“Years Later, No Magic Bullet Against Alzheimer’s Disease”

This a very discouraging article about preventing Alzheimer’s Disease or delaying its progression in today’s New York Times (nytimes.com):

www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/health/research/29prevent.html

Years Later, No Magic Bullet Against Alzheimer’s Disease
By Gina Kolata
The New York Times
Published: August 28, 2010

My online friend Ed Plowman pointed out that it would’ve been helpful if an update had been provided in the article about the pool of evidence found for genetics in AD.

Robin

 

Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior in PSP

These Japanese researchers studied the “obsessive-compulsive symptoms” (OCS) in PSP. The purpose of their study “is to investigate OCS in PSP in terms of the incidence, clinical features, associations with demography, cognition, and structural and functional imaging, and to propose possible mechanisms behind this specific behavioral psychological symptom of dementia of PSP.”

In the 74 patients studied, 24% had OCS, which the authors consider a “relatively high incidence.” “They were obsessed with daily trifles and physical symptoms among other things.” The authors conclude: “OCS are frequent but under-recognized behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in PSP.”

I wonder if other researchers view OCS as a dementia symptom?

You might be wondering about OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder. The authors describe OCD as “another psychiatric disorder that is defined as recurrent and persistent thoughts that are experienced as intrusive and inappropriate and cause marked anxiety or distress.” In the full article, the authors say:

“Although similar, we found some differences between OCD and OCS. Obsessive ideas and compulsive behaviors appear unreasonable and excessive to caregivers and medical staff more than the patient. PSP patients with OCS are more likely to react to obsessions autonomously or in an environmentally-dependent fashion rather than being forced to cope with these unreasonable ideas and harassed with anxiety or conflicts. … Unawareness or anosognosia for these symptoms clearly delineates them from OCD.”

The authors also point out that OCS is different from the delusions or hallucinations that are part of Dementia with Lewy Bodies.

The abstract is copied below.

Robin


Dementia & Geriatric Cognitive Disorders. 2010 Aug 26;30(2):179-188. [Epub ahead of print]

Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior as a Symptom of Dementia in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

Fukui T, Lee E, Hosoda H, Okita K.
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Neurology, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.

Abstract
Aims: To describe obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) as under-recognized behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and to discuss possible mechanisms based on MRI and SPECT findings.

Methods: We studied 74 PSP patients. OCS are defined as persistent and unreasonable, but non-delusional/hallucinatory, ideas and behaviors. Demography, cognition, the widths of middle cerebellar peduncles (MCP) and the inter-caudate distances (ICD), both corrected by the intracranial size (MCP and ICD ratios), and changes on voxel-based SPECT were compared between the subgroups with and without OCS. Finally, the predicative power of various factors to OCS was investigated.

Results: We observed OCS in 18 patients (24%). They were obsessed with daily trifles and physical symptoms among other things. OCS was not associated with demography or cognitive levels.

OCS-positive patients had significantly smaller MCP and ICD ratios and showed marked uptake decreases in the orbitofrontal cortex, caudate and thalamus. Relative uptake increases in the cerebellum, specifically the tonsils, were milder in OCS-positive than -negative patients. A smaller right MCP, a smaller ICD ratio and lower uptake increases in the right cerebellar were the significant predictors of OCS.

Conclusions: OCS are frequent but under-recognized behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in PSP. Dysfunction of the fronto-caudate-thalamus-cerebellum circuit may be involved.

PubMed ID#: 20798538 (see pubmed.gov for abstract only)

Apathy and sleep disturbance in PSP

In this letter, researchers report on a UK study of behavioral symptoms in 185 patients with PSP.

They found apathy to be the most characteristic behavioral feature. The researchers say: “Our results confirm…the view that the apathetic syndrome in PSP constitutes an independent entity that cannot simply be accounted for by depression.”

And, the researchers found that sleep disturbance is a major problem in PSP. “[Sleep] disturbance which, like motivation, showed a linear increase with disease duration. Unfortunately, the data available did not allow us to explore the nature of the sleep disturbance in more detail.”

The researchers conclude as follows: “The findings are of practical relevance in that care-givers can be reassured that the disease is unlikely to lead to aggressive, challenging, unpredictable or dangerous behaviours, which can be so distressing to those involved in care of bvFTD patients. However, the recognition of apathy as an integral, organically explainable feature of the disease, rather than a sign of rejection or disinterest, might reassure the care-givers and help them to develop better coping strategies.”

There is no abstract. The citation is below.

Robin

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 2010 Sep;81(9):1057-9.

Letter
Behavioural symptoms in progressive supranuclear palsy and frontotemporal dementia.

Bak TH, Crawford LM, Berrios G, Hodges JR.
Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.

A husband’s perspective on caring for his wife

Though this webinar has “PSP” in the title, this webinar about caring for a person with a neurodegenerative disease is applicable to everyone in our support group. It’s one of the best webinars I’ve heard.

CurePSP has a new approach to its educational webinars. They are no longer live events but are pre-recorded and then posted to psp.org. I received word this morning that a webinar recorded on 6/29/10 has been posted to psp.org:

Topic: Caring for a PSP Patient – The Husband’s Perspective
Presenter: Chris de Brauw (the husband of someone with PSP)
Date: June 29, 2010

[Editor’s note:  this link is no longer working —
http://psporg.presencehost.net/file_download/e6926b2b-842b-4c2f-9968-c7cbf31e3304 ]

This is one of the best webinars I’ve heard because lots of practical information is passed along. And Chris is obviously a loving and devoted husband.

Here are some notes I took during this 60-minute webinar.

Robin

=========================

Notes taken by Robin Riddle

Topic: Caring for a PSP Patient – The Husband’s Perspective
Presenter: Chris de Brauw (the husband of someone with PSP)
Date: June 29, 2010
CurePSP Webinar

(Mr.) Chris de Brauw and his wife Ann live in Evanston, IL. In his webinar, Chris encourages people not to put off their dreams.

As is typical with so many PSP families, the path to the PSP diagnosis is a long one. In 2004, there were the first signs of something not being right. There were major falls in 2005 on. For two years, Ann was diagnosed by various neurologists as having some type of dementia (vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s, FTD with MND or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, etc). Chris’s father had AD so Chris knew it wasn’t AD. Ann had good balance in the neurologists’ offices but had poor balance at home. A neurosurgeon attributed all the trouble to spinal stenosis and Ann had neck surgery (spinal laminectomy). It appeared for a week that the surgery was helpful but then the falling started again.

Finally, in December 2007, Dr. Tanya Simuni, a movement disorder specialist with Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, came up with the diagnosis of PSP, which finally gave recognition to Ann’s balance and movement issues. Chris was already thinking that Ann might have PSP. Since that time, the family has received excellent help from NMH, the Rehab Institute of Chicago, and a care agency.

With the PSP diagnosis, finally the family knew how to deal with falls! “Knowing what we are dealing with has enabled us to manage the disease, and maintain some level of sanity. These rare brain diseases need better awareness in the medical community.” It’s critical that neurologists in particular know the diagnostic tools.

A social worker from Northwestern Memorial named Diane Breslow speaks in the webinar as well. Diane is on the CurePSP Board. She says that it’s not unusual for the patient to behave differently in the doctor’s office than at home. It’s important for caregivers to tell the MD what’s going on at home.

Chris notes that the limited research into these diseases is progressing very slowly and in piecemeal fashion, the research “will not benefit us directly. Our reality is that we are dealing with a degenerative, incurable condition that, ultimately, will be terminal. I have to accept this. What I can do and must do is to make this process as positive as possible.” As the Dalai Lama says: “Human suffering is everywhere, but being happy or unhappy remains a personal choice.”

One way to do that is to realize that you can’t do this alone and develop a support system. The support system includes medical and therapeutic support, a therapist for the caregiver, a social worker for the family, day-to-day care support, and family/friends/community.

Diane notes that support groups can be very helpful. Peer-to-peer support is an option. Palliative and hospice care can be very helpful at the appropriate time. There is no one single support that will be the answer. The support system can change over time.

The family’s first social worker was a free-lancer recommended by one of the neurologists. The social worker recommended the family move out of their Victorian home, where Ann kept falling on stairs. Another recommendation was that Ann get a personal trainer. Marla Brodsky, the trainer, has been working with Ann twice a week for nearly four years. They work on (or have worked on) balance, strength, flexibility, swallowing exercises, and walking. Marla is also a nutrition expert.

Friends and family now donate towards Ann having a bouquet of flowers each week.

Chris encourages families to keep going out to the same restaurants and stores. People in the restaurants and stores become helpful again.

Chris’s goals for staying positive:
1. Do whatever I can to keep Ann as well as possible for as long as possible
2. Keep our lives as “normal” as possible
3. Give Ann control over things she can control
4. Blame the disease when things happen
5. Learn to accept help
6. Look for easier, safer solutions
7. Keep people in the loop
8. Slow down
9. Make sure I take care of myself, and our caretakers

For goal #1, this is what they’ve done:
* Moved out of our house, into a condo all on one level
* Ann’s personal trainer
* Never gave up looking for a cause when the diagnoses didn’t add up
* Great diet, fresh foods, and cooking from scratch
* Minimize medications and eliminate things that don’t appear to work. At present, Ann is only on two medications.
* Do as much as possible and get in as much stimulation as possible, but protect her from doing too much

For goal #2, this is what they’ve done:
* Ann shops for food, and directs the cooking
* Sleeps in a regular bed
* Wears normal underwear
* Uses a regular napkin
* Does her email
* Sunday dinner with the kids
* Holiday meals as usual
* Regularly go out to our place in the country
* Visit familiar restaurants, where they know we will be making a mess

For goal #3, Ann controls what we eat, which movie we are going to see, where we eat out, what TV show to watch, when to go to bed, what clothes to wear, whom to invite over, etc.

For goal #4, no matter what happens we try:
* never to get mad at the patient
* say “no big deal”
* have a positive outlook: “never a dull moment” and “where would ‘Shout’ be without us?”
* not to panic when there is blood
* try not to blame anyone (yourself, the patient, anyone) when accidents happen
* we tried to avoid falls, but they still happen

For goal #6, this is a constant quest. As the disease progresses, you are challenged, all the time, with new problems to solve. Equipment they used and recommend: bike helmet; bedside commode that they’ve placed over the toilet; shower chair; UStep walker; lightweight transport chair with brakes at the top by the push handles; custom-built wheelchair that is good for sitting in long periods; balance ball and “balance exerciser”; pedaler for leg and arm exercising; chair cushion; eating using a dish with sides (like a gratin dish); raising the height of the dish (by using a thick book); plastic eye glasses (as the steel-rimmed glasses caused a major facial injury); nighttime rubs (bed-time is a moment for some caring rubs including Tiger Balm and a product called New Skin Scar Therapy).

Forget about installing wall-mounted bars around the toilet. But these bars are useful in the shower.

For goal #7, the family uses email a lot. Remember to recognize and thank people for their efforts and contributions.

For goal #8, Ann’s condition has been a “major lesson” for Chris in how to slow down the pace of things and be more patient. Chris says things to himself like “You have all day.” Chris takes naps to catch up on sleep.

The months and years add up. Chris and the caregiver Regina are getting better at dealing with the constant changes, the stresses and concerns. With Ann’s decreased mobility, the risk of injury from falls has lessened but the physical challenges connected with moving her have increased. The best way to prevent falls is to be very close to Ann. Ann’s decline has been gradual.

For goal #9, to fight stress, Chris takes off for a few days every 4-8 weeks. The hired caregiver Regina takes time off when she needs it. Chris sees a psychiatrist. Talking to the psychiatrist means that Chris doesn’t have to burden his children with his concerns. The family has a night nurse 3-4 nights a week to look after Ann so that Chris can sleep uninterrupted. Chris does yoga, swims, and plays tennis. He also plays chamber music with various groups.

Final thoughts: (note that Chris breaks down while reviewing this list)
* I am her husband and her pal
* I never try to act like a therapist. I leave that role to others
* I give her companionship and she does the same to me
* I try never to lecture her but just talk to her, encourage her, and take care of her
* I dress her, put her to bed, hug and kiss her good night
* I get lots of kisses in return

Diane notes that Chris is, obviously, emotionally connected to Ann. He’s on the same page with her. He’s not jumping ahead 3 months, 6 months, a year into the future. He’s by her side every step of the way. Chris is very open to learning from everyone. They all have something to give, and Chris is open to accepting this information. He also learns from his own experience. (Example: eye glasses.) He’s also a great observer of Ann. (Example: monitoring medication.) Very importantly, Chris takes care of himself. In keeping himself well, Chris is better able to help Ann. Chris has kept his own life, and that’s important.

Chris says to all caregivers:
* This is not easy
* You will be tired
* But if there ever was a time in your life someone needs to be able to depend on you, now is that time
* Find comfort in knowing that you know exactly what is most important: to be there and help and care
* Develop your support system
* It *is* an extraordinary experience — a journey
* Feel free to contact me: [email protected]

 

“Acupuncture, Real or Fake, Eases Pain”

A short article in yesterday’s New York Times reports on a new study showing that “fake acupuncture appears to work just as well for pain relief as the real thing” in patients with painful knee arthritis. “A 2007 National Health Interview Survey found that an estimated 3.1 million Americans had used acupuncture in the past year. Back pain is the most common reason patients seek acupuncture treatment, followed by joint pain, neck pain, migraines and other forms of recurring pain.”

The article mentions one good resource: the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. NCCAM is part of NIH. The NCCAM website reviews the research on acupuncture and offers a video lecture on acupuncture that is part of their online education series. See:
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/

Here’s a link to the article:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/1 … ases-pain/

The New York Times
August 18, 2010, 11:25 AM
Well
Tara Parker-Pope on Health

Acupuncture, Real or Fake, Eases Pain