TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on - Apr 5, 2023, 14:00 IST

Apart from the respiratory system, COVID-19 can also impact your heart. Responding to several recent deaths among youngsters in connection with heart attacks, health minister Mansukh Mandaviya told NDTV, "We saw so many young artistes, athletes, sportspersons...they died on stage while performing. We all saw that, and reports started coming in from several places. We needed to investigate."

Mandaviya said the Health Ministry is investigating any possible link with COVID-19. "The government has commissioned research to find the link between the recent spate of heart attacks in young people with Covid, and the results are expected in two-three months," he added.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, COVID-19 can cause temporary or lasting damage to heart tissue due to several factors.

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Coronavirus may infect and damage the hearts muscle tissue directly. It can affect the inner surfaces of veins and arteries, which can lead to blood vessel inflammation. This can damage your vessels and develop blood clots, which can compromise blood flow to your heart and increase risk of heart attack.

Inflammation caused by Coronavirus can cause fluid to fill up in the air sacs in your lungs. This restricts oxygen flow to your bloodstream. The heart is pushed to work harder to pump blood throughout the body, which can be dangerous especially for those who have preexisting heart disease. Overwork or insufficient oxygen can cause cell death and tissue damage in the heart, increasing risk of heart attack.

Viral infections like COVID-19 can cause stress cardiomyopathy a heart muscle disorder that affects the hearts ability to pump blood effectively. When attacked by a virus such as Coronavirus, the body undergoes stress and releases a surge of chemicals called catecholamines, which can stun the heart, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Read more: High cholesterol symptoms: THESE two changes in your hair may be warning signs

In a cytokine storm, your bodys immune system response can cause inflammation that can overwhelm the body, destroying healthy tissue and damaging organs such as the heart. When responding to infections like Coronavirus, your body releases a flood of proteins called cytokines to help cells communicate with one another and fight the invaders, explains Johns Hopkins Medicine. However, in some people, this normal defensive event is exaggerated, leaving them vulnerable to a cytokine storm.

Read more: Age, not weight, identifies diabetes and prediabetes better, finds new US study; know more

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Coronavirus: The recent spate of heart attacks may be linked to COVID-19; Health ministry set to investigate - Times of India

Ragi, jowar, bajra are some of the millets that are garnering a lot of attention these days. However, they are not new to our culture. They are just making a comeback. Benefits of eating milletsFor those who are thinking about making the healthy switch from wheat atta to millets, but are lost on the compelling benefits it offers, Deepali, Dietician at the CK Birla Hospital (R), Delhi shares, Millets, also known as Bajra/Ragi/Jowar in the Indian context, are an important food item. Eating millet daily will provide you with several health benefits. It helps women to fight off heart ailments post-menopause. It could also control high blood pressure and cholesterol level in the body. Those suffering from gallstones should also benefit from it since it contains fiber."Health coach Anupama Menon further adds, Millets are generally high in fiber and gluten free, so it is a good product and addition to the diet of those who are sensitive to gluten. While it works for some, it may not work for others, so if you are trying it for the first time make sure you check for signs of acidity or bloating if you are consuming it on a regular basis. The smaller millet grains are easier to cook and digest, hence if you are just about starting on millets its best to start with grains like Kodo or Banyard before you move onto Jowar or Bajra.Who should be careful with millets?Anupama clarifies, The first mistake people make is to believe that millet will work for everyone across the board. This is not true. Not true in fact of any food. If you are trying millets for the first time, watch and check for how you feel when it is regularly included in your diet - then if it works with your gut, please go ahead and include it in variety in your diet, if it does not minimize its use if you have to use it at all. It uses a lot of water in cooking, hence works best if cooked like a kichadi or even a roti.

You can consume millet at any time of the day, preferably in the morning, at noon and at night. It is best to consume millet in moderate amounts; three or four times a week is ideal. However, it is not recommended for people with hypothyroidism. Anupama shares, People having thyroid disorders should avoid consuming millet because it leads to the enlargement of the thyroid. Too much millet could (could) interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland. Millets also contain goitrogens that may interfere with the absorption of iodine which could be reduced in the cooking process, yet not negated completely, adds Deepali.

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Dos and donts of eating millets (The best ones to eat in summer) - Times of India

April is National Donate Life Month and April 5, specifically, is Living Donor Day. So, whats it like to be the person who literally gives a part of your body to another?

April is National Donate Life Month and April 5, specifically, is Living Donor Day. So, whats it like to be the person who literally gives a part of your body to another? And to be the one to receive it?

People have often said what a gift you gave her. And I said no, what you need to understand is I got the gift, said kidney donor Jean Bunker, I count it as one of the top blessings of my life.

Jeans friend Rebecca Warlow had Kidney disease. It ran in her family.

My father had kidney disease back in the late 70s. And at the time, and when my brother was in his mid to late 30s, he developed kidney disease and was on dialysis. said Rebecca, Then in 2015, I suddenly got very sick and they determined that my kidneys had also really decreased severely in function and I went on dialysis.

When talk of needing a transplant came, Jean told her she would donate her kidney.

I just said I got you. Im going to give you my kidney and if for whatever reason I cant give it directly to you, I will start a chain. But either way you will have a kidney, we will solve this, said Jean.

A few years before, Jean had watched a close friend die of cancer.

I watched her suffer from that and knew that there was nothing I could do to help her. And thats a very powerless feeling, when theres nothing that you can do to help someone, Jean said, And when Rebeccas kidneys failed her I knew that I could help I knew that there was something that I could do.

And she did. It turned out they were a match and could do a direct transfer of the kidney, which they named Marigold, from Jean to Rebecca.

We were like, we need to have a name for the kidney, Rebecca said. And so we started throwing names out. We were landing on flower names. And we eventually just hit on Marigold. Shes been Marigold ever since. All of our friends and family know that shes Marigold.

Jean said they believed giving Marigold, the kidney, a name had a more positive feel, and was something they hoped would lead to a successful transplant. They even insisted the medical staff in the operating room at MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute refer to the kidney by name.

I said now, when you take this kidney out, you have to say Marigold, youre going to your new home. Jean said, And I said when you put that kidney in Rebecca you have to refer to her as Marigold.

And it seems that optimism and positive thinking, and perhaps the name, worked, because Marigold was accepted and working pretty quickly in Rebeccas body.

My surgeon told me Marigold worked as soon as they attached Marigold to my body. She was producing urine and worked right away. And thats not always the case. Sometimes it takes a kidney a little bit of time to decide its going to work, Rebecca said.

In that instant, Rebeccas life, which had revolved around appointment after appointment for a dozen hours a week of dialysis, was back to normal.

But how about Jean? How was the recovery?

I was out of the hospital the next day, Jean said, I was fatigued. Thats the major thing. I have had other surgeries. Ive had hernia repair. Ive given birth to twins. This was actually nothing to me compared to that.

She says in the couple years since, her life is normal. The only change is that she is cognizant that she is missing one kidney so thinks a little more about what the puts into her body.

She also says she feels continually blessed.

I would say that theres the famous quote that its in giving that we receive and if you donate, whether its kidney or part of a liver, you will receive the greatest gift of your life in yourself as a donor, Jean said.

And with nearly 100,000 people waiting for a Kidney transplant in the U.S. right now, Rebecca gets teary talking about Jeans gift to her.

She saved and prolonged my life. There can be no doubt about it. And you know, I could never find the words to tell you what an amazing person she is, Rebecca said.

For more information about the living donor program contact the MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute.

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On Living Donor Day, donors and recipients reflect on live-saving ... - WTOP

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on - Apr 4, 2023, 16:00 IST

"There are several pathophysiological mechanisms wherein diabetes leads to ischemic stroke, including large artery atherosclerosis, cerebral SVD, and cardiac embolism. Not only is the presence of diabetes associated with an increased risk of stroke, but also post-stroke outcomes are generally worse in people with diabetes than in those without diabetes," the review study adds.

The study has been done by researchers from the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel; Hebrew University of Jerusalem; University of Toronto; MayoClinic and University of LAquila.

High blood sugar stiffens the blood vessels which over time leads to fatty deposits or clots in the blood vessels.

The clots narrow down the blood vessels and cut off blood supply to main organs like the brain and hence cause stroke.

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Diabetes is a highly prevalent disease and is often associated with cardiometabolic risk factors which increases the risk of stroke.

Also in case of those with diabetes the post-stroke condition worsens and there is a greater risk for recurrence of stroke, studies have found.

As per the estimates of the International Diabetes Federation, currently 537 million adults are living with diabetes; this figure, which is already in an alarming state, is expected to grow to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045.

Diabetes is associated with a higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke.

As per studies the risk of ischemic stroke increases by 3% each year and triples in those who have had diabetes for 10 years, compared with those without diabetes.

Hyperglycemia or the condition where blood glucose level >6.0 mmol/L (108 mg/dL) was reported in up to two-thirds of all ischemic stroke subtypes upon hospital admission, the review study found.

Diabetes plays an active role in influencing three common causes of stroke: large artery atherosclerosis, cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), and cardiac embolism.

Large artery atherosclerosis, a leading cause of stroke, is accelerated by the physiological changes caused due to dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance.

Cerebral microvascular dysfunction, which is commonly seen in people with diabetes, makes a person prone to lacunar and hemorrhagic strokes.

Those with diabetes have a 35% higher risk of atrial fibrillation, a known and potential cause of cardiometabolic stroke.

Apart from diabetes, the other risk factors for stroke are excessive belly fat which means when the waist size is more than 35 inches in women and 40 inches in men, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes condition, high cholesterol and tobacco consumption.

If you have diabetes then it is ideal to adopt a healthy lifestyle so that you can prevent the risk of stroke.

"Lower your risk by keeping your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol on target with healthy eating, physical activity, and, if needed, medicine. And if you smoke, quit. Every step you take will help. The closer your numbers are to your targets, the better your chances of preventing a stroke," the American Diabetes Association recommends.

Diabetes can lead to these health issues: Key points on diabetes complications

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Diabetes is a key risk factor for stroke: 5 health facts you must know - Times of India

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on - Apr 5, 2023, 07:00 IST

Sattu is the powder of several pulses and cereals, which is widely consumed in India.

Often called a poor man's protein powder, Sattu is a powerhouse of nutrients.

Only in recent years, the potential of sattu in weight loss has been discovered by weight watchers and sattu is very popular among those who are aiming to lose weight.

Ready made sattu powders are available in the market, which you can get easily.

But depending on how serious you are for your health and how concerned you are about the foods you consume, you can prepare sattu powder at home.

To prepare sattu, you need dry roasted bengal gram. You can add dry roasted almond, millet, barley, and chickpea to this as well.

Clean the ingredients properly.

Dry roast them over low flame for 10-15 minutes or until they turn aromatic. Do not roast them over high flame because you may burn the grains or their outermost shell.

Let the ingredients cool down completely.

Grind them in a mixer grinder and store the powder in a moisture free container.

Here are 3 quick sattu recipes for you:

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Add 2 tablespoons of sattu to 1 glass of buttermilk, add salt, black pepper as per taste.

To this you can add chopped onion, coriander leaves, lemon juice as well depending on how tangy you want you sattu sharbat to be,

Mix all the ingredients properly and drink it.

Preparing sattu paratha is similar to preparing aloo paratha.

To prepare the filling of the paratha you need to take 2 tablespoons of sattu, add one tablespoon of mustard oil to this, add chopped garlic and onion to this.

To this mixture add salt, black pepper powder and cumin seeds.

Make round balls of dough and stuff the sattu filling to this. Flatten the ball just like you roll a paratha. Cook on both sides with oil

In some parts of the country, sattu is eaten as a sweet porridge made from milk and sugar/ jaggery.

Take milk in a bowl, hot milk preferably, and sattu powder to this. Add sugar as per taste and nuts and seeds if you want. Mix these together and sattu porridge is ready.

A mixture of the healthiest grains available natively in the country, sattu is a powerhouse of energy.

It improves metabolism and supports good digestion.

Sattu helps maintain the blood glucose level in the blood. It is a good food for those having high cholesterol.

If you have a low appetite, sattu is good for you.

It is needless to say how sattu helps in weight loss. It is nutritious, dense in fibre, and keeps the person full for a longer period of time.

3 banana recipes that are light on the tummy but will energize you

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Weight loss: 3 healthy Sattu recipes (and 5 reasons why you should try it) - Times of India

For many women, it's the same story.

Something starts to feel off, you're experiencing a new physical pain, but when you go to a doctor for treatment, they can't pinpoint what's wrong. Some might dismiss or misdiagnosis it. Others might even claim it's all in your head.

The experience itself can almost be as agonizing as the pain itself.

There's a growing body of research supporting the claim that women in pain are often not taken as seriously as men in similar positions. Fromheart problems andstroke toreproductive health and chronic illness, gender bias toward womens pain can affect their treatment for a number of health issues

"Women aren't listened to in a lot of different ways," said Dr. Mona Prasad, a women's health doctor with OhioHealth. "Every bad story I've heard from a woman, she tells me, 'I told them; they didn't listen. I told them; they didn't listen.'"

While there are still a lot of questions as to how why these differences exist, doctors say the best way women can get the care they need is to advocate for themselves. But what exactly does that look like?

The Dispatch spoke with three local doctors about how patients can best advocate for themselves and their medical treatment.

The first step to knowing if something is wrong is paying attention to your body, Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts said.

"Man or woman, you need to know what's normal for you," Roberts said. "You know your body."

Roberts said paying attention to and knowing what feels normal for you will help you realize more quickly when pain feels different. That can also include knowing your family history, allergic reactions and how certain physical activity affects you.

It's also a good idea to know how some health conditions can affect men and women in different ways, Roberts said.

A 2013 study by the Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence at the University of Florida found that women are alsomore sensitive to painthan men and are more likely to express it. The result is that women's pain is more often seen as an exaggeration than a reality.

Strokes, heart attacks and even acne can present differently in women than in men. That can mean some women don't notice they're experiencing symptoms before it's too late, Roberts said.

Take heart attacks, for instance.

Like men, womens most common heart attack symptom is chest pain. But according to the American Heart Association, women may also experience other symptoms typically less associated with heart attacks, including shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and back or jaw pain.

"Doctors and patients need to take different presentations seriously," Roberts said.

One of the best ways to advocate for yourself is having a primary care provider you trust.

Not only is it an excellent prevention method, Roberts said having a longstanding doctor who knows your history and with whom you feel comfortable can make the difference between being heard and potentially overlooked.

"You need to see someone who respects you. You need to have that open relationship," Roberts said. "You should take it as seriously as a marriage or a dating relationship."

Prasad said primary care physicians can do more in many cases in the long run than turning to emergency room visits.

"Primary care can make more sense because you can establish that relationship," Prasad said. "If you go to the ER with concerns, you're starting at square one."

Prasad said she recently started seeing a new primary care physician herself.

"It's so nice to see someone who knows you," she said.

But that doesn't mean your relationship with your primary care physician is infallible. Roberts said mutual trust is a must with your doctor, and if that's not there, then it's time to find someone new or get a second opinion.

Dr. Whitney Luke, an Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center physician specializing in pain medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, agreed that sometimes the best way to advocate for yourself is getting another opinion. She likened it to finding the right therapist or hair dresser.

"You should be able to discuss your symptoms and feel heard. Sometimes that takes one or two tries to find someone you feel comfortable with," Luke said.

Prasad said it can be helpful to bring a family member or trusted friend along to appointments. Not only can they support you, they can also help you remember your treatment plan.

"They can be a second set of eyes and ears to know what your next steps are," she said.

Keeping diaries or logs of your health history and previous visits can also aid your physician, Prasad said, especially in cases of chronic pain or instances where you don't have a clear diagnosis.

Not having the answers you want can be frustrating, but patients should speak up if they feel confused, unclear or unheard, Roberts said. That might look like asking to speak to another provider or manager in the ER or being explicit with your doctor.

"There's nothing wrong saying, 'I don't feel comfortable leaving here until I have answers or next steps,'" Roberts said.

Prasad said there's no shame in asking questions, sharing symptoms that might seem irrelevant or making suggestions.

"The ego in medicine is presumed more than it exists. It's fine to ask, 'Have you thought of this?'" Prasad said. "There's a saying you hear in medical school: If you let the patient talk long enough, you'll figure out what's wrong."

shendrix@dispatch.com

@sheridan120

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Gender bias can affect women's medical treatment. Here's how you ... - The Columbus Dispatch

Age will help to spot diabetes and prediabetes conditions in adults better, a new study done by researchers from Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University have found. The study has been published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine recently.The US based study found that screening all adults aged 35 to 70 years, regardless of weight, identifies the greatest proportion of adults with prediabetes and diabetes. "This approach will also maximize the ability to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes across all racial and ethnic groups, Northwestern investigators found," an official statement from Feinberg School of Medicine has said."It might seem counterintuitive"As per Matthew O' Brien, the lead investigator of the study, it might sound counterintuitive because we think of being overweight or obese as the primary cause of diabetes. But if we make decisions about diabetes testing based on weight, we will miss some people from racial and ethnic minority groups who are developing prediabetes and diabetes at lower weights, OBrien said.

The study highlighted that Asian Americans with diabetes and prediabetes are mostly missed or delayed diagnosis because they develop these conditions at a normal weight.

High cholesterol symptoms: THESE two changes in your hair may be warning signs

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Age, not weight, identifies diabetes and prediabetes better, finds new US study; know more - Times of India

IF YOU CAN lift a heavy barbell over your head, congratulations: Youve performed one of the most challenging lifts in the gym, a potent builder of shoulder muscle and impressive display of overall strength.

Even though a barbell overhead press appears simple at the outsetyoure just lifting a bar up over your head, after alltheres much more going on mechanically in order to successfully complete this exercise. Overhead pressing takes full-body effort, from your shoulders and arms to core to lower-body stability, which is why its such a great challenge. That makes it a more difficult move than many beginners might be ready to accept.

Everyone from newbie lifters to advanced strength trainees can benefit from extra attention to the other muscles that you'll use for a strong barbell overhead press. There are specific exercises you can add to your routine to help perfect the movement, according to Men's Health fitness director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., and Advisory Board member David Otey, C.S.C.S.

These five exercises may not all look as if they can help your pressing strength and technique at first glance, but after working them into your routine, you'll learn their importance the moment you begin shattering PRs.

The beautiful thing about these five exercises is they're going to focus on the stability with the ground, Otey says. Do we have our ribcage in the right position? Do we have the core integrity that we need to when it comes to our pressing? And ultimately is our shoulder girdle both stable enough and mobile enough to allow us to press this weight overhead safely and effectively. If you can go through all five of these exercises and check all the boxes. You've really put yourself in a position to PR and expand your upper body strength as we know it.

3 to 4 sets of 8 to 10 reps

The Z press is an excellent variation to learn and understand pressing mechanics, since your lower body is totally out of the equation. Sitting on the floor with your legs out in front might prevent you from using heavy dumbbells or kettlebells, but the postural lessons are more important than the load.

The Z press requires a great deal of core integrity. Those not quite ready for the press might find themselves arching their back, which is a major issue once you have a majorly heavy load during the barbell overhead press. The seated position forces your core to stabilize, which will help to build strength.

3 to 4 sets of 30 to 45 seconds

Working from the racked position allows you to work on the core positioning. Your forearms should be nice and tall and your elbow up against your rib cage.

Not only does this take stress of the shoulders, the compact setup should serve as a reinforcement to avoid flaring out your elbows when performing overhead presses. This will be important not only for your pressing strengthyour shoulders will be in a safer position, too.

3 to 4 sets of 8 to 10 reps

The alternating shoulder press, like others on the list, requires a multi-muscle effort even if it's nominally a shoulder-building exercise.

The movement hits a wide range of the muscle groups you'll need for the barbell overhead pressyour front and side delts, pecs, triceps will get a lot of workand if this move is one of your weaker points, you can adjust the working angle (the more vertical the more challenging) as well.

Your shoulder stability will be challenged as your loads and reps increase, as your non-working shoulder is going to fight you to lift off the bench. This will put your core to work as well.

3 to 4 sets of 8 to 10 to 12 reps

Yes, it takes plenty of pressing strength to complete the barbell overhead press, but returning the weight to the starting position (your upper chest) will also provide a great challenge as well. This is why working on the upper back will help work on the eccentric (lowering) portion of the overhead press.

Angles matter with this lift, and the more vertically you adjust the incline bench, the more emphasis you place on you upper and mid-back (as well as your traps). Master this movement and stabilizing that weight as it descends down through the overhead press will get a whole lot easier.

3 to 4 sets of 10 reps

You probably never imagined that an abdominal exercise would be such a big influence for your shoulder pressing skills, but your core plays such a pivotal role that this can be a valuable movement. Youre going to need to protect your spine during overhead presses, requiring a great core challenge.

What makes the ab wheel rollout such an ideal barbell overhead pressing accessory move is that as your arms stretch and elongate the further you roll out. You'll notice this actually mimics the overhead pressing movement.

The rollout also a very scaleable exercise, which means everyone can benefit, regardless of you shoulder mobility strengths or limitations. You'll just have to limit the range of motion and work on extending each time you do the movement.

Jeff Tomko is a freelance fitness writer who has written for Muscle and Fitness, Men's Fitness, and Men's Health.

Brett Williams, a fitness editor at Men's Health, is a NASM-CPT certified trainer and former pro football player and tech reporter who splits his workout time between strength and conditioning training, martial arts, and running. You can find his work elsewhere at Mashable, Thrillist, and other outlets.

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5 Exercises to Make the Barbell Overhead Press Stronger - Men's Health

Robin Williams Adams| Ledger correspondent

A safe place to go and socialize with like-minded people.

A relaxed, yet structured, setting with a program encompassing a little art and music, conversation, reading, light exercise and faith.

Thats what Vicky Pitner and volunteers who assist her provide Monday mornings at First United Methodist Church of Lakelands Memory Cafe.

Its not a cafe in the traditional sense, although coffee, tea and often refreshments are available.

For people whose cognitive issues increasingly create barriers, its an alternative place to go with a family member, partner or friend without fear of judgment or embarrassment.

The Memory Cafe is designed for supporting individuals living with memory challenges, said Pitner, a certified dementia practitioner and therapeutic recreation specialist.

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Memory cafes were introduced in the late 1990s in the Netherlands as a way of breaking through stigma sometimes associated with various forms of dementia and to better include families.

We help these families learn how to engage and communicate, Pitner said.

Its hands-on training for families to learn how to get more out of that person (who has memory issues). They often realize the person can do more than they realized.

Memory cafes have formed around the United States and in other countries. People can locate cafes near them and learn more onwww.memorycafedirectory.com.

At First United Methodist, the program is part of the churchs congregational care ministry. Its open to people who attend other churches, as are some of its other memory-related services.

This is how we show love to our congregation and community, said the Rev. Andy Whitaker Smith, associate pastor.

We dont want people to feel theyre alone in these situations.

A growing number of families have members who have severe memory issues, he said, and they need to know Its OK to talk about it.

It gives us something to do thats fun, said Megan McDonald, who has been attending with her mother, Carol McDonald.

A lot of people feel they cant take their loved ones anywhere if their behavior changes, she said, adding that some people became uncomfortable if her mother, who taught elementary school for years, kept looking at their children.

She doesnt mean anything by it, Megan McDonald said.

Her mother, participating intently in activities at the cafe one Monday in mid-March, mentioned frequently how much she loved teaching young children, even though they frequently had to be told to hush.

Kathy Leahy, who comes with her husband, Dave, said the cafe is anopportunity for them to socialize.

It also gives her good ideas on games they still may be able to play now that his rummy playing skills have deteriorated.

Dave Leahy was a criminal research specialist for Homeland Securitywhen he became aware he was having memory problems. He was diagnosed with dementia about five years ago, his wife said.

Both he and Carol McDonald were about the same age, in their mid-60s, when each was diagnosed.

The Leahys learned of the Memory Cafe from a home-health social worker. They enjoy it and said the time frame, 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Mondays, works well for them.

We are fortunate to also have good neighbors and a good church, Kathy Leahy said, mentioning friends from St. Stephens Episcopal with whom they go to lunch regularly. Dave had been an usher there.

It lets you know youre not alone dealing with this, said Megan McDonald, who attends First United Methodist.

You meet other families going through similar things.

She and her mother, who recently entered a local assisted care facility, lived together for several years after the diagnosis.

Families also connect at caregiver support groups, of which the Alzheimers Association offers many.Several are in Polk County.

Those typically dont have the person with memory issues in the same group as families or friends providing care, although some do, particularly with early Alzheimers.

Pitner avoids using the term caregiver. Instead, she would identify Megan as her mothers daughter and Kathy as her husbands wife.

The elements this memory cafe offers social, physical exercise, cognitive exercise, expressive arts and spiritual werent chosen at random. All are components of therapeutic recreation, Pitner said.

Drumming, one of the activities Dave Leahy enjoys there, is a very good means of self expression, Pitner said. It also provides group interaction and non-verbal communication.

Other memory cafes may put more focus on one or two approaches.

In her part-time employment with First United Methodist, Pitner also leads a weekly online family support group. Its open to people outside the church, as are family trainings on Zoom or in live presentations.

Contact Pitner about those activities by emailingvpitner@firstumc.org.

The church received a grant that can let it cover several hours of home care a week at no cost to families participating in the memory cafe.

Smith encourages other churches to find ways of helping people and families in this situation, which includes both joy and challenges.

At the very least, any church can listen, he said.

Source: Alzheimer's Association

Robin Williams Adams can be reached at robinwadams99@yahoo.com.

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A safe place: Memory Cafe offers activities for people with dementia ... - The Ledger

The study showed that the highest levels of tau, a protein involved in Alzheimer`s, were only observed in hormone therapy users who reported a long delay between age at menopause onset and their initiation of the therapy

Those who were prescribed hormone therapy around the age of menopause onset did not show increased risk, Image Courtesy: iStock

A new study has found that women who have early menopause may be at high risk of developing Alzheimer*s disease, but those who were prescribed hormone therapy around the age of menopause onset did not show increased risk.

Premature menopause, defined as menopause that occurs spontaneously before the age of 40 or due to surgical intervention before the age of 45, has been associated with increased risk of Alzheimer*s disease. Hormone therapy improves many severe symptoms related to menopause and has been hypothesised to also prevent cognitive impairment.

The study, published in JAMA Neurology, showed that the highest levels of tau -- a protein involved in Alzheimer*s -- were only observed in hormone therapy users who reported a long delay between age at menopause onset and their initiation of the therapy.

Administering hormone therapy close to menopause onset provided better cognition.

"When it comes to hormone therapy, timing is everything," said JoAnn Manson, chief of the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women*s Hospital.

"Our previous findings suggested that starting hormone therapy early in menopause, rather than late initiation, provides better outcomes for heart disease, cognitive function, and all-cause mortality -- and this study suggests that the same is true for tau deposition," Manson said.

In the study, the team used positron emission tomography (PET) neuroimaging scans from 292 people to study how the presence of two proteins involved in Alzheimer*s, beta-amyloid and tau, related to age at menopause and hormone therapy use. Tau is known to be present in greater quantities in women compared to men.

The PET scan results also showed that women had greater levels of tau compared to men of the same age, especially in cases where they also had elevated beta-amyloid.

But the researchers also found that the association between abnormal levels of beta-amyloid and tau was much stronger in women who had earlier menopause onset, even after adjusting for known causes of premature menopause, such as smoking and oophorectomy, and even genetic risk factors for Alzheimer*s.

Notably, tau levels were high in the entorhinal and inferior temporal regions, which are located close to the memory-centre of the brain and are known to be involved in the progression of Alzheimer*s.

"Hormone therapy is the most reliable way to ameliorate severe menopause symptoms, but over the last few decades, there has been a lack of clarity on how hormone therapy affects the brain," said Rachel Buckley, from the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

"The idea that tau deposition may underlie the association between late hormone therapy intervention and Alzheimer*s was a huge finding, something that hadn*t been seen before," Buckley added.

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