Alzheimers & Other Disabilities

Thickeners and Other Ways to Help Older Adults with Swallowing Problems

Many people develop swallowing difficulties as they age. Adding thickening ingredients to a person’s diet may help elderly patients with swallowing difficulties. Read More >

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Namenda Only Works for Severe Alzheimer’s Disease

Memantine, known by the brand name Namenda, was approved by the FDA in 2003 for use in people with “moderately severe to severe” Alzheimer’s disease. The FDA rejected the manufacturer’s application to expand approval to include moderate or mild Alzheimer’s. However, the drug is often prescribed “off-label” for patients with mild Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment even though there is no evidence of its benefit. Read More >

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First Trimester Screening for Down Syndrome

Down’s syndrome is the most common cause of developmental disability, and the likelihood that a baby will be born with Down’s syndrome increases significantly with maternal age. For this reason, older pregnant women may want to get a prenatal Down’s screening. Read More >

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Blind Adults in America: Their Lives and Challenges

A report by the National Research Center for Women & Families–a closer look at non-institutionalized legally blind adults living in the U.S. Exactly where are they living? How many are living in poverty or near poverty? How is their health? What programs and services are they using, and are their needs being met? What are their daily lives like? Are there regional differences that we need to be aware of to improve policies for adults who are blind? Read More >

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