Senior Assisted Living Blog

Here’s a word you’ve probably never heard before: retrotransposon. Ok, now that we have that out of the way, let’s discuss why the word matters. The reason we are learning this word is because of the type of genes it characterizes. A retrotransposon gene is responsible for thousands of tiny changes in the DNA of brain tissue. In particular, these genes are highly active in areas of the brain linked to the renewal of cells. 

Essential to this new research is the notion that the genetic makeup of brain cells is not static throughout one’s lifetime, and subtle changes including memory formation could be linked to the activities of change taking place via the retrotransposon genes. 

What’s happening to the mind, and the memories it forms and accesses, as these brain changes take place, over time?

This appears to be an important question, which researchers are now free to tackle as the new, and different brain genes have been identified. The findings from scientists in Scotland usher in a further expansion of the notion that brain cells renew in ways we’ve previously not considered. This transformation within the brain, and within the research community, should also correlate with a transformation in the treatment methods for memory impairment.

For instance, The Republic news site in Indiana announced this week that the first care facility dedicated solely to patients with Alzheimer’s disease would have its grand opening in Indianapolis. With dementia affecting one out of eight people over the age of 65, such developments in care models are critical, as is the style of treatment taking place within such facilities.

At Provision Living our move toward dedicated wings with memory care treatment focus continues and is centered on our Forget-Me-Not care model. Key to our model is an early assessment of the resident’s condition, and a profile development intended to customize daily activities with the physical and cognitive abilities present at the time of assessment.

It might be a stretch to link the changes in the brain makeup related to retrotransposon genes, to changes in memory care treatment approaches and styles, but the concept of change is critical to understanding the entirety of the Alzheimer’s community. The development of memory impairment conditions is a change for the individual dealing with the conditions directly, as well as for the friends and family affected. A care model focused on engaging these changes and never giving up trying to understand and improve the current state of the individual, while also offering support for the network of caregivers surrounding the individual, will best shape the evolving effort to take care of all of those affected by Alzheimer’s.