Page 49 - Indulge June/July 2016
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eFatmAeLnZtsHaEimIeMd tEORsl’OSW tDheISPrEOAgrSesEsiOn St. Luke’s University Health Network
By Linda Doell
While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, mentally and socially active.
there are some steps physicians and patients
can take to help slow the progression of the disease. “The benefits are there. We
The facts are sobering. The Alzheimer’s Association encourage patients to work Dr. Alaa-Eldin A. Mira
says that 5.4 million Americans are living with the
disease, a number that is expected to climb to 13.8 around the house, go to
million by the year 2050. Unless there are medical
breakthroughs to either prevent or cure it, it’s projected a mall and walk, do yoga or aerobics (to stay active). ...
that by that year someone in the United States will
develop the disease every 33 seconds. unfortunately, a significant number of our patients stay
And its diagnosis can be difficult. home all day long in front of the TV.”
“Alzheimer’s is under diagnosed,” says Dr. Alaa-Eldin
A. Mira, Chief of Geriatrics and the Geriatric Fellowship To keep mentally active, patients are encouraged to do
Program Director for St. Luke’s University Health
Network.”Although it’s the sixth leading cause of death, still puzzles, play Sudoku or participate in a hobby they liked to
we don’t screen patients for that.”
When diagnosing a patient with Alzheimer’s disease, do in the past, he says. Younger patients are encouraged to
doctors first rule out other causes of memory issues
including vitamin B deficiencies, depression and learn a new hobby, like playing a musical instrument.
hypothyroidism, Mira says.
“When we see a patient with memory issues ... we try to If needed, doctors can prescribe a second
rule out all of these possible causes,” he says. Depending
on the patient, a CT scan or an MRI may be in order to Alzheimer’s drug to be used in tandem with the first
narrow down the possible diagnosis. Memory screening also
will be done and if the patient scores low, that could be an — but that depends upon the patient and the stage of
indicator of dementia.
“There’s no test (for Alzheimer’s disease),” he says. the disease. Physicians have to factor in possible side
Doctors also look at family history and complete a full health
exam before reaching a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. effects and interactions with any other medication the
Once a patient has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s,
treatment options depend on what stage of the disease the person may be taking.
person is in — mild, moderate or severe.
During the early stages of Alzheimer’s, “Sometimes the risks outweigh the benefits,” Mira says,
the person may still drive, work and
function independently. giving as an example a person who may not be eating
“The goal here is to slow
down the progression of wouldn’t benefit from a medication which has a side effect
the disease,” Mira says.
Currently there are three of decreasing the appetite.
drugs available and doctors
will start treating a patient If the person has another medical condition such as
with one of those. They
also often recommend that high blood pressure or diabetes, those are also brought
the person stays physically,
under control. Keeping the person connected socially also
can help slow the progression.
“Social isolation can worsen their memories and mood,
too,” Mira says. “We ask them to participate in adult day
care or go to senior centers.”
During the moderate and severe stages of the disease,
there can be behavior issues including agitation and
possible reversal of sleep patterns. Mira says treatment
tries to minimize the use of drugs and instead
encourages a change in behavior.
“If patients are up all night, we
tell them not to take naps
during the day and stay
active,” he says. Doctors june/july 2016 • indulge | 49
teach families not to
confront a patient if the
person becomes agitated
but to redirect them.
Mira says doctors also
keep an eye out for drug
trials that look promising.
By Linda Doell
While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, mentally and socially active.
there are some steps physicians and patients
can take to help slow the progression of the disease. “The benefits are there. We
The facts are sobering. The Alzheimer’s Association encourage patients to work Dr. Alaa-Eldin A. Mira
says that 5.4 million Americans are living with the
disease, a number that is expected to climb to 13.8 around the house, go to
million by the year 2050. Unless there are medical
breakthroughs to either prevent or cure it, it’s projected a mall and walk, do yoga or aerobics (to stay active). ...
that by that year someone in the United States will
develop the disease every 33 seconds. unfortunately, a significant number of our patients stay
And its diagnosis can be difficult. home all day long in front of the TV.”
“Alzheimer’s is under diagnosed,” says Dr. Alaa-Eldin
A. Mira, Chief of Geriatrics and the Geriatric Fellowship To keep mentally active, patients are encouraged to do
Program Director for St. Luke’s University Health
Network.”Although it’s the sixth leading cause of death, still puzzles, play Sudoku or participate in a hobby they liked to
we don’t screen patients for that.”
When diagnosing a patient with Alzheimer’s disease, do in the past, he says. Younger patients are encouraged to
doctors first rule out other causes of memory issues
including vitamin B deficiencies, depression and learn a new hobby, like playing a musical instrument.
hypothyroidism, Mira says.
“When we see a patient with memory issues ... we try to If needed, doctors can prescribe a second
rule out all of these possible causes,” he says. Depending
on the patient, a CT scan or an MRI may be in order to Alzheimer’s drug to be used in tandem with the first
narrow down the possible diagnosis. Memory screening also
will be done and if the patient scores low, that could be an — but that depends upon the patient and the stage of
indicator of dementia.
“There’s no test (for Alzheimer’s disease),” he says. the disease. Physicians have to factor in possible side
Doctors also look at family history and complete a full health
exam before reaching a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. effects and interactions with any other medication the
Once a patient has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s,
treatment options depend on what stage of the disease the person may be taking.
person is in — mild, moderate or severe.
During the early stages of Alzheimer’s, “Sometimes the risks outweigh the benefits,” Mira says,
the person may still drive, work and
function independently. giving as an example a person who may not be eating
“The goal here is to slow
down the progression of wouldn’t benefit from a medication which has a side effect
the disease,” Mira says.
Currently there are three of decreasing the appetite.
drugs available and doctors
will start treating a patient If the person has another medical condition such as
with one of those. They
also often recommend that high blood pressure or diabetes, those are also brought
the person stays physically,
under control. Keeping the person connected socially also
can help slow the progression.
“Social isolation can worsen their memories and mood,
too,” Mira says. “We ask them to participate in adult day
care or go to senior centers.”
During the moderate and severe stages of the disease,
there can be behavior issues including agitation and
possible reversal of sleep patterns. Mira says treatment
tries to minimize the use of drugs and instead
encourages a change in behavior.
“If patients are up all night, we
tell them not to take naps
during the day and stay
active,” he says. Doctors june/july 2016 • indulge | 49
teach families not to
confront a patient if the
person becomes agitated
but to redirect them.
Mira says doctors also
keep an eye out for drug
trials that look promising.
