What Elephants Are Teaching Us About Alzheimer’s Disease

Posted on October 27th, by Mark Winter in Alzheimer's, Medical News, Senior Health. No Comments

Painting of an elephant sitting on a bench outside

Researchers are gleaning information from elephants to help us better understand Alzheimer’s disease.

The old adage is true: elephants truly do have amazing memories, even into their later years. To illustrate, they’re able to recollect and go back to highly specific locations decades after visiting them, irrespective of age. Exactly what can we glean from elephants that may result in helping us better understand Alzheimer’s disease and to maximize our own cognitive performance later in life?

Remarkably, older elephants’ brains show no buildup of the amyloid plaques some researchers are linking to Alzheimer’s. Even though other health professionals tout the need for sufficient sleep to permit the mind the chance to clean away plaques, elephants are tromping over that theory, sleeping as little as 2 hours daily.

But one factor rises above the rest which may be the main key: socialization. Scientific studies increasingly indicate the link between isolation and cognitive decline, and also the advantage of retaining stable social contacts. Elephants remain socially involved with close family herds for a lifetime, while our human busyness frequently hinders the type of significant, sustained relationships we so desperately need.

Spending quality time with your senior loved ones is easier with a little assistance from the professional caregivers at Hired Hands Homecare, the leading professional agency for caregivers in Petaluma and surrounding areas. We’re on hand to assist with household chores, shopping, cooking, personal care needs, and much more, freeing up important time for older adults and their loved ones.

We’re also skilled in encouraging older adults to become active and engaged in the world around them, and can provide transportation and accompaniment to senior centers, exercise programs, and interesting excursions, along with improving socialization right in the home with discussions, games, and rewarding activities.

And as we await a cure or at the very least an effective treatment option for Alzheimer’s disease, realize that the care team at Hired Hands Homecare is fully experienced and knowledgeable in specialized dementia care. With home care help, those impacted by the disease are able to live life to their greatest possible potential, and family caregivers get the help they need in dealing the many challenging components of the disease, including sundowning, aggression, wandering, and more.

Call us at (866) 940-4343 to take the first step in improving wellbeing for a senior you love. We’re available for as much or as little assistance as needed, from a few hours enabling family members to take a much needed break from care, up to full-time, around-the-clock care, and anything in between.