|
|||||||||||
 |
Healthy You Archives |
Aging Well
Recognizing Alzheimer'sWith this and other dementias, the earlier the diagnosis the betterWhen Marion first began repeating herself and forgetting dates, the family shrugged it off as “just getting older.” They started to worry when she misplaced checks, lost track of conversations and quit her beloved choir. “I’m not interested in singing anymore,” she said. The truth was, she couldn’t remember the other choir members’ names.Do you have a “Marion” in your family? She prob-ably won’t admit to a memory problem—but if the signs are there, it’s vital the family take action. When it comes to dementia, says geriatrician* Francis Salerno, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, “the earlier the diagnosis, the better for everyone.” More than 4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia (loss of mental ability). By 2040 that number could triple. “The brains of Alzheimer’s patients misprocess normal proteins, causing toxic deposits that kill brain cells,” says Salerno’s colleague, neuropathologist Dan Brown, M.D. Researchers still aren’t sure of the cause, but in some cases there are genetic factors. Early on, the effects may be mild—and often, people with Alzheimer’s remain physically healthy. Eventually, though, they forget not only their family but even how to eat or walk, and need constant supervision. Getting the diagnosisMost often it’s a family member who first calls in the doctor, says neurologist Lorraine Spikol, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. Typically, an issue like the patient’s driving, finances or homesafety triggers the call. Diagnosis isn’t a simple matter, but a sensitive physician can lead the patient through it in a nonthreatening way, Salerno says. “I get them reminiscing about the old memories that are still there,” he says. “It establishes a level of comfort and confidence.” To pinpoint the specific type of dementia, “we do a medical history, physical exam, mental status test, CT or MRI to rule out stroke, blood tests for other medical conditions, and a depression assessment, among other things,” Spikol says. “Newer tools like PET scanning can be useful in cases that aren’t clearcut.” Why early is betterOnce there’s a diagnosis, the family can prepare to respond. That’s crucial because with Alzheimer’s, “the family is the real ‘patient,’ ” Salerno says. Marion’s family, like many, was frustrated and sometimes annoyed with her. Given the facts, they could accept the limitations of her disease.They also could start planning for her future. “Writing a will and arranging for someone to act for you when you’re no longer capable—these are things everyone should do,” says Salerno’s colleague, Melissa Armstrong, R.N., clinical nurse specialist who works with Alzheimer’s families. She helps them gather information on financial planning, assisted living, adult day care and support groups, so these services are in place when they need them. Finally, Marion could begin medication to ease her symptoms and, some experts say, slow the disease’s progress. Four of the five FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drugs, including donepezil (Aricept), work best in early stages of the disease. Recent discoveries about the nature of Alzheimer’s offer hope for more effective treatments in the future—drugs that don’t just modify behavior but affect the underlying causes of the disease. “These breakthroughs,” Brown says, “will be important in treating Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in the near future.”
Want to Know More about resources for Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers including the Early Stage Support Group in the Lehigh Valley? Click here. This page last updated 3/31/08 08:56 AM
ARTICLE TOOLS:
|
 September October 2005 Eating Healthy
Staying Fit
Caring for Mind and Body
Just for Women
Just for Men
Raising a Family
Heart of Healthy You
Protecting Your Health
Coping with Illness
Aging Well
Keeping Up to Date
Weight Control
|
|
||||
|
|
|
||||||
