dementia | Millennium Memory Care

A Creative Therapeutic Approach That Truly Works!

Posted on November 11, 2019 by Michael Barry

By Galina Markovich Director, Millennium Memory Care November 1st, 2019 was a milestone in the story of Millennium Memory Care (MMC). It was on that day that we celebrated MMC’s six-year anniversary. When we began, we initially just accepted residents with different types of dementia. But as I saw that more and more people were sent to psychiatric hospitals from other facilities, I decided...
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Alzheimer’s Experts Shift Focus from Research to Prevention

Posted on November 4, 2019November 5, 2019 by Michael Barry

Everyone is hoping for the miracle cure that can stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Significant research resources are aimed at finding this miracle cure to help the estimated 16 million people expected to become afflicted with Alzheimer’s by 2050. But Alzheimer’s disease is not an inevitability for all older people, even those considered to be at high risk. While som...
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Difficulties Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease

Posted on October 21, 2019October 22, 2019 by Michael Barry

Alzheimer’s disease can be challenging for physicians to detect at an early stage if patients themselves do not recognize the warning signs or are reluctant to communicate their concerns. Often, it is family members or friends who observe signs of dementia even before the patient is aware they have a problem. There is still no definitive test for detecting Alzheimer’s disease, so a careful medi...
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Is it Alzheimer’s or Just Forgetfulness?

Posted on October 1, 2019October 2, 2019 by Michael Barry

We all forget things from time to time. You might occasionally misplace your keys or forget the name of someone you just met. When forgetfulness starts becoming more frequent, is it a sign of Alzheimer’s? The characteristic symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include more than just occasional forgetfulness. Other signs that may indicate the presence of Alzheimer’s disease include the decline of fam...
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Can Obesity in Adolescence Influence Cognitive Function in Adulthood?

Posted on September 24, 2019September 25, 2019 by Michael Barry

We are all well aware of the many negative health consequences associated with obesity and having a high Body Mass Index, or BMI. Body Mass Index is a calculation of a person’s weight divided by the square of their height. A high BMI is associated with being overweight or obese. A number of studies have already documented how obesity in adults can affect cognitive function but, until recently, ...
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Testing for Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease

Posted on September 10, 2019September 11, 2019 by Michael Barry

The familiar symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include forgetfulness, speech difficulties, confusion and inability to form memories. But the telltale biological markers of Alzheimer’s disease begin to take hold in the brain well before any of these outward signs become apparent. In Alzheimer’s patients, amyloid plaques and tangles of tau proteins form and accumulate in the brain which can lead to...
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A “Sniff Test” May Enhance Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

Posted on August 27, 2019August 28, 2019 by Michael Barry

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine have found that using a simple “sniff test” could boost the accuracy of diagnosing cognitive impairment. Scientists are already aware that individuals in early stages of Alzheimer’s find their sense of smell quickly deteriorates. Researchers found that when administering standard cognitive tests, adding a sniff test in ...
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How Rehabilitation Can Help People with Dementia

Posted on August 20, 2019August 21, 2019 by Michael Barry

Patients with physical injuries or impairments can turn to physical therapy or rehabilitation to help them improve or regain physical functioning. But according to Linda Clare, Professor of Clinical Psychology of Aging and Dementia at the University of Exeter, cognitive rehabilitation can be just as important for dementia and cognitive impairment. While we have come a long way in recognizing th...
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Can Mild Exercise Delay Cognitive Decline?

Posted on August 13, 2019August 14, 2019 by Michael Barry

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Public Health recently found in a study that mild exercise, in the form of walking for 30 minutes four times per week, resulted in detectable changes in brain regions believed to be related to cognitive impairment. All study participants engaged in the same walking program for the three-month study. One group of participants was comprised of h...
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Alzheimer’s and Animal-Assisted Therapy

Posted on July 30, 2019July 31, 2019 by Michael Barry

Alzheimer’s and Animal-Assisted Therapy Anyone who owns a pet knows the value of that relationship. Pets offer companionship and love, and even lower blood pressure and heart rate. Increasingly, there are many studies that show how important the person-animal relationship can be for people living with Alzheimer’s. When Alzheimer’s patients spend time with animals (dogs, cats, fish, birds...
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