Bexar County among top 10 counties in Texas for Alzheimerโs prevalence, new data shows
When it comes to the highest prevalence of Alzheimer's and dementia across the state Bexar county comes in seventh. This brand new information comes from the Alzheimer's Association, in the first ever report that lists numbers by county instead of by state.
Some prescriptions could put you at risk for dementia
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Worldwide, about 50 million people have dementia, a condition thatโs characterized by a decline in memory, thinking, behavior, and the ability to perform everyday tasks. Could the drugs you take put you at risk for dementia? In a review of 21 studies, scientists found a 46 percent increase risk for dementia if you take anticholinergics drugs for three months or longer. Some examples include: antidepressants, such as Paxil, Parkinsonโs drugs, anti-psychotic meds like clozapine, urinary bladder relaxers like enablex, some anti-nausea drugs, asthma meds, muscle relaxants, antihistamines -- including Benadryl --, and anti-seizure drugs. Not all anticholinergics are linked to an increased dementia risk, but the ones that affect primarily the brain are of greatest concern.
Red flags: Spotting signs of dementia
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) โ November is National Alzheimerโs Disease Month. While getting diagnosed early on can offer a better outcome, itโs often hard to recognize the signs. Alzheimerโs disease robs people of their memories, their abilities, and their personalities. Recognizing the red flags early on may help you get better care. One of the most obvious signs is memory loss, but itโs forgetfulness that disrupts daily life, such as repeatedly forgetting important events or asking questions again and again.
Negative thinking linked to dementia in later life, but you can learn to be more positive
A new study found that repetitive negative thinking in later life was linked to cognitive decline and greater deposits of two harmful proteins responsible for Alzheimer's disease. Negative thinking behaviors such as rumination about the past and worry about the future were measured in over 350 people over the age of 55 over a two-year period. "Taken alongside other studies, which link depression and anxiety with dementia risk, we expect that chronic negative thinking patterns over a long period of time could increase the risk of dementia," Marchant said. The researchers suggest that mental training practices such as meditation might help promoting positive thinking while reducing negative thoughts, and they plan future studies to test their hypothesis. That's probably because optimists tend to have better health habits, said cardiologist Dr. Alan Rozanski, a professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who studies optimism's health impacts.