Dr. Dana Wittenberg, R.Psych.

11/05/2019

A fascinating read about a family in Columbia with a genetically-linked form of Alzheimer's disease. One of the family members appears to have a protective genetic factor that is staving off the disease for 3 decades! The woman's genes could potentially be responsible for a major pharmaceutical breakthrough...only time will tell...
In the meantime, if you have any questions regarding you or your family's cognitive health, contact me today!

Researchers have found a woman with a rare genetic mutation that has protected her from dementia even though her brain has developed major neurological features of the disease.

11/01/2019

We are always learning more about concussions and the compounding effects. In the US, heading the ball in soccer is banned for children under 10-years-old. So far, Canada has not taken a stance with regard to headers. New studies have shown that soccer players have a 3x increased likelihood of developing dementia later in life. It is scary to think that accidents at a young age can affect one later in life but we all need to be aware of the research and take necessary precautions or at least understand the risks involved.
If you have any questions regarding concussions, please contact me. I specialize in adult assessment and evaluation of cognitive abilities.

Studies have shown a likely link between repetitive heading of the ball in soccer and developing a neurological disease later in life. Will it lead to a ban on the skill in younger players?

11/15/2017

Alzheimer's disease prevention and treatment continues to be an area of avid research. Unfortunately, recent results from a dietary supplement already approved in Europe did not support significant improvement or delay of symptoms in those who drank the daily breakfast supplement as compared to those in the placebo group. While there was no change in symptom between the two groups, those who in the treatment group did demonstrate slower atrophy (shrinking) in their brains.
Several studies, even two locally, are investigating the effectiveness of other treatments, including medication, to slow, prevent, or reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
Identification is the first step in understanding your own brain health. Contact me today for more information on cognitive testing.

In a new study, a breakfast drink that first made a splash at an international Alzheimer’s conference in Vancouver five years ago as a memory booster has been shown to have no benefits for th…

10/21/2017

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic are attempting to help individuals with memory problems learn new habits to help take the burden off both their failing memory and caregivers. While it is yet to be known if it helps with other aspects of their dementia, at a minimum, it gives the individual a sense of personal accomplishment when they can learn to effectively use a calendar/scheduler to manage their future plans.

Arizona has long been a destination for older adults, with its pristine retirement communities and warm climate. But aging in America isn't what it used to be. The issue isn’t going away. We have to talk about it. This is Part II of "The State of Aging in the Valley," a series that explores the real...

06/09/2017

Exercise, exercise, exercise! An excellent reminder that getting our bodies moving and heart rate elevated directly benefits our brains and thinking skills. It doesn't even have to be a vigorous workout to see effects. This study suggests that a 1-hour walk, three times per week is beneficial to cognitive abilities.
Now get motivated and get out there this weekend!

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/well/move/a-1-hour-walk-3-times-a-week-has-benefits-for-dementia.html?_r=0

Regular, brisk walks improved thinking skills in older people with a common form of age-related memory loss.

10/31/2016

By now we all know that exercise is good for brain health. But, which type of exercise is most beneficial?
Researchers in Finland compared three different exercise routines: aerobic, weight training, and interval training. Albeit the study was completed with rats, those who participated in the aerobic or running exercise routine had the greatest hippocampal volume, with new neurons being established from the beginning to end of the study. The hippocampus is where new memories are created and also the area of the brain that is most affected by Alzheimer's disease.
While it will be helpful for the study to be replicated in humans, mounting evidence points to regular, aerobic exercise that increases heart rate as part of a healthy, active lifestyle that may contribute to better brain health.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2016/02/17/which-type-of-exercise-is-best-for-the-brain/

For the first time, scientists compared the neurological impacts of different types of exercise in rats: running, weight training and high-intensity interval training.

10/24/2016

CTE, the disease that many professional athletes suffer and eventually die from due to repeated concussions, is a little bit closer to being identified in the living. To date, the only way to accurately diagnose CTE is on autopsy after death. New research has found that individuals who have suffered a high number of concussions have increased levels of a certain protein, called tau, in their brains. Tau is also found in other neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. While more research is required before the blood test can be used diagnostically, it an important step in earlier identification of the disease, which in turn can lead to better treatment planning.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/27/sports/football/cte-concussions-diagnose-in-living.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fhealth&action=click&contentCollection=health®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=119&pgtype=sectionfront

One group of researchers revealed a step toward identifying in the brain a biomarker linked to the disease; another found elevated levels of tau proteins in blood samples.

03/07/2016

Concussion and recovery remains a hot topic. A new study out of UBC used advanced imaging techniques to study the brain days, weeks, and months following a sport-related concussion. They have found that even when an individual feel and appears "normal" following a head injury, their brain takes longer to heal. Myelin (the "insulation" that surrounds the neurons in our brain) can be damaged for much longer than someone show symptoms further highlighting the importance of taking a substantial recovery before returning to high-risk, high-impact sports.

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/scanning+technique+reveals+concussion+damages+brain/11766648/story.html

An advanced brain scanning technique has shown for the first time in humans how concussion damages the brain and its wiring, findings that cast doubt on the effectiveness of conventional assessment tools used by doctors. This new understanding of the physical damage to the brain and the time frame f…

02/26/2016

Staying active, both physically and mentally into middle age and beyond has been top advice by medical professionals. Research has demonstrated that individuals who maintain active throughout their lives have lower rates of Alzheimer's and other dementias. A new study, however, found that unless you have an Alzheimer's-linked gene, active bodies and minds will not stop the build-up of plaques in your brain that contribute to Alzheimer's symptoms. The researchers did not measure functional ability (so actual memory and other cognitive performance) but they did measure brain activity and volume using advanced brain imaging methods.
Regardless of the new information, researchers and clinicians in aging still maintain that active living is beneficial with no drawbacks. With the weekend looming, get out there and get active!

http://news.health.com/2016/02/25/active-mind-body-may-only-do-so-much-against-alzheimers/

11/20/2015

A town outside of Amsterdam is essentially a "free range" nursing home. Patients wtih dementia live there and are able to enjoy a life similar to that which they lived prior to the onset of their Alzheimer's symptoms. And, shockingly, it isn't more expensive than a more traditional care facility but the inhabitants are considerably happier and more well adjusted. Others worldwide are attempting to replicate the model but so far, De Hogeweyk is in a league of its own.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/metro/village+dementia+patients+netherlands+creates+their+past/11533271/story.html

A groundbreaking dementia village in The Netherlands is a concept that’s often imitated, but never replicated, says founder and manager Eloy van Hal, who is speaking Vancouver next week.

11/05/2015

Many of you may be wondering about the dementia that Robin Williams was suffering from prior to his death last year. Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), while unknown to most people, is actually a rather common form of dementia. It differs from Alzheimer's in that memory problems are not the first symptom. The Lewy Bodies, a build up of proteins in the brain, affect the same area of the brain as Parkinson's disease. In fact, DLB is on the same spectrum of disease as Parkinson's and are often misdiagnosed as a result. The best way to determine the dementia and proper treatment is to obtain accurate and thorough evaluation. For more information on DLB or any other form of dementia, please do not hesitate to contact me.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/03/health/robin-williams-widow-susan-williams/

Comedian Robin Williams' widow says Lewy body dementia -- not depression -- drove her husband to su***de. Nearly 1.4 million Americans suffer from the disorder.

10/30/2015

Well, this doesn't seem super scientific, but it's the weekend, so enjoy!

http://www.healthaim.com/beer-prevention-alzheimers-plus-benefits-drinking-beer/30966

Drinking beer can prevent Alzheimer's disease. Find out how.