How family members can help identify Alzheimer’s and dementia and support effective treatment
Families are often the first line of defense in the fight against degenerative brain diseases, and experts say early intervention is key.
It’s common for older people to be a little forgetful. Many times, it’s a benign sign of an aging brain. But memory issues can also be an early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease.
Nearly 7 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to nearly double to 13 million by 2050.
Many lay people use the terms “Alzheimer’s” and “dementia” interchangeably, but Alzheimer’s is one of many conditions that can cause dementia. Others include Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, some forms of multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injuries.
Dementia is a clinical syndrome typified by difficulty thinking, whereas Alzheimer’s is a specific disease that causes brain degeneration, says Dr. Arvanitakis of the Rush Memory Clinic.
Reset spoke with experts about causes, risk factors and best practices for caregiving for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Dr. Zoe Arvanitakis, neurologist and director of the Rush Memory Clinic
Molly Mather, neuropsychologist at Northwestern’s Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease
Lauren Dowden, a clinical social worker at the Mesulam Center
A family’s role in diagnosis and treatment
“The big thing we tell people to look up for is a big change,” says Mather. “And if that impacts daily functioning.”
If someone suspects they or a family member may have crossed that line, a doctor can order a series of cognitive tests to determine for sure.
Experts say early intervention is key.
When working with families at the start of a diagnosis, top of mind for Dowden is helping to maintain a patient’s independence and quality of life.
“How can we help you keep doing what it is that you love doing as long as possible?” she says.
The answer might include changes to a person’s daily routine and more support for patients and their families, such as tracking systems for items a patient misplaces or nonverbal communication strategies for patients whose language abilities are impaired.
“We’re looking to build a structure of support around these individuals,” says Dowden.
Risk factors for Alzheimer’s and dementia
Age is a main risk factor. Obviously, patients can’t do much about that. But there are other risk factors that patients have some degree of control over.
Diabetes doubles a person’s risk of developing dementia, says Dr. Arvanitakis. That’s important because while the disease is on the rise in the U.S., patients can treat diabetes with medicines and lifestyle adjustments.
Other risk factors include air pollution, high blood pressure and alcohol consumption.
Dr. Arvanitakis says research projects about Alzheimer’s and dementia need to focus on underrepresented populations with more vascular risk.
We’re already seeing disparities in who is developing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Older Black Americans are twice as likely as older white people in the U.S. to develop dementia. Hispanics are one and one half times more likely.
Reset host Sasha-Ann Simons spoke with Dr. Zoe Arvanitakis, neurologist and director of the Rush Memory Clinic; Molly Mather, neuropsychologist at Northwestern’s Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease; and Lauren Dowden, a clinical social worker at the Mesulam Center.
You can listen to the full conversation above.
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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons
How family members can help identify Alzheimer’s and dementia and support effective treatment
Families are often the first line of defense in the fight against degenerative brain diseases, and experts say early intervention is key.
It’s common for older people to be a little forgetful. Many times, it’s a benign sign of an aging brain. But memory issues can also be an early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease.
Nearly 7 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to nearly double to 13 million by 2050.
Many lay people use the terms “Alzheimer’s” and “dementia” interchangeably, but Alzheimer’s is one of many conditions that can cause dementia. Others include Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, some forms of multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injuries.
Dementia is a clinical syndrome typified by difficulty thinking, whereas Alzheimer’s is a specific disease that causes brain degeneration, says Dr. Arvanitakis of the Rush Memory Clinic.
Reset spoke with experts about causes, risk factors and best practices for caregiving for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Dr. Zoe Arvanitakis, neurologist and director of the Rush Memory Clinic
Molly Mather, neuropsychologist at Northwestern’s Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease
Lauren Dowden, a clinical social worker at the Mesulam Center
A family’s role in diagnosis and treatment
“The big thing we tell people to look up for is a big change,” says Mather. “And if that impacts daily functioning.”
If someone suspects they or a family member may have crossed that line, a doctor can order a series of cognitive tests to determine for sure.
Experts say early intervention is key.
When working with families at the start of a diagnosis, top of mind for Dowden is helping to maintain a patient’s independence and quality of life.
“How can we help you keep doing what it is that you love doing as long as possible?” she says.
The answer might include changes to a person’s daily routine and more support for patients and their families, such as tracking systems for items a patient misplaces or nonverbal communication strategies for patients whose language abilities are impaired.
“We’re looking to build a structure of support around these individuals,” says Dowden.
Risk factors for Alzheimer’s and dementia
Age is a main risk factor. Obviously, patients can’t do much about that. But there are other risk factors that patients have some degree of control over.
Diabetes doubles a person’s risk of developing dementia, says Dr. Arvanitakis. That’s important because while the disease is on the rise in the U.S., patients can treat diabetes with medicines and lifestyle adjustments.
Other risk factors include air pollution, high blood pressure and alcohol consumption.
Dr. Arvanitakis says research projects about Alzheimer’s and dementia need to focus on underrepresented populations with more vascular risk.
We’re already seeing disparities in who is developing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Older Black Americans are twice as likely as older white people in the U.S. to develop dementia. Hispanics are one and one half times more likely.
Reset host Sasha-Ann Simons spoke with Dr. Zoe Arvanitakis, neurologist and director of the Rush Memory Clinic; Molly Mather, neuropsychologist at Northwestern’s Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease; and Lauren Dowden, a clinical social worker at the Mesulam Center.
You can listen to the full conversation above.