Memory Care

A Positive Attitude About Aging May Help Reverse Memory Loss

woman thinking positively about aging and cognition

When it comes to avoiding age-related memory loss, your outlook about getting older might make a difference.

In a new study published in JAMA Network Open, people with mild cognitive impairment were 30 percent more likely to recover lost memory function when they had a positive attitude about aging than when they had negative feelings about getting older.

“I think there is an assumption that people who develop mild cognitive impairment are inevitably going to get worse,” says study coauthor Becca Levy, PhD, a professor of epidemiology and psychology at Yale School of Public Health in New Haven, Connecticut. “Half the people who develop mild cognitive impairment improve and regain normal cognition.”

The new study set out to explore why some people with mild cognitive impairment improve, while others do not.

Read the entire article HERE for more detailed information.

This information provided courtesy of EVERYDAY HEALTH By Lisa Rapaport.

Get Social – with Music

“Music is very spiritual; it has the power to bring people together.” Edgar Winter

Music is good for the soul and a path to wellness. Engaging with music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure and pain, as well as age-related cognitive decline. Music stirs emotions that can improve sleep quality and is a powerful regulator of mood.

Read the entire article HERE for more detailed information.

This information provided courtesy of Senior Planet, excerpted from an article written by David Biederman. 

Sundowners Syndrome: Facts, Misconceptions, & Tips for Care

Sundowners syndrome,” “sundowning,” and other similar terms are commonly used in hospitals and long-term care environments when older patients become confused or agitated in the late afternoon, evening, or nighttime. But did you know that the whole concept of sundowning is somewhat controversial? This topic makes some caregivers and medical professionals uncomfortable for exactly that reason. They believe that opportunities for better care and treatment of patients with dementia may get missed due to this concept being too casually used to explain problematic behavior.

That’s why it’s essential to understand what sundowning is—and what it’s not. When you know how and why terminology like “sundown syndrome” gets applied (or misapplied) to various behaviors, you can take steps to improve the quality of life for the person you care about. This article will help clarify some of the popular misconceptions you may have encountered.

Read the entire article HERE for more detailed information.

This information provided courtesy of Great Senior Living.