Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and affects more than 5 million people in the United States. After diagnosis, many people with Alzheimer's and their families turn to the Internet for information on what to expect in the upcoming years. Alzheimer's blogs can help to prepare people with Alzheimer's and their families for the road ahead.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer's disease every 66 seconds. Due to the rising population in the U.S. of people aged 65 and older, the number of new cases of Alzheimer's and other dementias is set to soar.
Alzheimer's is a progressive and irreversible brain disorder. The disease slowly destroys memory and thinking capacity, and it eventually prevents the ability to complete even the simplest of tasks.
Alzheimer's disease is currently ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., although recent reports state that Alzheimer's-related deaths may have been underreported and may, in fact, rank third, just behind heart disease and cancer as a leading cause of death for people aged 75 and older.
Blogs that are written by associations, people with Alzheimer's, and caregivers of people with Alzheimer's may help to support both those living with Alzheimer's and their families, and they could help to prepare them for the road ahead.
Below are the top 5 blogs selected by Medical News Today that focus on Alzheimer's disease. These blogs showcase the most recent research, provide a day-in-the-life account of living with the disease, and share perspectives from caregivers.
Alzheimers.net is an online community that supports people affected by Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimers.net blog includes a wide range of articles that cover Alzheimer's research, discuss dementia therapies, provide tips and resources for caregivers, and give up-to-date information on the ongoing research to determine causes, treatments, and prevention of dementia.
Medical News Today was drawn, in particular, to the articles that focus on innovative dementia therapies and the benefits they have for people with Alzheimer's.
Cognitive Vitality is a program of the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), and it is dedicated to empowering people to make informed decisions about their brain health. The Cognitive Vitality blog has the aim of "examining issues that are on your mind."
The Cognitive Vitality blog was started because "there is a lot of misinformation. Headlines tout everything from maple syrup to jellyfish proteins. Cognitive Vitality gives people access to credible, science-backed information about brain health. Their goal is to empower people to make smart choices for their brains. The blog reports on promising research to prevent, treat, and cure Alzheimer's.
Brenda Avadian founded The Caregiver's Voice in 1998 to serve caregivers and professionals who work with adults with cognitive impairment or dementia. TheCaregiversVoice.com became the go-to source for both professionals and family caregivers seeking a deeper perspective of caring for a loved one with dementia while maintaining a sense of humor.
The Caregiver's Voice exudes a lighthearted, friendly tone and is filled with engaging articles laced with a little humor, such as I am not your sweetie! and 8 ways a caregiver can maintain a healthy level of insanity, and tips for caregivers, such as pureeing palatable meals for a loved one with dysphagia.
Alzheimer's Universe is a website created to educate family members and caregivers of people with Alzheimer's, provide the most up-to-date Alzheimer's disease information, and offer help for people with mild memory loss due to Alzheimer's, through interactive lessons and engaging activities.
In addition to the blog, Alzheimer's Universe has an activities page with cognitive assessment tools, links to resources, and surveys.
The Alzheimer's Universe blog extends this Alzheimer's education using easy-to-read articles that cover anything from "quick Alzheimer's prevention pearls" - such as how a daily walk promotes brain health and regular exercise may protect against depression in Alzheimer's disease - to therapeutic pieces detailing how canine companionship can help with Alzheimer's.
The Dealing with Dementia blog is the creation of Kay Bransford and was inspired by her experience of looking after her parents. The blog contains anecdotes (including grief is a sneaky beast), step-by-step guides (such as how to fight elder fraud), and advice (including articles such as caregiving or enabling?), gained through personal experience - all articles that are worthy of helping in real-life situations for people with dementia and their families.
Kay's advice to families that are dealing with the early stages of dementia is: "Hang on! I talk to many adult children in this stage and share that I still feel like it's the worst. The person with dementia is struggling to find meaning and purpose and the people that support them are all worried that they will be taken advantage of as well as for their safety."
If you are concerned about your health or a family member's health, it is always advisable to get advice from a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
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