Dementia: Not an Inevitable Part of Aging

A recent survey revealed that nearly half of adults aged 40 years and older think they will likely develop dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease.¹

The truth is dementia is not a normal or inevitable part of typical brain aging. It is also important to remember that as we get older, it is common to experience some cognitive decline with typical brain aging, such as subtle changes in memory, thinking, and  reasoning. For example, you might not immediately remember where you left your car keys, but you can find them when retracing your steps, or you can’t think of the name of a person you just met; however, you remember meeting them. These subtle changes can be frustrating and should not be bad enough to affect your daily life.

Modifiable Risk Factors and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias

Modifiable risk factors are the lifestyle and behaviors that can reduce or increase a person’s chances of developing a disease. For example, there are modifiable risk factors that could reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), slow its progression, or increase your risk of ADRD. Most modifiable risk factors for ADRD are related to cardiovascular disease and other chronic health conditions. They include hypertension, not getting enough physical exercise, obesity, diabetes, depression, smoking, hearing loss, and binge drinking. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and managing related chronic conditions is good for your overall physical health, facilitates and improves brain health, and may help decrease the risk of dementia or slow its progression.

Common Risk Factors Among Adults 45 Years and Older

A new CDC study examined how common these eight risk factors (hypertension, not getting enough physical exercise, obesity, diabetes, depression, smoking, hearing loss, and binge drinking) were among adults 45 years and older: ² 

• Nearly 50% had high blood pressure or did not meet the aerobic physical activity guideline.
• Adults with cognitive decline were more likely to report at least 4 factors (34%) than those without cognitive decline (13%).
• 34% of adults who reported cognitive decline—worsening confusion or memory loss in the previous year—had at least 4 risk factors compared with 13.1% of those without cognitive decline.
• 9% of adults with no risk factors reported cognitive decline while 25% of those with at least 4 risk factors reported cognitive decline.
• Several modifiable risk factors were more common among African American, Hispanic, and American Indian or Alaska Native populations than other races and ethnicities.

Older African Americans have twice the incidence and prevalence of ADRD and higher burdens of chronic disease, like hypertension, than non-Hispanic White Americans.³

Ways to Improve Your Brain Health

There is encouraging scientific news despite these risk factors: nearly 40% of all ADRD may be prevented or delayed.⁴ Since ADRD takes years to develop, there are opportunities to develop and maintain healthy lifestyle habits that could reduce your risk of ADRD or slow its progression. It is never too late to break old habits and start new ones.

This healthy lifestyle habits list consists of some things you can do and some things you should try to limit or avoid.

Things You Can Do: 

• Get Active and Maintain a Healthy Weight—Regular physical activity is important for good health and combined with a healthy diet can lead to a healthy weight.

• Manage Blood Sugar—Learn how to manage your blood sugar if you have diabetes.
• Prevent and Manage High Blood Pressure—Tens of millions of adults in the United States have high blood pressure, and many do not have it under control. Learn the facts.
• Prevent and Correct Hearing Loss—Make sure to talk to a hearing care professional to treat and manage hearing loss.
• Find Support—Depression is not just having “the blues” or the emotions we feel when grieving the loss of a loved one. It is a medical condition that can be treatable.

Things You Should Try to Limit or Avoid:

• Binge Drinking—If you drink, do so in moderation. Learn about alcohol use and your health.
• Smoking—Quitting smoking improves your health and reduces your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses.

To learn more, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/dementia-risk-reduction-june-2022/index.html.

Happy Healthcare HR Professionals Week! Boyd Nursing and Rehabilitation is thrilled to spotlight our HR superhero, Sherry Vanhorn! Get to know Sherry:

I have worked in a business office setting in LTC for over 37 years. I have been at Boyd Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for 25 years. I have been married for 38 years to the love of my life. As an HR Manager, I have gained experience with a variety of duties. Being involved in payroll and orientation of employees has allowed me to help employees with new hire questions and also assist employees with matters related to leaves, retain, benefits and other payroll issues. Also I am the receptionist so I meet a lot of family members and vendors daily. Being the first contact of the community, I always try to be polite and helpful to them. This position has made me a better person and has made may days uplifting by developing relationships with family members, Care Team members, and managers.

We appreciate you, Sherry, and the MAGIC you provide to all of our Care Team members! Thank you for your HR leadership to our community!

There are four types of influenza viruses: A, B, C, and D. Influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics of disease in people (known as flu season) almost every winter in the United States. Influenza A viruses are the only influenza viruses known to cause flu pandemics (i.e., global epidemics of flu disease). A pandemic can occur when a new and different influenza A virus emerges that infects people, has the ability to spread efficiently among people, and against which people have little or no immunity. Influenza C virus infections generally cause mild illness and are not thought to cause human epidemics. Influenza D viruses primarily affect cattle and are not known to infect or cause illness in people.

Influenza A viruses are divided into subtypes based on two proteins on the surface of the virus: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). There are 18 different hemagglutinin subtypes and 11 different neuraminidase subtypes (H1 through H18 and N1 through N11, respectively). While more than 130 influenza A subtype combinations have been identified in nature, primarily from wild birds, there are potentially many more influenza A subtype combinations given the propensity for virus “reassortment.” Reassortment is a process by which influenza viruses swap gene segments. Reassortment can occur when two influenza viruses infect a host at the same time and swap genetic information. Current subtypes of influenza A viruses that routinely circulate in people include A(H1N1) and A(H3N2). Influenza A subtypes can be further broken down into different genetic “clades” and “sub-clades.” See the “Influenza Viruses” graphic below for a visual depiction of these classifications.

This graphic shows the two types of influenza viruses (A and B) that cause most human illness and that are responsible for flu seasons each year. Influenza A viruses are further classified into subtypes, while influenza B viruses are further classified into two lineages: B/Yamagata and B/Victoria. Both influenza A and B viruses can be further classified into clades and sub-clades (which are sometimes called groups and sub-groups.) Note that this graphic is an example, and currently circulating influenza clades and subclades may differ from those presented here.

Influenza Vaccine Viruses

Current seasonal flu vaccines are formulated to protect against influenza viruses known to cause epidemics, including: one influenza A(H1N1) virus, one influenza A(H3N2) virus, one influenza B/Victoria lineage virus, and one influenza B/Yamagata lineage virus. Getting a flu vaccine can protect against these viruses as well as additional flu viruses that are antigenically similar to the viruses used to make the vaccine. Information about this season’s vaccine can be found at Preventing Seasonal Flu with Vaccination. Seasonal flu vaccines do not protect against influenza C or D viruses or against zoonotic (animal-origin) flu viruses that can cause human infections, such as variant or avian (bird) flu viruses. In addition, flu vaccines will NOT protect against infection and illness caused by other viruses that also can cause influenza-like symptoms. There are many other viruses besides influenza that can result in influenza-like illness (ILI) that spread during flu season.

To learn more, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/viruses/types.htm.

Boyd Nursing and Rehabilitation is pleased to recognize Mrs. Deborah Thompson’s Success Story!

Deborah came to the Boyd community for rehab following a neurological event that left her with significant weakness, limited mobility, and an inability to perform basic activities of daily living. After just a few weeks of therapy services and nursing care, Deborah made a remarkable recovery! She regained her mobility using an assisted device and the ability to perform self-care activities with minimal assistance. Upon discharge, Mrs. Thompson successfully returned to her home and community living thanks to the care she received at Boyd Nursing and Rehab. Congratulations to Deborah and her Care Team on their success!

Who should get a flu vaccine this season?

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season with rare exceptions. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of serious complications from influenza. A full listing of people at Higher Risk of Developing Flu-Related Complications is available.

Flu vaccination has important benefits. It can reduce flu illnesses, visits to doctor’s offices, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as make symptoms less severe and reduce flu-related hospitalizations and deaths.

Different flu vaccines are approved for use in different age groups.

• There are several flu shots approved for use in people as young as 6 months old and older, and two are approved only for adults 65 years and older.
• Flu shots also are recommended for pregnant people and people with certain chronic health conditions.
• The nasal spray flu vaccine is approved for use in people 2 years through 49 years of age. People who are pregnant and people with certain medical conditions should not receive the nasal spray flu vaccine.

There are many vaccine options to choose from.

• For people younger than 65 years, CDC does not recommend any one flu vaccine over another.
• For adults 65 years and older, there are three flu vaccines that are preferentially recommended for people 65 years and older. These are Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine, Flublok Quadrivalent recombinant flu vaccine and Fluad Quadrivalent adjuvanted flu vaccine. If none of the three flu vaccines preferentially recommended for people 65 and older is available at the time of administration, people in this age group can get any other age-appropriate flu vaccine instead.

The most important thing is for all people 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine every year.

If you have questions about which flu vaccine to get, talk to your doctor or other health care professional. More information is available at Who Should and Who Should NOT Get a Flu Vaccine.

Who Should Not Receive a Flu Shot:

Different influenza (flu) vaccines are approved for use in people in different age groups. In addition, some vaccines are not recommended for certain groups of people. Factors that can determine a person’s suitability for vaccination, or vaccination with a particular vaccine, include a person’s age, health (current and past) and any allergies to flu vaccine or its components. More information is available at Who Should and Who Should NOT get a Flu Vaccine.

Are any of the available flu vaccines recommended over others?

Yes, for some people. For the 2022-2023 flu season, there are three flu vaccines that are preferentially recommended for people 65 years and older. These are Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine, Flublok Quadrivalent recombinant  flu vaccine and Fluad Quadrivalent adjuvanted flu vaccine. This recommendation was based on a review of available studies which suggests that, in this age group, these vaccines are potentially more effective than standard dose unadjuvanted flu vaccines. There is no preferential recommendation for people younger than 65 years.

What if a preferentially recommended flu vaccine is not available?

If none of the three flu vaccines preferentially recommended for people 65 years and older is available at the time of administration, people in this age group should get any other age-appropriate flu vaccine instead.

Special Consideration Regarding Egg Allergy

People with egg allergies can receive any licensed, recommended age-appropriate influenza (flu) vaccine (IIV4, RIV4, ccIIV4, or LAIV4) that is otherwise appropriate. People who have a history of severe egg allergy (those who have had any symptom other than hives after exposure to egg) should be vaccinated in a medical setting, supervised by a health care provider who is able to recognize and manage severe allergic reactions. Two completely egg-free flu vaccine options are available: Flublok Quadrivalent recombinant flu vaccine and Flucelvax Quadrivalent cell-based flu shot.

Get vaccinated before flu season starts

It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body.

When should I get vaccinated against flu?

For most people who need only one dose of flu vaccine for the season, September and October are generally good times to be vaccinated against flu. Ideally, everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October. Additional considerations concerning the timing of vaccination for certain groups of people include:

• Most adults, especially those 65 years and older, and pregnant people in the first or second trimester should generally not get vaccinated early (in July or August) because protection may decrease over time. However, early vaccination can be considered for any person who is unable to return at a later time to be vaccinated.
• Some children need two doses of flu vaccine. For those children it is recommended to get the first dose as soon as vaccine is available, because the second dose needs to be given at least four weeks after the first. Vaccination during July and August also can be considered for children who need only one dose.
• Vaccination during July and August also can be considered for people who are in the third trimester of pregnancy during those months, because this can help protect their infants for the first few months after birth (when they are too young to be vaccinated).

To learn more, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccinations.htm.