Community Update (11/15/2023)

Wellness

Digestive Issues & Aging

Friday, November 17

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

This free webinar is sponsored by the VHC Senior Health Department. Please join Dr. Ami Patel, DO, MBA to learn about the digestive process, and common issues encountered as we age. Dr. Patel is a board-certified Gastroenterologist with VHC Health Physicians. Registration required.

COVID Annual Vaccination

Getting vaccinated or boosted is an important way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. But if it’s been a while since you got the shot, your protection may need a boost. Updated COVID-19 vaccines are available now and protect against the Omicron variant. Other vaccines, including this year’s flu vaccine, are also available. Staying up to date with your COVID vaccine can reduce the risk that you’ll:

• Get seriously ill, need hospital care, or die from COVID-19
• Develop long COVID-19
• Spread the disease to others, putting their health and lives at risk.

Learn more about COVID-19 and the updated vaccines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 

About Alzheimer’s: Learning More Each Day        

November is Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, and we are learning so much more about this disease. Just recently, in the Washington Post (Nov. 7, 2023) Richard Sima reported on a study published in JAMA that links undiagnosed and untreated adult ADHD to the development of dementia. Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is only recently getting attention, but when untreated (by medication), it increases the risk of unsafe driving, substance abuse and early death. The JAMA research reports that undiagnosed adult ADHD “is associated with a 2.77-fold increased risk of dementia”. While the study does not report causation, it indicates that if you have (untreated) ADHD “you are going to have more trouble with normal brain aging”. The research highlights the importance of seeking care. Treatment for adult ADHD with psychostimulant medications “may attenuate the risk” several researchers have said.  Most advise lifestyle changes, such as better sleep and STAYING SOCIALLY ENGAGED, can also lower risk for dementia.

Researchers followed up with 109,218 adults (51-70 years old) over 17 years, and found that of the 730 adults who had received a diagnosis of ADHD, 13% were diagnosed with dementia, compared with non-ADHD adults where only 7% developed dementia. Most interesting was the finding that, adults with ADHD who were taking the psychostimulant medication did NOT have an increased risk of dementia. While these findings do not specifically separate Alzheimer’s, that disease is included in the symptoms of those with dementia.

While an estimated 3% of adults have ADHD, most research is on childhood ADHD.  But, only about 50% of childhood ADHD persists to be diagnosed as adult ADHD, and it is not clear if there is a distinction between adult and childhood ADHD. But there is a lack of research on older adults who may have ADHD, and it is thought to be underdiagnosed in older adults. Since ADHD is linked to worse vascular health, researchers are investigating whether vascular changes in the brain are linked to increased risk of dementia.

So, big breath, what do we do with this information? Most researchers say that it is not like everyone who has ADHD as an adult will get dementia. If we take care of ourselves, we can lower the risk. Simple things like taking care of hearing loss, lowering alcohol intake, and stopping smoking, while keeping up good sleep, eating, and exercise habits and STAYING SOCIALLY ENGAGED, can make a big difference.

Extra, extra, read all about it! Flu shots may fight against Alzheimer’s and other Dementias!!!

Washington Post, Nov. 7, 2023. Researchers suggest regular vaccines against influenza, shingles, pneumococcal pneumonia, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias. Paul E. Schulz is professor of neurology and director of the Neurocognitive Disorders Center at McGovern Medical School in Houston and has led several studies. Apparently results show that those who received these vaccines were less likely than the unvaccinated to develop dementia, but they don’t know why! They have many speculations (which we won’t repeat here), but, coupled with research by other scientists, the numbers were impressive!

More food for thought.  Lots to consider, and I am sure more evidence will emerge day by day! You may notice that we emphasized the SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT factor; that is one of ANV’s most important missions, and we hope you will take advantage of it.  Register to come to the Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 17, and/or the Holiday lunch on Dec. 15!  Keep going to the monthly lunches, weekly Happy Hours, twice monthly Board Games, Page Turners and weekly Coffee and Conversation!