Tag Archives: alzheimers

Eliminating 12 modifiable risk factors could reduce dementia cases by 40%

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  • Excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury and pollution included in new findings
  • Sleep a possible risk factor but more research needed
  • Lower income countries at greater risk

A new report has estimated that the number of dementia cases worldwide could be reduced by 40% if 12 risk factors for the condition could be completely eliminated. The Lancet Commission Report has included excessive alcohol use, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and pollution as three new risk factors in its updated model for dementia risk. The report, supported by Alzheimer’s Research UK, is published today (Thursday 31 July) at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2020.

Dr Rosa Sancho, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, said:
“This collaborative report from dementia experts across the world highlights a number of potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia throughout a person’s life. Research is constantly uncovering more about dementia and this is the most comprehensive overview into dementia risk to date, building on previous work by this commission and moving our understanding forward.

“As new studies continue to develop the evidence base on dementia risk, the report has identified three new risk factors for dementia. More evidence on the complex topic of sleep is needed before we can make a judgement on its impact on dementia risk, but we hope this report will act as a catalyst for further research.

“With no treatments yet able to slow or stop the onset of dementia, taking action to reduce these risks is an important part of our strategy for tackling the condition. Prevention strategies must be underpinned by robust evidence and while our understanding of dementia risk is growing, there is still much we need to know about the different risk factors for dementia.

“This report underlines the importance of acting at a personal and policy level to reduce dementia risk. With Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Dementia Attitudes Monitor showing just a third of people think it’s possible to reduce their risk of developing dementia, there’s clearly much to do here to increase people’s awareness of the steps they can take.

“While there’s no sure-fire way of preventing dementia, the best way to keep your brain healthy as you age is to stay physically and mentally active, eat a healthy balanced diet, not smoke, drink only within the recommended limits and keep weight, cholesterol and blood pressure in check.”

Living with Alzheimers – Bob and Barbara Windsor by Chris Suich

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Today I read the sad news that Barbara Windsor has had to be placed in full time care as she, like Bob, is suffering from Alzheimer’s.  I understand only too well how hard this would have been for her husband,  Scott Mitchell, especially in these difficult times of Covid 19 when there are so many restrictions on seeing your loved one properly.

I too understand how Alzheimer’s patients have declined in Lockdown. Bob just doesn’t understand why I can’t come in  the home to him. He has no idea about the virus and is locked in his own world without me reassuring him.

We first met Barbara when Bob booked her to turn on the illuminations at Mablethorpe. I think it was well over 20 years ago.  Bob was in charge of the Tourism and Leisure for the local council and our summer hi -light was the illumination switch-on where a celebrity was booked for the afternoon and evening to switch on the lights and  meet the local dignitaries; the mayor and local councillors, Miss Mablethorpe and the like.

There would be a great parade and the sand-train would be tooting, filled with the great and the good of the town; all waving at the thousands of holidaymakers who always turned up. So Barbara was turning on the lights, quite a coup.

That particular day stands out in my memory because it was torrential rain and because the programme we had planned was cancelled to a great extent. Bob was rushing around frantically trying to re- organise things. The children’s marching bands had to be cancelled because the rain was absolutely torrential.

There was so much disappointment.  There were coaches from near and far with all these children dressed up and ready to perform in the parade, their little faces full of expectation, hoping against hope that the rain would stop. Their costumes looking bright and breezy representing hours of sewing and parental expectation.

Bob asked me to look after Barbara for the afternoon as he was busy sorting out the programme; where would the band play safely  under cover? Was it even safe to turn the lights on?

The thunder and lightening roared on.

I was really happy to look after Barbara as I had always liked her. She was a real trouper and really wanted to do a good job. Her giggle was infectious and we had a girlie afternoon gossiping and laughing. She got changed in the local hotel toilets and we had a bit of something to eat. Then she insisted on going to meet the children on the coaches and made everyone’s day by making sure she spoke to them all. She was as disappointed with the weather as the children were.

The switch-on did go ahead and I remember her doing the banter for the crowds  ( some braved the weather with huge colourful umbrellas). Then  the count down and a few more giggles and jokes and reminiscences of her Carry On actors, right up to her pressing the button that switched on the lights. Bob held an enormous umbrella ensuring  she kept dry.  He didn’t.

We went back to the hotel with all the locals and had a buffet and a glass of wine. It was always a late night but Barbara was not the sort of star to rush off back to London. She was a wonderful star in the best sense of the show -business world. Kind, caring and so appreciative of all the fans that had turned up to see her. I am so fond of these memories of her. How ironic that Bob and Barbara are now fighting similar battles.

Bless them both.

Living with Alzheimers – A New Challenge for 2020 by Chris Suich

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new challenge for 2020 Bob Suich Chris Suich

Welcome to the New Year 2020! Christmas came and went. We had a pleasant enough one without incident. Can’t say that of the new year though.

The first few days of 2020 were a bit of a challenge. I noticed Bob’s ankle was a bit puffy after his bath. I’ll have to keep an eye on that, I thought. Perhaps his sock was too tight around his ankle, but I thought I’d put on his open topped non-elastic ones.

The next day his lower left leg was huge and his foot resembled a block of lard. No understanding or pain noted from Bob.  It was Saturday, no GP available. I went on the NHS website to check and rang 111 just to make sure I wouldn’t be wasting anyone’s time if I took him to the ’Walk in Care’ at the local hospital. I realised it probably was a blood clot as the answers pointed to that. The lady rang me back from the NHS helpline to tell me I’d got an appointment for 8.30pm and to take him in. We were seen by 11.30pm.

It was an endurance test for us both. Bob wanted to go to bed, he’d been saying this every two minutes since 3pm and was getting more and more distressed.

‘Let’s do a runner,’ he whispered conspiratorially. It crossed my mind. Then he’d ask everyone if they were a doctor and that he thought it was ridiculous that there were no doctors there. If someone spoke loudly or a child squealed it upset him.

There was a blood clot. He had a scan to confirm on the following Monday. We had to go in again on the Sunday and Monday for an Injection of blood thinner in his tummy; another endless wait.

Finally, I think the penny dropped that waiting for hours for a two minute injection was stressful for Bob and the waiting audience of patients. I was presented with 10 injections, a safe needle disposal box and told to get on with it. Nurse Suich at your service!

Poor Bob. I was now the baddy, hurting his tummy every night. What fights we had getting that needle in – and how close did I come to getting it in me, not Bob.  A Carry On film comes to mind.

I still feel though the physical side of caring isn’t the hardest part: the hardest part is the loss of freedom, the absolute tie, the relentlessness of the duty, the repetitive nature, the hyper vigilance of constant watching, the fact you can no longer call your life your own.

Living with Alzheimers – The Christmas Market by Chris Suich

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Ho ho ho!
We are going to Beverley Christmas Market today with our friend.
‘Hurray!’ Bob says.
We get picked up at 9 am with our friend and arrive at 10.15am near the race course and park near the common land.
It was a scenic journey and a crisp winter day. Bob enjoyed looking at the landscape and commented that he could see for miles. We took a risk and didn’t take the wheelchair which I’d bought about a month ago for longer walks. Bob has started leaning to one side and the more tired he gets, the more he leans.
We set off walking along the common.

Two minutes later and Bob has had enough.
‘How much longer?’
‘Just a little while longer‘ I answer.
He holds onto my hand like a vice, crushing my fingers.
It is scary when your spacial awareness and depth is compromised.
Constant reassurance and guidance as to where to walk and preparation for getting up and down uneven steps or paths is called for. I’m determined that we walk every day as I know once the movement goes I won’t be able to manage him at home.

It is very crowded, even this early. It is Christmassy and the brass bands are playing Christmas carols which Bob recognises and joins in with, singing the lyrics and choruses he remembers.
‘Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way,’ he sings. Sometimes he just la la’s the tunes, quite loudly. I’m so happy when he remembers something and it brings a big smile to my lips.
We manage a few stalls but Bob finds the crowds difficult and the stalls are very busy. My friend and I take a hand each and we walk together, the three amigos.

I look for benches where Bob can have a rest and see one near the Beverley Brass Band. I get some change and put it their tin and the gentleman moves his music sheets and we sit for a while. My friend and I take it in turns to have a look at the stalls whilst Bob sits happily listening to the music with the person that is left. I can’t leave him to stay on the bench himself because he would get up and walk around looking for me. He went missing once – for 6 hours.

We head back towards the car. Bob spots a stall selling small hearts to hang on the Xmas tree. They are made from felt and embroidered with messages. He picks a white one with red embroidery and wants to get it. He holds it and tells the lady at the stall he has no money.

‘It’s okay, darling. I’ve got my purse and you can buy it,’ I say.
It says ‘I love you’.
That’s the best gift I could have, I think, when he gives it to me. It’s now on our little tree.
Happy Christmas everyone.

THE BUSINESS OF READING: JANE CABLE TAKES A HOLIDAY WITH A FEW GOOD BOOKS

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I’ve just been half way around the world on holiday, but visiting Cambodia and Vietnam it actually felt further than that. Intense heat, spicy food, incense drifting from temples and a recent history which shocked and disturbed me. Strange or inevitable then, that my choice of holiday reading was firmly fixed back home in Cornwall.

For a long while I’ve been promising myself I’d read some of Winston Graham’s Poldark novels. I can barely remember the 1970s TV series starring Robin Ellis and I’ve never watched the current BBC dramatization, but I wanted to read the books. And I was entranced to find that they were set exactly in my part of Cornwall, and in the limited gaps between excursions, I devoured the first three.

But the first book I read, at the beginning of the holiday, was Cornish writer Liz Fenwick’s latest and it was anything other than what I was expecting…
Jane Cable’s review of One Cornish Summer by Liz Fenwick.

Book marketing can sometimes be a slightly disingenuous thing. The cover and the blurb promise one thing, but the story inside delivers quite another. Sometimes this can lead to disappointment, but at others the opposite is true. And this is very much the case with Liz Fenwick’s latest novel. It isn’t a light and fluffy holiday read – it’s brilliant and challenging and altogether so much more.

To me it seems a shame that the publisher wasn’t entirely as brave as the author. The blurb describes Hebe as having ‘a life changing diagnosis’ and ‘memories slipping away’, but shies from actually mentioning the ugliness of Alzheimer’s.  From very early on in the book it’s clear Hebe has early onset dementia. And what’s more, she is written in the first person, something only a truly accomplished writer like Fenwick can pull off.

Hebe is every inch a full and rounded character, and one I sorely missed once I’d finished the book. To chart the cruel descent of her illness in such a way as to carry the reader with her must have been a serious challenge and I asked Liz Fenwick why she chose to do so.

“My best friend’s sister has early on-set Alzheimer’s and it has been sitting in the back of my mind waiting for me to find the story to write…in a way so that I could work through my own grief. And that leads into research…first hand, reading a great deal through the various support groups and finally my mother is in the early stages…so although not the same I was living it.”

One Cornish Summer is actually set over the course of a Cornish autumn and winter but the title is not a misnomer, even if the cover image might mislead. Hebe and her niece Lucy’s days in the damp and draughty ‘Hell House’ are contrasted with the former’s memories of a bright and colourful summer just the previous year when she was able to share Cornwall with the love of her life before her memories of it completely dissolved away.

As Hebe’s condition worsens, parts of the book are heart-breaking to read, for example when she answers the door without her trousers on. But there are thoroughly heart-warming parts too, as ‘Hell House’ reveals its secrets and Lucy, at least, is finally able to move forwards. Thought-provoking and ultimately life affirming, One Cornish Summer is an excellent read.

 

Natural Solutions for Dementia and Alzheimer’s, Your 7 Step Brain Protection Plan

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natrualsolutionsfordementiaandalzheimers
I have read a few books by Dr Marilyn Glenville, and we also feature her articles on Frost sometimes. She is a woman who really knows her stuff. I greatly enjoy her writing and her new book Natural Solutions for Dementia and Alzheimer’s, Your 7 Step Brain Protection Plan is one of her best books yet. Well-researched and never dull to read, it is brimming with information and advice. The book is thorough; part one helps you understand dementia and part two is your 7-step brain protection programme. From what to eat, your environment, training your brain, dealing with stress and exercise. This is an essential book in the fight against Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

 

New book launch from Dr Marilyn Glenville PhD

Following the huge success of bestselling Natural Alternatives to Sugar, Dr Glenville is adding to her literary portfolio this year with her brand new book Natural Solutions for Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

As it can take up to 10 years for dementia symptoms to show, Dr Glenville gives a compelling argument as to why taking action sooner, rather than later is crucial in helping to prevent memory loss and reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s.  Whilst the pharmaceutical industry searches for a cure, Dr Glenville offers readers a practical easy-to-follow 7 Step Brain Protection Plan consisting of simple lifestyle and nutritional changes everybody can make.

Alzheimer’s, more than any other disease, is now responsible for the highest number of deaths amongst women; killing three times as many women as breast cancer.   The Alzheimer’s Society believes delaying the onset of dementia by just five years would reduce deaths directly attributable to dementia by a staggering 30,000 a year!

  • There are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK
  • It is estimated over 1 million people in the UK will be diagnosed with a form of dementia by 2025.
  • The total annual cost of dementia in the UK is £26.3 billion 
  • The NHS picks up £4.3 billion of the costs and social care £10.3

 

Who is the book aimed at?

 

In her latest book, Dr Glenville sheds light on the complex and often misunderstood world of dementia including Alzheimer’s, offering sufferers and their loved ones a clear and practical guide as well as an easy questionnaire to determine if you are headed towards Alzheimer’s. The book is also suitable for those who have a family history of dementia and want to take steps now to delay cognitive decline.

The book expands on newly discovered facts and latest research findings: 

  • Why scientists are calling Alzheimer’s ‘Type 3 Diabetes’s due to blood sugar and insulin being so closely linked with an increased risk
  • Gum disease has been linked to a six-fold increase in the rate of cognitive decline in people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s
  • Sleeping on your side is the best position to let cerebrospinal fluid flush out toxins and improve blood flow around the brain.
  • Omega 3 rich foods like oily fish improve cerebral blood flow and reduce inflammation making them important in the fight against Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.
  • It might not be genetic – according to the Alzheimer’s Association in America, genetics are responsible for less than 5 per cent of all Alzheimer’s cases.
  • How certain nutrients ‘‘can slow the atrophy of specific brain regions that are a key component of the Alzheimer’s disease process and that are associated with cognitive decline’.*

 

Discover answers to questions such as…                                                                             

  • What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia?
  • Can making the wrong food choices be harmful to your brain health – no matter what age you are?
  • Which supplements can help improve and boost your brain function?
  • What lifestyle factors should you avoid and include to help improve your memory?

·      What are the most important tests to take to show if you have any deficiencies or imbalances that could be affecting your memory and concentration?

 

The 7-step Brain Protection Plan

Dr Glenville introduces readers to her unique 7-step Brain Protection Plan offering a practical step-by-step guide to help get your brain in the best possible shape naturally, with chapters covering:

  • Your diet
  • Nutritional supplements
  • Exercise
  • Stress and sleep
  • Your environment
  • Brain training
  • Testing, testing

 

What inspired Dr Glenville to write Natural Solutions for Dementia and Alzheimer’s?

Even though writing this book has touched a personal nerve (my father and mother-in-law developed Alzheimer’s and I saw first hand the effects not only on them, but on all those who had to care for them), my research has shown me just how much we do know already and how very beneficial simple, practical lifestyle changes can be, not only to help prevent the disease, but also to slow the decline for those who already have it.  I hope you find the information in the book as interesting as I did while I was gathering it; and I hope that it can make a difference both to you and to your family.

 

Natural Solutions for Dementia and Alzheimer’s £12.77, is available from all good stockists, Amazon and marilyngenville.com.

 

 

Diabetes… It’s Not Too Late To Take Control

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Nexus PR have wonderful people there, so when I got notification to go one of their events, I was only too happy. I met Nicky, Emma and Isla at The Balthazar, 4-5 Russell Street, which is a beautiful restaurant, with a naturally beautiful venue room. On entering the upstairs venue room there was an amazing piece of technology, which did an instant scan of your retina and could do a 3D image of your retina and show exactly where, if any, issue involving the retina is! To say it quick would be an understatement and it was well used over the course of the afternoon.

 

There was a genuine point to having the eye testing equipment, which was not the solo piece of medical advice there, as they had blood pressure testing too! Things attributed to Diabetes, but either overlooked, or ignored by the person with it! Simply health Advisory Research Panel (ShARP) were the company supporting the event and Speaking on behalf of ShARP was the exceedingly talented Dr Gill Jenkins.  Who is a practising GP (in Bristol) with special interests in lifestyle health, in particular around obesity, smoking, diabetes, heart disease, lipid management and joint health. Dr Jenkins has a breadth of medical experience since qualifying in 1981, including psychiatry, cardiology, rheumatology and emergency medicine. Her skills are not just in medicine, but whilst her Pilot’s license wasn’t needed in the event, it just goes to show how remarkable she is. After Dr Jenkins, was Dr Ralph Abraham. Dr Abraham specialises in diabetes and Endocrinology; lipid disorders; heart disease prevention. Dr Abraham Trained at Kings College Hospital, St Mary’s Hospital and St Bartholomew’s Hospital as an academic physician turning to full time private practice in 1984. Founded London Medical in 1991.

 

Rounding things up was Francesca Marchetti. Francesca is a self-employed optometrist working in the West Midlands/Warwickshire area, for both multiple and independent practices. She has previously worked as a part time lecturer/clinical demonstrator at Aston University. Francesca works at the “Midland Eye Institute” in their refraction clinics. She has recently been appointed secretary to the Warwickshire LOC (Leaders in Oncology Care) and is an AOP (Association of Optometrists) Councillor for the Midlands. Dr Jenkins started the proceedings by listing the reason behind Diabetes Mellitus. Poor sugar control can lead to:

 

  • Higher risk of heart disease.
  • Peripheral vascular disease.
  • Stroke.
  • Kidney damage.
  • Erectile issues
  • Nerve damage.

I think that the penultimate reason alone is a reason for males to make sure their blood sugar levels are kept in check! The stats may bore the general public, but they are a correlation of information compiled to show how far and how long this disease has been going! Mitigating factors can contribute to diabetes, such as high blood pressure, obesity, age, reduction in activity levels and unsurprisingly denial. Dr Jenkins said that the number of pre-diabetes has tripled since 2003, which is shocking by any means! If you had millions of pounds (sterling) and it tripled in 10 years, I am sure that you would not be upset. However, that figure is attributed to the number of people. The strange thing is that people are not really educated about diabetes! We all either know someone, or have a family member with it, but yet people are not bothered about such a debilitating disease. They are not in the knowledge of how they can lose their sight or limbs down to diabetes and it is often too late when they are in a situation that threatens to do just that! Bariatric (weight loss) surgery has shown to reverse the condition in 86% of people with Type 2 diabetes.

 

This proves that sufficient diet can also do this, however, many people with this condition are not motivated enough to change their diet sufficiently. The NHS spend £13.8 billion per annum treating people with diabetes. Believe it, or not, that figure is conservative! That doesn’t take into account complications, or other treatments extenuating from this. Dr Jenkins also explained that whilst some young people get Type 1 diabetes, it is usually virally activated and out of the total amount of people that have diabetes, about 85%-95% are type 2! I suppose that was as good a point as any to make way for Dr Abraham to speak, as trying to prepare yourself for more frightening stats is not easy! He started by saying, “If you have pre-diabetes it’s silent. There are no symptoms and a shocking number of people are in this position and are sleep walking towards serious health problems. It is particularly important to be aware of your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, especially if you’re overweight, or have a family history of diabetes.” ShARP did a series of surveys and found that 53% of adults questioned had convinced themselves they were at no risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. 49% were displaying potential signs of diabetes. And the amazing figures kept coming! 76% with potential diabetes had not mentioned it to their doctor. 38% believed their symptoms were not serious. 18% disliked seeing their GP and 14% turned to the internet for advice over their GP… Exercise is one of the easiest way to attack pre-diabetes.

 

Almost 21% of adult never, or rarely, work up a sweat working out. Diet also works well, so that in tandem with exercise is a great combination. A Mediterranean diet, high in fruit, vegetables, monounsaturated fats, grains, legumes, nuts, lean meat and moderate intake of dairy foods has been found to reduce the risk of developing diabetes by as much as 83%. Dr Abraham made an excellent analogy referring to the amount of glucose that is in the modern human’s body. Just for reference, it is in nearly everything you eat… even things like Beef burgers!! It’s an industrial compound… which we happen to ingest. Anyway, the analogy was this, “If you think of putting glucose in a hot pan, it will start to turn to liquid then bubble and then solidify and become brittle. If you apply that to the human body and 30-40 years of glucose in your body at 37 degrees Celsius then it is similar to caramelising.” Given or lifestyle, we should be looking at what we eat better and how we take care of ourselves! We are not the same as our forefathers and their diet was different! They worked, because it was fundamental to survival and was an everyday occurrence. Given how we, as modern humans, take all this for granted, we should be more vigilant and aware of the things we do and do not do. Looking at the whole picture, Dr Abraham stated a Nine Care Process to check yourself.

 

  • Blood pressure.
  • Weight.
  • Smoking status.
  • Cholesterol – blood checks.
  • Hba1c blood checks (long term sugar level).
  • Eye checks including Retinal Screening.
  • Feet check – peripheral pulse loss from vascular damage and sensory loss from nerve damage.
  • Kidney check – including renal function blood tests – especially creatinine and eGFR.
  • Urinary Albumin.

Most people would not associate any of these with diabetes, but it is often the start of pre-diabetes and on to a more serious Type 2 diabetes. The most interesting things about these events are the fact that many stats scare, but you find one subject that just rattles you and leaves you thinking, “I’m sorry… say that again!” for me it was the St George’s University of London research that patients with foot ulcers are also more likely to die from heart disease, or a stroke! Yep, I had to do a double take when that was mentioned! How often do we check our feet, or take anything happening to them seriously? Remember that the accumulation of negligence and ignorance is the main reason people suffer from diabetes. I was hoping that the effervescent Francesca Marchetti would be able to get the shock from my system… well, it is a talk on diabetes and she is the eye specialist… I only hoped that it would be. Many of us had already had or eye scans before sitting down, so many of the people in the room were secretly hoping a picture similar to their eyes didn’t appear… thankfully one didn’t! Diabetic patients are at more risk from glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye). The retina needs a constant supply of blood, but high blood sugar levels can cause blood vessels to become blocked, or leak! This damages the retina and stops it from working!

 

Blood leakages are easier to detect than plasma leakages, but both are damaging to the retina if supply is lost! Everyone that has diabetes should have an annual eye exam. A bleed in the eye is often a reflection of one in the body, or brain. Francesca stated that in England alone, 1280 people a year go blind because of diabetic retinopathy. That also tends to be down to poor systematic diabetic control. Francesca passed around some glasses to imitate stages of cataracts and retinopathy, which shows how annoying it must be for people with these symptoms. Cataracts can occur 10-15 years earlier in patients with diabetes. Surgery can prevent further damage, but at the moment there is no cure for retinopathy. Francesca also started dropping starts which should not exist, by right, but the human animal is a strange creature indeed! About 48% of people with diabetes have never had their eyes checked… I wonder how many without diabetes would fit into that demographic. A third of people with diabetes will develop renal disease because of the damage to the small blood vessels in the kidney. A woman is 8 times more likely to develop kidney disease, but for men it’s 12 times more likely! Men just need to stop being so “macho” and just get checked!! Kidney disease kills 21% of people with Type 1 diabetes and 11% of those with Type 2! Because high blood pressure is more common amongst diabetics, this all adds to the complications and enhances the danger. Elevated AGE (Advanced Glycation End)  have been linked to a host of problems including:

 

  • Coronary artery disease
  • Liver damage
  • Formation of amyloid plaques, which lead to Alzheimer’s
  • Impaired kidney function
  • Extensive brain damage from strokes

Apart from the link between AGE and dementia, evidence suggests that getting diabetes in middle age increases the odds of a form of brain damage associated with dementia. Brain scans from the Mayo Clinic confirmed that having blood sugar problems can literally shrink the brain, with diabetics having an average of 2.9% less brain volume than those without the condition. Midlife diabetes was also associated with an 85% rise in micro-strokes. I always think that “micro” doesn’t extend the seriousness of the stroke! It is serious enough to shut down functions of the body, which means it should be taken seriously and not ignored to the point it becomes debilitating. Francesca finished off by some facts that don’t look good for our future, if this is not stemmed as a disease and even things like depression can be detrimental to the condition doing its own damage along with the disease. Thankfully the meal was ready to cheer up the crowd.

 

The sad thing is that we need events to make people aware, but maybe the media can make things better! The awareness needs to be wider afield and not just a quick advert telling how wonderful a product is to eat (or drink), but actually letting people know more about it!  Whilst many are aware of the dangers of modern additives and excess sugar, feeding it to your family does not help the situation. We got to chat to the specialists during the meal from The Balthazar and Francesca said thatthe UK has a National Eye Health Week! I didn’t even know!! It is from 22nd September – 28th September this year and if you have never  had an eye check, or are overdue one, that would be the best time as any, so you have no excuse about forgetting, or  being too busy. It is a weeklong and you have had more than enough warning. From the wonderful women of Nexus to the wonderful speakers of this event, is association with ShARP.

 

 

Dr Jenkins can be found at www.sharppanel.co.uk/sharp-experts/dr-gill-jenkins

Dr Abraham can be found at www.londonmedical.co.uk/en/consultants/ralph-abraham

Francesca Marchetti can be found at www.college-optometrists.org

Details for The Balthazar can be found at www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Dining/Balthazar/7bc84/

Goat's Cheese and Tomato Medley.

Goat’s Cheese and Tomato Medley.

Lamb Cutlets with Sauteed New Potatoes and Veg

Lamb Cutlets with Sauteed New Potatoes and Veg

Lemon Cheesecake with Raspberry and Cream

Lemon Cheesecake with Raspberry and Cream

 

And don’t forget that National Eye Health Week is from 22nd September – 28th September 2014. Thank you Nicky, Emma and Isla at nexuspr.com

 

Actor Timothy West Reveals Wife Prunella Scales’ Dementia

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timothy west prunella scalesVery sad news. It’s been reported today that the actress Prunella Scales, best known for her role as Sybil in Fawlty Towers, is living with Alzheimer’s disease. Her husband, actor Timothy West, revealed the couple’s battle with the condition as part of a documentary, Grand Canal Journeys, which is due to be screened on More4.

Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, said:

“It’s always sad to learn that a much-loved public figure is living with Alzheimer’s, and this news will have touched the hundreds of thousands of families across the UK who are facing a similar struggle. By speaking out about their experiences, the couple have helped bring dementia into the spotlight, in turn helping to tackle some of the stigma that still surrounds the condition. We are grateful to them for helping to bring attention to the many challenges faced by people with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Timothy West has backed our calls for increased funding for dementia research in the past, and research is vitally important to bring about better outcomes for people with the condition. Though we currently lack treatments that can stop the diseases that cause dementia, with the right backing, research can deliver new treatments that are so desperately needed.”