However, there is a powerful, non-pharmacological tool that bridges this gap, offering a literal “back door” to the brain: music.

Even in the late stages of memory loss, familiar melodies have a unique ability to enhance emotional well-being, reduce anxiety, and unlock deeply rooted memories. Here is a look at why music is so vital in memory care and how we utilize it to improve daily life.

The Key Benefits of Music Therapy for Dementia

Music isn’t just a pleasant distraction; it actively stimulates neural pathways that remain undamaged by dementia. When integrated into a daily care routine, it provides profound benefits:

• Reduces Agitation and Behavioral Symptoms: Music therapy is highly effective at managing sundowning, aggression, and restlessness, particularly in moderate to severe stages of dementia.
• Unlocks Forgotten Memories: Hearing a song from their youth can instantly reconnect a resident with their personal history, identity, and emotions, bringing a sudden flash of clarity.
• Encourages Family Connections: Listening to or singing along with music creates a shared experience, facilitating beautiful moments of social bonding between residents, caregivers, and family members.
• Improves Quality of Life: Music provides comfort and a sense of joy, which can drastically ease the transition during potentially stressful daily tasks like bathing or dressing.

How to Effectively Use Music in Caregiving

To get the most out of music’s therapeutic properties, care must be intentional and tailored to the individual.

• Create Personalized Playlists: Focus on songs that hold deep personal meaning, such as a favorite wedding song or popular tracks from their teens and twenties.
• Minimize Environmental Distractions: Turn off televisions and competing background noise to prevent confusion, allowing the resident to focus entirely on the melody.
• Encourage Active Participation: Invite them to sing along, clap, tap their feet, or even dance if they are physically able. Movement adds a wonderful layer of physical therapy.
• Be Mindful of Reactions: Always watch for signs of overstimulation or negative emotional reactions to a specific song. If a track causes distress, simply skip it and move to a calmer rhythm.

Types of Music Interventions We Appreciate

There are a few different ways to introduce music into a memory care environment:

1. Passive Listening: Playing familiar, calming music in the background during the late afternoon to naturally ease the effects of evening confusion and restlessness.
2. Active Engagement: Participating in group singing, rhythm exercises, or playing simple instruments to foster community connection.
3. Individualized Sessions: Utilizing tailored playlists that cater directly to a resident’s unique history, which has been shown to drastically reduce stress for both the resident and their support system.

Experience Specialized Memory Care in Cincinnati

At Personal Senior Care Homes, we understand that memory care requires a gentle, individualized touch. We focus daily on our residents’ comfort, safety, and their continued enjoyment of the simple pleasures of everyday life—including the familiar songs that bring them joy.

We know that choosing the right environment for your family member is a big decision, and we are here to help guide you.

Want to see how our specialized, residential settings can support your loved one?

Please contact me directly to discuss your family’s needs or to schedule a personal tour of our local homes:

• Contact: Steve Brock
• Phone: 513-505-5018
• Website: PersonalSeniorCareHomes.com

The post The Healing Power of Music: A “Back Door” to Memory in Alzheimer’s Care first appeared on Personal Senior Care Homes.

CCD often presents as confusion, disorientation, and altered sleep cycles. Recognizing these signs early can help you manage your dog’s quality of life and keep them comfortable.

10 Common Signs of Dementia in Dogs

1. Disorientation: Appearing lost in familiar places, walking into corners, or getting stuck behind furniture.
2. House Soiling: Forgetting their potty training and relieving themselves indoors, even shortly after being outside.
3. Altered Sleep-Wake Cycles: Increased sleeping during the day while remaining restless, pacing, or barking throughout the night.
4. Increased Anxiety: Fearfulness, panting, or agitation—particularly in the evening (a phenomenon similar to “Sundowning” in humans).
5. Reduced Social Interaction: Becoming less interested in playing, greeting family members, or acting withdrawn.
6. Repetitive Behavior: Aimless wandering, pacing, or walking in circles.
7. General Confusion: Forgetting where food and water bowls are located or getting stuck on the wrong side of a door.
8. Increased Vocalization: Barking, whining, or howling for no apparent reason.
9. Increased Irritability: A formerly calm dog becoming moody, fearful, or uncharacteristically aggressive.
10. Reduced Response to Commands: Forgetting trained behaviors or failing to respond to their name.

Caring for the Whole Family

If you notice these signs, we recommend consulting a veterinarian to discuss management options.

At Personal Senior Care Homes, our specialty is caring for humans, but we believe that home isn’t home without your best friend. We invite you to bring your pet along when you move in. We are a pet-friendly community and would love to give your entire family—four-legged members included—a tour of our homes.

Ready to see the difference? Call me directly to schedule your visit.

Steve Brock 513-505-5018 PersonalSeniorCareHomes.com

Source: Adapted from PetMed

The post Man’s Best Friend: Understanding Dementia in Dogs first appeared on Personal Senior Care Homes.

The Role of Inflammation and “Leptin Resistance”

Obesity is more than just a weight issue; it is a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation. This inflammation affects how the body processes Leptin, a hormone produced by fat tissue.

While Leptin is supposed to help regulate the central nervous system, obesity can lead to “Leptin Resistance.” This resistance is now considered a significant risk factor for Alzheimer’s because it disrupts the brain’s ability to protect itself and maintain cognitive functions in areas like the hippocampus (the brain’s memory center).

The “Narrow Line” of Aging

Distinguishing between “normal” aging and the beginning of a pathological condition like dementia is notoriously difficult. As we age, our bodies naturally experience changes in hormones, body weight, and brain activity.

This “narrow line” is where early intervention is most effective. Identifying Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)—the stage between normal age-related forgetfulness and full-scale dementia—is the current “Gold Standard” for modern research. By catching these markers early, families can take action before the disease evolves.

Beyond the Brain: The Gut-Brain Axis

An essential piece of this puzzle is the gut microbiota. An imbalanced gut (known as dysbiosis) can trigger a chain reaction of inflammation that leads directly to cognitive impairment. The good news? Research suggests that restoring this balance through proper nutrition, prebiotics, and probiotics can help return the body to a healthy state of equilibrium.

Modifiable Risk Factors: Taking Control

While genetics play a role, obesity is a modifiable risk factor. By focusing on the following, we can potentially lower the risk or slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases:

• Nutrition: Reducing saturated fats and focusing on gut health.
• Activity: Combating a sedentary lifestyle to reduce chronic inflammation.
• Early Diagnosis: Using tools like BMI and cognitive screenings to identify risks in middle age before they become late-life crises.

Our Commitment to Care

At Personal Senior Care Homes, we don’t just care for the resident; we care for the entire family. We stay on the cutting edge of health research to ensure our residents live their best, healthiest lives. We keep families informed every step of the way, providing peace of mind and professional expertise.

Schedule a Personal Tour

To learn more about how we support our residents through specialized care and nutrition, please contact Steve Brock for a personal tour of our homes.

Phone: 513-505-5018

Website: personalseniorcarehomes.com

The post Understanding the Link Between Obesity and Dementia: Why it Matters for Senior Health first appeared on Personal Senior Care Homes.

For more than a century, people have considered Alzheimer’s disease (AD) an irreversible illness. Consequently, research has focused on preventing or slowing it, rather than recovery. Despite billions of dollars spent on decades of research, there has never been a clinical trial of any drug to reverse and recover from AD.

A research team from Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals (UH) and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center has now challenged this long-held dogma in the field, testing whether brains already badly afflicted with advanced AD could recover. 

The study, led by Kalyani Chaubey, from the Pieper Laboratory, was published online Dec. 22 in Cell Reports Medicine. Using diverse preclinical mouse models and analysis of human AD brains, the team showed that the brain’s failure to maintain normal levels of a central cellular energy molecule, NAD+, is a major driver of AD, and that maintaining proper NAD+ balance can prevent and even reverse the disease. 

NAD+ levels decline naturally across the body, including the brain, as people age. Without proper NAD+ balance, cells eventually become unable to execute many of the critical processes required for proper functioning and survival. In this study, the team showed that the decline in NAD+ is even more severe in the brains of people with AD, and that this same phenomenon also occurs in mouse models of the disease. 

While AD is a uniquely human condition, it can be studied in the laboratory with mice that have been genetically engineered to express genetic mutations known to cause AD in people. 

The researchers used two of these mouse models: One carried multiple human mutations in amyloid processing; the other carried a human mutation in the tau protein. 

Amyloid and tau pathology are two of the major early events in AD. Both lines of mice develop brain pathology resembling AD, including blood-brain barrier deterioration, axonal degeneration, neuroinflammation, impaired hippocampal neurogenesis, reduced synaptic transmission and widespread accumulation of oxidative damage. These mice also develop the characteristics of severe cognitive impairments seen in people with AD. 

After finding that NAD+ levels in the brain declined precipitously in both human and mouse AD, the research team tested whether preventing loss of brain NAD+ balance before disease onset or restoring brain NAD+ balance after significant disease progression could prevent or reverse AD, respectively. 

The study was based on their previous work, published in Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences USA, showing that restoring the brain’s NAD+ balance achieved pathological and functional recovery after severe, long-lasting traumatic brain injury. They restored NAD+ balance by administering a now well-characterized pharmacologic agent known as P7C3-A20, developed in the Pieper lab.

Remarkably, not only did preserving NAD+ balance protect mice from developing AD, but delayed treatment in mice with advanced disease also enabled the brain to fix the major pathological events driven by disease-causing genetic mutations. 

Moreover, both lines of mice fully recovered cognitive function. This was accompanied by normalized blood levels of phosphorylated tau 217, a recently approved clinical biomarker of AD in people, providing confirmation of disease reversal and highlighting an objective biomarker that could be used in future clinical trials for AD recovery.

“We were very excited and encouraged by our results,” said Andrew A. Pieper, the study’s senior author, a professor at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and director of the Brain Health Medicines Center, Harrington Discovery Institute at UH. “Restoring the brain’s energy balance achieved pathological and functional recovery in both lines of mice with advanced Alzheimer’s. Seeing this effect in two very different animal models, each driven by different genetic causes, strengthens the new idea that recovery from advanced disease might be possible in people with AD when the brain’s NAD+ balance is restored.” 

**Thank you to the Researchers from Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals and the Cleveland VA showed restoring brain’s energy balance led to both pathological and functional recovery in the study. Pieper also holds the Morley-Mather Chair in Neuropsychiatry at UH and the CWRU Rebecca E. Barchas, MD, DLFAPA, University Professorship in Translational Psychiatry. He serves as psychiatrist and investigator in the Louis Stokes VA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center. 

The results prompt a paradigm shift in how researchers, clinicians and patients can think about treating AD in the future. 

“The key takeaway is a message of hope—the effects of Alzheimer’s disease may not be inevitably permanent,” Pieper said. “The damaged brain can, under some conditions, repair itself and regain function.” 

“Through our study, we demonstrated one drug-based way to accomplish this in animal models, and also identified candidate proteins in the human AD brain that may relate to the ability to reverse AD,” Chaubey said.

Pieper emphasized that current over-the-counter NAD+-precursors have been shown in animal models to raise cellular NAD+ to dangerously high levels that promote cancer. The pharmacological approach in this study, however, uses a pharmacologic agent (P7C3-A20) that enables cells to maintain their proper balance of NAD+ under conditions of otherwise overwhelming stress, without elevating NAD+ to supraphysiologic levels. 

“This is an important factor when considering patient care, and clinicians should consider the possibility that therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring brain energy balance might offer a path to disease recovery,” Pieper said. 

This work also encourages new research into complementary approaches and eventual testing in patients, and the technology is being commercialized by Cleveland-based company Glengary Brain Health, which Pieper co-founded.

“This new therapeutic approach to recovery needs to be moved into carefully designed human clinical trials to determine whether the efficacy seen in animal models translates to human patients,” Pieper said. “Additional next steps for the laboratory research include pinpointing which aspects of brain energy balance are most important for recovery, identifying and evaluating complementary approaches to Alzheimer’s reversal, and investigating whether this recovery approach is also effective in other forms of chronic, age-related neurodegenerative disease.”

The post New Alzheimer’s Disease Research first appeared on Personal Senior Care Homes.

What is Dementia? Understanding the Basics

Dementia is not a single disease but an umbrella term for a group of symptoms characterized by a decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning skills severe enough to interfere with daily life.

• Alzheimer’s Disease (AD): The most common form, AD is associated with abnormal protein plaques and tangles that accumulate in the brain.
• Vascular Dementia: This type is caused by damaged blood vessels in the brain, often following a stroke or chronic circulatory issues.

Experts agree that dementia develops through a combination of non-modifiable factors (like genetics, such as variants of the APOE-ε4 gene) and modifiable lifestyle factors (like diet, physical activity, and smoking).

Recognizing the Signs of Dementia in Men

While the fundamental cognitive symptoms are similar across all genders, dementia in men can sometimes present with distinct behavioral changes that are particularly stressful for families. Recognizing these signs is the first step toward finding appropriate care.

1. Common Cognitive Signs

These are the typical symptoms seen in all individuals experiencing memory decline:

• Memory Issues: Forgetting recent events, asking the same questions repeatedly, or misplacing objects.
• Cognitive Decline: Difficulty with planning, managing finances, or completing tasks that were once familiar (e.g., operating a TV remote or following a recipe).
• Language Difficulties: Struggling to follow a conversation or find the right words.
• Disorientation: Confusion about time, date, or location.

2. Sex-Specific Behavioral Changes (More Common in Men)

In some men, a loss of social filters or personality changes can lead to difficult or aggressive behaviors. These signs often trigger families to seek professional care:

3. Physical Signs and Risk Factors

• Self-Care Slips: Neglecting personal hygiene, grooming, or appearance.
• Motor Skills Issues: Increased clumsiness, tripping, or problems with balance.
• Head Trauma: Men are historically more prone to serious head injuries (e.g., from sports or accidents), which is a known risk factor.
• Testosterone Levels: Lower levels of testosterone are associated with an increased risk for dementia.

Why Choose Specialized Senior Care Homes?

If you notice several of these signs interfering with your loved one’s daily life, it is crucial to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis. Once diagnosed, finding a safe and supportive living environment is the next priority.

Personal Senior Care Homes specializes in caring for both men and women experiencing memory decline. Our homes are intentionally designed to handle the specific challenges presented by these conditions, including the behavioral changes often seen in men.

The Personal Senior Care Homes Difference:

• Experienced Staff: Our team is trained to manage aggression, wandering, and challenging behaviors with compassion and skill, ensuring a stable environment.
• Personalized Memory Care: We create customized care plans that adapt to the individual’s stage of dementia, promoting dignity and quality of life.
• Safe Environment: Our community provides a secure setting to prevent wandering while encouraging engagement and social interaction.

Ready to Find Peace of Mind?

If your loved one is struggling with memory decline, especially the behavioral symptoms often associated with dementia in men, we are here to help. Personal Senior Care Homes offers the perfect solution for residents and their families in the Cincinnati area.

Call Steve Brock today at 513-505-1890 for a confidential conversation, to schedule a tour of our specialized homes, and to learn exactly how your loved one will receive compassionate, expert care.

The post Alzheimer’s and Dementia in Men: What Families Need to Know first appeared on Personal Senior Care Homes.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects millions of Americans, but women are disproportionately impacted, making up nearly two-thirds of all Alzheimer’s patients in the United States. The reasons behind this difference involve a complex mix of age, genetics, hormones, health conditions, and lifestyle factors.

Why Women Are at Greater Risk

1. Longevity
Women generally live longer than men, and age remains the greatest risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Simply put, the longer a person lives, the greater their chance of developing AD.

2. Genetics
The APOE4 gene variant—a major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s—has a stronger effect in women. Studies show that women with one copy of the gene are at a significantly higher risk than men with the same genotype.

3. Hormonal Changes
During menopause, the body experiences a sharp drop in estrogen, a hormone believed to protect brain cells. This loss may leave women more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s. In contrast, testosterone in men may offer some neuroprotective benefits later in life.

4. Other Health Conditions
Certain health conditions influence risk differently between men and women. For example:

• A history of depression, more common in women, increases Alzheimer’s risk.
• High pulse pressure and sleep apnea are stronger risk factors in men.
• Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy can raise a woman’s future risk of cognitive decline.

5. Lifestyle and Social Factors
Historically, women had fewer opportunities for higher education or professional advancement—both linked to building a stronger cognitive reserve. This means the brain has less ability to resist the effects of disease, leading to earlier symptom onset in some women.

Symptoms and Progression

Diagnosis Delays
Women often perform better on verbal memory tests, which can mask early Alzheimer’s symptoms. This may delay diagnosis until the disease has progressed further.

Symptom Differences
While both sexes experience memory loss, women may show more difficulty with language and communication, while men are more likely to exhibit aggression, wandering, or impulsive behaviors.

Disease Progression
In women, toxic tau proteins spread faster and more widely in the brain. Women with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) also tend to experience a quicker decline in brain volume and cognitive function than men.

The Caregiving Burden

Women make up not only the majority of Alzheimer’s patients but also the majority of unpaid caregivers—over 60%. The emotional and physical demands of caregiving often lead to stress, depression, and health challenges of their own.

Compassionate Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care in Cincinnati

At Personal Senior Care Homes, we understand the unique needs of seniors living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Our dedicated caregivers provide personalized, 24-hour support in a safe, home-like environment that prioritizes comfort and dignity—no matter what stage of the journey.

? Call Steve Brock directly at 513-505-5018 to schedule a personal tour and see how our compassionate care makes a difference every day.
Or request a tour online at personalseniorcarehomes.com/request-a-tour.

The post Alzheimer’s Disease: Who Is Most at Risk? first appeared on Personal Senior Care Homes.

Common Skin Problems

Dry, Itchy Skin:
As we age, the skin produces less natural oil, leading to dryness and itching. This is common among older adults and can become more noticeable in those with Alzheimer’s disease.

Skin Picking and Scratching:
These behaviors may stem from sensations of itching, anxiety, or the inability to communicate discomfort. Left unchecked, they can lead to open wounds or infections.

Bruising, Skin Tears, and Bedsores:
Older adults with dementia are more susceptible to bruising and skin tears. Prolonged sitting or lying down without movement can also increase the risk of bedsores.

Associations with Other Skin Conditions

Recent research highlights connections between Alzheimer’s disease and certain skin conditions through the skin-brain axis—a link between skin health and brain function.

Bullous Pemphigoid:
An autoimmune blistering disease found more frequently in individuals with Alzheimer’s.

Psoriasis:
This inflammatory condition shares biological pathways with Alzheimer’s and may be linked to an increased risk of cognitive decline.

Skin Cancer:
Some studies have found correlations between Alzheimer’s disease and skin cancer, though the findings remain mixed.

What You Can Do

• Observe Carefully: Watch for signs of discomfort, scratching, or new skin lesions, as residents may not always express their needs.
• Moisturize Regularly: Keep the skin hydrated with gentle moisturizers to relieve dryness and itching.
• Protect the Skin: Prevent injury by avoiding irritants, trimming nails, and using soft clothing and bedding.
• Consult a Doctor: If skin problems persist, worsen, or lead to infection, seek medical evaluation for proper treatment.

Caring Support at Personal Senior Care Homes

At Personal Senior Care Homes, we take a proactive approach to resident health and comfort. Our caregivers help residents manage daily care routines—including skin care—ensuring their well-being is always our top priority.

To learn more or schedule a tour of our homes, please contact Steve Brock at 513-505-5018.

Source: Mayo Clinic

The post Alzheimer’s Disease and Skin Health first appeared on Personal Senior Care Homes.

Although scientists have not yet proven a direct cause-and-effect relationship, growing evidence points to a strong link between plastics in the brain and neurodegenerative conditions.

Evidence Connecting Plastic Particles to Dementia

• Plastic found in human brains – A February 2025 study published in Nature Medicine discovered significant levels of plastic particles in brain tissue. Individuals with dementia were found to have higher concentrations compared to those without cognitive decline.
• Crossing the blood-brain barrier – Animal and human studies confirm that nano plastics are small enough to breach the brain’s natural defense barrier. This allows them to enter brain tissue and potentially cause long-term harm.
• Possible disruption of brain function – Researchers are exploring several ways plastics may affect brain health:
  • Inflammation – Microplastics may trigger chronic inflammation and neuronal damage.
  • Trojan horse effect – Plastics can carry heavy metals and chemicals into the brain.
  • Protein buildup – In lab models, nano plastics accelerate the accumulation of proteins like amyloid-beta, linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Blood vessel blockages – Some studies suggest microplastics can obstruct brain capillaries, reducing blood flow and damaging brain tissue.

Important Caveats

• Correlation, not causation – While plastics are present in higher amounts in dementia patients, more evidence is needed to prove they directly cause the disease.
• Other factors – Dementia-related brain changes, such as a weaker blood-brain barrier, may make it easier for plastics to enter.
• Ongoing research – This field is still developing. Scientists are calling for larger studies to better understand how plastics impact brain health.

A February 2025 study from the University of New Mexico Health Sciences confirmed microplastics are found in the brain at much higher concentrations than in other organs, raising further concern about their role in dementia and overall health.

Dementia Care with Compassion

At Personal Senior Care Homes, we stay informed about the latest dementia research to better understand and support our residents. While scientists continue to study the effects of microplastics on the brain, our priority remains the same: providing comfort, security, and quality care to every resident.

If you’d like to learn more about our personalized dementia care, we invite you to schedule a tour of our homes.

Contact: Steve Brock – 513-505-5018

The post The Surprising Existence of Plastic in the Human Brain first appeared on Personal Senior Care Homes.

The good news? With early detection and proper treatment, delirium caused by UTIs can often be reversed, allowing the individual to return to their baseline level of functioning. That’s why it’s so important for caregivers to recognize the signs.

How UTIs Affect People with Dementia

• Higher risk: Dementia increases UTI risk due to incontinence, reduced hygiene awareness, and catheter use.
• Difficult to detect: Dementia-related communication challenges make it hard for individuals to report pain or discomfort.
• Triggers delirium: A UTI may cause sudden confusion, restlessness, or withdrawal—symptoms that mimic worsening dementia.
• Neuroinflammation: Infection can trigger body-wide inflammation, sometimes disrupting brain function and worsening memory or cognition.

Signs of UTIs in People with Dementia

Since people with dementia may not be able to describe typical UTI symptoms like burning or urgency, caregivers should watch for sudden changes, such as:

• Increased confusion, disorientation, or memory loss
• Agitation, aggression, or withdrawal
• Changes in sleep or appetite
• More frequent falls, dizziness, or unsteadiness
• Strong-smelling or discolored urine
• Fever, nausea, or vomiting

Caregiver Tips: What To Do If You Suspect a UTI

• Seek medical attention quickly: Contact a doctor if you notice sudden behavioral or cognitive changes.
• Request a urine test: This simple test can confirm a UTI and guide treatment with antibiotics.
• Focus on prevention: Encourage hydration, support regular bathroom visits, and maintain proper hygiene to help lower UTI risk.

Final Thoughts

While UTIs don’t cause dementia, they can worsen symptoms and create sudden confusion that looks like progression of the disease. For caregivers, knowing the signs and acting quickly can make all the difference in ensuring better health and quality of life.

This article is based on information from the Alzheimer’s Association of America.

The post Is There a Connection Between UTIs and Dementia? first appeared on Personal Senior Care Homes.

Yes, there are blood tests available to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, and some have received FDA clearance. These tests measure specific biomarkers, like proteins associated with amyloid plaques and tau tangles, which are hallmarks of the disease in the brain. The FDA-cleared Lumipulse G Plasma Ratio test is the first of its kind to be approved for use in diagnosing Alzheimer’s, specifically for adults 55 and older showing cognitive symptoms. 

Blood and imaging tests can rule out other potential causes of your symptoms. They also can check for proteins in the brain that are linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The tests may help your healthcare team better identify the disease-causing dementia symptoms.

In the past, Alzheimer’s disease was diagnosed for certain only after death when plaques and tangles were found while looking at the brain with a microscope. Today, healthcare professionals and researchers can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease during life with more certainty.

They do this by using a combination of tests that may include tests for biomarkers. Biomarkers can detect if plaques and tangles are present in the brain. Biomarker tests include specific types of positron emission tomography, also known as PET, scans of the brain. Amyloid and tau proteins also can be measured in the fluid part of the blood or in the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, known as cerebrospinal fluid. Recently, blood biomarker tests have become accurate enough to tell if someone is likely to have amyloid in the brain.

Biomarker tests were mainly used in clinical trials until recently. But healthcare professionals have started using them along with other tests to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. Biomarker tests also can let healthcare professionals know if the disease is in the early or later stages.

Tests

Diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease would likely include the following tests:

Physical and neurological exam

A healthcare professional gives you a physical and neurological exam. This may include testing:

• Reflexes.
• Muscle tone and strength.
• Ability to get up from a chair and walk across the room.
• Sense of sight and hearing.
• Coordination.
• Balance. **

**The source of this article is from the Mayo Clinic. We at Personal Senior Care Homes provide the best residential care for our residents. We know this is vitally important to them and their families. Please contact me directly for a tour of our home Steve Brock 513-505-5018.

The post What are the Best Diagnosis Methods for Alzheimer’s Disease? first appeared on Personal Senior Care Homes.