The Smile Within – a film about an important study on dementia care

The Smile Within ... Trailer

This heart-warming film provides a fascinating insight into how life can be improved in aged care facilities and shows we don't stop living, till we stop breathing*. (*Jean-Paul Bell) The Arts Health Institute in Australia is now implementing this important research in residential aged care facilities. This program is called "Play Up".

The primary aim of the study* was to examine the effects of humour therapy on mood, social engagement, agitation and quality of life. The study is a multi-site blinded cluster-randomised controlled design with 406 residents in 36 Residential Aged Care Facilities in Sydney, Australia. There were 18 intervention sites. Each resident in the study had an average of 10 visits from the humour practitioner. There were more than 180 visits to the facilities and 1741 occasions of humour therapy. Of the five performers, Jean-Paul Bell delivered 88% of the humour intervention.

The primary aim of the SMILE study was to examine the effects of humour therapy on mood, social engagement and agitation. This 40 minute film documents the study, and follows comedian Jean-Paul Bell as he delivers the humour intervention to residents in aged care facilities.

We also meet staff from the aged care sector, family members of the residents and the academics and researchers who initiated and ran the study, Professor Henry Brodaty, Dr Lee-Fay Low and Dr Belinda Goodenough.

*The Sydney Multisite Intervention of LaughterBosses and Elderclowns (SMILE) Study is the world’s first high quality large scale research project that examined the effects of humour therapy on older people with dementia. SMILE study was initiated by Professor Henry Brodaty and Dr Peter Spitzer.

(Source:  Alzheimer's Australia News, posted by Michelle, 8 February 2013)

OLIVE OIL FOUND TO PROTECT AGAINST ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Want to keep Alzheimer’s disease at bay? A new study suggests upping your intake of olive oil.

Scientists have found a 

substance in Olive Oil that
protects nerve cells from 
damage that  brought on 
by Alzheimer's Disease

©shutterstock/ilker canikligil/shutterstock.com

While the Mediterranean liquid gold has long been touted for its multiple health benefits, a team of US scientists from the University of Louisiana has identified a specific component in olive oil that they say protects nerve cells from damage brought on by Alzheimer’s disease.

Their research stems from a larger trend observed in the worldwide prevalence of the cognitive illness: While it's estimated that 30 million people suffer from the disease around the world, rates are notably lower in Mediterranean countries.

And though scientists had long attributed the trend to the high consumption of healthy, monounsaturated fats found in olive oil, the latest study, released by the American Chemical Society last week, identifies a substance called oleocanthal that was observed to protect against the leading cause of Alzheimer’s in the brain: the accumulation of peptide beta-amyloid.

The findings were published in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience.

In animal studies, scientists found that oleocanthal worked by boosting the production of proteins and key enzymes believed to be critical in removing the beta-amyloid in the brain.

“Extra-virgin olive oil-derived oleocanthal associated with the consumption of Mediterranean diet has the potential to reduce the risk of AD or related neurodegenerative dementias," the report concludes.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, another study found that olive oil is an effective way of satiating hunger pangs and curbing the munchies. For their research, Austrian researchers fed participants yogurt enriched with lard, butterfat, rapeseed oil or olive oil.

The result?  Olive oil had the biggest satiety effect.

(Source: The Star, 26 March 2013 - AFPRelaxnews)

JOIN ADFM NATIONAL CAREGIVERS NETWORK

The National Platform for The Caregivers Community

SIGN UP at  “http://admalaysia.ning.com/main/authorization/signUp”

Brain Gym Exercises Can Help Keep Dementia At Bay

Sharing with you the article published in today’s Star (27 March 2013) written by Majorie Chiew of The Star who attended the “Brain Gym Vs Dementia” Talk & Exercise Session conducted at  ADFM PJ Daycare Centre on 9 March 2013.

Gymnastics for the Brain

Instructor Goh Siew Siew gets the crowd swinging and clapping their way through a series of exercises at a recent Brain Gym vs Dementia talk and exercise session. 

If our body needs exercise to stay in shape, so does the brain. EXERCISE can pack in a lot of fun, besides being good for the body and brain. At a recent Brain Gym vs Dementia talk and exercise session, the enthusiastic crowd swayed, clapped and sang in sync with Brain Gym songs such as Tony Chestnut, Apple Pie and Blueberry Pie.

“We’re going to make the best apple pie ... knee, shoulder, clap hands,” coaxed Goh Siew Siew, an international certified instructor of Brain Gym. The exercise involves touching the knees with your hands, then touching your shoulders and bringing your hands together in a clap.

“The left brain person needs instructions to do the exercise, while the right brain person knows how to do it, just by looking (at a demonstration),” said Goh.

She encouraged participants to “see it once and do it together!”

“Apple pie, apple pie, apple, apple, apple, apple pie. Anyone miss your pie?”

Before each workout, the participants are encouraged to drink water.

Goh said: “Time to drink water. Your brain needs ‘moisture’ to process (information).”

After the session, she asked: “Are you ready for Blueberry Pie (the exercise)?”

She was greeted with a resounding yes!

The talk and exercise session which was held at the Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM) PJ Daycare Centre, was open to care- givers and members of the public.

Brain Gym is a series of simple yet effective movements which are claimed to help stimulate neurological connections in the brain, reduces the stress of information processing, and rekindles the joy of learning.

It integrates the left and right hemispheric functions of the brain. As such, the exercises are claimed to enhance concentration, comprehension, reading and memory.

The movements also assist in balancing the body’s energy or meridian system and stress management.

The Brain Gym programme was the result of more than 30 years of clinical research by Dr Paul Dennison, an educational therapist, in the United States.  It has been taught worldwide and is used in corporate, institutional and atheletic training programme.

Brain Gym consists of 26 simple activities to improve learning skills through the use of both brain hemispheres. The exercises are said to be helpful for students with dyslexia or hyperactivity.

“Whether it is the body or the brain, the benefits of exercising and keeping fit have been proven for people of all ages, whatever their conditions. It is especially critical for dementia patients,” said Goh, who believes Brain Gym exercises can help keep dementia at bay.

Goh explained to the participants that the left side of the brain governs logic, thinking and language. However, dementia patients have problems with language and communication. “They cannot remember words to express themselves or sometimes they forget that they have eaten and want to eat again.”

The left side of the brain processes information in a linear manner and in sequence, while the right side is often called the creative side of the brain.

“Brain gym is for everyone – young and old. It emphasises on exercises which balance both the right and left brain functions.

“To sing a simple nursery rhyme like Baa Baa Black Sheep, you need both sides of the brain,” Goh explained.

BRAIN GYM EXERCISES

Other Brain Gym exercises which Goh taught the participants included Brain Buttons, Cross Crawl, Hook-ups, Arm Activations, Lazy Eight and Double Doodle.

And if I yawned at the end of the session, Goh will understand. For mine is not the “bored” yawn. In Brain Gym, it is the “energe-tic” yawn for scientific research has shown that yawning is an exercise which brings oxygen to the brain and as such, enhances learning.

The talk and exercise session was well received by the participants.

Retired microbiologist and biochemist, Clement Wong, 65, had no regrets signing up for the session as he had enjoyed himself tremendously.

A wellness consultant for 30 years, he said: “I am open to anything to do with wellness.”

His wife, Lucille Lee, 63, a retired school supervisor, liked The Owl exercise the most. “I have neck pain and this exercise is good for the shoulders and neck.”

The movements in The Owl are said to improve visual and auditory skills, head rotation, and lessen neck tension.

Another participant, project manager Kit Yuen, 55, said: “The exercises are very useful and I have started variations of them with my 79-year-old mother who has Alzheimer’s and has been diagnosed as a moderately severe case a few years ago.

“She has problems with memory, coordination, xenophobia and sensitivity. She does not remember what she said or is said to her within 5 minutes. She can still manage routines like eating, sleeping, reading the papers (albeit with fleeting concentration) and watching TV.”

Kit Yuen and her sister share the caregiving of their elderly mother and father. Her mother is currently “very unsociable” and will not even visit friends, let alone attend an event with a room full of strangers.

“I vary the moves (for the exercises) because my mother is diabetic; her exercise regime incorporates strengthening the leg muscles as well as coordination. I like the coordination exercises – the ones that involve arm and leg movements together– as they are very challenging,” said Kit Yuen.

And so it was a group of very happy participants who went home that day, with a new spring in their steps, and armed with tips to improve their memory.

(Source:  The Star, 27 March 2013, http://thestar.com.my)

Alzheimer's Association 2013 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures

The Alzheimer's Association 2013 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures released on 14 March 2013 reveals new statistics on the ever-growing weight of Alzheimer's disease on our nation. The report uncovers new information on growing death rates, the cost of the disease, and the burden placed on long-distance caregivers.

"Unfortunately today there are no Alzheimer's survivors. If you have Alzheimer's disease, you either die from it or die with it. Now we know that 1 in every 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia. Urgent, meaningful action is necessary, particularly as more and more people age into greater risk for developing a disease that has no cure and no way to slow or stop its progression," said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association.

By 2025, the number of people 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease is estimated to reach 7.1 million – a 40 percent increase from 5 million aged 65 and older currently affected. Startling facts include:

·  1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer's or another dementia.

·  Deaths from Alzheimer's increased 68 percent between 2000 and 2010, while deaths from other major diseases, including the number one cause of death (heart disease), decreased.

·  In 2012, the direct costs of caring for those with Alzheimer's or other dementias to American society will total an estimated $203 billion, including $142 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid.

The face of Alzheimer's is changing, affecting more of our friends and family every day.

The 2013 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures is a statistical resource for      U.S. data related to Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of Dementia, as well as other Dementias. Background and context for interpretation of the data are contained in the Overview. This information includes definitions of the various types of dementia and a summary of current knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease. Additional sections address prevalence, mortality, caregiving and use and costs of care and services. The Special Report focuses on long-distance caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

View -> VIDEO

(Source: Alzheimer's Association, 14 March 2013) 

Dementia Drugs Slow Heart Rate, Provoke Fainting

Memory drugs for dementias such as Alzheimer's appear to provoke slower heart rates and fainting. However, the magnitude of these risks has not been clear until now. Learn about these side-effects. Avoid needless pacemaker surgery or injuries from falls.

Side effects associated with several commonly-prescribed dementia drugs may be putting elderly Canadians at risk, says Queen's University Geriatrics Professor Sudeep Gill.

Cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept®, Exelon® and Reminyl) are often prescribed for people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias because they increase the level of a chemical in the brain that seems to help memory. Although such drugs are known to provoke slower heart rates and fainting episodes, the magnitude of these risks has not been clear until now.

"This is very troubling, because the drugs are marketed as helping to preserve memory and improve function," says Dr. Gill, who is an Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care Career Scientist, working at Providence Care's St. Mary's of the Lake Hospital in Kingston. "But for a subset of people, the effect appears to be the exact opposite."

In a large study using province-wide data, Dr. Gill and his colleagues discovered that people who used cholinesterase inhibitors were hospitalized for fainting almost twice as often as people with dementia who did not receive these drugs. Experiencing a slowed heart-rate was 69 per cent more common amongst cholinesterase inhibitor users. In addition, people taking the dementia drugs had a 49 per cent increased chance of having permanent pacemakers implanted and an 18 per cent increased risk of hip fractures.

Unfortunately, Dr. Gill continues, this class of drugs is one of the few effective dementia treatments available today. Acknowledging that these drugs do have an important role in the management of dementia, he suggests that people who are already at a higher risk (for example, those who have had previous episodes of fainting or slowed heart rate) may want to ask their doctors to reassess the value of taking the drugs.

Slowing of the heart rate from cholinesterase inhibitors, if significant, may cause a person to faint and suffer fall-related injuries such as a broken hip - often debilitating and sometimes fatal for seniors. However, many physicians aren't aware of the connection between these problems and the dementia drugs, Dr. Gill notes.

If the association with dementia drugs is not identified, people who faint may be prescribed a permanent pacemaker: an invasive procedure that can involve serious complications for seniors. Both the injuries incurred from falling and the risks from pacemaker implants are "downstream consequences" of not recognizing this drug-induced phenomenon.

"This study does not suggest that dementia patients shouldn't take these drugs," says Dr. Gill. "What's critical is that patients, caregivers and physicians be aware of the potential side effects, and weigh these risks carefully against the potential for beneficial effects."

(Source: Alzheimer’s Weekly & Dementia Weekly, 10 March 2013)

Diagnosing Dementia: Alzheimer's May Really Be Mini-Strokes

What causes memory problems?  Often, it's plaque in the brain, which leads to Alzheimer's. Now, new research shows a more common culprit may be vascular brain injury. Find out about this type of cognitive decline from stroke, mini-stroke and high blood pressure. Learn why diagnosing the right cause effects therapy and treatment.

Alzheimer's is connected to sticky plaques made of beta-amyloid that choke brain cells, thereby causing dementia. People may act like they have Alzheimer's when they really have vascular dementia. Vascular dementia is caused by vascular events (related to blood vessels) such as strokes and mini-strokes, so treatment is different. (Mini-strokes occur in the brain when blood vessels clog up or burst. They can accumulate slowly and can go unnoticed for years.)

For example, the damage caused by plaque is typically treated with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors like Aricept®. These drugs target the nervous system. Vascular problems like mini-strokes are treated with blood-targeting medications and therapies.

Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia are two types of dementia that are common in the elderly. A person's dementia can even be caused by a combination of the two, called "Mixed Dementia."

With today's technology, both vascular brain injury as well as beta-amyloid plaque can be detected in the brain. They both cause memory and thinking problems, called "cognitive impairment". If the cognitive impairment is strong and interferes with a typical person's day, it is called dementia. If it is mild, it is called MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment).

Until now, doctors generally assumed that when they saw cognitive impairment, it was probably from plaque building up in the brain. Treatment and therapy were given accordingly. New research is showing that vascular brain injury from strokes or the mini-strokes often caused by high blood pressure may deserve the greater part of their attention.

A study at the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at UC Davis has found that vascular brain injury from conditions such as high blood pressure and stroke are greater risk factors for cognitive impairment among non-demented older people than is the deposition of the amyloid plaques in the brain that long have been implicated in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Published online early today in JAMA Neurology (formerly Archives of Neurology), the study found that vascular brain injury had by far the greatest influence across a range of cognitive domains, including higher-level thinking and the forgetfulness of mild cognitive decline.

The researchers also sought to determine whether there was a correlation between vascular brain injury and the deposition of beta amyloid (Αβ) plaques, thought to be an early and important marker of Alzheimer’s disease, said Bruce Reed, associate director of the UC Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center in Martinez, Calif. They also sought to decipher what effect each has on memory and executive functioning.

“We looked at two questions,” said Bruce Reed, Professor in the Department of Neurology at UC Davis. “The first question was whether those two pathologies correlate to each other, and the simple answer is ‘no.’

Earlier research, conducted in animals, has suggested that having a stroke causes more beta amyloid deposition in the brain. If that were the case, people who had more vascular brain injury should have higher levels of beta amyloid. We found no evidence to support that.”

"The second,” Reed continued, “was whether higher levels of cerebrovascular disease or amyloid plaques have a greater impact on cognitive function in older, non-demented adults. Half of the study participants had abnormal levels of beta amyloid and half vascular brain injury, or infarcts. It was really very clear that the amyloid had very little effect, but the vascular brain injury had distinctly negative effects.” 

“The more vascular brain injury the participants had, the worse their memory and the worse their executive function – their ability to organize and problem solve,” Reed said.

The research was conducted in 61 male and female study participants who ranged in age from 65 to 90 years old, with an average age of 78. Thirty of the participants were clinically “normal,” 24 were cognitively impaired and seven were diagnosed with dementia, based on cognitive testing. The participants had been recruited from Northern California between 2007 to 2012.

The study participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - to measure vascular brain injury - and positron emission tomography (PET) scans to measure beta amyloid deposition: markers of the two most common pathologies that affect the aging brain. Vascular brain injury appears as brain infarcts and “white matter hyperintensities” in MRI scans, areas of the brain that appear bright white.

The study found that both memory and executive function correlated negatively with brain infarcts, especially infarcts in cortical and sub-cortical gray matter. Although infarcts were common in this group, the infarcts varied greatly in size and location, and many had been clinically silent. The level of amyloid in the brain did not correlate with either changes in memory or executive function, and there was no evidence that amyloid interacted with infarcts to impair thinking.

Bruce Reed said the study is important because there’s an enormous amount of interest in detecting Alzheimer’s disease at its earliest point, before an individual exhibits clinical symptoms. It’s possible to conduct a brain scan and detect beta amyloid in the brain, and that is a very new development, he said.

“The use of this diagnostic tool will become reasonably widely available within the next couple of years, so doctors will be able to detect whether an older person has abnormal levels of beta amyloid in the brain. So it’s very important to understand the meaning of a finding of beta amyloid deposition,” Reed said.

“What this study says is that doctors should think about this in a little more complicated way. They should not forget about cerebrovascular disease, which is also very common in this age group and could also cause cognitive problems. Even if a person has amyloid plaques, those plaques may not be the cause of their mild cognitive symptoms.”

(Source:  Alzheimer's Weekly & Dementia Weekly, posted 17 February 2013)

The Use of Validation Therapy Vs Reality Orientation for Alzheimer's

What's the best way to respond to someone with Alzheimer's or another type of dementia if she's anxious and yelling out for her mother who passed away many years ago? The short but true answer is that it depends on the individual- which stage of Alzheimer's disease she's in, what approaches are typically helpful in reassuring her, and how much distress she's experiencing.

The longer answer includes a discussion on a couple of theories: reality orientation and validation therapy. Historically, reality orientation has been fairly dogmatic about continually reminding the person that she is 89 years old and that her mother passed away 20 years ago. The reasoning with this approach has been that frequently reminding the person of reality is beneficial for her cognitive functioning.

Validation Therapy, however, places more emphasis on the possible feelings and thoughts behind the person's behaviors, and rather than trying to force her to be in our reality, it suggests that we join with the person in her reality. Validation therapy would recommend that we ask her questions about her mother, such as what she misses most about her mother and which of her mom's dinner recipes was her favorite.

So, which is the best and most helpful approach? And, what does research say? The pendulum has swung from reality orientation to validation therapy and a little more back towards a more gentle reality orientation. In the end, there's no "one size fits all" for responding to people's confusion. However, there are a few guidelines that usually remain constant about how to talk with people who have dementia, such as responding with genuineness and compassion.

What Is Validation Therapy?

Validation Therapy is a way to approach older adults with empathy and understanding. The basic premise behind Validation Therapy is that people who are in the very old stage of life may have unresolved issues that drive their behaviors and emotions. The way caregivers or family members respond to these behaviors and emotions can either increase their intensity or help resolve them.

Validation Therapy is more than simply validating a person's feelings, although that is one component of it. Validation Therapy focuses on helping the person work through the emotions behind challenging behaviors. These behaviors are viewed essentially as a way to communicate those emotions, especially in people with memory loss, confusion, disorientation, and other symptoms of dementia.

How to Use Validation Therapy?

Imagine that your mother, who has Alzheimer's disease, lives with you in your home and frequently calls out for her own mother. According to the Validation Training Institute, people who practice validation therapy can use the following techniques in that situation:

Center Themselves

Take a deep breath and slow down. Your initial reaction may be to try to use logic when your own mother, who is 92 years old, starts calling out loudly for her mother. But before you react, think - and breathe.

Reminisce

Ask your mother what her mom was like, and what she misses about her. Share a memory about your grandmother with your mother, and allow her to express her loneliness.

Use Extremes

Ask her if she always misses her mother, or what she misses most about her mother. This can allow her to process those feelings of grief related to losing her mother.

Match and Express the Emotion

Join with the person in her feelings. Acknowledge the sadness of losing her mother and what a special relationship they had with each other.

Rephrase

Rephrasing her feelings back to her can provide reassurance that you understand and feel her loss. Saying "You must really miss your mother" can decrease her anxiety, because she hears you expressing what she is feeling.

Use Senses

Ask questions about her mother. For example, ask about her favorite food that her mother cooked and how it smelled, or how pretty her mother looked all dressed up for church on Sunday mornings.

How Effective is Validation Therapy According to Research?

Research is mixed when it comes to conclusions about the effectiveness of validation therapy. Different studies conducted on validation therapy have different conclusions, with some stating that it's effective, and others determining that it's no more helpful than a placebo. A couple of Cochrane Database Systemic Reviews conclude there's insufficient evidence to conclude that it's effective - not meaning that it's ineffective, but that there wasn't strong enough data to show that it is clearly helpful.

As a clinical professional, I've seen many instances in which validation therapy has worked beautifully, and others where it did not. Other clinicians tell of anecdotal evidence of the effectiveness of validation therapy in decreasing challenging behaviors and emotional distress. While there's not a definite conclusion backed by research, it does appear that validation therapy may be a tool that's worth understanding and using in some circumstances, for some people.

(Source: By Esther Heerema, MSW, About.com, 27 February 2013)

Worth Watching: Vaccine Shows Promise in Alzheimer's

A vaccine that targets beta-amyloid - a protein thought to play a central role in the development of Alzheimer's disease - triggered a protective response in 48 of 58 people involved in a three-year study of the agent. The vaccine, known as CAD106, was also generally well tolerated.

For the investigation, participants were randomly assigned to receive injections containing CAD106 (50 or 150 micrograms [μg]) or placebo at baseline and two more times within the next five months.

About 67 percent of participants who received the 50-μg injections of CAD106 and 82 percent of those who received the 150-μg injections developed sufficient beta-amyloid antibody to be considered "responders." In contrast, no participant who received placebo had measurable beta-amyloid antibody.

Most (97 percent) of the CAD106-treated participants experienced adverse events; however, they generally were mild and included a sore throat and runny nose, fatigue, headache, redness or pain at the injection site, fever and chills. Nine patients had serious adverse events, but none seemed to be related to CAD106 treatment.

Worth watching. Larger trials are needed to further establish efficacy and safety, but CAD106 seems to be worth watching. The study was published in Lancet Neurology (Volume 11, page 597).

(Source: John Hopkins Health Alert, posted in Memory on 25 February 2013)

How Alzheimer’s Progresses Through the Brain

Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms result from physical changes in the brain. While the cause of these changes remains somewhat of a mystery and has yet to be thoroughly proven, researchers have a leading theory of how the Alzheimer's disease progresses. Here’s an explanation, in brief. 

In a healthy brain, certain chemical processes ensure the proper functioning of neurons. One is the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) that is attached to the outer membrane of nerve cells. An enzyme called alpha-secretase cuts off a section of the protein; then another enzyme, gamma-secretase, snips a second portion and releases APP from the cell’s membrane. 

These APP fragments are then broken down and removed from the brain. Another process involves the microtubules, which carry nutrients through the nerve cells to keep them functioning normally. Tau protein helps to maintain the physical structure of microtubules. 

The Plaques and Tangles of Alzheimer's.  But when these processes go awry, a different enzyme, beta-secretase, cuts shorter APP fragments from the nerve cell membrane.  These smaller pieces are more resistant to breakdown and tend to clump together in toxic clusters called oligomers; eventually, the oligomers collect into larger beta-amyloid plaques that interfere with nerve cell functioning. 

Within neurons, abnormal tau strands separate from the microtubules and cause the microtubules to fall apart, crippling the transport of nutrients and destroying nerve cells. Loose tau threads join together to form knotted strands inside neurons.  Called neurofibrillary tangles, they cause further neuron destruction. 

In the early stages of Alzheimer's, plaques and tangles form in brain areas responsible for learning, thinking, and planning - in particular, the hippocampus. This is why forgetfulness, disorientation and verbal repetition are often among the earliest signs of Alzheimer's.  As nerve cell destruction spreads, more brain areas are affected, especially the cerebral cortex, responsible for language, reasoning and judgment. Speaking skills become impaired and emotional outbursts grow more frequent. 

When large areas of nerve cells die off in the advanced Alzheimer's stage, brain sections atrophy and the whole brain shrinks to as much as three quarters of its original size.  People with Alzheimer's lose most of their ability to communicate, walk and care for themselves.  

(Sources:  John Hopkins Health Alert, posted in Memory on 14 January, 2013)

Dear Caregivers/Members,

ADFM National Caregivers Network in conjunction with KLPJ Support Group will be holding a Free Public Presentation on BRAIN GYM Vs DEMENTIA, and EXERCISE Session for Caregivers,  Members and public in Klang Valley and Selangor.  

Day / Date : Saturday, 9 March 2013

Venue : ADFM PJ Daycare Centre, 6, Lorong 11/8E, Seksyen 11, 46200 Petaling Jaya

PROGRAM:

2:00pm : Registration of Attendance

2.30pm : “Brain Gym Vs Dementia” by Mdm Goh Siew Siew, Registered International Brain Gym Instructor / Consultant.

3.30pm : Q & A and followed by Brain Gym Exer cise Session

4.30pm : Light Refreshments

Whether we are talking about the body or the brain, the benefits of exercising and keeping fit have been proven for people of all ages, everywhere, whatever their conditions. But especially critical for Dementia Patients. Brain Gym (BG) & Dementia are like twin brothers, going hand in hand.

SPEAKER:

MDM GOH SIEW SIEW, M.Ed. is a registered international Brain Gym ® Instructor /

Consultant since 2003. She holds a Master Degree in Education and is currently pursuing her Ph.D in Special Education and also in the Edu-K Faculty Internship Program to become a Faculty Member of the Educational Kinesiology Foundation (Brain Gym ®) of Malaysia.

REGISTRATION

1.      Click on and complete the Registration Form, and email to jenny@adfm.org.my  OR  Fax to: 03 7960 8482.

2.      SMS 016 608 2513 with full name/s, telephone/mobile contacts, if you have no email access.

3.      Any questions, call Jenny at 016-608 2513 / 03–7956 2008.

4.    Registration is compulsory on first come first serve.

JOIN ADFM NATIONAL CAREGIVERS NETWORK

SIGN UP at: http://admalaysia.ning.com/main/authorization/signUp

Further information:

Email: caregivers.adfm@gmail.com / jenny@adfm.org.my