Dental Hygiene and Dementia...

I read an article yesterday in our daily newspaper, The Las Vegas Review-Journal by Kristen Hallam.  In the article, Hallam states British researchers in London have determined poor dental hygiene is being linked to Alzheimer's.

A bacterium called Porphyromonas gingivalis were found in four out of ten samples of brain tissue taken from Alzheimer's  patients, while no signs of the disease were found in brains of ten other people of similar age who did not have Alzheimer's; according to their article in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

The results supported the findings of the the bacteria in the mouth enters the bloodstream through chewing or having a tooth removed and travels to other parts of the body, including the brain. After long periods of time, the build up is believed to contribute to the cause of Alzheimer's, heart disease and some forms of cancer.

The obvious goal is to improve on one's dental hygiene and to prevent the build up of bacteria causing gum disease.  Alzheimer's affect the elderly, but some studies show earlier onset of the disease on younger people in their fifties.

"The World Health Organization predicted dementia cases would triple to 115 million in 2050 from 36 million worldwide in 2010."

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My Dad should have had his teeth cleaned every 3 or 4 months because of the unusually heavy tartar his body produced in his mouth.  I too inherited this heavy tartar, but have my teeth cleaned regularly every six months and am phobic about flossing and brushing my teeth with my trusty Phillips sonicare electric toothbrush.

Dad always used a regular toothbrush and Close Up Cinnamon flavored toothpaste.  I used to work in a dental office as an assistant and oral health consultant.  I urged Dad to floss and bought him floss and discussed the importance of new toothbrushes and electric teeth brushes.  Dad always wanted to things "old school" and "natural" so he would occasionally use baking soda and water.

I had read about the dental hygiene factor before and remember thinking of Dad at that particular time....

At this point, it is too late for my Dad...but those of you going through the early signs of dementia with a loved one, may take extra measures to insure their dental hygiene.  Personally, I think everyone could benefit from better dental hygiene, but that is just my opinion.

No Pressure, Right?

Having returned from California this past Saturday, my husband and I took to the couch and slept.  It's a combination of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion.  I feel so behind in my blog posts and we are not suppose to feel like that...  No pressure, right?

I think I need another day to re coop...

I Gotta Whittle Down My Middle...

Still no grand baby...my daughter is home and dilated to one.

Betty over at A Corgi in Southern California, blogged about weight loss and her plan to lose it. She got me motivated to confess too.  Since we have moved to Nevada, almost four years now, I have become the most sedentary I have ever been. 

I can't really blame blogging, because I have only been doing it for a year and a half...but I have been on the computer emailing and playing games more than I ever have.  I have packed on a good twenty pounds since moving here.  Course, the buffets and incredibly delicious restaurants near by don't help either. My body type must be an Apple.  I have bird legs and a big bulge around my middle. It squeezes northerly to my upper arms, which look like flying squirrel wings.  My lower chin hangs down past my neck like a turkey and my cheeks look like I am storing nuts for the winter.

My husband works a ton of hours so when he gets home, he pretty much eats dinner and zones out.  We have our date night once a week, and despite him yawning, he does his best to be good company.  We have gotten in a rut when we go out.  We used to get a good share of out of town company, which kept us busy and "on the go"... Once a month we used to meet with friends for dinner and conversation or play cards.  We used to go to the occasional show at one of the Hotel/Casinos. Every now and then, we would pop over to one of his two sons and visit with their families. We used to take Izzy and go walk around the District or Town Square, which are out door, dog friendly malls. We used to go to concerts every now and then...Now, most of the time, go out to dinner, see a movie and play a little Keno afterward.

I would rather do something new, something more fun....like dancing. Every time my husband asks, "What do you feel like doing tonight?" , I say, "Let's go dancing".  He laughs, and we go do the same ol' thing. I know he is stressed from his work and desperately needs to retire... Maybe after he retires, he will dance with me again.  We used to dance all the time when we were dating.  I guess when the ring goes on the finger, the dancing shoes go as far back in the closet as he can hide them!

I have started dancing alone at home to loud music for about an hour.  I am huffing and puffing turning fire engine red and have to take a shower to cool down.  Izzy thinks I am playing with her and jumps around with me or attacks my feet.

I want to get a Hula Hoop.  The one I bought is a cheapo from Wal-Mart. Its hot pink and lights up. I can't keep it going, and I am getting bruises up and down my legs.  I need the heavy one with the weights in it.  I used to be an excellent "hooper" and would win contests.  I desperately need to whittle down my middle... Everything I read says the bigger your waist, the bigger chance of  a heart attack.

We have a state of the art gym up at our Rec Center which is free for everyone in our community.  It has an indoor pool and all kinds of equipment.  Of course, I don't use it.  I tried.  But, other people's sweat grosses me out...even when there are signs all over to wipe the machines down...I don't care.  It's probably an excuse.  I never have liked exercise or gyms, let's be honest.

I used to be so skinny most of my life.  I could eat whatever I wanted and had to drink those meals in a can along with my meals to GAIN weight.  No chance those days are coming back...

So what am I going to do about it?  I don't know yet, but admitting I have a problem is the first step...right?

Do You Ever Feel Like The World Has Come To Your Front Yard?

The expression, "It's A Small World", has really been personified lately...I recently filed for early Social Security, and the newspapers are filled with articles of all the Baby Boomers are filing early for their Social Security, putting a huge strain on the system...

So many of our neighbors have taken on relatives living with them, due to the relatives losing jobs or their homes, or both... Several of those neighbors are caring for elderly parents, either in their homes or advocating, as I am. 

Today while walking my dog, I saw one of my neighbors sitting on a wall, two streets over from where she lives with her husband and her Mother.  Her husband is diabetic and has very low blood pressure.  The other day he fell and only by accident did she come home early and found him, calling 911.  The doctor told her if she had arrived a half hour later, he would not have made it.

They are wonderful neighbors.  We always share gardening and planting ideas and they always welcome my dog and I to stop and visit.

I asked her if she was OK, and she looked up and made eye contact.  I knew immediately she was not.  She answered, "No".  I asked if it was her husband again, and she told me it was not him.  It was her Mother who has anal cancer.  She told me she needed to get away and have time to herself.  I could totally understood and left, giving her privacy.

Tonight I received an email from Mom.  Her dear friends from church had their niece and her husband murdered in their beds in Rosemead this past Monday.  No killer has been found, but their fourteen year old grand daughter is missing and so is their car...

Some other church friends were killed in a bus accident.

Years ago, I would hear of people I did not know or had any connection to, meeting a gruesome fate or becoming ill.  Now, it seems the connections are so much closer to home...

I spoke with my best friend in California and we were both commenting on how difficult things are for so many people. 

Everything seems more serious, cautious and uncertain.  Today, I am really feeling the impact of it all.  I feel like so many of us are all in the same boat.  The world has become so much smaller...

How about you?  Do you ever feel like the world has come to your front yard?

Recognizing The Shadow In My Darkness...

Today is my grand son's 8th birthday.  Yesterday was my oldest daughter's 33rd birthday. They are on vacation this past week, so when I went to California, I was unable to see them and hug them.  We have been talking over the phone...as I must do the majority of the time.

Some days, especially after I return from California, I sink into the pits of depression and feel so very isolated and lonely.  My husband works like a dog, way too many hours, often leaving him only to want, to become one with our couch.

These past four, almost five years of living here, have forced me to explore my creativity, in search for something to fill the void in missing my loved ones...I ache for one on one human contact.

These past week has been such a time... I feel like I am wading through thick, heavy mud. It is exhausting. Tasks I need to get done keep piling up, and I don't care.

I wrote about how I felt on my other blog last night. One of my blogging friends, commented and could relate to my feelings.  Reading her blog, made me recognize the shadow in my darkness. My lonliness and isolation. Learning she has physical challenges now and still ahead made me feel guilty for complaining. Thank you dear friend for pin-pointing the obvious to me.

A grey day...

It's raining today. Not heavy, just a drizzle. Been up since 3:30am. Couldn't sleep. My mouth is still aching and tender from the extraction. I called yesterday, and the nurse told me it was "normal" and to wait a couple of weeks...

My husband is getting dressed for work and I hear Izzy taunting him, trying to get him to play with her...she sounds full of energy and I am lacking in mine...

Hold onto your hats....

The winds were suppose to be over yesterday...they blew so hard today. our house was howling!  The pet door hummed, and the vents on the roof clapped and rattled.  It sounded like the entire house would rise into the air and take off like Dorthy's house in Kansas, blowing her into her dream of Oz...

I HAD to take Izzy for a walk.  Due to the winds we have not been out in two days.  She has been doing full speed laps in the house and I am afraid she will smack into some furniture and knock herself out!  She is absolutely wild!  Yesterday, she was so bad, she spent more of the day in her crate for "time out" than she did being loose in the house...

She ate the heel of one of my NEW tennis shoes.  I wonder if I could take the mate to the dressy black heels she chewed a couple months ago, and the mate to the heel-less tennis shoe, to start a new fashion statement...

I had been totally preoccupied in our master closet, on the step stool, pulling down items to get rid of.. A moment ago she had been playing with her Kong toy, which now lay beside the step stool...  I needed a break anyway, and she sure needed to burn off some energy...

When I walked into the family room, there she lay, with the heel of my tennis shoe hanging from her mouth. The look on her face was total shock  She KNEW she was in trouble...so WHY does she still do it??!!!! SHE HAS THIS THING with shoes and paper!!! 

I can hear Ceasar Millan asking how often and how long do I walk her...instead, I put her in her crate for a tme out while I calmed myself down...

I wrapped a scarf around my neck,.tightly, (no, not for the reason you think...things aren't THAT bad...) to pull it up to cover my mouth and nose, when we went outside.  I put on my vest and hooded jacket.  As I opened the door, the wind raced up the walk way to our front door and raced away, sucking the door handle out of my hand and slamming the door shut. Izzy stood there in her red parka, looking up at me, hoping I had not changed my mind...

Opening it again, holding my back to it to get us outside, I struggled getting my house keys out of my pocket,  as I was as bundled up like a child sent out to play in the snow.  No one in their right mind was out...only us. Normally, I stay out of the wind, due to getting sinus infections from it...but I was desperate and running out of shoes...

As we braved the storm, my thoughts wandered, as they often do on our walks...and I began thinking about a simple life. Not too simple mind you, because I doubt I could survive without my computer...but one where there was less hustle bustle, and less preoccupation wth stuff... I would love to be able to fit into a small home with just some comfortable furniture and a few personal things...

My husband's favorite movie is IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.  My favorite part is when Jimmy Stewart is lending money to people who need it., with only their word and a shake of his hand.   Boy, those days are sure long gone, aren't they?

My goal is to really scale down our posessions and once we move, I don't want to allow myself to collect and gather, like I have... The simple life is so much better...

My throat is scratchy and raw from coughing all day from being out in the winds.  This wind fires up my allergies.  I won't be surprised if I lose my voice...I have been looking forward to lunching with one of my friends tomorrow...guess I will take the opportunity to simply be a good listener...