Alzheimer Disease Related Dementia a National Health Emergency

What is Alzheimer's Disease and what is Dementia and how do they relate to one another?  

According to the Wikipedia explanation, "dementia is a is a serious loss of global cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging. .Dementia is not a single disease, but a non-specific syndrome (i.e., set of signs and symptoms). Affected cognitive areas can be memory, attention, language, and problem solving".

The National Institutes of Health; National Institute on Aging, describes Alzheimer's Disease this way:
"Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with Alzheimer’s, symptoms first appear after age 60. Estimates vary, but experts suggest that as many as 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s disease".

Finally,  the Alzheimer's Association, defines dementia "a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Memory loss is an example. Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia".  Below you will find a photo of a normal human brain and a human brain in advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease.  (This photo is courtesy of the Alzheimer's Association)

Photos of Healthy Human Brain and Human Brain with Advanced Alzheimer\s Disease

Cures and Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease/Alzheimer's Related Dementia

There is no known cure for Alzheimer's disease and for an absolute, 100 percent diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease, this can only be determined after death.  Alzheimer's Disease and/or Alzheimer's related dementia are not a part of the normal aging process.(Source:  Alzheimer's Association)  Currently, at the age of 65, 1 in 8 Americans will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's related dementia.  At age 85, 1 in 2 Americans will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's related dementia, therefore this mind robbing and "grimey" disease is a national health emergency, especially given the fact that a whole generation of baby boomers, may be at risk of developing or contracting this disease.  (Source: Alzheimer's Association Caregivers Focus Group - New York)

 There is a national plan to address Alzheimer's Disease, including a goal of the effective prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's Disease by the year 2025.  This includes ensuring the safety, dignity and quality of life for the Alzheimer's care recipients and the health and well being of the Alzheimer's caregiver. 

According to a story by npr.org today, deaths from Alzheimer's disease have increased 68 percent between 2000 and 2010 and Alzheimer's Disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. "It's an epidemic, it's on the rise, and currently [there is] no way to delay it, prevent it or cure it," says Maria Carrillo, a neuroscientist with the Alzheimer's Association. More than 5 million people in the U.S. have the disease, she says, and that number could reach nearly 14 million by 2050

Before one can discuss the treatment or cure of Alzheimer's Disease, a comprehensive examination must be made by a medical doctor, which in most cases will be a neurologist who will determine if the dementia type is Alzheimer's related dementia.  One of the latest methods or tools in use to aid in the proper diagnosis of Alzheimer's related dementia is the PET scan.  Amyloid brain plaque is considered one hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. A PET scan is used to determine if amyloid brain plaque is present in the brain of the scanned patient.  The presence of amyloid brain plaque by itself is not enough to determine that Alzheimer's Disease is present.  Other factors such as clinical examination, environmental factors and the patients history must be looked at as well. 

Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York has taken the lead in performing the first Alzheimer's related PET scan in New York State in 2012.  How it works is simple:  A binding agent is introduced into the brain which specifically adheres to amyloid brain plaque.  The PET or CT scanner, will take images of the brain with this binding agent present showing the areas of the brain where the amyloid brain plaque is present.  The suspected Alzheimer's disease patient is placed in the CT scanner, which will take a series of powerful xrays, using an x-ray generator embedded in the CT scanner, which will produce the desired 3 dimensional images of the brain.

PET/CT Scanner Images of Human Brains in Normal, Mild Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease states

Another premier medical facility in New York is the Taub Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center , which is one of 15 National Institutes of Health sponsored research sites in the nation for Alzheimer's Disease.  Research is conducted to elucidate the underlying causes, genetic factors, diagnosis, progression, and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. 

The main source of up to date types of treatments of Alzheimer related dementia is the Alzheimer's Association, which when this link is clicked will send the reader to the treatments page of the Alzheimer's Associations' website. 

What types of research is going on with Alzheimer's Disease or Alzheimer's related Dementia? 

One of the most exciting areas of research into Alzheimer's Disease is at MIT.  A group of neuro-scientists are using a game to help them map the neural transmitters in the human brain through the use of a video game.  This game is called Eyewire  which uses part artificial intelligence and part human interaction to map each neuron of which 100 billion exist in the human brain.  It takes a neuro-scientist at MIT 15 - 80 hours to map a single neuron, which at that pace would take 570 million years to map the human brain, so volunteers are needed to play this game.  Each time the game is played, the AI part of the game learns more about mapping on its own, so there is indeed light at the end of this tunnel.

There are currently hundreds of research trials going on around the country to help in diagnosis, treatment and hopefully cure for Alzheimer's disease.  If one visits the Alzheimer's Association website, there are links to clinical trials for the Alzheimer's patient, the caregiver and and unaffected person.

 There are beliefs and thoughts that returning veterans from both the Iraq and Afghan war theatres, may be more predisposed to developing Alzheimer's related dementia.  The human body can withstand a certain amount of punishment and on the battlefield, the human brain is exposed to concussive blows from explosions, which mimic or are in actuality blows to the head.  When enough minor concussive blows are experienced, this may cause long term brain injury unseen by regular clinical diagnoses, only to re-appear in later life in the form of Alzheimer's related dementia.

There is so much more information and this writer does not profess to know it all about Alzheimer's disease or dementia.  In the next article, we shall discuss the role of the Alzheimer's Disease caregiver, resources for the caregiver and tools that might be helpful for the caregiver to manage his/her life and that of the person he is providing care to.

Mixed Martial Arts, MMA, BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) - Never Coming to NY?

There are two large venues in New York City, Madison Square Garden and the soon to be Brooklyn Nets arena, which would be perfect to hold mixed martial arts or MMA fights in. Additionally, on Long Island, there is Nassau Colliseum which would serve the community there, which is interested in MMA in New York.

We were in Rhode Island this weekend and Rhode Island MMA or mixed martial arts is very popular there. There are different martial arts styles and techniques practiced there including, RI BJJ or Rhode Island brazilian jiu jitsu, RI Gracie brazilian jiu jitsu or Rhode Island Gracie BJJ.


Rhode Island BJJ Grappling Photo

One of the schools we visited was Coventry Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy in Coventry Rhode Island which features RI BJJ or Rhode Island brazilian jiu jitsu, where they teach grappling and other floor techniques related to brazilian jiu jitsu in Rhode Island.


Rhode Island Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Training Picture

RI BJJ or Rhode Island Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Video

New Yorkers who are interested in mixed martial arts, should not have to travel this far or need to travel out of state to see MMA fights but the New York state assembly has thwarted every attempt to make mixed martial arts fighting legal in New York.

Rhode Island Mixed Martial Arts Photo

Mixed martial arts is no more violent than boxing, which is legal and sanctioned in New York state and MMA would bring much needed revenue to both the local and state tax coffers, if these sporting matches are legalized. Until that time, for mixed martial arts enthusiasts, they can travel to or Rhode Island to watch and experience RI BJJ at Coventry Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy or RI mixed martial arts.

Facebook and Your Private Information

Facebook.com used to be cool. It was a great way to re-connect to long lost friends and family and to post photos and videos that only your friends and family can appreciate. As I said, it used to be cool. If I want to delete my yahoo, google or aol account, for example, each of them will say something to the effect of "Are you sure you want to delete your account" or "This action cannot be un-done once you click ok".

Facebook on the other hand does not actually delete your account. They only de-activate it. If you decide to re-open your Facebook account, it will re-activate it for you, as if your information is still stored on their servers. I have no problem with that, if my stored information is not shared with anyone but Facebook does share your information with third parties, with or without your approval.

I went to the New York Post's website and was reading a story. I was signed on, in a separate browser to Facebook. At the end of every story, in the comments section on the New York Post's website, my Facebook profile photo and a link to it automatically appeared. There was no opt-in or approval button for me to click, to give the New York Post authority to link my Facebook profile as a sign-in to their service!

I am aware that News Corp (the owner of both Myspace and the New York Post) and Facebook recently began sharing user information but I didn't realize that this information would be automatically intrusive. Facebook, in my opinion is close to becoming the one-hit wonder that Myspace has become simply because those who joined it (Facebook) did so because they traded away revealing their identity and personal information in return for the expectation that said personal information will be safeguarded and protected. Facebook has failed miserably in safeguarding it's users personal information and profiles.

If you must read the New York Post, DO NOT read it while signed in to Facebook because if your Facebook signon is automatically parsed into the New York Post's browser, it is more than likely being stored on their servers.

Methinks this is a job for the FCC or FTC to sort out.

New York Hospital and New York Medical Center, URMC

I visited Rochester New York last weekend and was impressed with the small town flavor but Rochester New York is home to the University of Rochester Medical Center and, of course, the University of Rochester.

The University of Rochester (U of R, UR, or URoc) is a private, nonsectarian, research university located in Rochester, New York. It is often described as a small, liberal arts college in a big, research university. The University grants undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional degrees through six schools and various interdisciplinary programs. The University is home to several noted schools and programs, including the number one ranked Eastman School of Music and The Institute of Optics, the oldest optics program in the United States. The University enrolls approximately 4,600 undergraduates and 3,900 graduate students. The University of Rochester with its affiliated Strong Health System is the largest employer in the Greater Rochester area and the third largest employer in the state of New York. [Ref. Wikipedia]

Located one mile south of the Medical Center, South Campus is home to the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE). LLE houses the OMEGA laser, the largest direct-drive laser facility in the world.

The University of Rochester Medical Center rivals and in my opinion surpasses downstate institutions such as New York University Medical Center, with it's state of the art equipment such as CT scanners, xray machines, mammography equipment, nuclear medicine and lasers.

Here is a one view of the University of Rochester Medical Center



The University of Rochester Medical Center boasts some of the finest cancer care and treatment facilities in the world and across from Strong Hospital, the University of Rochester Medical Center is building a new, state of the art Neurological research and treatment facility. Here is a photo of the new University of Rochester Neurology facility under contruction:



Finally, here is a photo of the central campus of the University of Rochester.

New York Police Department Helicopter Searches East River at Pier 17 South Street Seaport

I was at the South Street Seaports' Pier 17 last night and while there, I saw some lights off in the distance in the East River, between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. I noticed they were from a NYPD helicopter, which was hovering and pointing it's search lights at the water. It then came closer and closer to wear I was and dropped very low to the water in an apparent search mode. I didn't bother to ask them what was up but I did shoot this video.

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Oil Well Data Logging

We all know that the Gulf of Mexico is experiencing an environmental catastrophe due to thousands of gallons of oil being released into the water, over a mile down. This is coming from an oil reservoir, which was found and was in the process of being capped for future extraction. As this capping process was being done, a burst of methane or natural gas, shot up through the well and ultimately to the drilling platform, where an explosion was sparked, whose origin is unknown at this time.

Off-shore oil exploration and drilling is a sometimes, hit or miss endeavor, where boreholes are dug and then mapping of or making a detailed record of the geological formations that the borehole penetrates are recorded and analyzed. This process is known as oil well data logging or well logging.


In geotechnical engineering, drilling fluid is a fluid used to drill boreholes in the earth. Liquid drilling flowing is often called drilling mud, whose main function include providing hydrostatic pressure to prevent formation fluids from entering into the well bore, keeping the drill bit cool and clean during drilling, carrying out drill cuttings, and suspending the drill cuttings while drilling is paused and when the drilling assembly is brought in and out of the hole.

It appears that this drilling fluid or drilling mud, acts as a barrier or safety mechanism for the stability of the oil well, if for instance, a burst of dangerous natural gas surges through the newly drilled well. This is what appears to have created the current situation in the Gulf of Mexico.

For a detailed diagram of the events leading up to the oil spill, click on this link to NOLA.com: Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Diagram




British Petroleum or BP has decided to attempt to stop the flow of oil by using a process called "top kill" which is basically ramming drilling fluids or drilling mud down into the well, to stop the oils flow and then cap the well permanently using a concrete block or other capping method.

It appears that the entire accident was caused by the accidental or intentional depletion of the drill fluid from the well, which when the concrete block failed was the last safety mechanism in place to prevent the natural gas surge and eventual explosion. This same drilling fluid is now being used in this top kill process to stem the flow of oil from this runaway well.

We would like to think that there are smart and bright people bringing all of their expertise to bear in stemming and eventually capping the flow of oil from this Gulf of Mexico British Petroleum oil well. There are processes such as oil skimming, oil dispersants and other capture techniques that should be and will probably be employed to catch this enormous oil spill. General Electric, for example, manufactures oil exploration and oil drilling equipment. Spellman High Voltage manufactures high voltage power supply equipment used in oil exploration and oil drilling equipment.

Actor Kevin Costner and his scientist brother have a process by which oil can be separated from water, which British Petroleum has recently agreed to test. We can only hope that the bright and smart people in charge decide to employ existing and emerging technologies to help the petroleum contaminants that are flowing unabated into the Gulf of Mexico, threatening its ecology and the means of living for millions of people.

Denver Colorado - Coors Field, Pepsi Center and Invesco Field

Dallas Plummer traveled to Denver Colorado the weekend of April 16th through April 19th and stayed at the Embassy Suites Aurora in Denver and had a pretty nice time. I did some internet stuff for a high voltage power supply company and a Marin County real estate firm.

The flight was too long especially since I was sitting next to a frolicking 3 year old who waited until I was in a deep sleep, to kick me or hit me on my elbow to wake me up. Embassy Suites did have a courtesy van, which picked me up at Denver International Airport and I was checked in to my room in less than 15 minutes from the time the flight landed.

Here is a photo of the Denver Colorado hotel I stayed in, which was Embassy Suites:





Here are photos of the room in the Embassy Suites Denver hotel I was at:


















I went to a fish fry on Saturday and I worked the grill and then afterward sat down and ate some steak, shrimp and crab stuffed mushrooms, so the day turned out quite nice. Here is a photo of my plate at the Denver fish fry:











On Sunday or the day of this writing, I went to downtown Denver or LoDo as the locals call it and I took photos of Coors Field, where the Colorado Rockies play, then to the Pepsi Center, where the Denver Nuggets live. I took a photo of Invesco Field, home of the Denver Broncos, off in the distance because I was not traveling that far to snap a photo. I did like the fact that each stadium is within walking distance of one another and the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains is pretty cool. Here are photos of Coors Field, the Pepsi Center and Invesco Field -- in that order:

















So there you have it. Denver Colorado is a pretty cool city to travel to and most of the major Denver tourist spots are within walking distance of one another. I recommend staying at the Embassy Suites Aurora because of its convenience and the complementary services that they provide for their guests. They are located at 4444 North Havana Street, Denver, Colorado, United States 80239. Tell them I sent you