Working Caregiver- Health
Don't Panic if your elderly loved one seems confused - It may not be Alzheimer's.
High Blood Pressure May be to Blame for Mental Confusion
By Gary Leiter from Home Instead Senior Care Rhode Island.
A big concern that we hear often from family caregivers and adult children of aging parents is most often about confusion. They are worried that the elder loved one is getting Alzheimer's disease and, the family member does not know what to do.
We at Home Instead Senior Care Rhode Island warn you to not jump to conclusions. There are reasons that may explain your aging parent's disorientation. There's no reason to panic until you know the medical facts. Ask your relative to make an appointment with their doctor.
There could be a medically treatable explanation. For example, diabetes can cause disorientation. And, according to a study from North Carolina State University, high blood pressures pikes can lead to a decline in mental function.
Increased blood pressure in older adults is directly related to decreased cognitive functioning, particularly among seniors with already high blood pressure, research reveals. This means that stressful situations may make it more difficult for some seniors to think clearly.
Dr. Jason Allaire, an assistant professor of psychology at North Carolina State, who co-authored the study, explains that study subjects whose average systolic blood pressure was 130 or higher saw a significant decrease in cognitive function when their blood pressure spiked.
However, Allaire notes, study subjects whose average blood pressure was low or normal saw no change in their cognitive functioning - even when their blood pressure shot up. Specifically, Allaire says, the study shows a link between blood pressure spikes in seniors with high blood pressure and a decrease in their inductive reasoning.
Depending on what the elder's doctor says, your aging relative might also want to heed this advice from Asenath LaRue, a senior scientist at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH). While there aren't many controlled clinical trials on ways to keep your brain in shape, she says a variety of observational studies point to three main preventive actions: be physically active, challenge your brain and stay socially active.
Your aging parent living in Phoenix may need help to do all of that, so why not consider employing a companion. Home Instead Senior Care, for instance, hires CAREGivers who can keep seniors engaged by helping them participate in meaningful activities.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care, contact Debbie Seplow at 602.588.7725 or visit www.homeinstead.com. For more information about this study, log on to http://news.ncsu.edu/news/2008/12/wmsallairebp.ph.
