An estimated 50 million people are living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. June is the inaugural commencement of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. The Alzheimer’s Association states that “every person who has a brain is at risk.” This is the perfect time to act and create awareness for this expanding public health crisis. ActivMed is taking action in another way. With over 800 clinical trials completed between four free-standing facilities, our efforts are improving access to care and treatment planning.
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
The purpose of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month is to raise awareness about the brain, Alzheimer’s, and other dementias on a global level. June also marks a time to recognize the millions suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementias, along with the caregivers that are so essential in their care. June 20th is the summer solstice as well as the Longest Day fundraiser which raises money towards finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. Anyone can get involved, and currently, most of the activities can be modified to meet social distancing requirements.
ActivMed’s Role in Alzheimer’s Disease and Brain Health
ActivMed Practices & Research has partnerships with more than 40 physicians and six major hospitals in greater Boston and Southern New Hampshire. The company has four clinical research offices, providing access to nearly 2.5 million people. Our Lawrence location is set-up within the New England Neurological Associates, offering those with memory loss more options.
ActivMed offers free health screenings for glucose, depression, memory, blood pressure, and pulmonary.
In response to the current social distancing guidelines, ActivMed now offers telehealth memory screens. These brief cognitive assessments can provide insight into one’s cognitive abilities. Although no diagnosis is provided, it can be a tool used for early intervention in the event results warrant it. No insurance is required, and all information is kept confidential.
Since 1994, ActivMed Practices & Research, Inc. has conducted studies in the areas of Neurology, Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Pain, Nutraceuticals, Vaccines, Medical Devices, and more. ActivMed is also Virtual Trial Capable. Click on the links to learn more about the currently enrolling studies for Alzheimer’s at the Lawrence and Methuen locations.
References:
https://www.alz.org/abam/overview.asp
https://www.seniorlifestyle.com/resources/blog/alzheimers-brain-awareness-month/
http://act.alz.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=156121.0
Your brain, like your body, goes through change as it ages. As a result, we may not remember things as well as we did before. It may take longer to learn something new and losing things may happen more often. Forgetfulness that goes beyond the occasionally lost keys and inability to remember a name may be a cause for concern. Although some people experience memory issues as a result of treatable conditions, Alzheimer’s-related memory loss gradually gets worse over time. Memory screenings serve as a baseline to evaluate our current memory and how it changes over time. They are also a good way to see what is typical as we age, and what is not.
Why Should I Get a Memory Screen?
It is recommended if you are 65 or older to have your memory assessed yearly; however, if your memory issues concern you at all, talk with your doctor. They can help rule out any treatable conditions or determine if further evaluation is needed for something more serious.
Alzheimer’s symptoms typically begin before people notice since mild to moderate memory issues are typical with aging. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or other forms of mild cognitive impairment helps you educate yourself and your family about the disease, allowing you to begin treatments to manage symptoms.
The National Institute on Aging lists the following as some of the signs of a more serious memory issue:
- Making poor judgments and decisions a lot of the time
- Problems taking care of monthly bills
- Trouble having a conversation
- Losing track of the date or time of year
- Misplacing things often and being unable to find them
Free Memory Screening
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is now recommending that everyone get a baseline memory screening, then a yearly follow up memory exam to look for cognitive changes.
ActivMed offers free memory screenings at their Lawrence, Methuen, and Lowell offices for anyone over the age of 50. The memory exam will determine a generalized score from the cognitive assessment—the score aids in identifying if the cognitive decline is reasonable, mild, or moderate. The results are reviewed and signed by a physician, and copies can be given to you or sent to your doctor to evaluate. You can fill out our free memory screen request form here.
References:
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/noticing-memory-problems-what-do-next
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/memory-loss/art-20046326
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1123445/
Seasonal Depression
It’s very common to feel sad during this winter season. Millions of Americans suffer from some form of depression every year. That being said, you are not alone. There are many resources to help including free screenings, therapy, support groups, exercising, and many more. However, admitting that you want help is the first step to living a happier and healthier life.
Statistics
Most Common Signs And Symptoms of Depression
- Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Appetite or weight changes
- Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, or back pain
- Recurrent thoughts of suicide
- Difficulty sleeping, sleep disturbances, and/or having a hard time getting out of bed
- Difficulty thinking clearly, making decisions, or concentrating
- Feeling of isolation or wanting to be isolated for long periods of time
Possible Treatment Options
- Sign up for a clinical trial and/or free screenings for depression
- Therapy – speaking with a psychologist
- Medication
- Exercise (physical and mental), Yoga, Meditation
- Keeping a journal (writing down your thoughts instead of bottling them up)
- Write short and long-term goals for yourself
- Calling a depression hotline if you don’t feel comfortable talking to a therapist
- Seeking support groups, or talking to someone you feel close to
Clinical Research May Be An Option!
As mentioned, participating in a clinical trial is available as a treatment option. The benefits of volunteering for a study include, but are not limited to the following:
- Helping future and current generations
- You or your loved one may have access to new treatments, not available to the public
- Data collected from the results is used to determine whether a new medication or therapy is safe and effective.
ActivMed Practices & Research Inc. is passionate about helping those with depression by conducting clinical trials. If you or someone you know is diagnosed with depression or is not sure whether they have depression learn about these study opportunities and see if you qualify. Click HERE.
Looking Forward
Recovery is a slow process, but these treatment options can be very helpful. However, it is not a race, and you shouldn’t put too much pressure on yourself to get better right away. Depression affects people of all ages, races, ethnicity, and backgrounds. Depression can be deceiving in the sense that the people who appear to be “fine” are actually the people who are struggling with it the most. It is also good to help others who suffer from depression as well. Together we can be healthier.
Overview
Depression is never easy to handle especially if you have experienced it for a long time. You might be motivated one day, and then suddenly feel an overwhelming sadness the next day. Taking a shower, eating, or even getting out of bed seems like a chore. You may no longer have the same amount of interest in activities you used to, and often you may just want to be left alone. Maybe you feel that the only person who understands you is yourself. That’s understandable. You are not to blame for feeling depressed.
Depression is the most common mental disorder in the country. Millions of Americans suffer from some form of depression every year. That being said, you are not alone. There are many resources to help including free screenings, therapy, support groups, exercising, and many more. However, admitting that you want help is the first step to living a happier and healthier life.
Statistics
Causes
There is truly no one cause for depression. It depends on a unique combination of an individuals genetic makeup and environmental conditions. The following are a few factors that may contribute to depression:
- The brain’s physical structure or chemistry
- History of depression in the family
- History of other disorders (anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Stressful, traumatic events (abuse, constant rejection, death of a loved one, financial issues)
- Hormone changes (menstrual cycles, pregnancy)
- Certain medications (sleeping aids, blood pressure medication)
Signs
Most common signs and symptoms of depression:
- Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Appetite or weight changes
- Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, or back pain
- Recurrent thoughts of suicide
- Difficulty sleeping, sleep disturbances, and/or having a hard time getting out of bed
- Difficulty thinking clearly, making decisions, or concentrating
- Feeling of isolation or wanting to be isolated for long periods of time
Treatment Options
- Sign up for clinical trial and/or free screenings for depression
- Therapy – speaking with a psychologist
- Medication
- Exercise, Yoga, Meditation
- Keeping a journal (writing down your thoughts instead of bottling them up)
- Write short and long-term goals for yourself
- Calling a depression hotline if you don’t feel comfortable talking to a therapist
- Seeking support groups, or talking to someone you feel close to
Clinical Research
Participating in a clinical trial is available as a treatment option. The benefits of volunteering for a study include, but are not limited to the following:
- Helping future and current generations
- You or your loved one may have access to new treatments, not available to the public
- Data collected from the results is used to determine whether a new medication or therapy is safe and effective.
ActivMed Practices & Research along with other clinical practices is determined to find a cure to depression by conducting clinical trials. If you or someone you know is diagnosed with depression or is not sure whether they have depression learn more about our study options might be the right decision. To learn about these study opportunities and see if you qualify, click HERE.
Looking Forward
Recovery is a slow process, but with time treatment options can be very helpful. At the end of the day, it is not a race, and you shouldn’t put too much pressure on yourself to get better right away. Depression affects people of all ages, races, ethnicity, and backgrounds. Depression can be deceiving in the sense that the people who appear to be “fine” are actually the people who are struggling with it the most. It is also good to help others who suffer from depression as well. Together we can be healthier.
References (Chart taken from)
Overview of Depression
Dealing with depression may feel like you constantly battle with a heavy burden or a shadow of sadness and hopelessness that latches on to you for a long time. Getting out of bed seems like a chore, you may no longer have the same amount of interest in activities as you used to, and often you may just want to be left alone. Maybe you feel that the only person who understands you is yourself. That’s understandable. Depression is an illness, NOT a weakness, and you are not to blame for it.
Depression is the most common mental disorder in the country. Millions of Americans suffer from some form of depression every year. That being said, you are not alone. There are many resources to help including free screenings, therapy, support groups, exercising, and many more. However, admitting that you want help is the first step to living a happier and healthier life.
National Depression Screening Day takes place in October. To view the post discussing this, click HERE.
Depression Statistics
Below is a chart of the percentage of U.S. Adults who have dealt with depression in 2017. The variables range from gender, age, race/ethnicity. Based on the results, most of the people experiencing this major depressive episode were in the 18-25 age range and were identified females. This is not to say that people of other age groups or identified genders are not affected just as much.
Possible Causes of Depression
There is truly not one cause for depression. It depends on a unique combination of an individual’s genetic makeup and environmental conditions.
For instance:
- The brain’s physical structure or chemistry
- History of depression in the family
- History of other disorders (anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Stressful, traumatic events (abuse, constant rejection, death of a loved one, financial issues)
- Hormone changes (menstrual cycles, pregnancy)
- Certain medications (sleeping aids, blood pressure medication)
Signs to Look For
Most common signs and symptoms of depression:
- Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Appetite or weight changes
- Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, or back pain
- Recurrent thoughts of suicide
- Difficulty sleeping, sleep disturbances, and/or having a hard time getting out of bed
- Difficulty thinking clearly, making decisions, or concentrating
- Feelings of isolation or wanting to be isolated for long periods of time
Available Treatment Options
- Sign up for a clinical trial and/or free screenings for depression
- Therapy – speaking with a psychologist
- Medication
- Exercise (physical and mental), Yoga, Meditation
- Keeping a journal (writing down your thoughts instead of bottling them up)
- Write short and long-term goals for yourself
- Calling a depression hotline if you don’t feel comfortable talking to a therapist
- Seeking support groups, or talking to someone you feel close to
Clinical Research May Be an Option!
As mentioned, participating in a clinical trial is available as a treatment option. The benefits of volunteering for a study include, but are not limited to the following:
- Helping future and current generations
- You or your loved one may have access to new treatments, not available to the public
- Data collected from the results is used to determine whether a new medication or therapy is safe and effective.
ActivMed Practices & Research is passionate about helping those with depression by conducting clinical trials. If you or someone you know is diagnosed with depression or is not sure whether they have depression learn more about our study options might be the right decision. To learn about these study opportunities and see if you qualify, click HERE.
Looking Forward
Recovery is a slow process, but these treatment options can be very helpful. However, it is not a race, and you shouldn’t put too much pressure on yourself to get better right away. Depression affects people of all ages, races, ethnicity, and backgrounds. Depression can be deceiving in the sense that the people who appear to be “fine” are actually the people who are struggling with it the most. It is also good to help others who suffer from depression as well. Together we can be healthier.
Reference for this post:
https://www.psycom.net/depression.central.html