Help]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lifeandmemorycenter.com/?p=671</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Alterations in short-term memory are the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease as well as a whole host of other brain changes that can, in time, erode our ability to make complex decisions such as handling finances or making legal documents.  The changes are subtle in onset and slow in progression.  Neither our own self-evaluation nor that of competent professionals can detect the changes by observation in the very early stages.  Despite our personal beliefs about our selves, most will not “know” when to give up the finances or when to stop driving.  Changes in memory are not the province of medicine.  Medical screenings are insensitive to early changes in memory and brain scans produce too many false positive results.  Verbal learning tests used to assess short-term memory are better at detecting risk than are biomarkers such as PET scans. We need [...]]]></description>
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