Remembering Your Roots: The Role of Horticulture Therapy in People Living with Dementia

Introduction: Dementia is a debilitating disease affecting over 50 million people. Major challenges facing patients with dementia lie in the impact of the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). The American Geriatrics Society and Dementia Action Alliance recommend against the use of antipsychotics as first-line treatment. Antipsychotics often fail to treat BPSD whereas nonmedication practices such as horticulture therapy may lessen BPSD. Guideline evidence has provided a unique opportunity for public health officials to assist in filling this vital role in the approach to BPSD management.Methods: Several studies and meta-analyses were reviewed to determine the effectiveness of horticulture therapy in managing BPSD, and evidence supports horticulture therapy as an effective method of addressing BPSD.Results: The benefits of horticulture therapy extend beyond addressing only BPSD; through multisensory stimulation, patients have increased physical activity, reduced stress, and improved sleep. Horticulture therapy has been shown to decrease the sense of loss and reestablish the patient in a familiar nurturing role, providing the patient with a sense of purpose.Conclusion: Stakeholders within the public health sector are strategically positioned to implement evidence-based interventions that address the unmet needs for the care of dementia within the community

Recycling of Deuterium From Dideuterated Glucose During Moderate Exercise

A doubly labelled tracer molecule of glucose, [6,6-2HJglucose, has been used to measure the rate of glucose appearance in blood due to endogenous glucose production (by the liver and kidneysj.l,2 Considered \u27non-recirculating\u27, this tracer generally provides a realistic estimate of glucose kinetics.2,3 Used as a dual tracer in conjunction with [l-13C]glucose, the extent of glucose recycling can be quantitated.2-4 but the extent of possible recirculation of a single deuterium atom on newly formed glucose must then be considered