Perseveration is the persistent repetition of a word, phrase or gesture despite discontinuing the original stimulus that led to the word, phrase or gesture. It is a very common symptom of Alzheimer’s disease, most often beginning in the early stag…
A new family event, Game Plan for Health, is being held from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Ochsner Medical Complex — The Grove, 10310 The Grove Blvd. (off Interstate 10 East between the Mall of Louisiana and Siegen Lane exits).
Dr. James Gordon, author of "The Transformation: Discovering Wholeness and Healing After Trauma," will conduct several sessions in Baton Rouge.
Spinal Cord Injury
The very nature of this debilitating brain disorder presents a host of moral and/or ethical challenges both for the affected person and the caregiver.
According to The National Alliance on Mental Illness, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., and the second leading cause of death for those ages 10-34.
In a recent study released by the Journal of the American Medical Association's Network Open, researchers tracked over 16,000 men and women and found that a new diagnosis of hearing loss between ages 45 and 65 more than doubled the odds of develop…
New support group
Yes, in fact, Jo Horne, author of "Caregiving: Helping an Aging Loved One," composed a list of particular caregiver rights.
Elmo's going to be there, and you're invited to the Growing Every Day, Every Way event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging, 6955 Florida Blvd.
Pain management
Mixed dementia is a term used when an individual has more than one type of dementia.
Teen summit
Should I ask my primary care physician for a cognitive assessment during my physical exam?
Dr. Derrick Spell knew he had gained weight over the years, but one memorable week in 2013 finally made him take steps to do something about it.
Louisiana residents can now get their immunization records online for free, without having to contact a health care provider.
Alzheimer's Walk
How does an Alzheimer's caregiver manage or overcome grief?
In 2017, Donney Rose was writing Facebook updates in celebration of Black History Month and wanted to take it a step further than just talking about historical black figures. He wanted to celebrate everyday black life.
Human beings are not perfect, and Alzheimer's caregivers cannot expect themselves to maintain a perfect attitude all the time.
Worry, another of the seven emotions associated with caregiving, is a state of anxiety and doubt over genuine or potential problems.
Interest in herbs, particularly medicinal herbs, is growing rapidly, but it can be hard to find accurate information on best uses of herbs, dosages, growing them and whether they could interact with medications.
Scleroderma group
An often suppressed and sometimes unrecognized emotion in what's called the seven deadly emotions of Alzheimer's caregiving is caregiver resentment, a feeling of unfairness or irritation. And it's something caregivers rarely share with others.
Adult survivors group
Greta Fry knows the intense stress that comes with abnormal mammogram results.
Heart event
Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in the United States and the world. The condition is a group of neurodegenerative eye diseases that leads to damage of the optic nerve and can lead to vision loss and possibly blindness. Like g…
A diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is frightening and life-changing, to say the least. There are many unanswered questions, fears and anxieties of the unknown.
“It’s the African-American male’s country club — the original man cave.”
Scams calls and emails are mere annoyances to most, but to older people, they can be a threat, causing confusion, anxiety, and, in some cases, leading to financial ruin.
Alzheimer’s Q&A: What kinds of Father's Day gifts would be appropriate for my dad, who has dementia?
It can be difficult and bittersweet to have a traditional Father's Day when your dad has dementia. Many people who have dads affected by the disease often wonder if they should celebrate the day.
Summer can bring many challenges for someone with Alzheimer's disease, especially if he or she has other medical conditions. Protective measures and strategies should be in place to manage the summer's hot and humid conditions.
Blood drive
Researchers say it is still a mystery whether inflammation is a result of having Alzheimer's disease or whether the inflammatory process plays a role in its development. It is probable that inflammation can be a cause and effect of the debilitatin…
Triathlon
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, behavior and social abilities severely enough to affect activities of daily living. Simply, dementia is brain failure. The symptoms of dementia seem to w…
A new study highlighted in the journal Neurology in February reported staying both physically and mentally active in midlife (your 40s) may protect the brain decades later.
Health event
The most recent statistics on childhood obesity in the United States are startling: Nearly 1 in 5 youngsters ages 6 to 19 is obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
These recipes are among the 23 featured in the "Our Lifestyles, Our Lives" cookbook, which was compiled by Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital with assistance from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
Reluctance and fear from being separated from a primary caregiver, or separation anxiety, is a normal, healthy response and occurs regularly in those with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
A cross-country road trip can be challenging — cramped quarters, car trouble, friendly conflicts.
Alzheimer's disease affects many abilities, including memory, communication, behavior and thought processes. Typically, people with Alzheimer's in the moderate or middle stage can still read, but this ability will gradually decline through the pro…
Cooking demonstration
The East Baton Rouge Parish parks and recreation system for the first time will be offering free swimming lessons to children this summer.
The news coming out of a recent meeting at the State Capitol on the welfare of the state’s children isn’t good, but it is appropriate the meeting took place in April, Child Abuse Awareness Month. In the latest ranking of how states take care of th…
After 32 years on the front lines of the battle against child abuse and neglect, Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana is no longer in operation.
There may be only one conversation more difficult than telling children the facts of life. It’s telling loved ones what you want at the end of life.
Just as Alzheimer's disease is unique in each affected person, so are your children when it comes to discussions about the illness.
Babysitting course