Campaign seeks money to keep heat, lights on for ailing 'living legend' Inuit singer

January 4, 2018  The Canadian Press, Bob Weber

Charlie Panigoniak has been singing songs about Inuit life in the language of his people since the 1970s. Now he suffers from Parkinson's disease and dementia

Charlie Panigoniak "deserves all the support we can give him," an acquaintance says.GoFundMe

RANKIN INLET, Nunavut — An ailing and aging Inuit singer-songwriter whose name is an Arctic household word has turned to the public in a plea to keep the heat and lights on in his home.

“I didn’t know how else to do this on our own,” said Lorna Panigoniak, the wife and longtime musical partner of Charlie Panigoniak. “It’s hard.”

She started a GoFundMe campaign just after Christmas from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, where the couple lives.

Charlie Panigoniak, 72, has been singing songs about Inuit life in the language of his people since the 1970s. Born on the land, he didn’t move into a community until the late 1950s and learned to play the guitar on an instrument his father made from a tin can.

A stay in Brandon, Man., in 1967 for tuberculosis treatment opened his ears to the sounds of country and folk music. He began writing Inuktitut songs about his friends, family and daily life.

He made his first recording in 1973. He has been filling radio airwaves and community halls across the North ever since.

“He definitely draws a crowd,” said John Main, an organizer of local music festivals and the local legislature member. “Everybody knows his name.”

He had that natural performer's gift where he was so naturally creative that you couldn't put him into a box

About 10 years ago, Panigoniak got sick. He suffers from Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

“He’s not so good,” said his wife.

The couple has depended on his pension and her salary. Unlike most Inuit, they own their own home and are on the hook for the costs of running it.

Lorna’s job was transferred recently out of Rankin Inlet and she decided neither she nor her husband could move.

They have six grandchildren in Rankin Inlet, three of whom live with them. Charlie has already rejected a move to a southern care facility.

“He wants to be home in Nunavut, not in the south.”

Lorna Panigoniak has yet to receive an employment insurance cheque. Without any income other than her husband’s pension, the two can’t afford the high cost of fuel oil to run the family furnace.

“He has no clue that I’m doing this, with his condition,” she said. “I’m trying to do this on my own.

“We just don’t want to ask for help from our relatives. They got their own family to look after.”

He wants to be home in Nunavut

Main said it’s not unusual for Nunavut homeowners to be squeezed by the North’s high home heating costs at this time of year.

“In the winter, your utility costs go through the roof. This is the tightest time of year.”

But Panigoniak, he said, deserves better.

“He’s a living legend and he deserves all the support we can give him. He had a big influence on the current generation of Nunavut musicians just because his music was so pervasive.

His songs are sometimes religious, sometimes rooted in traditional stories such as the one featuring a talking seal. In another, he taps his fingers on a guitar to imitate the sound of a traditional Inuit drum.

Then there’s his Inuktitut version of “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” which translates as “Rutami tuktugaqalaunipuq.”

“He wasn’t a performer who would come up and just play the same songs,” Main recalled. “He would always be different — something that he was working on, themes he would perform around … he had that natural performer’s gift where he was so naturally creative that you couldn’t put him into a box.”

Panigoniak was given the Order of Nunavut in 2012, the territory’s highest honour.

His wife is asking for $5,000. That should be enough to fire the furnace until the EI arrives, she said.

“It’s going pretty good. It’s almost halfway.”

http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/legendary-but-ailing-inuit-singer-pleas-for-help-to-keep-heat-lights-on

PARKINSON’S, TAKE A HIKE!

January 5, 2018

(Courtesy photo) A.C. Woolnough with one of the pack llamas during a recent 58-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail with the Pass to Pass for Parkinson's team.

It seems that every time I turn around, someone is saying “keep moving”. Nah, I don’t mean in the grocery check-out line. I mean when aging issues are mentioned. I normally exercise about five days a week, so regular movement has become a part of my daily routine.

But I know many people haven’t developed that routine as they age. I fear their limited movement will, ironically, catch up with them one day. That is especially true for people with skeletal, muscular, or neurological limitations. I’ve heard many medical people say “Motion is Lotion”.

I believe that to be true. And that’s why I was particularly intrigued by the adventure taken last August by A.C. Woolnough. Many of you know A.C. You may also know he has dealt with Parkinson’s Disease since 2012. But he keeps moving. And it’s made a big difference to him!

His summer adventure was a 58-mile hike along a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail in the Washington Cascades. He trained for that long trek; then joined three other “Parkis” (pronounced “park-ees”?), three support hikers and three llamas.

You can read two helpful articles, one pre-hike and one post-hike, written by the Daily Bee’s reporter, Mary Malone. Simply Google “woolnough bee” and you see links to both. Another option? Join the Geezer Forum next Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the Columbia Bank’s Community Room, 2:30-4 p.m.

A.C. will share some of his adventure and his personal insights about Parkinson’s with us. Much of his message, though, will also be how the wonders of movement make such a big difference for persons dealing with health issues. 

As A.C. and I were taking about his being at the Geezer Forum a few months ago, I happened to see two video segments about how Parkinson’s Disease symptoms are greatly reduced by movement, by exercise. One exercise was golf! The other was boxing! Both surprised me.

As it happens, A.C. is well aware of the positive impact both sports have on some folks living with Parkinson’s. In fact, he mentioned his wife is looking into the possibility to bring “boxing with Parkinson’s” to the Sandpoint area. That even made me wonder about boxing as another exercise I could try. Wow! Did I really say that?

This focus on exercise and movement could fit well into your list of New Year’s resolution, at least if getting healthier is on your list. So please consider joining us at the Geezer Forum on January 9, 2:30-4 p.m. We will welcome you at the Community Room in the Columbia Bank with welcome arms, (and maybe even some hiking exercises!).

Paul Graves, M.Div., is lead geezer-in-training of Elder Advocates, a consulting ministry on aging issues. Contact Paul at 208-6104971 or elderadvocates@nctv.com.

http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/columns/20180105/parkinsons_take_a_hike

Deep Brain Stimulation Study in Parkinson’s Dementia Challenges Earlier Safety Concerns

JANUARY 5, 2018   BY MAGDALENA KEGEL IN NEWS.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be safe for Parkinson’s disease patients who have dementia, according to a small clinical trial by University College London scientists.

The study, “Bilateral Deep Brain Stimulation of the Nucleus Basalis of Meynert for Parkinson Disease Dementia — A Randomized Clinical Trial,” was published in the journal JAMA Neurology.

While the study failed to show that the six-week treatment improved patients’ cognitive abilities, it indicates the need for more research into the field, which traditionally has been a no-go area. DBS in Parkinson’s disease dementia generally has been considered unsafe.

“Although the primary outcome of this study was not met, these results challenge the consensus in the field that DBS is contraindicated in PDD [Parkinson’s disease dementia],” a group of unrelated researchers wrote in an accompanying editorial.

Parkinson’s disease is viewed mainly as a movement disorder. Neuropsychiatric symptoms, however, are common, and the majority of patients who have been ill for more than a decade develop dementia.

Unlike motor symptoms, researchers believe that the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is mainly involved in dementia; but drugs that block the breakdown of this brain substance are not very effective.

The research team focused its efforts on a brain region with plenty of acetylcholine neurons. Evidence from earlier studies suggested that targeting this region may be effective in patients with Parkinson’s dementia.

The pilot clinical trial (NCT01701544) included six men with PDD. They all had electrodes implanted during surgery. After the procedure, they were randomly chosen to have their electrodes activated for six weeks. During this time, those with inactive electrodes served as controls. The groups then switched.

The study showed that the surgical procedure was safe — all patients were walking within 24 hours and fully oriented within 48 hours, researchers said. All patients also completed the treatment, and no serious adverse events occurred during the trial.

Researchers saw no impact on the scores of a cognitive test battery after the stimulation period. Two patients had a reduction of visual hallucinations and some also experienced improvements in quality of life measures.

Three patients also had reduced levodopa-induced dyskinesias (involuntary movements) during active stimulation.

“The fact that both surgery and stimulation were well-tolerated in this vulnerable patient group is important,” the team wrote.

“The presence of dementia is considered a contraindication to DBS therapy, yet our study suggests that well-selected patients with cognitive and psychiatric symptoms can consent to and tolerate such treatment without serious adverse events or cognitive deterioration,” the researchers said.

Nonetheless, the study was not large enough to robustly assess the effectiveness of the treatment. Rather, the results should be viewed as “hypothesis-generating” — informing the design of future studies and trials, researchers concluded.

https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2018/01/05/deep-brain-stimulation-study-parkinsons-dementia/

FoxFeed Blog: Brewing a Potential Marker for Parkinson's

Posted by  Kristen Teesdale, January 04, 2018

Millions of people reach for a caffeinated beverage each morning to jumpstart the day. Now, early research indicates that the stimulant that gets people moving also might help diagnose Parkinson's disease (PD). A recent study published in Neurologyfound that people with Parkinson's had significantly lower levels of caffeine in their blood than people who did not have PD and consumed the same amount of caffeine. This may indicate that how people process caffeine, in combination with other factors, could help identify Parkinson's earlier.

The study monitored 108 people who had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease six years earlier on average, and an additional 31 age-matched individuals who did not have PD. Participants were tested for caffeine and 11 byproducts the body makes as caffeine is metabolized. Individuals also received genetic testing to account for any mutations that might affect how their bodies process caffeine.

All volunteers consumed an average of two cups of coffee per day. Results showed that people with PD had significantly lower levels of caffeine in their blood compared to the control participants, and nine of the 11 byproducts were detected. Researchers were able to use these markers to identify the people who had Parkinson's with high accuracy.

Genetic results showed no difference in caffeine-related genes between the two groups.

The study did not include people with more advanced PD, so more research is needed to understand the association between caffeine and severity of disease or symptoms.

Moving the Dial on Measuring PD

Previous studies have suggested caffeine may help protect from Parkinson's. This new study lays the foundation for further investigation into how people with PD process caffeine as a potential disease marker.

Biomarkers, or objective measures to diagnose, track and treat Parkinson's, could transform PD therapeutic development. There are no definitive biomarkers for Parkinson's yet identified, but great strides are being made. MJFF's landmark study, Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), is gathering comprehensive samples and data from more than 1,500 volunteers globally to advance biomarker research. This information is de-identified and made available to qualified researchers to corroborate their own scientific findings.

"Our strategy is to build an ecosystem to help validate results from studies that merit more exploration," says Mark Frasier, PhD, senior vice president of research programs at MJFF. "The Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative was created as a replication engine, and we are poised to leverage PPMI data and samples for verification of these types of discoveries."

Frasier also emphasizes the importance of pursuing a combination of markers to test for Parkinson's given the disease's variable nature. "If clinical symptoms, such as smell loss and sleep changes, could be combined with a blood-based marker, we could more accurately identify PD risk in more people."

https://www.michaeljfox.org/foundation/news-detail.php?brewing-potential-marker-for-parkinson

How to Make the Most of Your Doctor’s Visit

By Michael Church—January 4, 2018 

There are many useful tips that you can utilize before, during and after your appointment with the neurologist to make every minute count. Here are just a few to help maximize that often rare opportunity when you actually see you’re neurologist face to face for a few minutes. It usually goes like this: You’ve just told the physician’s assistant all the details of your experience over the past several months of living with Parkinson’s, the good – the bad – the ugly (to be discussed later). In pops your neurologist. “So, how are we today?” It’s more like, “How are you today?” You are so excited to actually see the doctor (this really happens) and nerves get the best of you and all you can say is: “Fine!” Even when we know we aren’t fine.

Tip #1: Always have a checklist of items and/or issues you want to address

Let’s face it, living with Parkinson’s Disease is tough. It is a complex disease associated with so many symptoms and there are so many additional drugs not including those for PD to treat those associative symptoms. Plus PD can and eventually will affect your memory. This makes it difficult to remember the last 2 weeks much less than the last 2 months. Creating a checklist or a written list of questions is a valuable tool in fighting this disease. So the next time your doctor surprises you, you can say: “Glad you asked. I have a few questions.” 

Tip #2: Keep a journal

This one will keep any doctor on their toes because it requires them to actually look at it and respond. It may be cursory and a matter of fact summary but it will present to the doctor a much larger picture of how you have been doing instead of: “How are you doing today?” You can decide how often to update it but record off times/on times, changes in symptoms, sleep patterns, etc. If you aren’t sure write it down. A journal differs from a checklist because it provides a broader analysis of your overall condition and potential insight to your doctor in recommending treatment. A journal may seem archaic in the latest digital age in which we live but it is still a valuable tool to use. If you incorporate a “Fitbit”, “Apple Watch”, or other wearable device it should complement your journal entries.

Tip #3: Ask for a medication review

Periodically, I will ask for a medication review. This is an assessment of the current medications that I’m taking to be sure that they aren’t interacting and providing maximum benefit. I know some people with PD that take so many medications, you could fill a shoe box with them. Prescription drugs are an important part of Parkinson’s treatment for some people and sometimes the side effects are worse than the positive benefit of the drug. I acknowledge that for others, nutrition and exercise are equally if not more important. My point being, if you are taking a multitude of prescription drugs, get a regular medication checkup. Hence the above mentioned checklist.

Tip #4: Have an accountability partner attend your appointment

This role is usually filled by your care partner but can be anyone you are comfortable with holding accountable you, the doctor, nurses/P.A. and anyone else associated with your care to bring up pertinent information and/or questions. That is why I encourage you to write them down. If it’s important enough to remember, write it down! This is essential information that can be useful to those on your medical team of which you should be the star, everybody else revolves around you. Care instructions (physical therapy, medication changes, follow ups, etc.) are not always written down for you. An accountability partner can remind you what the doctor said. 

Tip #5: Volunteer for clinical trials

Discuss other options to treatment, such as if participating in clinical trials would benefit you. There are research studies involving new drug therapies for PD, cough and swallow studies, utilization of stem cell therapy and more. Your participation in clinical trials although voluntary, sometimes compensated is important to the scientific communities looking for better quality of life and ultimately for a cure. Have a conversation with your doctor about clinical trials in your area. Your participation is important and many times compliments your ongoing treatment.

There are a variety of ways to make the most of your appointment; these are just a few. The visit with your doctor can be productive experience or another day at the doctor’s office. It is your choice. Make the most of every visit by preparing in advance by making sure your list of medications is up to date, bring your journal and checklist, always ask your care partner to take notes and do discuss clinical trials in your area. By employing these tips and more at your doctor’s appointments will produce productive results and further development the doctor-patient relationship.

https://parkinsonsdisease.net/living/make-the-most-of-your-doctors-visit/

The Evolution of Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease

JANUARY 4, 2018   BY WENDY HENDERSON IN SOCIAL CLIPS.

In this video from TIME, learn about the evolution of Parkinson’s disease treatment since the late 1950s. Vice president of media communications for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Dr. Rachel Dolhun, discusses how treatment for the disease has developed over the years.

Dr. Dolhun explains that while the diagnosis procedure for Parkinson’s disease hasn’t changed too much since the 1950s, the way the disease is treated has changed substantially. Back then, there were no treatments for Parkinson’s disease and now there are many treatments to help with the symptoms of the condition. In addition, five new treatments are currently in clinical trials that may slow or stop the progression of the disease.

As well as medications, surgeries such as deep brain stimulation have help modern day Parkinson’s patients overcome some of the more pronounced symptoms of the disease.

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Parkinsons’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2018/01/04/treatment-parkinsons-disease-evolution/

FDA Warns American CryoStem Over Unapproved Stem-Cell Product

January 4, 2018

Atcell is derived from adipose and meant for autologous use

The FDA has issued a warning letter(link is external)

to American CryoStem Corporation for marketing an adipose-derived stem cell product without the agency’s approval and for significant deviations from current good manufacturing practice requirements, including some that raise potentially significant safety concerns.

The FDA recently inspected American CryoStem and found that the company was receiving and processing adipose tissue into a product called Atcell and marketing it without the required FDA approval. Though the product is intended for autologous use (in the individual from whom it was recovered), the manner in which it is being processed involves more than minimal manipulation of the adipose tissue, the FDA says. These manufacturing steps alter the original relevant characteristics of the tissue and have the potential to introduce contamination of the product, creating risks of harm to patients. As a result, under existing law, the product is required to undergo FDA review to ensure the treatment is safe and effective, the agency says.

Under the FDA’s risk-based enforcement strategy, the product also creates concerns as a result of the way it is being administered into patients’ bodies and how it is promoted for the treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions. Atcell is being distributed directly to physicians to treat patients for a variety of serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions, including anoxic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. Physicians are directed by the company to administer Atcell by various routes of administration, including intravenously, intrathecally, and by aerosol inhalation.

Compounding these risks, the FDA’s inspection also uncovered evidence of significant deviations from current good manufacturing practice requirements in the manufacture of Atcell that pose significant additional risks, such as potentially being contaminated with microorganisms or having other serious product quality defects. Specific deviations included unvalidated processes, an inadequately controlled environment, lack of control of components used in production, and a lack of sufficient and validated product testing.

“The use of Atcell raises potential significant safety concerns, due in part to the fact that there is little basis on which to predict how the product will perform in a patient,” said Peter Marks, MD, PhD, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “In addition, this product may also cause harm to patients who may put their trust in an unproven therapy and make the decision to delay or discontinue medical treatments proven to be safe and effective.”

American CryoStem was issued a list of inspectional observations. The firm has responded to those observations; however, the FDA has found that the response inadequately addresses the observations and fails to recognize that to lawfully market Atcell, a valid biologics license must be in effect. The FDA has requested a response from American CryoStem, within 15 working days, that details how the violations noted in the warning letter will be corrected. Companies that do not correct violations may be subject to enforcement action such as seizure, injunction, and/or prosecution.

Source: FDA ; January 4, 2018.

http://www.managedcaremag.com/news/20180104/fda-warns-american-cryostem-over-unapproved-stem-cell-product

Neuropore Therapies Awarded Second Grant on its TLR2 Program from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

January 04, 2018

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Neuropore Therapies, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders announced today that it received a second grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) in support of its Toll-Like Receptor 2 (TLR2) antagonist program focused on modulating neuroinflammation and autophagy in Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

“We are very pleased with the progress we have achieved on the TLR2 program and to receive this second grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation. This grant will enable us to accelerate our efforts to identify and optimize small molecule TLR2 antagonists as well as to build the foundation for a translational biomarker platform focused on clinically-relevant endpoints,” stated Douglas Bonhaus, Chief Scientific Officer of Neuropore.

Neuropore Therapies is developing an exciting pipeline of potential therapeutics aimed at the major components of neurodegenerative diseases, including the aggregation of pathological proteins, misfolded protein clearance and neuroinflammation.

About Neuropore Therapies, Inc. (NPT®)

Neuropore Therapies, Inc. is a San Diego, California based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The approaches being taken by Neuropore target the underlying pathological processes that are common across many of these disorders – the intracellular accumulation of neurotoxic misfolded protein aggregates and the associated neuroinflammatory responses. Neuropore’s therapeutic candidates prevent the formation, mitigate the toxicity and/or enhance the destruction of these toxic proteins.

Neuropore Therapies is developing a sustainable pipeline of novel therapeutic candidates. The first clinical candidate to emerge from our discovery efforts is NPT200-11. This is an orally bioavailable small molecule that uniquely targets the earliest steps in the formation of alpha-synuclein (ASYN) toxic oligomeric protein aggregates involved in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other related disorders. NPT200-11 is partnered with UCB Pharma and is progressing in clinical trials for the treatment of PD. Beyond the continuing development of NPT200-11, Neuropore Therapies is advancing a number of additional preclinical stage compounds, with complementary mechanisms of action. The most advanced compound is NPT520-34, an orally bioavailable, brain penetrant anti-inflammatory agent that robustly attenuates aberrant microglial and astroglial responses and decreases the accumulation of ASYN. NPT520-34 has a well-defined biomarker/imaging strategy developed for early proof-of-mechanism studies in Parkinson’s patients and is currently in pre-clinical development with an IND filing projected for 4Q18/1Q19. Neuropore’s TLR2 antagonist program has identified structurally novel, orally bioavailable and brain penetrating small molecule leads. The TLR2 program is currently in lead optimization and the goal is to select candidate for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in 2018.

To lean more, visit www.Neuropore.com

Contacts

Neuropore

Errol De Souza

President and Chief Executive Officer

+1 858-273-1831

info@neuropore.com

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180104005015/en/Neuropore-Therapies-Awarded-Grant-TLR2-Program-Michael

Mercaptor Discoveries Featured in Sports Illustrated

Mercaptor Discoveries, January 4, 2018

https://youtu.be/I54RTfGHu2Q

Watch brain-protective captons in action. (Animation by Shawn Nelson. Narration by Julia Norton.)

NOVATO, Calif., Jan. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercaptor Discoveries, a preclinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapies based on proprietary, injury-activated, neuroprotective technology, received national coverage on Sports Illustrated's widely read website, si.com.

Written by acclaimed journalist Tom Taylor, who holds a PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics, the article, entitled "Ex-Player Jim Kovach Helps Search for Medical Answers to Football's Concussion Problem," is part of the "Muscle and Medicine" series, which highlights cutting-edge technologies and innovations that improve performance and protect the health of NFL players. Sports Illustrated's print magazine reaches 17 million readers, and a large percentage of that audience consumes the iconic publication's award-winning content via its digital edition, si.com.

Jim Kovach, a Mercaptor Board member, was profiled. As a former San Francisco 49er, physician, attorney and entrepreneur, Kovach offered his unique perspective on the CTE epidemic. Not just an advocate of Mercaptor's work, he is also an enthusiastic potential patient. 

If Mercaptor's unique efforts lead to the clinic, "I'll raise my hand and say 'Yes, me too,'" Kovach says.

Also quoted in the article was Sara Isbell, Mercaptor's CEO and co-founder, who explained "[Pathology after concussion] is like a ripple effect…we prevent those ripples from expanding."

The basis for the company's approach was a chance discovery. Insights from this bit of good fortune have the potential to change the trajectory of the NFL's concussion crisis with new first-line medical treatments for brain trauma. Mercaptor's tight-knit team learned a little in the process about looking beyond expectations toward what lay beneath. CSO Todd Zankel sums up the company's credo concisely, "Mistakes rescue science from the limitations of imagination."

Eager to avoid many of the inefficiencies and dogma entrenched the pharmaceutical industry, Mercaptor's researchers are striving to develop neuroprotective treatments that actually work. As journalist Tom Taylor's si.com article states, "Dubbed captons, these molecules promised to have few unwanted side effects, and to more easily pass through the blood-brain barrier—the semipermeable membrane that separates circulating blood from the extracellular fluid in the brain—than typical neuroprotective drugs."

About Mercaptor Discoveries

Mercaptor Discoveries is a privately-held company that was founded in October 2016 by a team of scientists who discovered an injury-activated molecule with potential to mitigate brain damage when used prophylactically and treat many neurodegenerative diseases. They took a leap of faith and became a self-seeded enterprise with a clear goal: adapting their discovery to treat seizures, TBI, Alzheimer's disease, ALS, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and other debilitating conditions. Headquartered in Novato, California, Mercaptor Discoveries prioritizes science, promotes productivity and transparency, and values the purity of research.

Subscribe to Mercaptor's Youtube channel at http://bit.ly/2ESBieE

CONTACT: cbarrow@mercaptor.com

SOURCE Mercaptor Discoveries

Related Links

http://www.mercaptor.com

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mercaptor-discoveries-featured-in-sports-illustrated-300577477.html

Speech Therapy Improves Communication, Cognitive Skills for Seniors

By Denise Freese,  January 4, 2018

Speech therapy may be necessary for anyone recovering from a stroke or head injury, or for those suffering from dementia.  It’s important to be able to communicate effectively; for seniors, it’s crucial.  They need to be able to describe what they need or where they have pain in order to avoid, in some cases, emergency situations.

Speech therapy can also help seniors who have trouble communicating.  If your loved one has difficulty answering questions or asking for assistance, speech therapy is worth pursuing.  In dementia patients, speech therapy helps preserve brain function associated with communication.

A Speech Therapist offers a variety of tools and exercises to improve communication and cognitive skills.  Seniors also benefit from the monitoring of and modification of swallowing and special feeding techniques; recommended diet plans can eliminate the risk of choking while eating.

A comprehensive speech therapy evaluation helps the therapist determine the cause of the problem, including ruling out medication-related issues, depression, and dehydration as possible factors.  Seniors frequently acquire speech difficulties due to the aging process, as vocal cords and larynx muscles weaken and become less elastic.  Speech therapy utilizes vocal exercises to help them communicate effectively.

Seniors recovering from a stroke can suffer from aphasia, a communication disorder that impairs their ability to use and to comprehend language, including speech and the ability to read or write.  Rehabilitation is required; when treatment is started immediately, recovering the ability to use and understand speech is possible.  Illnesses such as Parkinson’s Disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and other dementias are more common in seniors; the diseases can all affect cognition, swallowing, communication skills, voice projection, and voice modulation.  Patients who are not correctly diagnosed, or don’t get necessary speech therapy, may suffer from isolation, depression, and inadequate support and medical care.

For information about the benefits of speech therapy for seniors, please contact your family physician.

Newton Health Care Center

200 S. 8th Ave. East

Newton, IA 50208

641-792-7440

www.newtonhealthcarecenter.com

newton.cld@imgcares.com

http://www.newtondailynews.com/sponsored/articles/2018/01/04/80877349/index.xml