Alzheimer’s/Dementia: Sharing our research

Frequently clients share concerns about an aging parent, grandparent, or friend who seems to be acting differently and not be their normal self. We had questions ourselves and set out to learn more about the topic; we want to share some of our findings.

It’s natural to worry about a loved one—or even ourselves—as we age. Everyone occasionally forgets things, misplaces items, or struggles to find the right word. But how do we know when these changes are a normal part of aging and when they might be signs of something more serious, like dementia?

Here’s a helpful guide to distinguish between typical age‐related changes and potential warning signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia:

These are just a few signs; for a more comprehensive list and detailed explanations, please visit the website:
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers‐dementia/10_signs.

If you notice more signs from the Alzheimer’s list than are typical age‐related changes, encourage your loved one (or yourself) to seek medical advice. Early diagnosis is crucial for accessing more treatment options and ensuring safety. While Alzheimer’s can be discouraging and frightening, exciting research progress offers promising new treatments. Discussing the concerns with your doctor can be very reassuring. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved medications for Alzheimer’s, which fall into two categories:

• Drugs that temporarily ease some symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Drugs that change disease progression in people living with Alzheimer’s.

Discuss any treatment with a healthcare professional. An experienced doctor can monitor medications and provide information for informed decisions. Some medications are most effective in the early stages of the disease.

The benefits of Preventative Neurology testing

A recent report by CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, himself a neurosurgeon, explores the benefits of preventive neurology visits with Dr. Richard Isaacson, a prominent neurologist. Dr. Gupta, with a family history of Alzheimer’s, discovered through testing a link between brain function and specific physical issues. Dr. Isaacson’s research shows that optimizing these physical targets can improve cognitive function, highlighting the importance of exercise for brain health. While many of these tests aren’t part of routine care and can be expensive, Dr. Isaacson is working to make them more accessible, potentially even through a free app in the future. If you would like to read/listen to this report, this is the link:
https://edition.cnn.com/alzheimers‐risk‐test‐sanjay‐gupta/index.html

And thinking about inheriting diseases, the genes you inherited can play a role in increasing your risk of developing Alzheimer’s or another of the dementia diseases BUT important recent research is showing that simple lifestyle choices you make now, can very significantly reduce everyone’s risk of dementia. We’re talking about diet, exercise, managing heart health, staying socially connected and cognitively engaged. So, having a parent with dementia is not destiny, nor is the absence of family history a guarantee of brain health.

Learn more from the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) or the Federal government’s site (Alzheimers.gov).

There is hope on the horizon, especially with advances in AI helping researchers discover promising drugs.