Shortness of breath in older adults is a common symptom that can signal a variety of health issues. It means having trouble catching your breath or feeling like you can’t get enough air. While sometimes it happens after hard physical…
Dementia makes people more sensitive to everyday noise because the brain areas responsible for processing sounds and filtering out background noise become damaged or less effective. This damage causes sounds that most people would ignore or barely notice to feel…
Understanding your loved one’s Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score can feel confusing at first, but it becomes clearer when you know what the test measures and what the numbers mean. The MMSE is a simple tool doctors use to check…
Some dementia patients experience terrifying dreams at night mainly because of changes in their brain and sleep patterns caused by the disease. Dementia affects areas of the brain that control memory, emotions, and sleep regulation. This disruption can lead to…
Cerebral parenchymal volume loss is a way of describing when the brain’s main tissue, called the cerebral parenchyma, shrinks or gets smaller. Think of the cerebral parenchyma as the part of the brain made up mostly of nerve cells and…
Elephants offer surprising lessons about protecting our brains, thanks to their unique brain structure, social behaviors, and remarkable memory. Their brains contain special neurons called Von Economo neurons, which are linked to complex social interactions and may help resist brain…
When moving a loved one to a new care facility, **bringing personal items is generally a good idea** because these familiar belongings can provide comfort and a sense of security in an unfamiliar environment. Items like a favorite blanket, family…
Adding plants to a care space can indeed help improve memory and reduce agitation, especially for individuals with memory challenges such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. Plants and gardens provide a calming, sensory-rich environment that engages multiple senses—sight, touch, and smell—which…
Sensory kits help dementia patients feel more comfortable and secure when they are in new or unfamiliar environments. These kits contain items that engage the senses—touch, sight, sound, smell, and sometimes taste—to provide familiar and soothing experiences. Because dementia can…
Showing photos of a new place to a person with dementia before visiting can help reduce their anxiety. Familiarizing them visually with the environment ahead of time gives them a sense of what to expect, which can make the experience…