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How To Detect And Treat Alzheimer’s Disease

January 14th, 2010 by Jon LaPook, M.D. in Better Health Network, Expert Interviews, Video
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It’s said that everything comes with a price. The average American now lives almost thirty years longer than a hundred years ago. But for millions of people, the price of longevity has been Alzheimer’s disease. The greatest fear my patients express to me is, “I think I’m losing my mind.” Read more »

Do I Really Want To Know If I Have Alzheimer’s?

May 23rd, 2009 by Jon LaPook, M.D. in Better Health Network
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The answer is “yes.”  An estimated 5.3 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease, the majority – 5.1 million – over the age of sixty five.  Research suggests that less than 35 percent of people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias are properly diagnosed.  Early diagnosis is crucial for many reasons, including:

1) There are medications available today that can reduce symptoms in many people – at least temporarily – and improve the daily lives of patients.  There are also trials of new drugs that researchers hope will slow or stop the underlying processes that cause Alzheimer’s in the first place.

2) Knowing what’s going on can lessen anxiety and allow for planning – not only for patients but for their families, friends, and caregivers.

3)  Although Alzheimer’s causes 60-80 percent of dementia in patients over 65, there are other causes that need to be considered, especially potentially reversible ones due to medications, alcohol, low thyroid, low B12, depression, and infections.  Dementia can also be caused by tumors, increased pressure, blood clots and other abnormalities within the head itself that can be detected by a CT or MRI of the brain.  And patients with “vascular dementia” due to problems such as multiple small strokes (that may not have caused any other symptoms) can be treated with measures that include medications and lifestyle adjustments to lower their cardiovascular risk.

The Alzheimer’s Association is a terrific resource for information about Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  Its website includes ten warning signs for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Alzheimer’s Association Wins $1.5 Million From American Express

October 15th, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Announcements
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Alzheimer's A. Gala '08

I am so incredibly excited about this great news: the Alzheimer’s Association won first place in the American Express Members Project contest. Cardmembers voted for their favorite cause, and the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease project won the majority. The research grant is valued at $1.5 million.

I first became aware of this worthy cause when I attended the Alzheimer’s Association gala with Chris Matthews (thats us in the photo to the left) and had the chance to interview Patty Smith, a young victim (diagnosed at age 51) of this disease.  She gave a moving speech about living with Alzheimer’s.

Here is an excerpt of my blog post about Patty:

What struck me most about Patty was her courage and determination. Although her symptoms were troublesome to her (she had some difficulty concentrating, remembering details of her past, and couldn’t offer robust answers to questions) she was prepared to be vulnerable in a very public way. I was moved by Patty’s bravery, and her willingness to sacrifice personal comfort for public education. Of all the important donors and benefactors at the event, Patty was (in my opinion) the one who sacrificed the most- because she was the one who was willing to expose her frailty to us all.

I know that the award will be put to good use and I certainly hope that we will soon discover a cure for this devastating neurological disease.

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What’s the Chris Matthews connection?  His mom died of Alzheimer’s disease and he moderated the event.