Tag: disease

Activities May Ease Alzheimer’s Disease (Part 1)

  • This garden at the Family Life Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is designed specifically to help Alzheimer's patients.

About 19 million Americans have a family member with
Alzheimer’s disease. It’s a diagnosis that can send a family reeling.
For
patients, even simple tasks become increasingly difficult, as the
disease
robs them of their memory. And for families, caring for an Alzheimer’s
patient often becomes a fulltime job. In the first of a two-part
series, the
Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Wendy Nelson reports new approaches
in Alzheimer’s treatment are offering hope to both patients and their
families:

Alzheimer’s Patients Take Up Gardening (Part 2)

  • Family Life Center founder, Cynthia Longchamps (right), and program participant JoAnn Scott. Longchamps says the sound of this waterfall helps soothe Alzheimer's patients, and its location encourages them to walk farther into the garden.

People have often turned to nature to rejuvenate their spirit –
whether they take a hike in the woods, or just look out the window. Now
there’s a type of therapy that taps into these powers of nature. In the
second of a two-part series, the Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Wendy
Nelson visits a "healing garden":

Controversy Over Re-Using Medical Devices

Health care providers are struggling with ways to reduce the cost
of medical care. But one money-saving tactic is raising concerns about
patient safety. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Wendy Nelson
reports:

Aquariums Soothe Alzheimer’s Patients

Alzheimer’s patients can present tough challenges to their caregivers.
Often, they won’t sit still long enough to eat, making it hard to get
proper nutrition. And they can be disruptive – yelling, spitting and
shoving. But researchers at Purdue University think they may have found
a simple answer to address these problems… and improve the quality of
life for Alzheimer’s patients. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Wendy
Nelson explains:

Air-Drop Fights Raccoon Disease

Ohio health officials are using airplanes and helicopters in a
battle against raccoon rabies that could affect all states west of their
border. The potentially-fatal disease invaded Ohio from Pennsylvania in
1996. Since then, officials have been air-dropping tons of biscuits
laced with vaccine to try to keep the disease walled off just inside
Ohio’s eastern border. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Bill Cohen
reports:

Pesticide Links to Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease has been in the news a lot recently ever since
actor Michael J. Fox announced that he’s a victim of the disease.
Scientist have been studying Parkinson’s for years, but still haven’t
determined what causes the tremors and other symptoms. But now, one
researcher thinks he may know the answer…and beginning this January,
he’ll begin to test his theory. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Todd
Witter has more:

Chocolate Crisis

For years, environmentalists have searched for an issue that wouldmotivate all levels of society into protection of the rainforest. AsGreat Lakes Radio Consortium commentator Suzanne Elston has discovered,a sweet solution might be just around the corner.

Rat Patrol

They can chew through cinderblock…tread water for days…And survive…if necessary, by just eating dog feces. But they’re not some kind of mutant superhero…they’re rats. And in cities, where rat populations can quickly explode, there’s a constant battle against the resilient rodents. Today, some cities are winning the war with some surprisingly simple solutions. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Wendy Nelson explains:

Potato Plague Resurgence

The fungus responsible for the Irish Potato Famine that claimed more than one million lives in 1840 is back and stronger than ever. Scientists are warning American potato growers to beware. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Steve Frenkel has the story: