Latest news with #Alzheimer'sResearchUK
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Couple running the length of Hadrian's Wall to raise money for two charities
A London couple are running the length of Hadrian's Wall over five days to raise money for two charities that are close to their hearts. Daniel and Amy Tarshish are undertaking the 137 kilometre trek from Bowness-on-Solway to Wallsend to raise money for Alzheimer's Research UK and The OppO Foundation. Neither Amy nor Daniel are strangers to running long distances however running the equivalent of a half marathon everyday for five days with their gear on their back presents a different kind of challenge. But, they are both passionate about the causes they are supporting and the impact that fundraising will have on the lives of many people across the country. Daniel said: "Anybody who gives is making a difference for everybody else. "This is not about us, it's not about our friends and family, it's about the people who will benefit from the work that the charities do." Amy's mum passed away at 61-years-old from frontotemporal dementia which took her from vivacious person full of energy to someone who could barely swallow her food in just two years. They are keen to raise money for a charity that is working to make a difference for people like Amy's mum - and for everyone else who is at risk of developing Alzheimer's. Shortly before setting off on their journey former Prime Minister David Cameron, who is the President of Alzheimer's Research UK, got in touch to wish them good luck. Daniel added: "It's such a criminal thief of a disease and it's something that you can't really defend against. "You can do all the brain training and all that stuff that can keep your mind sharp, but if Alzheimer's decides it wants to get you, it will get you." Daniel is raising money for The OppO Foundation, of which he is a trustee, a charity that supports military veterans who have suffered life changing injuries by providing them with physical equipment to help them participate in different sports. The charity helps veterans rebuild their confidence by giving them a sense of purpose. At the last Invictus Games, the charity provided every British athlete with something that would enable them to participate, such as a titanium wheelchair, or something a little bit extra just to help them. "The service personnel for this country have done so much in the service of the nation," he said. "And they do it not just for their friends and family, they do it for people they don't know. They do it for the whole nation. "To sacrifice yourself or parts of yourself, if you like, for people that you don't know, that is really quite special." You can support Amy via JustGiving and Daniel via JustGiving.
Western Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Western Telegraph
Three to tackle Pembrokeshire Coast Path for Alzheimer's
Rhodri Poacher, 26, Gethin Poacher, 21, and Evie Morgan, 21, have set themselves the two-week challenge, which boasts an elevation of more than 11,000m, surpassing the height of Mount Everest. Rhodri said: "This journey is deeply personal. "We grew up exploring this coastline with our grandparents. "Our grandfather, Bob Powell, was passionate about preserving it — serving on the National Parks Authority, co-founding the Friends of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, and restoring youth hostels along the route we'll now retrace." The trio are also walking in honour of their grandmother, Una Powell, who has been living with Alzheimer's since 2021. They are raising funds for Alzheimer's Research UK, with a target of £1,860. Rhodri said: "Every step is for them — and for everyone facing this disease. "We have a goal to raise £1,860 for Alzheimer's Research UK and so far have over £600 raised. (Image: Rhodri Poacher) "We hope to see this continue to rise as further support floods in for our hard work and dedication, putting our bodies on the line to find a cure." As a warm-up for the challenge, Rhodri and his dad, Tony Poacher, 67, travelled to Guernsey last week to walk the entire coast path. This 42-mile trek along cliffs and beaches was a curtain raiser for their summer of challenges, culminating in the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Popular type of drink to cut back on now to reduce risk of developing dementia
Dementia is a broad term for a range of conditions that cause memory loss and other symptoms. But there is one drink that you should cut back on to reduce your risk of developing the condition Dementia is marked by abnormal changes in the brain and has the potential to significantly disrupt a person's ability to manage daily activities. The condition precipitates cognitive deterioration, which manifests as mood swings and memory loss and may eventually gravely impair someone's ability to think clearly. While dementia serves as an umbrella term within the medical community, it often results from other conditions like vascular dementia (linked to bleeding and blood vessel damage in the brain) or Alzheimer's disease (associated with protein deposits disrupting nerve cells in the brain). Current research suggests that individuals consuming over 14 alcoholic beverages weekly are at a heightened risk for dementia. The findings also indicate that one's lifestyle in their middle years might have the most substantial effect on the future likelihood of developing dementia. Yet, it was also discovered that alcohol abstainers faced an increased risk of dementia, reports Surrey Live. Dr Sara Imarisio, Head of Research at Alzheimer's Research UK, commented in the study: "There's a well-established link between heavy drinking and the risk of dementia, but it is difficult to say whether moderate alcohol intake has any impact on brain health when compared to not drinking at all." She further said in the report: 'Some non-drinkers may have a history of heavy alcohol use, and this makes it difficult to untangle links between drinking habits and health. This study only looked at people's drinking in later life, and we don't know about their drinking habits in their earlier years. "Research suggests that our lifestyle in middle age may have the greatest impact on our future risk of dementia.' Newly emphasised data underscores the necessity of adhering to "safe amounts" of booze, as proposed by chief medical leaders in Britain. Health experts urge that "you should drink no more than 14 units a week, make sure you have several drink-free days, and never binge drink". Dr Imarisio noted that "there are many good health reasons to keep an eye on how much alcohol you're drinking". In her statement within the report titled 'Alcohol Intake Linked to Dementia Risk', featured on Alzheimer's Research UK's site, she underscored the significance for both genders to "not drink more than 14 units a week". She further said: 'Dementia is caused by physical diseases of the brain, but there are things we can do to reduce the risk of developing dementia. "The best current evidence indicates that as well as only drinking within the recommended guidelines, staying physically and mentally active, eating a healthy balanced diet, not smoking, and keeping weight, cholesterol and blood pressure in check are all good ways to keep the brain healthy as we age.' The original research team studied over 3000 US residents. Subjects were beyond the age of 72 and dementia-free at the study's onset. These participants kept a log of their alcohol consumption before proceeding with cognitive assessments. The researchers monitored volunteers over an extended period to determine if they would develop dementia. They discovered that "people who abstained from drinking were at increased risk of dementia". Individuals consuming "more than 14 alcoholic drinks per week also increased their dementia risk", according to the study. Dementia UK has shed light on "what causes alcohol related brain damage" via their website. The organisation elaborated that alcohol related brain damage (also known as alcohol related brain impairment) is "caused by drinking alcohol excessively over a prolonged period of time". Dementia UK said: 'It (alcohol related brain damage) can be caused by a combination of reasons including vitamin B1 deficiency (thiamine), the toxic effects of alcohol on nerve cells, head injury and blood vessel damage. 'There are three main types of alcohol related brain damage; Wernicke's encephalopathy, Korsakoff's syndrome and alcoholic dementia. Both Wernicke's and Korsakoff's can occur singularly or in combination when it is called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.'
The Irish Sun
15-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
The 60-second writing test that could uncover earliest signs of mind-robbing Alzheimer's disease
A ONE-MINUTE test which uses just a pen and paper could reveal if you're at risk of dementia, experts say. The 60-second check is called the semantic verbal fluency test, and it's been used by doctors for years to spot early signs of 2 2 Research backing it has been published in several journals, including All you need is a timer, a pen and a bit of paper. First, pick a big category - like animals, fruit or TV shows - and list as many as you can in 60 seconds. You can say them out loud instead of writing them down - hence the name: verbal fluency test. Read more on dementia If you really struggle, it might suggest something's not quite right with memory or thinking skills. It's not a diagnosis, but it could be an early red flag. Another popular test is the clock-drawing test, which the NHS has used for decades. You ask someone to draw a clock face on a blank bit of paper. Most read in Health They add the numbers one to 12, then draw the hands to show a time—like ten past eleven. Sounds simple, but it actually takes a lot of brain power. Easy, everyday ways to prevent dementia You need memory, planning skills and visual awareness - things that often fade when dementia sets in. If the clock looks wonky or the numbers are in the wrong place, it could mean something's wrong. Get it right, though, and it almost rules dementia out, according to NHS guidance. If someone finds it tricky, a chat with their GP is the next step. Dementia affects around one million people in the UK, and Alzheimer's is the most common cause. It's the country's biggest killer, with 74,261 deaths in 2022, up from just over 69,000 the year before, according to Alzheimer's Research UK. The Alzheimer's Society reckons dementia costs the UK £42billion a year, with most of that falling on families. As the population ages, that's expected to more than double to £90billion in the next 15 years. But there's still hope. Scientists believe up to 40 per cent of dementia cases could be prevented with simple lifestyle changes. That means eating better, Is it ageing or dementia? Dementia - the most common form of which is Alzheimer's - comes on slowly over time. As the disease progresses, symptoms can become more severe. But at the beginning, the symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for normal memory issues related to ageing. The You can refer to these above. For example, it is normal for an ageing person to forget which word to use from time-to-time, but difficulting having conversation would be more indicative of dementia. Katie Puckering, Head of Alzheimer's Research UK's Information Services team, 'As you get older, it takes longer for you to recall, or you really have to think; What was I doing? Where was I? What distracted me? Was it that I had to let the dog out? And then you find the keys by the back door. 'That process of retrieving the information is just a bit slower in people as they age. 'In dementia, someone may not be able to recall that information and what they did when they came into the house. 'What may also happen is they might put it somewhere it really doesn't belong. For example, rather than putting the milk back in the fridge, they put the kettle in the fridge.'
The Irish Sun
12-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
The five strongest factors that age your brain faster – and how to spot the silent symptoms
SCIENTISTS have revealed five hidden health risks that could be ageing your brain faster. They include silent killer conditions like 1 High blood pressure could age your brain faster, research suggests Credit: Getty As we age, the structure of our brain changes over the years. It begins to shrink, and tiny fibres in the brain's white matter that help different parts communicate are damaged or don't work properly. These changes have been linked to cognitive decline and "may increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia", according to Chinese scientists. Brain age, which is estimated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features, has become a key way of assessing brain ageing, they added. Read more on brain health "Brain age prediction using neuroimaging data and machine learning algorithms holds significant promise for gaining insights into the development of neurodegenerative diseases," scientists wrote in the journal . "However, the degree to which various clinical factors in individuals are associated with brain structure - as well as the relationship between these factors and brain ageing - is not yet clear." There is growing evidence that factors such as drinking, smoking, diabetes and a higher body mass index (BMI) can have a negative effect on brain structure. Scientists from Capital Medical University in Beijing, China, set out to find out how "health factors contribute to the degeneration of the brain structures". Most read in Health Their study included 964 participants - with an average age of 55 - who were followed up with over a 12 year period. Researchers identified five "high-risk clinical factors" clinical factors that appeared to speed up brain ageing. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes are all dubbed 'silent killers' - should we really be that worried? These were: - high blood pressure Hyperglycemia - high blood sugar, mainly affecting diabetics Hypercreatinemia - high creatinine levels, which can indicate a kidney infection or kidney failure Smoking Low level of education Participants were broken up into five groups, based on the number of high-risk factors they had. They put together a brain age prediction model and used it to estimate the brain ages of participants based on their MRI scans and what conditions they had. What are the early symptoms of cognitive decline? WE all notice a natural decline in memory and thinking as we age. This will be more pronounced in some people, as they experience memory and thinking problems that are mild but still noticeable. This is described as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Unlike dementia sufferers, people with MCI can still get on with day-to-day life. Research suggests that two out of 10 people over the age of 65 have MCI, according to Alzheimer's Research UK. About one in 10 people who've received an MCI diagnosis will go on to develop dementia. Symptoms of MCI include: Memory - Misplacing items or having trouble remembering recent conversations. Attention problems - finding it difficult to concentrate, e.g. while watching a TV programme or carrying out duties at work Disorientation - confusion about time, date or place Thinking skills - problems with planning or completing tasks, e.g. managing money, or cooking a meal Problems with communication and finding the right words Mood and behaviour changes - becoming irritable, anxious, or feeling low These symptoms may affect someone with MCI all the time, or they might come and go. There are steps we can take to keep our brains as healthy as possible. These include: Not smoking Doing regular physical activity Staying mentally and socially active Eating a healthy balanced diet Limiting the amount of alcohol we drink Having your hearing checked regularly Keeping blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels in check Researchers found that people with four to five of the high-risk factors had "significantly higher" brain age compared to participants who fell into none of the risk factor categories, or had up to three. This suggests that a combination of health and lifestyle factors all together contribute to an accelerated brain ageing process. Further analysis revealed that - out of the five factors - high blood pressure caused the most significant damage to the brain. "Our study may help promote healthy brain ageing process in the general population by providing valuable insights into a range of risk factors across metabolism, lifestyle, and social background," researchers concluded. "Our findings not only enhance public awareness regarding the significance of maintaining brain health but also contribute to the advancement of interventions targeting these specific risk factors and public health initiatives aimed at enhancing brain health." How to spot subtle symptoms Persistent high blood pressure puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs and it can raise your risk of serious conditions like heart disease, heart attacks and stroke - as well as ageing your brain, according to the research. But often the condition can cause no obvious symptoms - meaning many Brits might not realise they have it unless they get a blood pressure check at a pharmacy or their GP. Rarely, high blood pressure can cause symptoms such as: Headaches Blurred vision Chest pain But the only way to know for sure if you have the condition is to get checked. You can do so for free in pharmacies if you're 40 and over. As for high blood sugar, this mainly affects people with diabetes and it can be serious if left untreated. Symptoms can come on gradually and may only start when your blood sugar level gets very high. Common symptoms include: Feeling very thirsty Peeing a lot Feeling weak or tired Blurred vision Losing weight Finally, high creatinine levels can indicate kidney issues. Creatinine is a waste product from the muscles, which is usually filtered out from the blood by the kidneys and expelled in the form of pee. Blood tests are used to show creatinine levels. People with high creatinine levels will experience different symptoms, depending on the cause. It can be an indication of kidney disease, which - in later stages - can cause symptoms like: Weight loss or poor appetite Swollen ankles, feet or hands Shortness of breath Tiredness Blood in your pee Peeing more than usual, particularly at night
