These are the specific city council member’s agency assignments. If you have thoughts, suggestions and concerns regarding any of these agencies contact them at:
What happens if a doctor thinks it’s Alzheimer’s disease?
If a primary care doctor suspects Alzheimer’s, he or she may refer the patient to a specialist who can provide a detailed diagnosis or further assessment. Specialists include:
Geriatricians, who manage health care in older adults and know how the body changes as it ages and whether symptoms indicate a serious problem.
Geriatric psychiatrists, who specialize in the mental and emotional problems of older adults and can assess memory and thinking problems.
Neurologists, who specialize in abnormalities of the brain and central nervous system and can conduct and review brain scans.
Neuropsychologists, who can conduct tests of memory and thinking.
Memory clinics and centers, including Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers, offer teams of specialists who work together to diagnose the problem. In addition, these specialty clinics or centers often have access to the equipment needed for brain scans and other advanced diagnostic tests.
What are the benefits of an early Alzheimer’s diagnosis?
Alzheimer’s disease slowly worsens over time. People living with this disease progress at different rates, from mild Alzheimer’s, when they first notice symptoms, to severe, when they are completely dependent on others for care.
Early, accurate diagnosis is beneficial for several reasons. While there is no cure, there are several medicines available to treat Alzheimer’s, along with coping strategies to manage behavioral symptoms. Beginning treatment early in the disease process may help preserve daily functioning for some time. Most medicines work best for people in the early or middle stages of the disease. Learn more about Alzheimer’s medications.
In addition, having an early diagnosis helps people with Alzheimer’s and their families:
Plan for the future
Take care of financial and legal matters
Address potential safety issues
Learn about living arrangements
Develop support networks
An early diagnosis also provides people with more opportunities to participate in clinical trials or other research studies testing possible new treatments for Alzheimer’s.
Sign up for e-alerts about Alzheimers.gov highlights
Email Address
For more information about Alzheimer’s
NIA Alzheimer’s and related Dementias Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center
800-438-4380 [email protected]
www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers
bout Alzheimer’s & Dementia, please call us at 1-800-438-4380, Mon-Fri, 8:30 am-5:00 pm Eastern Time or send an email to [email protected]
Families beginning the legal planning process should discuss which legal documents they’ll need.
Many people are unprepared to deal with the legal and financial consequences of a serious illness such as Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Legal and medical experts encourage people recently diagnosed with a serious illness — particularly one that is expected to cause declining mental and physical health — to examine and update their financial and health care arrangements as soon as possible. Basic legal and financial documents, such as a will, a living trust, and advance directives, are available to ensure that the person’s late-stage or end-of-life health care and financial decisions are carried out.
A complication of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and related dementias is that the person may lack or gradually lose the ability to think clearly. This change affects his or her ability to make decisions and participate in legal and financial planning.
People with early-stage Alzheimer’s or a related dementia can often understand many aspects and consequences of legal decision-making. However, legal and medical experts say that many forms of planning can help the person and his or her family address current issues and plan for next steps, even if the person is diagnosed with later-stage dementia.
There are good reasons to retain a lawyer when preparing advance planning documents. For example, a lawyer can help interpret different state laws and suggest ways to ensure that the person’s and family’s wishes are carried out. It’s important to understand that laws vary by state, and changes in a person’s situation — for example, a divorce, relocation, or death in the family — can influence how documents are prepared and maintained. Life changes may also mean a document needs to be revised to remain valid.
Families beginning the legal planning process should discuss their approach, what they want to happen, and which legal documents they’ll need. Depending on the family situation and the applicable state laws, a lawyer may introduce a variety of documents to assist in this process, including documents that communicate:
Advance directives for health care are documents that communicate a person’s health care wishes. Advance directives go into effect after the person no longer can make decisions on their own. In most cases, these documents must be prepared while the person is legally able to execute them. Health care directives may include the following:
A durable power of attorney for health care designates a person, sometimes called an agent or proxy, to make health care decisions when the person with dementia can no longer do so.
A living will records a person’s wishes for medical treatment near the end of life or if the person is permanently unconscious and cannot make decisions about emergency treatment.
A do not resuscitate order, or DNR, instructs health care professionals not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if a person’s heart stops or if he or she stops breathing. A DNR order is signed by a doctor and put in a person’s medical chart.
This is Duke. His mother was a Mastiff and his father was a French bulldog. Duke is playful and loves treats of any kind. He likes to fetch balls and he sleeps a lot. He’s two years old and he’s a gentle giant.
Learn the history of Las Vegas without going there.
Add some excitement and fresh ideas to your life! Meet new friends and keep your mind active. Choose from 10 six-week courses, including:
The Blockchain Revolution and Your Future
Building Sin City: The History of Las Vegas
Misuse of the American Military Since 1945
Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics
OLLI is where learning is fun with no homework, tests or grades. Classes on Zoom and in person start January 23rd. Registration opens January 6th at 8:30 a.m.
To find our catalog and register for classes, visit go.csuci.edu/olli.
For more information, contact the OLLI team at or (805) 437-2748, Option”2″.
Newly discovered blood biomarkers may help detect cognitive impairment in people with Parkinson’s disease. In a study published in Brain, NIA researchers demonstrated the ability of extracellular vesicle biomarkers to identify whether an individual with Parkinson’s had a cognitive impairment.
Extracellular vesicles are tiny sacs released by cells in the body that transport “cargo molecules” between cells and communicate information. Extracellular vesicles originating from neurons have proteins such as alpha-synuclein, beta-amyloid, phosphorylated tau, and an insulin-signaling protein called Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 (IRS-1). These proteins are biomarkers, measurable indicators of body processes that can help doctors diagnose diseases. Alpha-synuclein buildup in the brain is a key pathological hallmark of Parkinson’s and may also contribute to dementia. Buildups of beta-amyloid and phosphorylated tau are typically associated with brain changes in Alzheimer’s disease but are also present in Parkinson’s. Additionally, insulin resistance — an impaired response to the hormone insulin, resulting in increased blood sugar — is associated with Parkinson’s. Extracellular vesicles and their cargo molecules can be isolated and measured in blood to identify potential Parkinson’s biomarkers.
NIA researchers collaborated with scientists in New Zealand and France to isolate neuronal extracellular vesicles in blood samples from more than 200 people. The samples came from participants in the New Zealand Parkinson’s Progression Programme who had Parkinson’s, either with normal cognition or with cognitive impairment (mild cognitive impairment or dementia, excluding Lewy body dementia), and 49 people without Parkinson’s. The researchers measured the levels of alpha-synuclein, beta-amyloid, phosphorylated tau, and active IRS-1 proteins in each sample.
Those with Parkinson’s had less alpha-synuclein and IRS-1 and more phosphorylated tau than healthy individuals. Among those with Parkinson’s, participants with normal cognition had more alpha-synuclein and IRS-1 and less phosphorylated tau than participants with cognitive impairment. However, beta-amyloid did not differ between groups. This indicates that alpha-synuclein, phosphorylated tau, and IRS-1 play a role in the progression of Parkinson’s with cognitive impairment. The results also seem to suggest that phosphorylated tau and alpha-synuclein are jointly involved in producing cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s.
Analyzing extracellular vesicles may be an effective way to find new biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. Blood biomarkers that help detect cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s could improve timely diagnosis and treatment. Future studies may measure extracellular vesicle biomarkers over time to establish a timeline for biomarker changes in people with Parkinson’s.
• SPAN Thrift Store is open to the public and looking for donations of adult clothing, household items and tools. SPAN Thrift Store provides $10 spay and neuter clinics for low income households for cats and dogs. Upcoming clinics: Tues., Jan 24, SPAN Thrift Store, 110 N. Olive St., Ventura and Tues, Jan. 31, Albert H. Soliz Library parking lot – El Rio, 2820 Jourdan St., Oxnard, 93036. Please call to schedule an appointment (805) 584-3823. www.spanonline.org.
• Whether it’s a tricky math problem or an unexpected bill, daily life is full of stressful experiences. Now researchers have found that humans produce a different odor when under pressure – and dogs can sniff it out.
While previous studies have suggested canines might pick up on human emotions, possibly through smell, questions remained over whether they could detect stress and if this could be done through scent.
“This study has definitively proven that people, when they have a stress response, their odor profile changes,” said Clara Wilson, a PhD student at Queen’s University Belfast, and first author of the research.
Wilson added the findings could prove useful when training service dogs, such as those that support people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“They’re often trained to look at someone either crouching down on the floor, or starting to do self-injurious behaviors,” said Wilson..
The latest study, she said, offers another potential cue.
“There is definitely a smell component, and that might be valuable in the training of these dogs in addition to all of the visual stuff,” said Wilson.
Writing in the journal Plos One, Wilson and colleagues report how they first constructed a stand bearing three containers, each topped by a perforated lid.
The researchers report they were able to train four dogs to indicate the container holding a particular breath and sweat sample, even when the line-up included unused gauze, samples from another person, or samples from the same person taken at a different time of day.
With the team confident the dogs understood the approach, they turned to breath and sweat samples collected from 36 people asked to count backwards from 9,000 in units of 17. The participants reported feeling stressed by the task and, for the 27 who carried it out in the laboratory, their blood pressure and heart rate rose.
The dogs were taught to pick out samples taken just after the task from a line-up that included two containers holding unused gauze.
The researchers then tested whether the dogs could do the same when the line-up included not only unused gauze but samples taken from the same participant just before the task, when they were more relaxed. Each set of samples was shown to a single dog in 20 trials.
The results reveal that the dogs chose the “stressed” sample in 675 out of the 720 trials.
“It was pretty amazing to see them be so confident in telling me ‘nope, these two things definitely smell different’,” said Wilson.
The team say while it was unclear what chemicals the dogs were picking up on, the study shows humans produce a different odor when stressed – confirming previous research that used instruments to analyze samples.
Wilson added that while the dogs were trained to communicate that they could tell different samples apart, it is possible that even untrained pet dogs might detect changes in odor when a human becomes stressed.
The research has been published in the Federation of European Biochemical Societies Journal.
“I usually listen to jazz but I’m trying to expand my musical interests.”
• As a cat parent, it is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of common illnesses so you can seek veterinary help for your feline friend in a timely manner if necessary.
Cancer is a class of diseases in which cells grow uncontrollably, invade surrounding tissue and may spread to other areas of the body. As with people, cats can get various kinds of cancer. The disease can be localized (confined to one area, like a tumor) or generalized (spread throughout the body).
Diabetes in cats is a complex disease caused by either a lack of the hormone insulin or an inadequate response to insulin. After a cat eats, her digestive system breaks food into various components, including glucose—which is carried into her cells by insulin. When a cat does not produce insulin or cannot utilize it normally, her blood sugar levels elevate. The result is hyperglycemia, which, if left untreated, can cause many complicated health problems for a cat.
Cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) may not show symptoms until years after the initial infection occurred. Although the virus is slow-acting, a cat’s immune system is severely weakened once the disease takes hold. This makes the cat susceptible to various secondary infections. Infected cats receiving supportive medical care and kept in a stress-free, indoor environment can live relatively comfortable lives for months to years before the disease reaches its chronic stages.
First discovered in the 1960s, feline leukemia virus is a transmittable RNA retrovirus that can severely inhibit a cat’s immune system. It is one of the most commonly diagnosed causes of disease and death in domestic cats. Because the virus doesn’t always manifest symptoms right away, any new cat entering a household—and any sick cat—should be tested for FeLV.
Spread by infected mosquitoes, heartworm is increasingly being recognized as an underlying cause of health problems in domestic cats. Cats are an atypical host for heartworms. Despite its name, heartworm primarily causes lung disease in cats. It is an important concern for any cat owner living in areas densely populated by mosquitoes, and prevention should be discussed with a veterinarian.
Many pet parents eagerly open their windows to enjoy the weather during the summer months. Unfortunately, unscreened windows pose a real danger to cats, who fall out of them so often that the veterinary profession has a name for the complaint—High-Rise Syndrome. Falls can result in shattered jaws, punctured lungs, broken limbs and pelvises—and even death.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the brain and spinal cord of all mammals, including cats, dogs and humans. This preventable disease has been reported in every state except Hawaii. There’s good reason that the very word “rabies” evokes fear in people—once symptoms appear, rabies is close to 100% fatal.
Although the name suggests otherwise, ringworm isn’t caused by a worm at all—but a fungus that can infect the skin, hair and nails. Not uncommon in cats, this highly contagious disease can lead to patchy, circular areas of hair loss with central red rings. Also known as dermatophytosis, ringworm often spreads to other pets in the household—and to humans, too.
Cats can acquire a variety of intestinal parasites, including some that are commonly referred to as “worms.” Infestations of intestinal worms can cause a variety of symptoms. Sometimes cats demonstrate few to no outward signs of infection, and the infestation can go undetected despite being a potentially serious health problem. Some feline parasitic worms are hazards for human health as well.
A community-based support group focusing on sharing relevant information and education about all things Parkinson’s.
Meetings are held monthly on the third Tuesday, 10-11am, at Crosspointe Church (5415 Ralston Ave.). Next meeting: Tuesday, January 17, 2022
Ventura County Parkinson’s Support Group gets together every month with skilled, experienced professionals who present significant breakthroughs, strategies and related issues surrounding Parkinson’s. The group’s mission is for participants to better understand and talk about how this information impacts their own lives and affects immediate family members. In addition to those diagnosed with PD, caregivers, family members and friends are ALL welcome to attend FREE of charge.
More than just a meeting, all discussions/presentations offer interactive, 0-pcompassionate, relevant education on PD. Topics range from “How to get up off the floor when you’ve fallen,” to “Nutrition and Parkinson’s” to “The benefits of deep brain stimulation and assessing if you’re a good candidate for DBS.”
Jon Everhart, retired accountant, US Marine and regular group attendee said, “It’s nice comparing treatments, symptoms, and the challenges we all face living with Parkinson’s.” This caring group empowers people like Jon to be more proactive and to participate in deciding the direction of his treatment, complemented by his team of doctors’ suggestions.
This unique group gives everyone a great opportunity to learn more about current PD research, to gain more awareness about local help and resources, to share relevant experiences with others — and to have fun along the way.
The Ventura County Parkinson’s Support Group was recently resurrected (post-Covid) by Dr. Vanessa White, owner of Ventura County Neurofitness (a local fitness program designed specifically for those with Parkinson’s and other neurological degenerative diseases). The impetus for her assuming this responsibility was after her mother-in-law, Toy White, was diagnosed several years ago with PD. This important, special group was born upon her passing.
Hi, I’m Bailey, a sweet Pit Bull X in need of a new home as I started not getting along with one of the other dogs in the home.
I love to play, chew bones, snuggle, get pet and treats. I’m energetic and love to be around my people. I’m good with older children, but may be too energetic (may also jump) for smaller children. If you have a fur baby in the home, please bring them so we can do a meet and greet. I need a fence at least 6 feet in height. I know some basic commands (sit, softly, kiss and lie down).
I know my breed gets a bad rap, but I hope you’ll give me a chance. If you’re interested in meeting me, please fill out an online application. Canine Adoption and Rescue League C.A.R.L. https://carldogs.org/
CARL Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.
These two are a bonded pair of 5-year-old rabbits available for adoption together at VCAS.
To learn more about Dallas, Jessica, and the rest of our bunnies, visit www.vcas.us/rabbits or come on down to the shelter during normal Adoption Hours of 1:00pm – 6:00pm Tuesday – Sunday.
by Mary Olson
Historian and writer Vincent Burns and professor of journalism Stephen Bates will visit the Ojai Library (111 East Ojai Avenue ) at 1pm on Saturday, January 14, 2023, to speak about their book Rincon Point in a presentation titled “A History of Rincon Point in Photographs.”
Rincon Point is one of the premier surfing spots in the world, but that is only a fragment of its rich history. Before the arrival of Europeans, it was a Chumash village called Shuku. Banditos, nudists, movie stars, long-boarders—they have all shaped Rincon Point, a place immortalized by novelists, poets, painters, photographers, and the Beach Boys.
Vincent Burns has deep roots in the area. He helped build his grandmother’s house on Rincon Point and writes regularly on surf history. An historian, he had a 30-year career in publishing.
Stephen Bates is a professor of journalism at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the author of five books, most recently Rincon Point. His family owned the Rincon del Mar Ranch in Carpinteria for more than a century.
The book features unique photographs from the Bateses and other early settlers, pioneer surfers of the 1950s and 1960s, the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, and elsewhere. This presentation will include a slide show of historical photos, particular information on the surfing history of Rincon Point, and tips on how (and how not) to write a local history book!
At 5:30pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, program staff from Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) will join the Ventura County Library to lead a Financial Education Webinar titled “How to Navigate your Budget with Confidence and Purpose.” This program will take place virtually via Zoom. To register, visit bit.ly/VCLWEV17 or the online calendar at www.vencolibrary.org/library-events.
This 75-minute workshop will help you to identify your financial priorities so you can manage your numbers and budget with confidence and purpose. This interactive session will be facilitated by Irene Kelly, WEV’s Financial Education and Community Engagement Manager.
A Spanish-language version of this program will take place on Wednesday, January 18, from 5:30pm to 6:45pm.
These events are free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146 or [email protected].
Ventura Friends of the Library wish you all a Happy New Year.
The Friends Bookstore in E.P. Foster Library will be open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. AND, the store will be open Sundays, 1:30 to 4:00 pm in January.
We also invite you to visit our online bookstore for local sales https://venturafol-107753.square.site/s/shop. When you make a purchase there, you will receive an email letting you know when your order will be ready for pickup at the bookstore in E.P. Foster. You can also join or renew your membership to Ventura Friends of the Library for 2023 or make a donation through the online store. Memberships, donations and proceeds from our book sales support the City of Ventura’s libraries.
