Latest news with #Lewy
NDTV
4 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
Sleeping Disorders May Signal Risk Of Parkinson's Disease, Dementia: Study
New Delhi: Sleeping disorders may act as an early indicator of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia (LBD) -- a type of dementia, according to a study. The study focused on patients with Rapid eye movement behaviour disorder -- a sleep disorder where individuals physically act out their dreams during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep. "Normally, when we're asleep and dreaming, our muscles are paralysed, but around age 50, some people become very agitated during sleep and start punching, kicking and screaming," said Shady Rahayel, a medical professor at Université de Montréal in Canada. Unlike sleepwalking, which occurs during slow-wave sleep, RBD occurs during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, he added, and it affects people of middle age. In the study, published in the journal eBioMedicine, the researchers said that nearly 90 per cent of people with the disorder will go on to develop either Parkinson's disease or LBD. "RBD is an early warning sign that certain mechanisms in the brain are no longer working as they should," said the team. "The people with RBD who come to see us are in good health... but of those who subsequently develop a disease, half will have Parkinson's and the other half LBD." Rahayel explained that with LBD, the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's, "patients are no longer able to function in everyday life". In addition to dementia, "they will have Parkinson's-like symptoms, vivid visual hallucinations, fluctuating attention and other symptoms." For the study, the team used data from 1,276 MRI scans of people at risk of, or with, Parkinson's disease or LBD, and also of healthy people. Using machine learning and computational models, the researchers identified two trajectories of brain atrophy progression. LBD seems to be associated with brain atrophy that begins in the cortex and then spreads to the interior of the brain, while in Parkinson's the atrophy progresses from the interior to the exterior of the brain. The team next aims to investigate the factors that lead to this deterioration in the cortex, such as vascular lesions, the effects of drugs, and of lifestyle choices. "Now that we have identified these new progression patterns, our goal is to be able to determine from an MRI whether a person has one of them so that we can provide the best possible care," said Rahayel.
Axios
22-05-2025
- Health
- Axios
Pennsylvania's "invisible workforce" provides $32 billion in unpaid care
Retired New Hope resident Diane Chew gave up a second act as a business and life coach to care for her husband, Ben, full time after he was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia five years ago. Why it matters: She's part of Pennsylvania's "invisible workforce" of family caregivers providing an estimated $32.5 billion in unpaid care this year, per a new report from researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. That's up from $22 billion in 2023. The big picture: Nationwide, millions of families are helping to fill the void of a "shrinking healthcare workforce," per the report. The U.S. is facing a nursing shortage that's projected to reach more than 63,000 nurses in 2030, per the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. With little help from their states, many family caretakers are left drained from juggling competing responsibilities, including work and caring for children. What they're saying: "We have soul contracts," Chew, 69, says of her commitment to her husband, whom she met at Penn State five decades ago. Chew doesn't qualify for state aid. She has had to dip into the couple's retirement fund to pay for Ben's care, which costs $15,000 a month, including help from a night nurse so Chew can sleep. It'd be less expensive to place Ben at a full-time dementia care residential facility, but Chew can't stand the thought of doing that to the "love of my life." "I have siblings," says Chew, who posts about caretaking and the couple's adventures on social media. "If I have to end up on their couch one of these days, I will." How it works: Researchers used Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2024 to assign hourly wages to various caretaking roles — nurse, cook, financial planner — that they used to calculate unpaid labor totals for each state. Because most dementia patients require round-the-clock care, such caretakers would need to make at least $100,000 to be fairly compensated for the hours of unpaid work they perform, John McHugh, one of the report's lead researchers, tells Axios. Dementia care accounts for 40% of Pennsylvania's unpaid caregiver costs, per a statewide snapshot. Threat level: Nearly half of U.S. states are on the brink of caretaking crises, including Florida ($60.7 billion), Louisiana ($12.8 billion) and Georgia ($26.8 billion), which require immediate attention, per the report. Pennsylvania is one of 21 states that are considered "safe for now," the report says, though researchers warn rising dementia cases could push some of those states over a tipping point. Cuts to programs like Medicaid, which some Republicans in the House are pushing, could also propel "some of these states into an at-risk category," McHugh says. Zoom in: Pennsylvania's situation is stable thanks to an influx of nurses, as well as more than 4,500 home care agencies operating in the Commonwealth, according to the state Department of Health. The state has about 85 home health aides per 1,000 residents over 65, per the report. Yes, but: Pennsylvania has an aging population; 20% of the state's residents are 65 and up. What we're watching: The report calls for Pennsylvania lawmakers to enact paid family leave and provide tax credits to ease the financial burden on unpaid caretakers.
CBS News
04-05-2025
- CBS News
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO found unfit to stand trial in New York
Michael Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, is not competent to stand trial on sex trafficking charges in New York, a federal judge ruled Friday. Judge Nusrat Choudhury also directed the Attorney General's office to place Jeffries in a hospital for up to four months. "The court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or to assist properly in his defense," Choudhury wrote in his decision. Jeffries' lawyers filed a letter in federal court last month saying the 80-year-old requires around-the-clock care because of Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia and the "residual effects of a traumatic brain injury." In their letter, his lawyers said at least four medical professionals concluded that their client's cognitive issues are "progressive and incurable" and that he will not "regain his competency and cannot be restored to competency in the future." The defense, as well as prosecutors, requested that Jeffries be placed in federal Bureau of Prisons custody so he can be hospitalized and receive treatment that might allow his criminal case to proceed. Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO arrested on federal charges Jeffries has been free on $10 million bond since pleading not guilty last October to federal charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution on Long Island. Prosecutors say he and his partner, Matthew Smith, along with a third man, James Jacobson, used the promise of modeling jobs to lure men to drug-fueled sex parties in New York City, the Hamptons and other locations. The 16-count indictment outlines allegations of sex trafficking dating from December 2008 to March 2015. In the indictment, prosecutors allege Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson used "force, fraud and coercion to traffic those men for their own sexual gratification." Jacobson allegedly acted as a recruiter and had "tryouts" with potential candidates, which "typically required that the candidates first engage in commercial sex acts with him." "What's alleged in the indictment is not only beyond disturbing, dishonorable and disgraceful, it's criminal," FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Dennehy said when the indictment was announced. Smith and Jacobson also pleaded not guilty and are out on bond.
San Francisco Chronicle
03-05-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO is ruled unfit for trial and ordered hospitalized
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge ruled Friday that the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch is not competent to stand trial on sex trafficking charges and ordered him hospitalized to see if his mental condition improves. Michael Jeffries' lawyers sought the ruling last month, writing in a letter filed in a New York federal court that the 80-year-old requires around-the-clock care because he has Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia and the 'residual effects of a traumatic brain injury.' The defense, as well as prosecutors, requested that Jeffries be placed in federal Bureau of Prisons custody so he can be hospitalized and receive treatment that might allow his criminal case to proceed. 'The court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or to assist properly in his defense,' Judge Nusrat Choudhury wrote in his decision. He directed the Attorney General's office to place Jeffries in a hospital for up to four months. Jeffries has been free on $10 million bond since pleading not guilty in October to federal charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. Prosecutors say he, his romantic partner and a third man used the promise of modeling jobs to lure men to drug-fueled sex parties in New York City, the Hamptons and other locations. The charges announced in October echo sexual misconduct accusations made in a civil case and the media in recent years. In their letter, Jeffries' lawyers said at least four medical professionals concluded that their client's cognitive issues are 'progressive and incurable' and that he will not 'regain his competency and cannot be restored to competency in the future.' Jeffries left Abercrombie in 2014 after more than two decades at the helm. His partner, Matthew Smith, has also pleaded not guilty and remains out on bond, as has their co-defendant, James Jacobson.
Toronto Sun
03-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO ruled unfit for trial and ordered hospitalized
Published May 02, 2025 • 1 minute read Michael Jeffries, former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, leaves following a hearing at the Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in West Palm Beach, Fla., Oct. 22, 2024. Photo by Rebecca Blackwell / AP NEW YORK — A federal judge ruled Friday that the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch is not competent to stand trial on sex trafficking charges and ordered him hospitalized to see if his mental condition improves. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Michael Jeffries' lawyers sought the ruling last month, writing in a letter filed in a New York federal court that the 80-year-old requires around-the-clock care because he has Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia and the 'residual effects of a traumatic brain injury.' The defense, as well as prosecutors, requested that Jeffries be placed in federal Bureau of Prisons custody so he can be hospitalized and receive treatment that might allow his criminal case to proceed. 'The court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or to assist properly in his defense,' Judge Nusrat Choudhury wrote in his decision. He directed the Attorney General's office to place Jeffries in a hospital for up to four months. Jeffries has been free on $10 million bond since pleading not guilty in October to federal charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. Prosecutors say he, his romantic partner and a third man used the promise of modeling jobs to lure men to drug-fueled sex parties in New York City, the Hamptons and other locations. Jeffries left Abercrombie in 2014 after more than two decades at the helm. His partner, Matthew Smith, has also pleaded not guilty and remains out on bond, as does their co-defendant, James Jacobson.
