The Big Bad Bourgeois' Study

Pictured above: 75 members of the Bourgeois family at the Walk/Run to Remember on Oct. 27th, 2007.

This past weekend, the Mayo Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Jacksonville, Florida, visited the small Louisiana town of St. Amant to facilitate an Alzheimer's research study on over 200 "big, bad" Bourgeois family members (including 3 generations).

Why the Bourgeois family? Because within this large family, 9 of 12 siblings in the first generation were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

This particular study centers on finding a correlation with a gene and Alzheimer's disease; and the Bourgeois' clan wanted to do their part in helping find a cure for the disease.

Francine Parfitt, a researcher with the Mayo Clinic, said that this was the largest family they've studied at one time - and they have studied over 70 families so far. This study consisted of having your blood drawn, then if you're over the age of 55, answering cognitive memory questions (i.e. What parish do you live in? Who is the current president?) The researchers will follow up with several of the family members by calling and asking more cognitive questions over the next few years.

Thanks for reading! Click here to read the article featured in the Gonzales Weekly Citizen.

Visit us online at http://www.brhope.com/.

Communication and Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease, as with any related disorder, can impair a person's ability to understand verbal communication; therefore, caregivers may have to find creative ways to foster communication. Non-verbal communication such as body language, voice tone and facial expressions play an important role in communication throughout the disease process.

The following tips help encourage memory-impaired individuals to communicate:

• Always be patient and supportive letting the person know you are listening and trying to understand what is being said.
  


• Be attentive and demonstrate interest in what the person is saying. Remember to keep good eye contact while the person is speaking.
  


• Reassure and comfort the person if they are having trouble articulating their thoughts; let them know it is ok to fumble with words.
  


• Give the person ample time to complete their thoughts and describe whatever they want. Be mindful not to interrupt their thought process.
  


• Avoid criticizing or correcting the person no matter what they say. Instead, listen and try to find meaning in what is being said.
  


• Don't argue with the person even if you don't agree. Arguing will only make things worse.
  


• Offer a guess if the person uses the wrong word or is unable to find the correct word. Be mindful not to cause unnecessary frustration.
  


• Encourage non-verbal communication if you don't understand what is being said by asking the person to point or gesture (similar to playing charades.)
  


• Limit distractions by trying to find a quiet place without interruptions. The surroundings should reinforce the person's ability to focus on thoughts.
  


• Focus on their feelings, not necessarily the facts, because sometimes the emotions being expressed are what's most important.

Want to learn more about Alzheimer's or dementia? Visit us online at www.BRHope.com. Thanks for reading!