Yes It Is A Monday

Good morning everyone. I hope all is well for the bloggers in the path of Irene. We got a nice thunderstorm last night. Sure needed the rain.
Mom has not been feeling good all weekend. I believe she has another UTI . And her tummy is all swollen. I don't think that is a good thing. UTI's are very common in older people in mom's shape and many die from it. She sure gets them a lot but so far we have cleared them up. The nurse will be by today and we will figure it out.
I have some kind of allergy or poison Ivy thing going on my face. My eyes are blood shot and swollen and I have a rash near one eye and on my chin. It itch's a little . To top it off I have a lunch date with a friend. And I really wanted to go. I still might it my eyes look better by then.
The cat might of got into some poison Ivy and brought it home to me. No more letting him give me some  loving. He loves to rub your face with his head. But no more. Not taking any chances.
Got to go. Have a great week.

What Do You Think?

TUESDAY, Aug. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol, especially wine, may lower the risk of dementia, according to a review of previous research.

The team at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine analyzed data from more than 365,000 people who took part in 143 studies that were conducted since 1977.

Moderate drinkers were 23 percent less likely to develop dementia, Alzheimer's disease and other forms of "cognitive impairment," a phrase used to describe a decline in thinking skills. Moderate drinking is generally defined as a maximum of two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.

On the other hand, heavy drinking (more than three to five drinks per day) was associated with a higher risk of dementia and cognitive impairment, but the researchers said this finding was not statistically significant.

"We don't recommend that nondrinkers start drinking. But moderate drinking -- if it is truly moderate -- can be beneficial," study co-author Edward J. Neafsey, a professor in the department of molecular pharmacology and therapeutics, said in a Loyola University Medical Center news release.

Wine appeared more beneficial than beer or spirits, but that finding was based on a relatively small number of studies, the study authors noted.

The researchers said the protective effect of moderate drinking remained after they factored in age, education, sex and smoking, and that the effects of alcohol were the same in men and women.

They also noted that the association between moderate drinking and reduced risk of dementia and cognitive impairment was statistically significant in 14 of 19 countries, including the United States.

Still, experts in neurological health weren't entirely sold on the findings.

"This study was well-designed and well-executed but falls in the category of epidemiology [population wide, observational studies]," said Dr. Sam Gandy, chair in Alzheimer's Disease Research and professor of neurology at the Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. "There are at least a dozen reports such as this, touting the beneficial neurological effects of alcohol. Each report brings calls and visits from patients, interested in what advice they can take away and apply to their own lives."

Gandy said that proof that moderate drinking helps curb dementia rates could only come from a prospective, randomized clinical trial -- something that hasn't happened yet. "Until there are some randomized clinical trial data, no patient guidance is warranted," he said.

Another expert agreed. Dr. James Galvin, director of the Pearl Barlow Center for Memory Evaluation and Treatment at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, said that there is growing evidence of a beneficial effect of moderate drinking on dementia, but "we should not rush out to buy bottles of Merlot, Cabernet or Pinot just yet."

And he added that the brain-healthy effects of moderate drinking noted in studies might just be a marker for an overall healthy lifestyle. "The Mediterranean diet with whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables, olive oil and moderate red wine also reduces the risk of dementia, as does exercise, social engagement, mental activities and an optimistic outlook on life," Galvin said. "It is clear that heart healthy behaviors are also brain healthy behaviors."

For their part, the researchers said that it's not clear why moderate drinking may reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment, but one premise suggests that alcohol might improve blood flow in the brain and thus brain metabolism, the researchers said. And they offered up another theory, that small amounts of alcohol may make brain cells more fit by slightly stressing them and increasing their ability to cope with major levels of stress that can eventually cause dementia.

The review appears in the August issue of the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about dementia.

First Lady wrote back! Kind of.

Well, I got an email from Mrs Obama but it was a form letter so you know she really did not read my email or our blogs . Anyway how are all you guys. I have been busy. It has been hot but we have gotten some rain. Mom had a real bad weekend a few weeks ago but she is ok again. My son got us a new tv so we could watch Football in style. We had to rearrange the living room which was a mess. I needed to vaccuum under everything but I had no bags for the vaccuum because I just tossed the last one I had the other day. It was busting at the seams. Oh well everything is covered up again that needed to be cleaned.
Hope all you guys are doing good. Sorry I have not read any blogs for along time. Just can't make myself do it. I am so lazy . I just want to eat and sleep all the time.
The Memory Walk is next month so we are going to make t-shirts the end of this month. Kind of excited about that. Thanks again for the donations and go to a walk in your area. I'm not kidding it is great.
Heres my email from the First Lady .

Dear Karen:

Thank you for sharing your views with me. I am always so encouraged to hear from Americans who are interested and engaged in the democratic process, and I hope you continue to stay involved in these important national discussions in the months and years to come.

As our country faces tough challenges, please know that the President and this Administration are working hard every day to move our country forward. Although we have made enormous progress, there is much left to do-and we need your help. Your engagement is vital, so I urge you to stay involved in your community and in civic life. To learn more about the President's agenda and the latest news from the White House, please visit www.whitehouse.gov.

Again, thank you for writing. I wish you all the best.

Sincerely,

Michelle Obama