In May 2021, Heather Sosa, a Vancouver resident, received distressing news from her husband’s medical professionals — they diagnosed him with a mental illness and admitted him to a hospital out of fear for his safety.
But as time unfolded, it became apparent that the initial diagnosis was incorrect. Contrary to the earlier assessment, Heather’s husband, Curt Sosa, was grappling with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Curt was only 62 years old at the time of his diagnosis, but Heather said he had exhibited signs of the disease years earlier. She just didn’t know it was.
“He had more anxiety and there was a depression,” she told Global News. “But I wasn’t so concerned because he was in touch with his doctor almost weekly. So I thought, ‘OK, whatever is going on, the doctor is obviously seeing this, too.’”
But unfortunately, Heather said her husband’s doctor missed the signs. His depression turned into delusions and hallucinations, leading Heather and their family to begin worrying about Curt’s safety.
After getting a mental illness diagnosis at a psychiatric patient centre in Vancouver, Curt was given antipsychotic medication.
“But it just kept getting worse and worse. And we were having regular appointments at the hospital. And finally, they decided they needed to commit him because of how bad it had gotten, as he even had an exacto knife in his sock that day,” Heather said.
Curt Sosa (left) and Heather Sosa (right).
Heather Sosa
After 30 days in the psychiatric centre, Curt’s doctors remarked that he didn’t seem like other patients. He was then discharged and that’s when the term dementia started to be used.
“I didn’t understand dementia,” Heather said. “When the doctor said this … ‘early onset Alzheimer’s,’ I’d never heard of it.”
Heather was so unaware of the disease that she asked one of Curt’s doctors when he could go back to work — an aspiration he had expressed. But the doctor told her, “Oh no, he will never work again.”
At that moment, Heather said she started crying, realizing that her family’s life was about to undergo an irreversible and significant shift.
“Once he was diagnosed, my mission was that everyone needs to learn more about (young-onset Alzheimer’s),” she said. “How many people are being treated for mental health, but really, they have dementia, and no one’s considering a younger person to have dementia? They automatically were just thinking mental health.”
4:42 From child to caregiver: the challenges of dealing with early onset Alzheimer’s
Dementia is not ‘an old person’s disease’
A growing number of Canadians are developing dementia in their 60s, 50s, 40s and even earlier, and experts are not sure exactly what is behind the worrisome rise.
That is according to the latest landmark study by the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, which was published Monday morning. Called The Many Faces of Dementia in Canada, the large study looks at the groups of people who will likely develop dementia over the next three decades.
Younger Canadians are one of these groups.
Although dementia care is usually organized for people in the 70s and 80s, the study said there is a growing amount of “young-onset dementia” in the country.
In fact, by 2050, the study estimates that there could be a surge of 187 per cent to 40,000 people under the age of 65 living with dementia in Canada. In 2020, the estimate was 28,000.
Overall, the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada estimates there are currently 650,000 people living with dementia in the country.
The idea that dementia is an “old person’s disease” is not just stigmatizing, it’s also a myth, the Alzheimer’s Society stated.
“We use the term young-onset dementia to refer to anyone that develops the symptoms of dementia under the age of 65,” Joshua Armstrong, a research scientist at the Alzheimer Society of Canada, told Global News. “Previously, it might have been called early onset, but we’ve kind of avoided that term so we don’t get confused with the early stages of dementia.”
There isn’t so much a “drastic increase” in young-onset dementia (compared with older adults), Armstrong said, but rather a better recognition of the fact that it is occurring across our population. He also believes that people suffering from young-onset dementia have “unique challenges in their life.”
“A lot of the focus has been on older adults with dementia,” he explained. “So that has somewhat been to the detriment of those younger ages who develop dementia because the care systems are set up for older adults. And the research has been focused on later-onset dementia.”
Heather is keenly aware of these unique challenges.
Not only did Curt have to give up his career as a musician, but this also cut into the family’s finances as Heather was forced to sell a retirement property to help pay for the bills, such as hiring a support worker. She is also working full-time as a career director at a local art school and looking after her husband.
“I’m in this state of fight or flight every day trying to figure out how to enjoy every moment with him now while dealing with my own emotions and working full-time,” Heather said. “I wonder how the future is going to be…. I still almost cry every single day, I’ve just learned to kind of control it.
“I am grieving the loss of my husband and knowing that with Alzheimer’s, you will eventually die from it. So I knew that was going to be the outcome.”
Curt and Heather Sosa have been married for 35 years.
Heather Sosa
Roger Wong, a board member of the Alzheimer Society of Canada and a clinical professor of geriatric medicine at the University of British Columbia, calls the young-onset dementia families those in the “sandwich generation.”
“They have to look after older adults, their parents, their parents-in-law, and as well as their own younger children,” he explained. “There’s a lot of expectation for them to provide care to both of those generations.
“If those individuals develop young-onset dementia, they themselves need care. So who is going to provide the care to them, let alone to their older adults and the younger children in the household? So that is also a very unique.”
What is young-onset dementia and why is it growing?
The core feature of dementia is that no matter the age, there is a decline in one or more areas of cognition (attention, executive function, memory, learning, language, or perceptual-motor or social cognition), which interferes with the person’s independence, the study stated.
And for young Canadians, Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be the most common cause of young-onset dementia. For those impacted by Alzheimer’s disease before the age of 65, the first symptoms are similar to those of later-onset Alzheimer’s disease: memory loss and difficulties finding words, the study stated.
A 2022 report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information found that around three per cent of the people living with dementia in Canada are under the age of 65.
Physicians often face challenges in accurately diagnosing the condition, as highlighted in the report. A contributing factor is the limited knowledge and awareness of this disease.
“There is recent research that has recognized that maybe we’ve underestimated the rates that were in the past and that they are actually higher than we thought. So a greater recognition may lead to increased numbers in younger onset,” Armstrong said.
Wong said to better understand why young-onset dementia is growing in Canada, more research is needed.
“Let’s start by making sure that are we aware of how many people in our communities are affected by young-onset dementia. There is a need for a national tracking database,” he said. “We don’t have that tracking system.”
Much remains unknown about young-onset dementia, he emphasized, particularly concerning the biological and social factors that influence the progression of this disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, most cases of Alzheimer’s disease are sporadic, meaning they do not run in families. Only rare instances of Alzheimer’s disease are inherited or familial, accounting for less than five per cent of all cases.
“We’re doing a lot of research in dementia overall. But how do we focus on the young-onset dementia? Are they the same or are they different? We don’t know yet,” Wong said.
What are the risks?
Heather believes that had her husband been initially diagnosed with young-onset dementia instead of a mental illness, it would have made a significant difference.
“It really would have because he felt stressed all the time. I could see he even shared in the early days, ‘I don’t like how I feel. I got to get better.’ He knew something was wrong,” she said.
If they had known, Heather stressed that they could have made lifestyle changes and planned more for the future.
Early diagnosis is paramount for dementia, Armstrong said. This is especially true for young-onset dementia, as some forms of cognitive impairment could be reversible, he said.
Diagnosis of dementia can typically be done with blood tests, review of symptoms, cerebrospinal fluid analyses, neuroimaging and tissue biopsies, the report said. However, it added that diagnosis for those under 65 can be difficult, often leading to misdiagnoses stemming from a lack of awareness and education.
In terms of what caused Curt’s Alzheimer’s disease, Heather said the doctors believe the trigger may be related to a head injury he had in 2008. After the injury, Heather said she started noticing a personality change in her husband, but it “would come and go” so she didn’t think too much about it.
She added that Curt was also a very healthy person, he went for walks, didn’t eat a lot of sugar or salt, loved playing music and was very independent.
But there were other red flags.
Heather said Curt’s Alzheimer’s has rapidly progressed since diagnosed in 2021.
Heather Sosa
Curt has two brothers, with one residing in New York, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and the other in Trinidad, displaying early signs of young-onset dementia, Heather said.
Heather initially shared the family history with Curt’s doctor as pertinent background information, but unfortunately, she said concerns were disregarded, and the medical team persisted in attributing Curt’s condition to mental health issues.
Genetics can be a factor in someone’s risk of developing dementia, Wong said, adding there are other risks such as past head trauma, stroke and hearing loss.
“And then we also know that there are situations that are non-biological that are associated with a risk factor for dementia,” he said. “And these are things pertaining to socioeconomic background, gender, race, health and education.”
‘This has moved really quick’
During the initial stages of Curt’s diagnosis, Heather said he could still actively contribute around the house, assist with chores like taking out the garbage and enjoy walks together.
But the disease kept progressing.
“He just kept progressing and progressing, and suddenly you’d be outside with him, and he would insist that we’re not going the right way,” she said.
“And then he started to leave. He started to wander. The police had to be involved because he just disappeared. Just walked out of the house. So you couldn’t even just relax in your home anymore. You had to watch him every moment.”
Presently, she and their 25-year-old son, Jackson, are devotedly overseeing Curt’s journey, assisting in various aspects of his daily life, such as trimming his beard, cutting his nails, making his appointments and preparing meals.
“I’m going to say he’s moving to the later stages. This is moved really quickly,” she said.
“He has not sort of plateaued at any stage, he’s just constantly declined. He does not know the day of the week and he didn’t know it was Christmas.”
Heather hopes that sharing her story will help bring awareness to the personal struggles faced by those living with young-onset dementia, as well as the challenges experienced by their families and caregivers.
Wong also expressed hope that the landmark Alzheimer’s study, published on Monday, will reignite attention and priority in the pursuit of finding a cure for the disease.
“When I look at these numbers, they are staggering,” he said. “But what I see are not only numbers. I see faces of people who are living with dementia and faces of their loved ones, their families, their caregivers, their care partners.”
Skinstitut Holiday Gift Kits take the stress out of gifting
Toronto, October 31, 2024 – Beauty gifts are at the top of holiday wish lists this year, and Laser Clinics Canada, a leader in advanced beauty treatments and skincare, is taking the pressure out of seasonal shopping. Today, Laser Clincs Canada announces the arrival of its 2024 Holiday Gift Kits, courtesy of Skinstitut, the exclusive skincare line of Laser Clinics Group.
In time for the busy shopping season, the limited-edition Holiday Gifts Kits are available in Laser Clinics locations in the GTA and Ottawa. Clinics are conveniently located in popular shopping centers, including Hillcrest Mall, Square One, CF Sherway Gardens, Scarborough Town Centre, Rideau Centre, Union Station and CF Markville. These limited-edition Kits are available on a first come, first served basis.
“These kits combine our best-selling products, bundled to address the most relevant skin concerns we’re seeing among our clients,” says Christina Ho, Senior Brand & LAM Manager at Laser Clinics Canada. “With several price points available, the kits offer excellent value and suit a variety of gift-giving needs, from those new to cosmeceuticals to those looking to level up their skincare routine. What’s more, these kits are priced with a savings of up to 33 per cent so gift givers can save during the holiday season.
There are two kits to select from, each designed to address key skin concerns and each with a unique theme — Brightening Basics and Hydration Heroes.
Brightening Basics is a mix of everyday essentials for glowing skin for all skin types. The bundle comes in a sleek pink, reusable case and includes three full-sized products: 200ml gentle cleanser, 50ml Moisture Defence (normal skin) and 30ml1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum. The Brightening Basics kit is available at $129, a saving of 33 per cent.
Hydration Heroes is a mix of hydration essentials and active heroes that cater to a wide variety of clients. A perfect stocking stuffer, this bundle includes four deluxe products: Moisture 15 15 ml Defence for normal skin, 10 ml 1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum, 10 ml Retinol Serum and 50 ml Expert Squalane Cleansing Oil. The kit retails at $59.
In addition to the 2024 Holiday Gifts Kits, gift givers can easily add a Laser Clinic Canada gift card to the mix. Offering flexibility, recipients can choose from a wide range of treatments offered by Laser Clinics Canada, or they can expand their collection of exclusive Skinstitut products.
Brightening Basics 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut, available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.
Hydration Heroes 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut – available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
___
Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
The Canadian Paediatric Society says doctors should regularly screen children for reading difficulties and dyslexia, calling low literacy a “serious public health concern” that can increase the risk of other problems including anxiety, low self-esteem and behavioural issues, with lifelong consequences.
New guidance issued Wednesday says family doctors, nurses, pediatricians and other medical professionals who care for school-aged kids are in a unique position to help struggling readers access educational and specialty supports, noting that identifying problems early couldhelp kids sooner — when it’s more effective — as well as reveal other possible learning or developmental issues.
The 10 recommendations include regular screening for kids aged four to seven, especially if they belong to groups at higher risk of low literacy, including newcomers to Canada, racialized Canadians and Indigenous Peoples. The society says this can be done in a two-to-three-minute office-based assessment.
Other tips encourage doctors to look for conditions often seen among poor readers such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; to advocate for early literacy training for pediatric and family medicine residents; to liaise with schools on behalf of families seeking help; and to push provincial and territorial education ministries to integrate evidence-based phonics instruction into curriculums, starting in kindergarten.
Dr. Scott McLeod, one of the authors and chair of the society’s mental health and developmental disabilities committee, said a key goal is to catch kids who may be falling through the cracks and to better connect families to resources, including quicker targeted help from schools.
“Collaboration in this area is so key because we need to move away from the silos of: everything educational must exist within the educational portfolio,” McLeod said in an interview from Calgary, where he is a developmental pediatrician at Alberta Children’s Hospital.
“Reading, yes, it’s education, but it’s also health because we know that literacy impacts health. So I think that a statement like this opens the window to say: Yes, parents can come to their health-care provider to get advice, get recommendations, hopefully start a collaboration with school teachers.”
McLeod noted that pediatricians already look for signs of low literacy in young children by way of a commonly used tool known as the Rourke Baby Record, which offers a checklist of key topics, such as nutrition and developmental benchmarks, to cover in a well-child appointment.
But he said questions about reading could be “a standing item” in checkups and he hoped the society’s statement to medical professionals who care for children “enhances their confidence in being a strong advocate for the child” while spurring partnerships with others involved in a child’s life such as teachers and psychologists.
The guidance said pediatricians also play a key role in detecting and monitoring conditions that often coexist with difficulty reading such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, but McLeod noted that getting such specific diagnoses typically involves a referral to a specialist, during which time a child continues to struggle.
He also acknowledged that some schools can be slow to act without a specific diagnosis from a specialist, and even then a child may end up on a wait list for school interventions.
“Evidence-based reading instruction shouldn’t have to wait for some of that access to specialized assessments to occur,” he said.
“My hope is that (by) having an existing statement or document written by the Canadian Paediatric Society … we’re able to skip a few steps or have some of the early interventions present,” he said.
McLeod added that obtaining specific assessments from medical specialists is “definitely beneficial and advantageous” to know where a child is at, “but having that sort of clear, thorough assessment shouldn’t be a barrier to intervention starting.”
McLeod said the society was partly spurred to act by 2022’s “Right to Read Inquiry Report” from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which made 157 recommendations to address inequities related to reading instruction in that province.
He called the new guidelines “a big reminder” to pediatric providers, family doctors, school teachers and psychologists of the importance of literacy.
“Early identification of reading difficulty can truly change the trajectory of a child’s life.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.
