Friends and family members are often first to notice the signs of unsafe driving. Another way to evaluate driving skills is to have the person’s driving skills assessed by a professional. The American Occupational Therapy Association maintains a national database of driving specialists, or you can check with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles or a health care professional to recommend someone who can evaluate driving skills. Note that there may be fees associated with these types of assessments. There are also a number of online resources for assessing driving skills yourself.

What are the laws about dementia and driving?

State laws vary regarding when a person with Alzheimer’s should stop driving. Some states will automatically revoke a license when a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Other states may offer the chance for a diagnosed person to take and pass a driving test.

Many states require retaking a driving test when there is reason to believe someone may be unable to safely operate their vehicle or over a certain age. Information on unsafe driving can come from law enforcement, medical personnel, concerned citizens, and family members. Check with your state’s department of motor vehicles for more information.

What to do when driving becomes unsafe

If you notice unsafe driving, you will need to take steps to keep the person from driving. It is always a tough conversation, and it’s important to do it in a caring way. Try to understand how unhappy they may be to admit they have reached this new stage.

Here are some ways to help stop people with Alzheimer’s from driving:

• Try talking about your concerns with the person. Find tips on talking with someone about no longer driving.
• Take them to get a driving test.
• Ask the person’s doctor to tell them to stop driving. The doctor can write “Do not drive” on a prescription pad and you can show this to the person.
• If necessary, hide the car keys, disable the car, move it out of sight, or consider selling it.
• Finding other transportation options
• Losing the ability to drive can be difficult, but driving is only one form of transportation.
• Consider finding other ways that the person with Alzheimer’s can travel safely on their own.

Your local Area Agency on Aging can help you find local services that may include free or low-cost buses, taxis, or carpools for older people. Call 800-677-1116 or search the Eldercare Locator online. You also can try searching Rides in Sight or calling 855-607-4337, a service of the nonprofit ITN America that provides information about transportation options for older adults.

Some churches and community groups have volunteers who take older adults where they want to go. Family and friends are another great resource.

For more information about driving safety and dementia NIA Alzheimer’s and related Dementias Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center 800-438-4380. www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers

Experience the joy of learning this Fall! Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at California State University Channel Islands is pleased to announce a new set of classes starting soon for people age 50+.

In the class “The Science and Magic of the 2024 Solar Eclipse ”, discover one of nature’s greatest spectacles and learn how and where to see it.

Examine the elements that made America great, why we are now struggling, and a possible roadmap for America’s resurgence in “How America Became Great – And Can Be Great Again”.

Explore the universal theme of love and the challenges of relationships in both the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Russia in “From Russia With Love”: Experiencing Russia Through Film”.

The six-week classes start on October 23rd, and registration opens October 9th.

Both in-person and Zoom classes are available. Learn more and see the entire catalog of classes at: go.csuci.edu/olli or call 805-437-2748.

by National Institute on Aging (NIA), Home

Many factors influence healthy aging. Some of these, such as genetics, are not in our control. Others — like exercise, a healthy diet, going to the doctor regularly, and taking care of our mental health — are within our reach. Research supported by NIA and others has identified actions you can take to help manage your health, live as independently as possible, and maintain your quality of life as you age. Read on to learn more about the research and the steps you can take to promote healthy aging.

While scientists continue to actively research how to slow or prevent age-related declines in physical health, they’ve already discovered multiple ways to improve the chances of maintaining optimal health later in life. Taking care of your physical health involves staying active, making healthy food choices, getting enough sleep, limiting your alcohol intake, and proactively managing your health care. Small changes in each of these areas can go a long way to support healthy aging.

Whether you love it or hate it, physical activity is a cornerstone of healthy aging. Scientific evidence suggests that people who exercise regularly not only live longer, but also may live better — meaning they enjoy more years of life without pain or disability.

A study of adults 40 and older found that taking 8,000 steps or more per day, compared to only taking 4,000 steps, was associated with a 51% lower risk of death from all causes. You can increase the number of steps you get each day by doing activities that keep your body moving, such as gardening, walking the dog, and taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

As people age, muscle function often declines. Older adults may not have the energy to do everyday activities and can lose their independence. However, exercise can help older adults maintain muscle mass as they age. In a 2019 investigation of data from NIA’s Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, researchers found that moderate to vigorous physical activity is strongly associated with muscle function, regardless of age. This suggests that exercise may be able to prevent age-related decline in muscle function.

Although many studies focus on the effects of physical activity on weight and BMI, research has found that even if you’re not losing weight, exercise can still help you live longer and better. There are many ways to get started. Try being physically active in short spurts throughout the day or setting aside specific times each week to exercise. Many activities, such as brisk walking or yoga, are free or low cost and do not require special equipment. As you become more active, you will start feeling energized and refreshed after exercising instead of exhausted. The key is to find ways to get motivated and get moving.

Making smart food choices can help protect you from certain health problems as you age and may even help improve brain function. As with exercise, eating well is not just about your weight. With so many different diets out there, choosing what to eat can be confusing. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide healthy eating recommendations for each stage of life. The Dietary Guidelines suggest an eating pattern with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins.

It doesn’t matter how old you are or how long you’ve been smoking, research confirms that even if you’re 60 or older and have been smoking for decades, quitting will improve your health.

Study of green tea and other molecules uncovers new therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s Researchers have discovered how a molecule found in green tea breaks apart tangles of the protein tau, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Based on this finding, the team identified other molecules that can also untangle tau and may be better drug candidates than the green tea molecule. Results from the NIA-funded study, published in Nature Communications, suggest that this approach may one day provide an effective strategy for treating Alzheimer’s.

In Alzheimer’s, tau abnormally sticks together in fibrous tangles that spread between brain cells, leading to cell death. The molecule epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) — the one found in green tea — is known to untangle these tau fibers. However, EGCG is not on its own an effective Alzheimer’s treatment because it cannot easily penetrate the brain and binds to many proteins other than tau, weakening its effect. Therefore, researchers wanted to find molecules that replicate the effects of EGCG but have better drug properties for treating Alzheimer’s.

In this study, a team led by investigators at the University of California, Los Angeles, isolated tau tangles from postmortem brain tissue donated by people who had Alzheimer’s. The tangles were treated with EGCG and flash frozen. Images of the EGCG and tau fiber complexes were captured with a technique called cryogenic electron microscopy.

These EGCG-tau fiber images helped reveal how EGCG attaches to and dismantles the tau fibers. According to the team’s model, EGCG binds to clefts, or openings, along each layer of the fibers, destabilizing the layers and slowly prying the fibers apart.

Using computer simulations, the researchers identified other molecules likely to work in a similar way as EGCG but that may be able to enter the brain more easily. They tested these other molecules in a cell model for tau tangle formation and additionally on tau tangles isolated from brain samples donated by Alzheimer’s patients after death. In both setups, several of the molecules untangled tau fibers. Although researchers caution that more work is needed, the experiments indicated that certain molecules also prevented the untangled tau from spreading and forming new tangles.

Overall, the findings suggest that these newly discovered molecules that can penetrate the brain and dismantle tau tangles may be a promising strategy for treating Alzheimer’s. Future research into these molecules may help uncover more about their therapeutic potential.

This research was supported in part by NIA grants R01AG070895 and R01AG048120.

As you age, you may have concerns about the increased risk of dementia. You may have questions, too. Are there steps I can take to prevent it? Is there anything I can do to reduce my risk? There are currently no approaches that have been proven to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. However, as with many other diseases, there may be steps you can take to help reduce your risk.

A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of developing a disease. Some risk factors can be controlled while others cannot. For example, a person is not able to control their age, which is the greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Another uncontrollable risk factor is a person’s genes. Genes are structures in our body’s cells that are passed down from a person’s birth parents. Changes in genes — even small changes — can cause diseases.

Race and gender are also factors that influence risk. Research shows that African Americans, American Indians, and Alaska Natives have the highest rates of dementia, and that risk factors may differ for women and men. Researchers are investigating what’s behind these differences.

However, people do have control over their behavior and lifestyle, which can influence their risk for certain diseases. For example, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. Lowering blood pressure with lifestyle changes or medication can help reduce a person’s risk for heart disease and heart attack.

For Alzheimer’s and related dementias, no behavior or lifestyle factors have risen to the level of researchers being able to say: This will definitely prevent these diseases. But there are promising avenues.

The number of older Americans is rising, so the number of people with dementia is predicted to increase. However, some studies have shown that incidence rates of dementia — meaning new cases in a population over a certain period of time — have decreased in some locations, including in the United States. Based on observational studies, factors such as healthy lifestyle behaviors and higher levels of education may be contributing to such a decline. But the cause and effect is uncertain, and such factors need to be tested in a clinical trial to prove whether they can prevent dementia.

A review of published research evaluated the evidence from clinical trials on behavior and lifestyle changes to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s or age-related cognitive decline. The review found “encouraging but inconclusive” evidence for three types of behavioral changes (called interventions): physical activity, blood pressure control, and cognitive training. The findings mean that interventions in these areas are promising enough that researchers should keep studying them to learn more. Researchers continue to explore these and other interventions to determine whether — and in what amounts or forms — they might prevent dementia.

Although there is no effective treatment or proven prevention for Alzheimer’s and related dementias, in general, leading a healthy lifestyle may help address risk factors that have been associated with these diseases.

• Control high blood pressure.
• Manage blood sugar.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Keep physically active.
• Stay mentally active.
• Stay connected with family and friends.
• Drink less alcohol. Drinking website.
• Stop tobacco use.

After being held virtually for the past three years, the annual Fall Prevention Forum – co-hosted by the Ventura County Elderly Fall Prevention Coalition, the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, and the City of Oxnard – will return to an in-person gathering at the end of September.

The 2023 forum – “Fall Back to the ‘70s” – will be held on Friday, September 29, at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center (800 Hobson Way). Registration will begin at 8 a.m., and the program will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event is free to attend.

A Spanish translation service will be made available upon request. A free lunch will be provided.

Participants will hear from Dr. Thomas Duncan, chair of the Ventura County Elderly Fall Prevention Coalition; keynote speaker Dr. Javier Romero, the program director for surgery at the Ventura Community Memorial Health System; and a panel of experts. They will also have the opportunity to take part in Zumba or Tai Chi demonstrations, get free immunizations and health screenings, and go through balance and gait screenings.

Participants may pre-register by visiting www.vcaaa.org/falls and filling out the registration form, or by calling the VCAAA at (805) 477-7300.

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, a division of the County of Ventura’s Human Services Agency, is charged with the responsibility to promote the development and implementation of a comprehensive coordinated system of care that enables older individuals, children and adults with disabilities, and their caregivers to live in a community-based setting. The VCAAA advocates for the needs of those 60 years and older in the county, providing leadership and promoting citizen involvement in the planning process as well as in the delivery of services.

Autism Society Ventura County is proud to launch our Healthcare Equity Initiative in partnership with Autism Society of America and USAging’s Aging and Disability Vaccine Collaborative (ADVC.) Autism Society Ventura County believes that improving the vaccination experience is a critical step towards achieving more equitable healthcare for people with Autism and all neurodiverse individuals. As part of our strategic focus on health equity, the Vaccine Education Initiative (VEI) is a national program that addresses systemic barriers to healthcare, while providing education, confidence, and access.

“Autism Society Ventura County has a long history of advocating for options and access. Individuals with disabilities are often left behind when it comes to preventative healthcare. We look forward to working with doctors, nurses, and clinic staff to ensure that they have the tools to make healthcare comfortable, easy, and eliminate traumatic experiences.” – Ashley Pope, President, Autism Society Ventura County.

Autism Society Ventura County is committed to providing the resources and connections that improve outcomes for patients, providers, caregivers, and their communities. Our Goal is to:

• Address the health equity challenges faced by people with Autism across their lifetime — specifically around accessible, inclusive healthcare and vaccines.

• Ensure anyone in the Autism community has access to information, resources, support systems, and specialists to make decisions for their health.

• Ensure that healthcare providers in Ventura County are equipped with the tools they need to deliver the best care and meet the unique needs of the Autism and disability community across the lifespan.

• Ensure that all individuals and families who want a vaccination are able to receive vaccination in safe and supportive environments.

A key component of Autism Society Ventura County’s initiative are free Accessible Vaccine/Healthcare Kits to support sensory, communication, and social differences. These kits help provide a more positive healthcare experience for all ages. Kits include a variety of calming and sensory tools and typically include*:

• Noise-Reducing Headphones;

• ShotBlocker®, a non-invasive tool that lessens the pain and anxiety of needles;

• Sensory Tools: Stress ball, Fidget Spinner;

• Sunglasses ‒ to help manage light sensitivity;

• Stickers;

• Alternative Communication Methods such as visual supports.

* Items included in the Accessible Vaccine Kits are subject to change due to inventory, availability, and community needs.

By rewriting the vaccine experience and educating healthcare providers, we are creating a path for increased vaccination accessibility for Autistic individuals and those with disabilities and complex support needs.

To schedule a 20 minute free lunch & learn for your healthcare office or to have our tools at your vaccination event, contact Megan at [email protected].

by National Institute on Aging

Many people wonder if Alzheimer’s disease runs in their family. Is it in your genes? This question isn’t easy to answer. Researchers have identified several genetic variants that are associated with Alzheimer’s and may increase or decrease a person’s risk of developing the disease. What does that mean? Let’s first learn about the role of genes.

Human cells contain the instructions needed for a cell to do its job. These instructions are made up of DNA, which is packed tightly into structures called chromosomes. Each chromosome has thousands of segments called genes.

Genes are passed down from a person’s biological parents. They carry information that defines traits such as eye color and height. Genes also play a role in keeping the body’s cells healthy.

Variations in genes — even small changes to a gene — can affect the likelihood of a person developing a disease such as Alzheimer’s.

Do genes cause diseases?

Permanent changes in one or more specific genes are called genetic variants. Some of these variants are quite common in the human population. While most genetic variants don’t cause diseases, some do. In some cases, a person inherits a genetic variant that will almost certainly lead to that individual developing a disease. Sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, and some cases of early-onset Alzheimer’s are examples of inherited genetic disorders. However, other variants may simply increase, or even decrease, a person’s risk of developing that disease. Identifying genetic variants and their effects can help researchers uncover the most effective ways to treat or prevent diseases in an individual.

Additionally, factors such as exercise, diet, chemicals, or smoking can have positive or negative effects by changing the way certain genes work. In the field of epigenetics, researchers are studying how such factors can alter a cell’s DNA in ways that affect gene activity.

Genetic research is a component of precision medicine, an emerging approach that considers individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle. Precision medicine will enable researchers and doctors to predict more accurately which treatment and prevention strategies will work in particular groups of people.

In most cases, Alzheimer’s does not have a single genetic cause. Instead, it can be influenced by multiple genes in combination with lifestyle and environmental factors. Consequently, a person may carry more than one gene or group of genes that can either increase or reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Importantly, people who develop Alzheimer’s do not always have a history of the disease in their families. Still, those who have a parent or sibling diagnosed with the disease have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s than those without that association.

Genetic variants that affect Alzheimer’s disease risk

Ten years ago, researchers knew of only 10 genes linked with Alzheimer’s. Today, scientists have identified more than 70 genetic regions associated with Alzheimer’s. Understanding which genes play a role — and what role they play — may help identify new methods to prevent, delay, or treat dementia.