September 11, 2020

When is it time to intervene?

Early diagnosis of dementia is crucial to preventing a crisis and for planning treatment and care. It is difficult to tell if cognition changes are simply age related changes (normal aging) or dementia (not normal aging).

Therefore, knowing when to seek in-home care or place a loved one in a senior living home is very difficult to judge. This is especially true for individuals without a serious medical condition outside of their cognitive changes.

What is the difference between simple forgetfulness and a serious memory loss?

Here are some warning signs of memory loss that may signal the need for assistance care. They were gathered from a variety of sources:

Does he/she repeat questions more frequently?	Yes	No
Does he/she exhibit poor grooming and personal hygiene	Yes	No
Does he/she forget to take medications or take them incorrectly?	Yes	No
Has there been a change in eating habits or loss of appetite?	Yes	No
Is outdated food in the refrigerator or little nutritious food?	Yes	No
Has driving been impaired? Frequent accidents?	Yes	No
Is he/she increasingly forgetful?	Yes	No
Is he/she moody or depressed?	Yes	No
Has there been a loss of interest in socializing?	Yes	No
Is he/she less interested in former activities?	Yes	No
Is he/she unsteady on her feet or does she fall frequently?	Yes	No
Does he/she have difficulty concentrating?	Yes	No
Does he/she exhibit poor judgment?	Yes	No
Is he/she incontinent?	Yes	No
Is there trouble handling finances? Are there unpaid bills?	Yes	No
Does he/she spend long periods of time doing nothing?	Yes	No
Have others noticed personality changes?	Yes	No
Is there unopened mail lying around?	Yes	No
Is there poor housekeeping or unsafe conditions?	Yes	No
Does he/she have trouble making decisions?	Yes	No
Does he/she get lost?	Yes	No
Does he/she have trouble finding the right words?	Yes	No
Does he/she wear the same clothes over and over again?	Yes	No

This is also available here has a printable worksheet to fill out and bring to your next appointment with your physician.

See your physician for further evaluation if you have answered “yes” to a majority of these questions. Then call us to learn more about our home and how we can serve your loved one on his or her dementia journey.

Parks’ Place Memory Care is a privately owned assisted living home, specialized and specifically designed for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Our home is for people of any stage of dementia so they are able to age-in-place in their home. For tours, general information, or admission inquiry, please contact Kaitlin Kelly at 612-358-3725.

September 4, 2020

Finding Strength Through Song

Karen and Jerry Parks joined a brand new chorus group 6 years ago, not knowing that in a few short years it would inspire chorus groups across the country and the world.

Inaugural Members

In 2014 the Giving Voice Chorus was created when two faculty members who had cared for a loved one with dementia were impressed by the research about the powerful effects of music on the lives of people with dementia. The chorus started with just 30 inaugural members from across the metro area, but word spread quickly throughout the dementia community about the fantastic new chorus group and it rapidly expanded to three choruses, totaling just under 200 members.

A fourth chorus group has been added for fall of 2020 to accommodate the growing interest. If you are interested in joining, click here to go to the registration webpage. Additionally, Giving Voices assists the Amazing Grace chorus in St. Paul, an African-American chorus group.

Finding Camaraderie and Purpose

Chorus members will tell you that rehearsal day is their favorite day of the week. The motto of the group is “there is no wrong in this room” meaning, there is no stigma, no judgement, no negativity—only acceptance, friendship, and support. Worrying about judgment and insensitivity from others when out in the community washes away when members arrive for rehearsal. For many of them, chorus practice is the only time they can be themselves. The joy, comradery, sense of purpose, and acceptance the chorus members feel at rehearsal led to the rapid expansion in the metro area and has led to the creation of chorus groups across the country and the world.

Inspiring Chorus Groups across the Country and around the World

Word of Giving Voice spread far beyond the metro area. Chorus groups have sprung up throughout Minnesota and 16 other states. Worldwide, you will find chorus groups in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, all inspired by Giving Voice. If you are interested in creating a group in your area, click here.

Love Never Forgets

The chorus received a grant through Healing & Hope Through Song, an American Composers Forum for a lyricist and a composer to write original songs about the experiences of the members of the chorus. The song topics ranged from slowly losing a loved one over time, living in the moment, and looking forward to the cookies after rehearsal. The composers were originally supposed to create two songs, but they ended up writing nine original songs.

The chorus began conversations with The Ordway about performing their original songs. The performance quickly sold out all 2206 seats! This performance was evidence that people with dementia can learn new things. The performance was truly incredible, the lyrics bringing the audience and singers alike to tears. It was a major accomplishment for the chorus members living with dementia to learn and perform new songs. The excitement and sense of accomplishment was tangible as the performance came to a close. Twin Cities PBS created a segment about the performance (which won them an Emmy!), the segment can be viewed here.

Giving Voice at Grand Opening

As part of our Grand Opening the Giving Voice Chorus graced us with their presence as they filled our home with joyous singing. Approximately 30 members of the chorus joined us in our sunroom and sang out into our great room filled with guests to celebrate our opening!

The Pandemic Pivot

Due to coronavirus, the chorus was not able to rehearse in person. They quickly pivoted to virtual rehearsals to keep their members engaged and connected. To see the video they created for the end of the summer session, titled You = Joy & Belonging, click here.

July 17, 2020

Dementia Diagnosis and Treatment

Dementia can be a difficult disease to diagnose because there is no single definitive test to identify it or which type. Most physicians agree, however, that improving early diagnosis of dementia is important for patients and their families, as well as for researchers looking for ways to halt or slow the progression of the disease. Early diagnosis also can reduce the risk of inappropriate treatment.

Today, many physicians and researchers are enthusiastic about using levels of beta amyloid and tau in spinal fluid to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. If studies confirm the validity of this approach, it may allow physicians to identify people who are beginning to develop the disease before they experience symptoms.

About Dementia Diagnosis

While each physician will diagnose the disease in his or her own way, the following are common elements of most diagnostic procedures.

Patient history and physical exam. The first step for most physicians is to conduct a patient history, including overall medical and emotional health, plus a comprehensive physical examination. These tests will rule out any underlying disorders that might contribute to dementia, such as depression, normal pressure hydrocephalus, or vitamin B12 deficiency.

Neurological evaluations. Physicians will usually perform a neurological examination, checking balance, sensory function, and reflexes to identify conditions that may be treatable, such as movement disorders or stroke.

Cognitive and neuropsychological tests. There are numerous tests that measure memory, language skills, and other abilities related to cognitive functioning. These may include the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to assess cognitive skills in people with suspected dementia. This test measures a person’s orientation, memory, and attention.

Brain scans. Physicians also may use a variety of brain scans, such as computerized tomographic (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify strokes, tumors, or other problems that can cause dementia. Scans can also spot cortical atrophy, or degeneration of the brain’s outer layer, as well as changes in the brain’s structure and function that might suggest Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, they can show evidence of changes to the blood vessels and other problems such as hydrocephalus and subdural hematomas. Another brain scan, the electroencephalogram (EEG) detects and records patterns of electrical activity in the brain, enabling physicians to see abnormalities which might indicate cognitive dysfunction.

Several other types of functional brain scans are currently used in research and may ultimately lead to earlier diagnosis of dementia:

Functional MRI (fMRI) measures metabolic changes in the brain by using radio waves and a strong magnetic field.
Single photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) shows the distribution of blood in the brain.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scans detect changes in glucose metabolism, oxygen metabolism, and blood flow.
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) shows the electromagnetic fields produced by activity of the brain’s neurons.

Laboratory tests. Laboratory tests help diagnose dementia, as well as rule out other conditions, such as kidney failure, that can contribute to symptoms. Typical lab tests include a complete blood count, blood glucose test, urinalysis, drug and alcohol tests (toxicology screen), cerebrospinal fluid analysis (to rule out infections that can affect the brain), and analysis of thyroid and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels.

Psychiatric evaluation. Sometimes physicians will suggest a psychiatric evaluation to determine if depression or another psychiatric disorder is causing symptoms of dementia.

Dementia Treatment

Exciting research continues to accelerate as scientists learn more about the causes of dementia. Many treatments are available, while new treatments are under consideration or in development.

Alzheimer’s Disease: Some Alzheimer’s patients benefit from a category of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors that improve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease, improving the patient’s quality of life. They work by slowing the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which helps to form memories and is used in the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex, two brain regions that are affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The cholinesterase inhibitors approved for use in the United States are: tacrine, donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine, among others.

Memantine regulates the activity of a neurotransmitter called glutamate that plays a role in learning and memory, and is often disrupted by Alzheimer’s disease. Physicians also sometimes prescribe anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, sedatives, and antidepressants to treat specific problems associated with dementia.

Vascular Dementia: Cholinesterase inhibitors, including galantamine, improve cognitive function and behavioral symptoms in some patients with early vascular dementia, but for most patients treatments are designed simply to reduce the risk factors for further brain damage. The progression of vascular dementia often can be slowed if underlying risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes are treated.

Other Dementias: Some studies have suggested that cholinesterase inhibitors, such as donepezil, can improve behavioral symptoms in some patients with Parkinson’s dementia. They also may be able to improve cognitive function in patients with Lewy body dementia. Currently, there are no medications approved specifically to treat or prevent most other types of progressive dementia, but sometimes physicians prescribe sedatives and antidepressants to treat specific parkinsonian and psychiatric symptoms.

July 9, 2020

Building Community through Support Groups

When Jerry Parks was diagnosed at age 56 with young onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD) his family started to search for support groups. Moreover, not just a general group, but groups specific to their situations. His wife, Karen, searched for a support group for spouses of people diagnosed with young onset. His daughter, Katie, looked for a support group of others who were the children of a person with young onset. What they both found was there wasn’t a support group that fit their respective category. This dearth of support sparked them to create their own groups for others like them.

Karen’s Search

Karen wanted to connect with others who were facing the same challenges as her. Jerry’s diagnosis at age 56 was at a very different stage of life than someone diagnosed at age 86. Jerry was at the height of his career and they had children who were still in their teens; Karen desperately needed to connect with someone who was facing the same situation and feeling the same losses as her.

Karen reached out to the Alzheimer’s Association to connect with others who were the spouse of a person with young onset AD. Unfortunately, at that time the support group she was looking for did not exist. She told the Alzheimer’s Association to share her name and phone number to anyone else who inquired about a support group for spouses of young onset AD, but due to strict privacy policies, they were unable to do so.

It was not until Karen and Jerry were on a discussion panel with the Alzheimer’s Association that Karen found the connection she was looking for. As the members of the panel introduced themselves, three other couples sitting on the panel were also a husband and wife duo with the husband having a diagnosis of young onset AD. All four of the wives locked eyes and rendezvoused afterwards to connect. That night they went out to dinner, all eight of them, and decided they would go to dinner once per month from there on out. The four wives wanted to give themselves a name and they landed on “The Pisa Girls,” because they could lean on each other for support and they were a tower or strength for each other. Since they connected 13 years ago, they have only missed one dinner together.

Karen has found support in other ways, such as being a member of the Giving Voice Chorus. The chorus is comprised of people with dementia and their care partners. At choir practice, the motto is “there is no wrong in this room” which allows for the people with dementia to be at ease with each other. Karen found that just as Jerry found support and fellowship in the chorus group, so did she. She was able to connect with other caregivers and develop bonds of support and friendship with them.

Young Adult Child of a Person with Young Onset AD

Jerry’s daughter, Katie, was also looking for support. Similar to her mom, she wanted to connect with others who were facing the same situation she was at age 22. She went to a few sessions of a support group she had found, but there were not others like her in the group. It was mainly people who were much older than her, and were facing a much different set of circumstances. While it provided support, she was looking to connect with others more similar to her. Ultimately, she ended up creating a support group for young adult children of a parent with young onset Alzheimer’s disease (abbreviated YAC-P-YOAD).

Katie did not set out to create the group. The Alzheimer’s Association asked her to be on a panel to discuss needs of family members, how the Alzheimer’s Association could collaborate with them, and what events they wanted to do. The other panelists were also people impacted by young onset AD. All of the panelists told the Alzheimer’s Association that what they needed was support groups.

The Alzheimer’s Association did not create a support group, but rather trained Katie on how to lead a support group and then shared Katie’s information with others. It grew rapidly from four people at the first few meetings to over 40 in the first year of existence. The ages of those who attended ranged from 13 to late 30s. The members aligned around the fact that they were still in school or college, or young adults entering the workforce, and some of them becoming young parents themselves. As their parents started to pass away, membership declined substantially. The group members supported each other at each others parents’ funerals. Some members came after parents passed, but that presented the need for grief support.

The Young Champions’ Blondes Vs. Brunettes football game originated from the same group; Katie was involved in the inaugural season which raised over $112,000 that year. Over the past few years Katie needed to step back from leading the group as her life has led her down other paths since its creation.

Value of Support

The Parks family understands the value of a support system. Karen will often say that Alzheimer’s is a “whole family disease.” She means that it does not only affect the person diagnosed, it affects the entire family, and not in the same ways. The challenges that Karen faced were very different to the challenges her children faced. But, both were able to find others who faced similar challenges who they could lean on for support, and in turn support others.

Part of the conceptualization of Parks’ Place was for families to find support with other residents’ families and with the staff. The first year certainly has not gone as expected due to COVID-19, but families have still found ways to stay connected, whether it is through email updates, Facebook posts, or waving at another family in the parking lot.

To find a support group through the Alzheimer’s Association, click here.

June 9, 2020

Forgetfulness and Dementia

At times, we all forget details like where we placed our keys or we forget to buy an item on our grocery list. This is normal. Regardless of age, when we are feel stressed or fatigued it is not uncommon to forget details. As a result, many of us develop techniques to aid our memory including checklists, calendars, and “to do lists”.

As people age, the amount of time it takes to learn and retain new information may increase in duration. However, with time and patience normal functioning older adults will be able to retain and recall this new information.

Many older adults are fearful of memory loss. Research shows that there are steps one can take to promote a healthy brain. The Alzheimer’s Association offers the following tips.

Healthy Brain Tips:

Eat healthily: Lean towards foods rich in anti-oxidants and folic acid as well as water and fruit juice. Avoid fatty foods, caffeine, and alcoholic beverages.

Stay active: Find activities that exercise your body and your brain.
Support system: Maintain a good support system that allows for social interaction.
Rest, relax, and sleep: Stress and lack of sleep can have negative effects on your body. Maintain balance within your life.
Visit your doctor: Annual physicals allow you to talk with your doctor, ask questions, and monitor your health and medications.

When memory loss becomes more significant

For some, memory loss can be more significant. When memory loss begins to interfere with day-to-day functioning the problem may be a warning sign of something more. For example:

Difficulty managing medications
Significant weight loss due to missed meals
Frequent hospitalizations due to noncompliance with medication regime
Inability to organize finances, overdrawn accounts, and vulnerability to scams
Disorganized household, decreased cleanliness
Failure to meet deadlines at work

Family, friends, and acquaintances should take note when a significant change in skill, routine, or behavior occurs. For example:

An accountant who can no longer add 2+2
A computer programmer who cannot remember how to turn on the computer

It is important to note that any one of the issues mentioned above alone does not signify memory loss. Instead, it offers a “red flag” which warrants additional attention and investigation.

What to do if memory loss is suspected?

Whenever memory loss is suspected the first step is to see a physician. Your primary physician can refer you to a specialist who can work to identify the cause of the memory loss. Generally, your physician may refer you to a neurologist, internist, and/or a psychiatrist.

Why is a physician visit needed?

Memory loss can have numerous causes. Some medical conditions when left untreated can result in increased confusion and memory loss. As a result, an individual could be diagnosed inaccurately with a form of dementia when, in fact, they may have a medical condition such as a thyroid problem, lack of Vitamin B12, a medication/drug reaction, infection, or depression. A physician will complete a battery of tests to identify any treatable conditions and recommend treatment if appropriate.

If the memory loss and confusion are due to a medical condition, when treated the individual may notice a decrease or elimination of symptoms.

May 28, 2020

What is Dementia?

Those with significant memory loss may have a condition often referred to as dementia. Dementia is not a disease but a group of symptoms that include memory loss, confusion, and loss or decrease in cognitive skills such as judgment, problem-solving, decision-making. These symptoms must be consistent and severe enough to affect day-to-day functioning to be considered a dementia. There are a number of different conditions and diseases that can cause dementia.

Alzheimer’s Disease:

The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Currently four million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. At present, there is no clinical test to identify Alzheimer’s, and ultimately Alzheimer’s disease can only be confirmed through examination of brain tissue that is generally done at autopsy. However, advanced technology, as well as research, has enabled health care professionals to recognize alterations in brain tissue and activity as well as identify certain patterns of behavior that often suggest Alzheimer type symptoms.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease which is often described in stages–early, middle, and late. Currently there is no cure, but there are medications available that work to slow the disease process and assist individuals in maintaining their current level of functioning for longer durations. For more information on current research and medications, please visit: www.alz.org or www.mayoclinic.com

10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease*:

Recent memory loss (short term memory loss)
Difficulty performing familiar tasks
Problems with language
Disorientation of time and place
Poor or decreased judgment
Problems with abstract thinking
Misplacing things
Changes in mood or behavior
Changes in personality
Loss of initiative

*Developed and reproduced with permission of the Alzheimer’s Association

Multi-Infarct Dementia:

Multi-Infarct dementia is also referred to as vascular dementia. It is as a deterioration of cognitive abilities and, at times, physical symptoms such as weakness in limbs (generally on one side of body), slurred speech, and facial droop. These symptoms are caused by multiple strokes (infarcts) or a break in blood vessels that cause bleeding to occur in the brain. Because strokes can occur anywhere within the brain, signs and symptoms will vary from person to person. For example, if a stroke occurs in the area of the brain responsible for memory, then memory loss may be observed. If a stroke occurs in the area of the brain responsible for speech, then difficulties with speech will be observed. Multi-infarct dementia can be diagnosed through a neurological evaluation and brain scanning techniques.

Though Multi-infarct dementia is not curable or reversible, rehabilitation services can help people relearn and regain skills that were affected. In addition, by choosing to live a healthy lifestyle one may reduce their risk of having a stroke. Maintaining a healthy and stable diet, weight, blood pressure, regular exercise routine, and avoiding smoking, one can decrease their risks for future strokes.

For more information, contact the American Stroke Association www.strokeassociation.org

Parkinson’s Disease:

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects the central nervous system. Currently 1.5 million Americans are affected by Parkinson’s Disease. Symptoms often associated with this disease include tremors, stiffness in limbs and joints, difficulty with speech, limited facial expressions, and difficulty initiating spontaneous movement such as walking. Those with Parkinson’s display a limited amount a brain neurotransmitter known as dopamine. Dopamine works within the central nervous system to control muscle activity. When an individual has a decreased amount of dopamine their body responds with the symptoms mentioned above. Those that live with Parkinson’s can develop memory loss and confusion as the disease progresses.

Presently, there are medications and treatments that help to decrease the symptoms but they do not provide a cure.

For more information, please contact the American Parkinson’s Disease Association www.apdaparkinson.org.

Other Conditions That Can Cause Dementia:

There are a number of other diseases and conditions that can cause dementia including but not limited to:

Huntington’s Disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Pick’s Disease
Lewy Body
AIDS
Prolonged kidney dialysis

Facts About Dementia and the Diseases That Cause Them:

Diagnosis is key; allowing for initiation of possible treatments and opportunities to plan for the future
Most of the diseases that cause dementia are progressive in nature
Change is a common factor in all these diseases

Unfortunately, each individual progresses through their dementia in their own way and time. Caregivers must anticipate change and understand there is no set time line in which the change will occur.

Though caring for someone with a dementia related illness can be a challenging journey, you do not have to do it alone. Let Parks’ Place Memory Care assist you. For more information, contact Admissions.

May 20, 2020

Mother’s Day at Parks’ Place During a Pandemic

Mother’s Day was a tough but joyful day for our moms and their families. It was a tough day as we were physically distant from our loved ones, but joyful as we found other ways to connect and show our love.

Feeling Loss

During this time, all of us are feeling loss. Loss of birthday parties, sporting events, graduations, and loss of spending time with our mothers on Mother’s Day. Each moment spent together is precious, even more so in memory care as dementia creates an unpredictable future.

Bitter-sweet, but more sweet than bitter

We knew from the start that this would be a tough day for our residents and their families. We decided to have a staff member totally dedicated to our moms on Mother’s Day. Our families were informed that we would be able to facilitate virtual visits, flower and gift delivery, and anything else in-between for their moms on Mother’s Day. Our virtual visit schedule filled quickly and families informed us of when they would be stopping by with gifts.

On Mother’s Day the virtual visits were bitter-sweet, but more sweet than bitter. While it was tough for our moms and their families to not be with each other physically, technology like FaceTime and Zoom helped us to feel connected.

The virtual visits were full of smiles, laughter, and happy tears. Our staff was brought to tears frequently during the visits at the outpouring of love from the families to their moms. Many of our mothers showed their loved ones the gift and flower deliveries they received. But the gifts and flowers were mainly afterthoughts, our moms were really only interested in spending time with their families and seeing their smiling faces. The time together was truly what brought the most joy to the day.

From Parks’ Place to our moms

Parks’ Place also wanted to show our moms how much we love them so we had a flower delivery for each of them with a card. We also had a special Mother’s Day treat at lunchtime. The final thing we did with each of our moms was actually more of a gift to their family. We made a video of each mother saying what they loved best about being a mom and sent it to their family. For our mothers whose dementia is a little more advanced we made simpler videos saying thank you for the gifts and cards. Our families did not know we were making the videos and were so surprised when they received them.

A heartfelt day

Although this was not the Mother’s Day anyone would wish for, it turned out to be a pretty wholesome and heartfelt day. Our moms were able to spend time with those who call them “mom” and felt their love and support even at a distance.

We are hoping that Mother’s Day 2021 we can welcome all of our families into our home and celebrate with them in-person!

January 15, 2020

WCCO-TV Features Parks’ Place Memory Care

Parks’ Place: Memory Care Redefined was featured on WCCO recently, sharing the extraordinary journey of the Parks family, who built Parks’ Place after their husband and father received a diagnosis of Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s. Our care community can accommodate 36 residents and offers a meaningfully planned environment and programming that focuses on abilities rather than disabilities—along with staff members who are passionate about providing highly personalized care to the people they serve.

December 5, 2019

Plymouth’s Parks’ Place Offers a Bright Future for Memory Care

Jerry Parks, a former vice president at a large Minneapolis construction company, had been the breadwinner for his family. Over time, says his wife Karen Parks, the family noticed changes. “Jerry would forget things like what time his kids’ soccer game was, and then would ask me again, forgetting that he had already asked me,” she says. Eventually, Jerry was not able to function in his high-powered position, lost his job and several jobs after that. Because Jerry was much younger than the age people tend to associate with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, the cause for Jerry’s symptoms remained unknown for years, says Karen.

October 14, 2019

Kaitlin Kelly, Director of Marketing and Life Enrichment, Co-authors Book About Effects of Exercise on those with Alzheimer’s

This book is for people who are concerned about their or their loved ones’ cognitive changes, who want to learn about Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and who wish to promote brain health, prevent AD, and improve quality of life when affected by AD. It is also for exercise providers and professionals who endeavor to enrich the lives of people affected by AD. This book was inspired by older adults affected by AD and their family caregivers, whom we have been privileged to work with in our 15+ years of exercise research in AD. They have taught us that no diseases, not even AD, can define a person and a person’s legacy. This book has 11 chapters, covering AD course, abnormal brain changes, and risk and protective factors; exercise types and effects on AD; and the Approach AD S.A.F.E.ly™ protocol to safely engage people affected by AD in aerobic exercise over time. Each chapter begins with true stories which introduce a chapter’s focus and are analyzed at the end. The Approach AD S.A.F.E.ly™ protocol has been developed and tested since 2004, building on the foundations of person-centered care and exercise safety. It includes pre-exercise health screening process, individualized exercise prescription, exercise session flow, exercise response monitoring, AD symptom management, effective communication, working with family caregivers and professionals, and motivating people affected by AD to exercise. This book focuses solely on aerobic exercise because the scientific evidence for it is the strongest and changes induced by aerobic exercise prime the brain and body for optimizing the benefits from other interventions. Knowledge is POWER! This book will empower people to make a difference in the lives of people affected by AD. Our participants have repeatedly told us what a difference our exercise program has made in their lives. Many said, “This [exercise] is the only good thing that has happened for having Alzheimer’s.” We hope this book will help people better appreciate AD and its impacts and motivate them to join our charge of making exercise widely available and a standard treatment for AD. Together, we could make our world dementia-friendly!

Link to Book