|
Lakewood, NJ ---- Every 71 seconds in this country, someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia that results in a progressive decline in cognitive function – the ability to communicate, learn, think and reason.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association more than 5 million Americans currently suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, a condition they call “the biggest public health threat facing our nation.” It is one of the only diseases in this country that continues to rise in prevalence, and if no cure is found will increase by 50 percent in the next few decades.
“As we age, we all experience moments of short-term memory loss – times when we can’t come up with a particular word, the name of someone we just met, or the reason we walked into a particular room,” explains Tejas Deliwala, M.D., a board certified Neurologist on staff at Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood. Dr. Deliwala specializes in the treatment of dementia as well as other neurological disorders. “While these moments can be frustrating, as long as they are occasional, they are typically the result of normal aging and nothing to worry about,” he adds. According to Dr. Deliwala, it’s only when lapses in memory occur more frequently – or cognitive changes become more serious and begin to impact an individual’s work, social activities or family life – that dementia becomes a suspect.
Symptoms of dementia can include frequent lapses in short term memory such as repeatedly forgetting the names of close friends or family members; difficulty performing routine tasks such as preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game; repeatedly forgetting simple words; forgetting where you are or how to get home; misplacing items in unusual places; rapid mood swings for no apparent reason; a loss of initiative or changes in personality including extreme confusion, suspicion, fear or increasing dependence on a family member.
While changes in cognitive function can be alarming, Dr. Deliwala stresses the importance of pursuing a thorough medical evaluation before jumping to conclusions about the cause. “There are numerous medical conditions in addition to Alzheimer’s disease,” he says, “that can cause dementia-like symptoms and with treatment some of these conditions can be cured or their symptoms alleviated.” These can include depression, drug interactions, thyroid problems, excess use of alcohol or certain vitamin deficiencies, he notes.
While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, the key is early diagnosis and intervention according to the Dr. Deliwala, because it enhances an individual’s treatment options and access to medications and supportive services that can improve the quality of their lives as well as the lives of their family members. “Early intervention can make a big difference in an individual’s prognosis,” explains Dr. Deliwala. “Starting on medications during the early onset of this disease can help maintain cognitive function and delay the rate of decline,” he says. Even patients diagnosed in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease benefit from intervention, according to Dr. Deliwala. “Medications and treatment can help patients with advanced Alzheimer’s dementia maintain their level of functioning, and enable them to spend more time at home and delay the need for long term care,” he adds.
While physicians, like Dr. Deliwala, admit that no one knows for certain what causes Alzheimer’s disease yet, there is a lot of research being done on ways that might help prevent it.
“Sensory stimulation,” says Dr. Deliwala, “has proven to impact the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Individuals who live their lives more socially isolated, don’t see familiar faces on a regular basis, and don’t go out very much or participate in activities do tend to have a more rapid decline when it comes to this disease,” he says.
In fact, a wealth of research suggests that keeping the brain active – through social interaction and activities that engage the mind – may be a key to stalling or preventing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
One study funded by the National Institute on Aging found that the risk for developing Alzheimer’s was 47 percent less for people who frequently exercised their brain by taking classes, doing puzzles and reading, compared with those who did so less often. The Alzheimer’s Association also recommends participating in social activities such as volunteering in the community, staying active in the workplace or joining a club or traveling as another means to exercise or stimulate the brain.
Doctors aren’t sure why this kind of mental activity might help prevent Alzheimer’s, but one theory centers on brain cells. Many of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are related to damaged nerve cells in the brain, and disruptions in the ability of these cells to communicate with each other.
Mental activity not only seems to increase the brain’s reserve of cells and strengthen connections, but it also might help generate new brain cells, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Another theory is that mental challenges help keep the brain more flexible and adaptable to change.
“The key is to remain active and engaged. Also, if you are concerned about cognitive changes in yourself or your loved one, see your doctor for an evaluation,” advises Dr. Deliwala. “Knowing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and staying on top of your health can lead to more accurate diagnoses, early intervention and the most effective treatment to help patients maintain cognitive function, delay decline and improve the quality of their lives overall,” he adds.
To contact Dr. Tejas Deliwala or for a referral to another neurologist on staff at Kimball Medical Center, please call the Barnabas Health Care Link at 1-888-724-7123.
Date: September 24, 2008
CONTACT: Carrie Cristello
Director, Public Relations
732-923-6552
ccristello@barnabashealth.org
[ top ] [ Back
to News Index ] |
