Making a Life Memories book is one of the most fulfilling activities families can possibly do when a loved one is facing the challenges of dementia.  

The idea is a simple, yet powerful, one. 
It involves collecting together lots of photographs from the person's past, encouraging them to reminisce and talk about their life, and then recording all these memories together in a home-made book. 

While dementia often diminishes short-term memories, memories from further back in the past are often stronger, so given encouragement and stimulation, it is often surprising how responsive and engaged people can become. The emphasis of course is on what they can remember, rather than what they can't, and the positive feelings this evokes can really help boost self-esteem in the person with dementia and  brighten the mood of everyone involved.

The video below produced by the Dementia Services Development Centre team at the University of Stirling, shows a fantastic example of just how much can be gained through the making of a Life Memories book. The project has clearly been a hugely enjoyable one for both Ann and her Mother, Mary. As they look through the book they have made together, the bond they share through reliving Mary's memories is heartwarming to see.

Once made, the book can be referred to over and over again to stimulate memories, and encourage interaction. It can help future carers get to know the person as an individual, and ultimately it is likely to become an heirloom to be passed down to future generations.

To find out more about how to go about making a Life Memories Book, the Alzheimer's Society have produced an excellent 4 page guide which contains all the information you need to get started. Download it from their website by clicking on the link button here:

Music has the ability to capture emotion and stimulate the brain like few other mediums. And because the part of the brain that governs our response to music is one of the last to be affected by dementia, the power of music and song to help those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia can be profound.

Singing for the brain is an initiative run by the Alzheimer's Society based on the principles of music therapy. The aim is to bring people with dementia and their carers together to sing in a fun, friendly and stimulating environment where they can express themselves and socialise with others in a supportive group.

In the video clip below, Chreanne Montgomery-Smith,one of the founders of Singing for the Brain, explains more about how the sessions are run, while several participants talk about the enjoyment and feeling of wellbeing they experience from attending the sessions.

If you fancy giving it a go, there are 3 local Singing for the brain groups in Swindon and the surrounding area.
Details are below, but for up-to-date information on the dates and times of the sessions, contact the Alzheimer's Society - contact telephone01249 443469 (Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm.) contact emailswindon@alzheimers.org.uk

Keeping the mind sharp and the body active have to be the key goals for all of us as we get older. But with the press reporting on what seems like an endless stream of studies and reports that extol the virtues of one particular form of activity or therapy over another, it can become all too easy to get swept up in the hype.

So, is one activity better than others at warding off the symptoms of dementia ?

Should we be prioritising mental stimulation over physical exercise?
Or is physical fitness more beneficial than the mental challenge of problem-solving puzzles?

The answer is a resounding NO according to a research study published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Mental AND physical exercise prove equally valuable in the quest to keep thinking skills in, and dementia out.

In the American study, 126 seniors were divided into groups with each group embarking on a programme of either computer activities, aerobics, watching educational DVDs or stretching exercises. At the end of the 12 week trial, the participants from all groups demonstrated improved thinking scores.

What surprised researchers was the lack of any real difference in improvement between groups. When it comes to stimulating the brain, it appears that it is not the type of activity that matters, but the amount of it.

This research reinforces numerous studies, conducted in both the US and UK, that have demonstrated the benefits of both mental and physical exercise on brain function.

Evidence suggests that older people who take physical exercise regularly display less brain shrinkage and brain lesions which can indicate dementia. It’s therefore likely that physical activity, by stimulating the production of blood vessels and new brain cells, increases the volume of the parts of the brain responsible for memory and thinking.

Similarly, activities that provide mental stimulation such as crosswords, playing chess, reading the newspaper, participating in clubs and pursuing hobbies also improve cognitive health as people age.

As a result most health experts now agree that a common sense approach of maintaining a balance of both mental and physical activity is the best way forward, recommending aiming for two and a half hours each week of moderate intensity exercise combined with mental exercises to stay sharp.