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Dates: Tuesday, October 20th OR Thursday, October 22nd
Address: 2765 Main Street, Suite A Chula Vista, CA 91911
(Intersection of Main Street & Broadway, next to the ARCO station – Look for a building that says TOWN SQUARE
Parking: Ample parking is available in our lot.
Accessible: ****No. When we arrive, we will have a presentation in the conference room, which is upstairs. There is NO elevator in the building, so if you are not able to walk up a flight of stairs, you will not be able to see the presentation. The tour, which we will have after the presentation, will be of the facility downstairs, which is ADA accessible.
Link: https://glenner.org/
the glenner center
the glenner center
This week we will be meeting in person at the Glenner Center in Chula Vista! While some have visited before with other teachers, it’s always great to see updates and get new presentations. Our reading this week comes courtesy of Tara Gilboy, one of our fabulous RSD instructors. Read on for more!
introduction
introduction
Glenner Town Square is a miniature memory village for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. Town Square is a safe indoor setting that mimics the urban environment of the 1950s. Participants are guided by caregivers through state-of-the-art neighborhoods that feature vintage storefronts, retro signage, and activities from the time period. It is the first of its kind in the nation, and includes trips to a store, a laundry mat, lunch, a hair appointment, and much more. It is a project of the George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers, a non-profit offering small adult day centers in Chula Vista, Hillcrest and Encinitas.
Glenner Town Square uses “reminiscence therapy” as they guide patients through the village for guided interactions designed to spark and engage the long-term memories. The goal is to bring participants back to a time where their memories are the strongest. Reminiscence Therapy has been shown to reduce agitation, improve mood and improve sleep quality.
During this week's trip, we'll be learning more about Town Square, its history, the work they do there, and what "reminiscence therapy" is. But to start us off, let's first take a look at this introductory video to get a sneak peek of what we will see on our tour. Then below I have some background information for you on Alzheimer's.
This two minute video will give you a peek into the kinds of things we will see on our visit:
For a more in-depth look at the center, check out this six minute video from Business Insider. (6 minutes)
Test your knowledge!
Test your knowledge!
Before this week's trip to Glenner Town Square, I think it will be useful to look more closely at what Alzheimer's is, how it is caused, and how it is treated. Let's start this week's lesson with this just-for-fun quiz to test what you already know about Alzheimer's Disease. After you complete the quiz and click "submit," if you click the button again, it will reveal the correct answers and a little bit more information about each question.
What is Alzheimer's disease?
What is Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms eventually grow severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.
Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.
Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging. The greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer's are 65 and older. Alzheimer’s disease is considered to be younger-onset Alzheimer’s if it affects a person under 65. Younger-onset can also be referred to as early-onset Alzheimer’s. People with younger-onset Alzheimer’s can be in the early, middle or late stage of the disease.
Alzheimer's worsens over time. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. On average, a person with Alzheimer's lives 4 to 8 years after diagnosis but can live as long as 20 years, depending on other factors.
Alzheimer's has no cure, but one treatment — aducanumab— is the first therapy to demonstrate that removing amyloid, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, from the brain is reasonably likely to reduce cognitive and functional decline in people living with early Alzheimer’s. Other treatments can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve quality of life for those with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. Today, there is a worldwide effort underway to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, and prevent it from developing.
For more information about Alzheimer's, check out this video, where Dr. Abraham Chyung discusses some of the causes, symptoms, and diagnoses of Alzheimer's Disease. (4 minutes) https://youtu.be/txs1kFT54Ow?si=B1EcRY80uXkMVz-l
Symptoms of Alzheimer's
The most common early symptom of Alzheimer's is difficulty remembering newly learned information.
Just like the rest of our bodies, our brains change as we age. Most of us eventually notice some slowed thinking and occasional problems with remembering certain things. However, serious memory loss, confusion and other major changes in the way our minds work may be a sign that brain cells are failing.
Alzheimer's changes typically begin in the part of the brain that affects learning. As Alzheimer's advances through the brain it leads to increasingly severe symptoms, including disorientation, mood and behavior changes; deepening confusion about events, time and place; unfounded suspicions about family, friends and professional caregivers; more serious memory loss and behavior changes; and difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking.
People with memory loss or other possible signs of Alzheimer’s may find it hard to recognize they have a problem. Signs of dementia may be more obvious to family members or friends.
Alzheimer's and the brain
Alzheimer's and the brain
Microscopic changes in the brain begin long before the first signs of memory loss.
The brain has 100 billion nerve cells called neurons. Each nerve cell connects with many others to form communication networks. Groups of nerve cells have special jobs. Some are involved in thinking, learning and remembering. Others help us see, hear, and smell.
To do their work, brain cells operate like tiny factories. They receive supplies, generate energy, construct equipment and get rid of waste. Cells also process and store information and communicate with other cells. Keeping everything running requires coordination as well as large amounts of fuel and oxygen.
Scientists believe Alzheimer's disease prevents parts of a cell's factory from running well. They are not sure where the trouble starts. But just like a real factory, backups and breakdowns in one system cause problems in other areas. As damage spreads, cells lose their ability to do their jobs and eventually die, causing irreversible changes in the brain.
For an introduction to how Alzheimer's changes the brain, check out this 4-minute video from the National Institute on Aging.
The Role of Plaques and Tangles
The Role of Plaques and Tangles
Two abnormal structures called plaques and tangles are prime suspects in damaging and killing nerve cells.
Plaques are deposits of a protein fragment called beta-amyloid that build up in the spaces between nerve cells.
Tangles are twisted fibers of another protein called tau (rhymes with “wow”) that build up inside cells.
Though autopsy studies show that most people develop some plaques and tangles as they age, those with Alzheimer’s tend to develop far more and in a predictable pattern, beginning in the areas important for memory before spreading to other regions.
Scientists do not know exactly what role plaques and tangles play in Alzheimer's disease. Most experts believe they somehow play a critical role in blocking communication among nerve cells and disrupting processes that cells need to survive.
It's the destruction and death of nerve cells that causes memory failure, personality changes, problems carrying out daily activities, and other symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
To go even more in depth about how Alzheimer's affects the brain, the Alzheimer's Association has a wonderful "brain tour" on their website that is absolutely fascinating. First it explains how specific areas of our brains work and then shows the way Alzheimer's affects them. You can find it here: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers/brain_tour
To learn more about the science behind Alzheimer's and the changes that occur in the brain, check out this fascinating 4-minute video from Nature.
real stories of people with alzheimer's
real stories of people with alzheimer's
To put a more human spin on this disease, take a look at the videos below, which follow the experiences of some people living with Alzheimer's.
In this 8-minute video from the New York Times, a filmmaker explores how Alzheimer's revealed the strength of his parents marriage.
In this 4-minute video from the Cleveland Clinic, see how one mother and daughter in Las Vegas battle Alzheimer's together.
If you suspect you or a loved one struggles with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia, you can find some free resources provided by the Alzheimer's Association here: https://www.alzsd.org/services/#support-for-your-family
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