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Dementia Prevention: A New Opportunity
for Hearing Professionals
[Photo of Presenter]
Presenter:
David R. Larsen, MFHD
Education Chairman
ABCBrain.org
The views expressed in presentations made at International Hearing Society (IHS) educational events are those of the speaker and not necessarily of IHS. Presentations at IHS events, or the presence of a speaker at an IHS event, does not constitute an endorsement of the speaker's views.
From the desk of
our Attorney
Why Dementia Is The Most Feared Affliction in
America
4 Ways Hearing Pros Can Help in Dementia
Prevention
How We Know Dementia Can Now Be Prevented
Issues Underlying Both Hearing and Memory Loss
How Hearing Aids Help But Why They May Not Be
Enough
7 Ways This Can Expand Your Practice
Q&A
Agenda
Learning Objectives:
Enable you to better see a new opportunity to be of greater service
Understand at least 4 ways in which hearing loss is
linked to memory loss
Describe 5 ways you can help your patients reduce their risk for dementia
Able to explain at least 4 ways this knowledge
could help you expand your practice and income
Types of Dementia
• Subjective Cognitive Impairment (pre-dementia) • Mild Cognitive Impairment MCI (pre-dementia) • Alzheimer’s (“60%”) • Vascular dementia (80%) • Frontotemporal dementia (Pick’s) • Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (mad cow) • Huntington’s, Parkinson’s (may have dementia) • Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (Lack B-1- alcohol) • Go to Alz.org to find out more
An Extraordinary Health Crisis
• Dementia & Memory Loss • 2nd Greatest Health Challenge • 1954 we had 500K cases of AD • 2010 we had 6,000,000 • 1954 we had 25k cases under 60 • 2010 we had 780K cases under 60 (28 X more) • 1 of 8 over 60 notes memory problems • 45% or these say it inhibits their work • 1 in 4 of those over 74 report such problems • 1 of 2 over 84 have some type of dementia
A Real Health Crisis
• Alzheimer’s the Most Costly Disease • For families in terms of: • Stress and Finances
• Home Health costs $40-60 hr • Institutional Care $4-8,000 • Caregivers are at near double the risk for developing dementia • Their body may outlive their brain by 10 or more years • No FDA approved cure or even an effective drug to slow disease progression
These stats suggest a dementia Tsunami is coming?
People are Concerned for Good Reason
• Alzheimer’s is more feared than any other disease except cancer…even by young adults… • Diabetics, pre-diabetics, those with a history of high stress, depression, hearing loss, head injury or high blood pressure, are at higher risk
• Our target: everyone concerned about brain health and a better memory, especially if they or a family member have hearing problems, memory issues or are at high risk for such
How You Can Help
Meds don’t deter the course Hearing aids & Lifestyle changes can! It doesn’t require an MD, rather… Knowledge, hope & encouragement Hearing & Speech Professionals are in an ideal position to help You can save lives & spare families much grief and great losses
4 Ways You Can Help
1. Alert Patients to their higher level of Risk for developing dementia
2. Help Them overcome hearing deficits
3. Teach Them other things they can do to address underlying issues and further reduce their risk
4. Provide the tools they need to succeed
How We Know Dementia Prevention
is Possible
(At least Symptom Prevention)
• 1,260 high risk Finns aged 60 to 77 with MCI • TX: 4 lifestyle interventions / 2 yrs:
– Improved their diet – More physical & mental activity – Social interaction
• Cognitive decline reversed
– Memory scores improved by 35% – Executive function 83% higher (than placebo)
– Processing speed 150% better
Finland FINGER study Finnish Geriatric study for the prevention of AD
“These findings show that prevention is possible…” - Dr. Kivipelto (Karolinska Institute, Sweden PI )
• You can do what they did! •Even old (declining) dogs can learn new tricks – and stick with them
• If we could delay AD just 5 years we could cut #’s in half - Alz Assoc Trajectory Study
Finland FINGER study
Education & Support in: 1. Healthy diet 2. Physical Activity 3. Cognitive activities 4. Social activities
FINGER Interventions
• 2,235 men in their 40’s followed 35 years •Those with the healthiest lifestyles had:
• Diabetes reduced by 70% • Heart disease by 65% • Stroke by 70% • Cancer by 35% • Dementia by 60%
•Even a moderately healthy lifestyle can reduce a host of chronic ailments
Caerphilly Cohort Study, Wales
• 10 patients with Alzheimer’s symptoms • Targeted approach using:
• Diet and exercise • Dietary supplements (various) • Yoga & meditation • Natural Hormone boosters • Other interventions as needed
• 9 out of 10 had symptom reversal !! able to return to work in 1-2 years • Now being used at UCLA Clinic & ABC
UCLA Dr. Bredesen
• Nutrition is a key player • Most seniors are nutritionally
challenged - depleted • Some supplements shown to help • Some are useless – may even harm • The highest quality can be of great help • Avoid conflicts with the help of
compounding pharmacists
Why Supplements
Folic acid, B12 & vitamin E (vitamins) - essential to nourish protect & energize brain cells
N-acetyl Cysteine (a protein) - building blocks to protect against oxidative stress
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (a protein) - energy for brain cells, keeps mitochondria strong
S-adenosyl methionine “SAM” or “SAMe” - protects DNA & boosts neurotransmissions Each of these were used in prior clinical trials with only marginal efficacy on their own. It takes a combination.
UMass-Lowell NF Study (Nutraceutical Formulation)
Alzheimer’s Patients
Mental Activities Can Help
• Controlled ACTIVE trial • Enrolled 2,832 community-dwelling
and generally healthy participants, average age 74
• 10 hours of initial “speed training” • 4 additional hours at end of 1st year • 4 additional hours at end of 3rd year • 7 years later • Risk for dementia was reduced by 48%
• Mild hearing loss – 2X as likely to develop dementia • Moderate loss – 3X the risk • Severe loss – 5X greater risk • Risk increases with hearing loss over 25 decibels - Dr. Lin Johns Hopkins study • For those over 60, 36% of the risk for dementia associated with hearing loss
The Hearing Dementia Connection
• Oxidative Stress – damages inner ear • Poor circulation • Nutritional deficits – magnesium, B-vits, antioxidants, etc • Behavioral/Environmental • Social withdrawal • Lack of appropriate brain stimulation
6 Contributing Factors
The Hearing Loss Dementia
Connection
Hearing Loss
Withdrawal Stress Lack
of stimulation
Dementia
Inflammation
Oxidation
Poor circulation Nutritional Deficits
1. Eating well to reduce oxidation and related nutritional deficits 2. Nutritional Supplements 3. Physical activity to improve circulation and assimilation of nutrients 4. Stress management to reduce cortisol also relaxation improves circulation 5. Hearing aids - multiple benefits 6. Social interaction 7. Other mental activities & a purpose
The Brain Healthy Lifestyle
7 Basics Components
1. Alert Patients to their higher level of Risk for developing dementia
2. Help Them overcome hearing deficits
3. Teach Them other things they can do to address underlying issues and further reduce their risk
4. Provide the tools they need to succeed
4 Ways You Can Help
• An additional valuable service you can provide • Sell better hearing aids with Personalized Brain Fitness packages for more
• You can provide something others cannot
• Attract more potential customers • Hearing and dementia risk assessments
• Profit from new product sales • New reciprocal referrals • Expand your outreach and influence • Win Win! You earn $ they save $$$ and much MORE!
How This Can Help You!
