1. Understanding Dementia
Presented by
Dr. Marjorie Moulton, Executive Director and Founder
We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation
A Summary of the History, Research and Prevention
Understanding Dementia

2. What you will learn! History Research Prevention What is dementia?
Types of dementia
Who discovered it?
Signs & symptoms
Risk factors
New Diagnosis techniques
Diet
Exercise
Supplements

3. Dr. Marjorie Moulton
Executive Director & Founder of We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation – May 2006
Co-founder & Director of Project Lifesaver of Greater Victoria with David Rittenhouse – Jan 2008
Certified Electronic Search Specialist with Project Lifesaver International
Began career in allopathic medicine & psychology in 1989
Earned a doctorate in Oriental Medicine
Taught 2 yrs. at Oshio College of Acupuncture and Herbology
Acupuncturist and Oriental Health Practitioner in Private Practice for 12

4. What is Dementia? Types of Dementia Who Discovered It?
Signs and Symptoms

5. Mild Cognitive Impairment
What is it?
A transition stage between normal & demented
Most common symptom is memory loss
Who gets it?
20% of population over 70 years old
Is it dementia?
May or may not progress to dementia

6. Types of Dementia Dementia Type Description Alzheimer Disease
Vascular Dementia
Lewy Body
Frontalotemporal Lobe Dementia
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Huntington disease
Parkinson’s
AD most common 67%
Multiple minor strokes
Abnormal deposits of protein inside nerve cells
Atrophy of the frontal temporal lobes
Rare, rapid course (1yr) effects coordination & vision
Genetic degeneration of brain cells – involuntary movements
Cells that produce dopamine die causing disease

7. The Physiology of Dementia
Amyloid Plaques
Accumulation of amyloid plaques between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain
Amyloid is a general term for protein fragments or beta amyloid that the body produces normally
In a healthy brain, these protein fragments are broken down and eliminated
AD, the fragments accumulate to form hard, insoluble plaques
Neurofibrillary Tangles
Insoluble twisted fibres found inside the brain's cells consisting primarily of a protein called tau, which forms part of a structure called a microtubule
Microtubules helps transport nutrients and other important substances from one part of the nerve cell to another
In AD tau protein is abnormal and the microtubule structures collapse

8. Dementia Brain Images

9. Who Discovered It? Alzheimer’s discovered 100 years ago Nov 4, 1906
German physician – Alois Alzheimer
Case – 51 yr old woman named Auguste Deter
Symptoms – sever memory loss, language & behaviour issues
Autopsy – dramatically shrunken brain & unusual abnormalities in & around cells

10. Signs and Symptoms 1. Memory loss
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks
3. Problems with language
4. Disorientation of time and place
5. Poor or decreased judgment
6. Problems with abstract thinking
7. Misplacing things
8. Changes in mood or behaviour
9. Changes in personality
10. Loss of initiative

11. The Research
Risk Factors
Diagnosis Techniques

12. Risk Factors Age Heredity Heart Disease Obesity Diabetes Liver Disease
Depression
Vitamin D & E Deficiency
Chronic Inflammation

13. Risk Factors Explored
Age – 1 in 11 over age 65, increases for those over 80yrs.
Heredity – some indication that increases risk particularly with early onset dementia
Heart Disease – high BP, cholesterol, arterial plaque, stroke all effect blood vessels of brain
Obesity – increased weight related to decreased brain volume
Diabetes – effects insulin behaviour in brain, type 3 diabetes
Liver disease – build up of toxins cause neuron malfunction
Depression – actual structural changes from depression leave greater vulnerability
Vitamin D & E deficiency – have protective effects
Chronic Inflammation – long term over stimulation of glial cells damage nerve cells

14. Diagnosis Techniques Eye Test
light-sensitive cells in the retina at the back of the eye are a direct extension of the brain
the amount of damage to cells in the retina directly corresponds with brain cell death
pattern of retinal cell death characteristic of Alzheimer's seen in this simple eye exam has been right every time

15. Diagnosis Techniques Blood Tests
levels of the protein clusterin rise in the human body up to 10 years before symptoms of Alzheimer's first appear
identifying the level of clusterin in the bloodstream, doctors may in the future be able to accurately predict the likelihood of a patient to develop the disease
early testing for the condition would allow patients to have treatment and adapt their lifestyle to minimise its impact

16. Diagnosis Techniques Brain Scans
brain scans such as MRI & PET are getting more accurate at detecting physical signs of dementia
they can show brain shrinkage as well as groupings of characteristic plaques & tangles

17. Prevention
Diet
Exercise
Supplements

18. Diet Mediterranean Diet Olive Oil Vitamins
Mediterranean Diet includes green leafy vegetables, oily fish and red wine
A main staple is olive oil shown to reduce bad cholesterol & improve heart health

19. Exercise Weight Management Obesity Weight Distribution
Belly fat or visceral fat most dangerous
Linked to lowered brain volume

20. Supplements Vitamin D Vitamin E Ginkgo Biloba
Vitamin D plays vital role in brain development, function, neuro-protection & reducing inflammation
Vitamin E plays a role in protecting the liver, preventing heart disease & reducing cholesterol
Ginkgo jury is still out it has shown some benefit

21. More Information Follow: We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation
Memory Blog
Sign up for :
Memories Newsletter

22. 5 Healthy Brain Strategies
Stay socially engaged – interacting with others is stimulating
Keep your mind sharp – adopt the use it or loose it approach
Eat a heart health diet – what’s good for your heart is good for your brain
Get regular exercise – good blood flow to the body is also good for the brain
Protect your brain – be careful to prevent head bumps & injury

23. We Rage, We Weep Alzheimer Foundation
Sponsored by
We Rage, We Weep Alzheimer Foundation
Easing the financial burden of care giving -
one family at a time
Registered Charity BN: RR0001