Life and Memory Center

What Engagement Therapy for Early to Middle Stage Dementia When Tuesday, November 16, 2010 1:00pm – All Ages Where (map) Other InfoDr. Beckwith will hold a free workshop on November 16 from 1-2:30. He will speak on Engagement Therapy for Early to Middle Stage Dementia at Arden Courts in Naples, FL. Call 417-8511 for reservations and directions. « Back to the calendar

What Consequences of Caregiving: Don’t Go it Alone When Wednesday, October 27, 2010 10:00am – All Ages Where (map) Other InfoDr. Beckwith will hold a free workshop on October 27 from 10-11:30. He will speak on Engagement Therapy for Early to Middle Stage Dementia at Arden Courts in Fort Myers, FL. Call 454-1277 for reservations and directions. « Back to the calendar

What Remembering What Not To Forget When Tuesday, October 19, 2010 10:00am – All Ages Where (map) Other InfoDr. Beckwith will present a course “Remembering What Not To Forget”at the Renaissance Academy at the Atrium in Fort Myers, FL on October 19 from 10-11:30. Call 425-3276 for reservations and directions. « Back to the calendar

What Engagement Therapy for Early to Middle Stage Dementia When Wednesday, October 6, 2010 8:00pm – All Ages Where (map) Other InfoDr. Beckwith will hold a free workshop on October 6 from 3-4:30. He will speak on Engagement Therapy for Early to Middle Stage Dementia at Arden Courts in Seminole, Florida. Call 727-517-7800 for reservations and directions. « Back to the calendar

What Treatment Strategies for all Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease When Tuesday, October 5, 2010 8:00pm – All Ages Where (map) Other InfoDr. Beckwith will hold a free workshop on October 5 from 11-12:30. He will speak on Treatment Strategies for all stages of Alzheimer’s Disease at the First Presbyterian Church in Naples, FL. Call the Alzheimer’s Support Network 262-8388 for reservations and directions. « Back to the calendar

I was recently moderating a support group for families caring for a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s disease. One of the participants was 60 years old and after some discussion of her mother she turned and asked: “What about me?” She is noticing changes in her memory and concerned as was her 39 year old daughter sitting next to her. She reported no clear memory deficits but was worrying about her future and whether her current memory concerns were normal for her age, a result of the stress of caregiving, or signs that she may one day develop Alzheimer’s disease. I am hearing this question more and more. Clearly, there is an increased risk for developing Alzheimer’s if someone in your family is diagnosed with the disease. For example, I recall a retired physician who sought evaluation as he was […]

What Treating Early- to Middle-Stage Dementia When Thursday, September 30, 2010 1:00pm – All Ages Where (map) Other InfoDr. Beckwith will hold a free workshop followed by a book signing on September 30 from 1-3. He will speak on Treating Early to Middle Stage Dementia at Arden Courts in Naples, FL. Call 239-417-8511 for reservations and directions. « Back to the calendar

The New York Times (August 29, 2010) is running a series called “The Vanishing Mind” with the most recent installment titled “Years Latter; No Magic Bullet Against Alzheimer’s.”  The article is based on the conclusions reached by a “jury” of 15 medical scientists along with scientists at Duke University with no vested interests in Alzheimer’s research.  The National Institutes of Health convened this “court” to objectively evaluate the quality of research findings addressing the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.  These studies covered all of the bases: exercise, mental stimulation, healthy diet, social engagement, nutritional supplements, anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs lowering cholesterol, amount of education, being married, and being a loner.  Last week’s article reviewed the conclusions of the panel and discussed the issue of standards of scientific proof. This article focuses on the meanings of prevention in medicine. Consider the notion of […]

The New York Times (August 29, 2010) is running a series called “The Vanishing Mind” with the most recent installment titled “Years Latter; No Magic Bullet Against Alzheimer’s.”  The article is based on the conclusions reached by a “jury” of 15 medical scientists along with scientists at Duke University with no vested interests in Alzheimer’s research.  The National Institutes of Health convened this “court” to objectively evaluate the quality of research findings addressing the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.  These studies covered all of the bases: exercise, mental stimulation, healthy diet, social engagement, nutritional supplements, anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs lowering cholesterol, amount of education, being married, and being a loner. The panel’s conclusion was that “Currently, no evidence of even moderate scientific quality exists to support the association of any modifiable factor with reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.”   A week later a […]

There was an article by Gary Small, a well known UCLA memory expert, titled “Paul McCartney’s memory lapses.”  Apparently, Paul McCartney (who is now 68 and too old to be a baby boomer) admitted that he has times such as during a recent concert at Fenway Park in Boston when he cannot recall the lyrics to his old songs – the ones he has been performing for years.  Dr. Small used the article to discuss “normal memory loss associated with aging.”  The article intrigued me, so I pursued other examples of singers experiencing memory lapses for lyrics. Interestingly, it is not only the aged rockers who forget lyrics. The examples are legion.  I will only present a few.  Mick Jagger, 65 at the time, repeated a verse from Ruby Tuesday in a 2006 concert in Glasgow.   There is a nearly […]