Estate Planning

New Blood Test May Make Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Patients Easier Than Ever

researchers at the University of California – UC San Francisco have analyzed the blood test in more than 300 patients and believe that they will see such a test available in doctor’s offices within five years, according to a press release from The University of California- San Francisco’s entitled “New Blood Test Could Make Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Easier Than Ever.”

“This test could eventually be deployed in a primary care setting for people with memory concerns to identify who should be referred to specialized centers to participate in clinical trials or to be treated with new Alzheimer’s therapies, once they are approved,” said Adam Boxer, MD, PhD, neurologist at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center and senior author of the study published in Nature Medicine. Boxer also is affiliated with the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences.

There is currently no blood test for either condition. Alzheimer’s diagnoses can only be confirmed by a PET scan of the brain, which can be expensive or an invasive lumbar puncture to test cerebrospinal fluid.

If approved, the new blood test could make screening easier and help increase the number of patients eligible for clinical trials—vital to the search for drugs to stop or slow dementia. Patients who know whether they have Alzheimer’s or FTD are also better able to manage their symptoms.

In the new study, scientists collected blood samples from 362 people aged 58 to 70, including 56 individuals who’d been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, 190 diagnosed with FTD, 47 with mild cognitive impairment, plus 69 healthy controls.

Researchers checked the blood samples for proteins that could serve as signs of dementia. One protein, called pTau181, is known to aggregate in tangles in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s. Blood levels of pTau181 were about 3½ times higher in people with Alzheimer’s as opposed to their healthy peers. People with FTD had normal levels of pTau181, and those with mild cognitive impairment due to underlying Alzheimer’s had an intermediate increase.

When researchers followed the patients for two years, they saw that higher levels of pTau181 predicted more rapid cognitive decline in those with Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment.

The researchers note the new blood test has the same degree of accuracy as current PET scans and lumbar punctures in distinguishing Alzheimer’s from FTD. It would be less expensive and easier.

Alzheimer’s impacts nearly 6 million Americans and comprises two-thirds of dementia cases. FTD includes a broad group of brain disorders often linked with degeneration of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.

Reference: UCSF (March 2, 2020) “New Blood Test Could Make Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Easier Than Ever”

http://kornfeldlawfirm.com/contact-us/

What to do when you see mobility problems in elderly?

Falls are something emergency room staff ask about and want to prevent, because mobility problems in elderly patients is critical to independent living.

AARP’s recent article entitled “Mobility Problems: What to Do When a Loved One Has Trouble Getting Around” says that if you start seeing your parent or spouse is having trouble standing up and walking around, here are some steps you can take to help.

Once you begin the conversation, making a medical appointment is the next big step. A physician can perform a strength, gait, and balance evaluation, or order a bone-density scan. The doctor also looks at blood pressure and heart rate after standing, and underlying conditions. Hearing and vision should also be examined. The doctor may suggest ways to improve function. She may write a prescription for physical therapy (which Medicare often covers). She may also talk about surgery options or medicines that might help.

Pharmacy review. The doctor also can review the patient’s prescribed and over-the-counter medications to see if anything may have the side effects of dizziness or sleepiness that could cause falls.

Eye exam. The right prescription glasses help people see where they’re going. Researchers have also found that procedures, like cataract surgery, can help older people reduce falls. It’s a common fix since one in five adults older than 65 has a cataract.

Diet. Dehydration is common among the elderly and can lead to weakness. Make sure that your love one stays hydrated and limits alcohol use. You should also check their vitamin D level. If it is low, the doctor might suggest they take vitamin D every day and to improve bone density, eating calcium-rich foods, like milk and yogurt.

Exercise. Research shows that even upping your physical activity a small amount every day can have a significant impact on older people’s physical function and also prevent them from becoming disabled. For example, just walking 10 to 15 minutes at a comfortable pace, every day, seems to help prevent mobility decline. You can also add strength training or tai chi. Classes can help to build up muscle and maintain balance.

Mobility devices. If a loved one has mobility problems, and function is unable to be restored, think about using a cane or walker. Medicare will cover basic walkers.

Safety. In the home, you can make things safer, by eliminating clutter and taking other precautions. Here are a few tips:

• Remove trip hazards from stairs;
• Repair loose railings;
• Remove or secure loose rugs;
• Install task lighting;
• Install a nightlight in the bathroom; and
• Watch for wet floors.

Medical Alert Device. You can also get a medical alert device to wear on your wrist or around your neck. The devices can be extremely reassuring.

Reference: AARP (Nov. 6, 2019) “Mobility Problems: What to Do When a Loved One Has Trouble Getting Around”

http://kornfeldlawfirm.com/contact-us/

C19 UPDATE: Bookmark this Page from the IRS for Ongoing Coronavirus Updates

The IRS has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus. This page will be updated as new information is available. https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus

For health information about the COVID-19 virus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) https://www.coronavirus.gov

Other information about actions being taken by the U.S. government visit https://www.usa.gov/coronavirus and in Spanish at https://gobierno.usa.gov/coronavirus.

The Department of Treasury also has information available at Coronavirus: Resources, Updates, and What You Should Know https://home.treasury.gov/coronavirus

Due to the Virus, We are currently offering no-contact initial conferences remotely if you prefer. Book a call now and let us help you make the right choices for yourself and your loved ones.

http://kornfeldlawfirm.com/contact-us/

Covid-19 Emergency Estate Planning Concerns

Though it may be hard not to panic and think about COVID-19 emergency estate planning concerns when the grocery store shelves are empty, the number of confirmed cases keeps rising, and we see sobering statistics across the globe … we will not overcome this challenge with a panicked response.

Nonetheless, there are certain things we all need to be doing right now – and your public health officials are the best resource on how to stay personally safe and help prevent the virus from spreading.

When it comes to the seriousness of this outbreak, however, there also are some critical estate planning decisions you should make – or review – right now.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Who will make medical decisions for me should I become severely ill and unable to make these decisions myself?
2. Who will make my financial decisions in that same situation — for example, who will be authorized to sign my income tax return, write checks or pay my bills online?
3. Who is authorized to take care of my minor children in the event of my severe illness? What decisions are they authorized to make? How will they absorb the financial burden?
4. If the unthinkable happens – what arrangements have I made for the care of my minor children, any family members with special needs, my pets or other vulnerable loved ones?
5. How will my business continue if I were to become seriously ill and unable to work, even remotely … or in the event of my death?

These are the most personal of the COVID-19 related estate planning concerns to be addressed right now to protect yourself and your loved ones during this emergency. Now is also a good time to ask yourself if you have plans in place for the smooth transfer of your assets and preservation of your legacy.

We are ready to help walk you through these decisions, understand the ramifications of your choices, and memorialize your plans in binding legal documents. We are currently offering no-contact initial conferences remotely if you prefer. Book a call now and let us help you make the right choices for yourself and your loved ones. http://kornfeldlawfirm.com/contact-us/