Good Thinking™
Helping you to care for your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease
A brief history of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer’s was only discovered about 100 years ago, but people have been describing the symptoms of the disease for thousands of years. Take a look back at the history of Alzheimer’s.
What to do when your loved one wanders
• Tips • Daily living • Symptoms
You may have read about ways to prevent your loved one from wandering, but what happens if he or she does get lost? Discover some things you can do to help find your loved one quickly.
Genes and early onset Alzheimer’s
• Diagnosis • Risk of Alzheimer's disease
Three different genetic mutations can cause early onset Alzheimer’s, a rare form of the disease. Learn more about these mutations and how they affect certain families.
Can peanut butter help diagnose Alzheimer’s?
• Diagnosis • Risk of Alzheimer's disease • Tests
According to researchers at the University of Florida, yes it can. The peanut butter smell test is a promising new way for doctors to diagnose the disease.
A new connection between brain injury and Alzheimer’s
• Diagnosis • Risk of Alzheimer's disease • Prevention
Plaques similar to the ones found in people with Alzheimer’s were discovered in the brains of people with serious brain injuries. Learn more about what this could mean for the early detection of Alzheimer’s.
4 Types of activities for people with Alzheimer’s
• Tips • Daily living
Activities can be split into four general categories, and each type is important for living a balanced life. Discover some ideas for each category that can help your loved one stay active and engaged.
Lesser-known risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease
• Diagnosis • Risk of Alzheimer's disease
While some risk factors for Alzheimer’s are well known, other possible causes of the disease are less understood. Learn about some of these risk factors and how they affect the chance of developing Alzheimer’s.
The future of Alzheimer’s
• Risk of Alzheimer's disease • News
With the number of people being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s increasing every year, it’s important to understand how this growth will impact our society.
A new national plan to combat Alzheimer’s
• Risk of Alzheimer's disease • Prevention • News
In 2011, a new law was passed that requires the creation of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease. Learn more about the progress of the plan, which holds potential in the struggle against Alzheimer’s.
Caring for your loved one during each phase of Alzheimer’s
• Tips • Daily living
How you care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s will change as the disease progresses. Learn what you can do to provide the best care for your loved one during the three phases.
Managing financial concerns with Alzheimer’s
• Tips • Daily living
In addition to caring for your loved one, you may be responsible for managing his or her finances. This article can help you figure out what documents you may need and ways you can help pay for care.
10 Questions to ask about Alzheimer’s
• Diagnosis • Medical visits • Treatment
It can be easy to forget questions you want to ask your loved one’s doctor or a caregiver support group about Alzheimer’s. This list may be a helpful guide.
Alzheimer’s caregivers: Who they are and what they do
• Daily living • News
The number of Alzheimer’s caregivers is growing every year. Learning about the demographics and the economic value of Alzheimer’s caregiving helps show how important caregivers are to society.
What to do when you’ve decided to use respite care
• Tips • Daily living
You’ve decided to try respite care and take a short break from caregiving. Now what? Learn about how to prepare yourself and your loved one.
Is it Alzheimer’s or normal aging?
The differences between early warning signs of Alzheimer’s and normal aging can often be difficult to determine. It’s important to be able to identify these differences so you can determine if your loved one should see a doctor.
7 Tips for newly diagnosed Alzheimer’s
• Tips • Daily living • Treatment
The first few months after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be challenging for everyone involved. You can use this advice to help get organized, set routines, and prepare for long-term caregiving.
Using multiple Alzheimer’s therapies
• Tips • Daily living
Your loved one may be taking several therapies for Alzheimer’s and other conditions, which can make keeping tabs on them all difficult. Read about some strategies that can help you manage your loved one’s therapies so that they stay on track.
10 Tips to help with sleep issues and sundowning
• Tips • Daily living • Symptoms
Sleep issues and sundowning are common among people with Alzheimer’s. If your loved one experiences either condition, check out these 10 helpful tips for managing nighttime issues.
Brain imaging for Alzheimer’s
• Diagnosis • Prevention • Tests
Your loved one probably received a brain scan to aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. Now, new brain scan technology may help doctors diagnose the disease years before symptoms start, opening up future treatment possibilities.
6 Interesting facts about Alzheimer’s disease
• Diagnosis • Risk of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer’s is one of the most common diseases affecting older people in the United States. Discover some thought-provoking facts about Alzheimer’s and the impact it has on the people who have it, their caregivers, and society as a whole.
What is a medical food?
Medical foods are potential therapy options for many different diseases, including Alzheimer’s. Learn more about what medical foods are and their long history of helping people.
10 Symptoms of caregiver stress
• Tips • Daily living • Symptoms
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be challenging and lead to increased levels of stress. By reading about common symptoms of caregiver strain, you can learn the early warning signs and take steps to reduce your stress.
Doctors and caregivers — the communication gap
In a recent study, caregivers and doctors of people with Alzheimer’s were asked about the disease and its treatment. Find out some of the results of the study and what they mean for the relationship between you and your loved one’s doctor.
Are you an Alzheimer’s caregiver?
• Tips • Daily living
Check out this brand new information about the four different types of Alzheimer’s caregivers. Discover what group you identify with and how each group behaves differently.
Dr. Isaacson’s tips: Keeping the mind active
• Tips • Daily living • Dr. Isaacson
In the last of his three guest posts, Alzheimer’s expert Dr. Richard Isaacson provides six ways to keep the mind active that may be helpful to you and your loved one.
Learn about support groups
• Tips • Daily living
Too much stress can cause anger, depression, and other health problems. One way to help manage stress related to caregiving is to visit a support group. Read about the benefits of caregiver support groups and how to find the right one for you.
Dr. Isaacson’s tips: Activities
• Tips • Daily living • Dr. Isaacson
Board-certified neurologist and Alzheimer’s expert Dr. Richard Isaacson is back for another guest post. This time, he recommends exercise and other activities that can help keep your loved one moving.
6 Foods to help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease
• Tips • Daily living
You’ve heard of heart-healthy foods, but did you know that there are many foods that are brain healthy? Discover some items to add to your diet that have vital nutrients that may help improve brain function and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Talking to your loved one about giving up driving
• Tips • Daily living
At some point after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, your loved one will have to give up driving. Deciding when and how to make that decision can be daunting. Read tips for talking with your loved one that can make the conversation go smoother.
Dr. Isaacson’s tips: Nutritional advice
• Tips • Daily living • Dr. Isaacson
Board-certified neurologist and Alzheimer’s expert Dr. Richard Isaacson’s guest post offers helpful advice about changes to your diet that can improve brain health and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.
What are the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease?
• Diagnosis • Symptoms • Risk of Alzheimer's disease
Many of the signs of Alzheimer’s, like forgetfulness and confusion, are pretty well known. Still, it’s important to learn more about what specifically to look for. Understanding the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s will help if you think a loved one is at risk.
Can Alzheimer’s disease be prevented?
• Risk of Alzheimer's disease • Prevention
While Alzheimer’s can’t be entirely prevented, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t things you can do to potentially lower the risk. Learn about some of the things you can try, so you can start incorporating them into your everyday life.
Who can provide an Alzheimer’s diagnosis?
• Diagnosis • Symptoms • Medical visits
It can vary from situation to situation. Your best bet is to go see a primary care physician, who can then recommend what other doctors to visit. No matter what, you are a vital part of the process. Doctors might use observations you make about your loved one to help make an accurate diagnosis.
Is it Alzheimer’s disease or normal aging?
This can be a pressing question facing people as they age, because it can often be very difficult to tell the difference between ordinary forgetfulness and something more serious. Learn to distinguish between normal behavior and actions that might be early warning signs of Alzheimer’s.
Is there a special test for Alzheimer’s disease?
• Diagnosis • Medical visits • Tests
There is no one test that can tell if a person has Alzheimer’s. Instead, a doctor may order several tests and use the information to make a diagnosis. It’s important to learn about these tests, because early diagnosis can help people with Alzheimer’s benefit from therapy.
Quick and easy ideas for Alzheimer’s caregivers at home
• Tips • Daily living
Facing a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is difficult for caregivers and their loved ones. As your loved one begins to lose his or her short-term memory and experience other symptoms related to dementia, there are some easy things caregivers can do to make life more manageable.
Easing your loved one’s transition to living with Alzheimer’s
• Tips • Daily living
It’s not easy for our loved ones in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia to accept that they are no longer able to complete simple everyday tasks. But too much coddling can result in arguments, temper tantrums, depression, and resentment. The best advice for a caregiver just starting out is to transition gradually.
About Good Thinking
Good Thinking is for caregivers like you, supporting you as you face the daily challenges of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease. We’re here to provide information and inspiration to help you take care of yourself and enhance the care you give every day.
