National Institute on Aging (NIH) - The Caregiver's Handbook

A guide to getting started, finding support, and taking care of yourself.

“There are only four kinds of people in the world — those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.” Rosalynn Carter

"This guide is for anyone who provides care for family members or friends who need help with daily living. It focuses on the needs of older adults who require care because of a serious health condition or disability, but it could also apply to other situations in which caregiving is needed. Included are tips to help you as a caregiver and ways to get support, as well as guidance on how to take care of yourself . The worksheets at the end of this guide provide questions to help coordinate care and checklists to keep track of your caregiving responsibilities and needs . Additionally, each chapter includes caregiving resources that can provide further information and support."

Click the link below to access the Handbook.

NIH - Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Fact Sheet

Many people wonder if Alzheimer’s disease runs in their family. Is it in your genes? This question isn’t easy to answer. Researchers have identified several genetic variants that are associated with Alzheimer’s and may increase or decrease a person’s risk of developing the disease. What does that mean? Let’s first learn about the role of genes.

From NIH's National Institute on Aging - An Alzheimer's Fact Sheet

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with Alzheimer’s, symptoms first appear later in life.

Estimates vary, but experts suggest that more than 6 million Americans, most of them age 65 or older, may have Alzheimer’s.

The causes of dementia can vary depending on the types of brain changes that may be taking place. Other forms of dementia include Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal disorders, and vascular dementia. It is common for people to have mixed dementia — a combination of two or more types of dementia. For example, some people have both Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.

NIH - What Do We Know About Healthy Aging?

"Many factors influence healthy aging. Some of these, such as genetics, are not in our control. Others — like exercise, a healthy diet, going to the doctor regularly, and taking care of our mental health — are within our reach. Research supported by NIA and others has identified actions you can take to help manage your health, live as independently as possible, and maintain your quality of life as you age."

Read more from this research backed data from the NIH's National Institute on Aging (NIA). See the link below and consider signing up for their newsletters.

NIH - Diabetes

"Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause other health problems such as heart disease, nerve damage, eye problems, and kidney disease. You can take steps to prevent or manage diabetes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Diabetes Statistics Report, an estimated 38.4 million people in the United States, or 11.6% of the population, have diabetes. About 1 in 5 adults with diabetes don’t know they have the disease. An estimated 97.6 million American adults have prediabetes, which means their blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes."

For a comprehensive source of information regarding diabetes, this compendium from the National Institute on Health will provide extensive information on the subject.

NIH - Preventing Alzheimer's Disease: What Do We Know?

"Changes in the brain occur many years before the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear. These early brain changes point to a possible window of opportunity to prevent or delay memory loss and other symptoms of dementia. While nothing has been proven yet to prevent Alzheimer’s, researchers have identified promising strategies and are learning more about what might — and might not — work."

"A 2017 review of research looked carefully at the evidence from clinical research on ways to prevent, delay, or slow Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or delay or slow age-related cognitive decline."

"Led by a committee of experts from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), the review found “encouraging but inconclusive” evidence for three types of interventions: blood pressure management in people with high blood pressure, increased physical activity, and cognitive training."

See this article for some insight into what might help to prevent or slow the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

National Institute on Aging (NIH) - Alzheimer's Caregiving

Alzheimer’s caregiving

Caregiving is an important job, and caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease comes with unique challenges. Find tips for responding to changes in communication and behavior, providing everyday care, and finding help when needed.

Related topics: Alzheimer's and relationships, Alzheimer's changes in behavior and communication, Caregiving, Legal and financial planning, Safety

For more information from the NIH on Alzheimer's click the link below.