Look for the early warning signs of Alzheimer's disease
From: JWissmille (jwissmille_at_aol.com)
Date: 11/29/04
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Date: 29 Nov 2004 01:19:57 GMT
"..... It is extremely important to eliminate
treatable causes of dementia. Examples of potentially treatable causes of
memory loss include thyroid dysfunction, Lyme disease (prevalent in regions
with white-tailed deer, such as Northeast Ohio), anemia, certain autoimmune
illnesses and toxicity from heavy metals, such as lead...."
http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/living/1101303025142600.xm
l?lmwom
Look for the early warning signs of Alzheimer's disease
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
In 1907, Alois Alzheimer first described the case of a woman who (unfairly)
mistrusted her husband. She had become paranoid about his faithfulness, and
suffered memory loss and difficulty speaking. After her death, Alzheimer
described the changes in the patient's brain we now know are diagnostic of
the disease named after this doctor.
Today we have much more knowledge about Alzheimer's disease, but still no
cure, and it remains a fatal illness. Women are disproportionately affected,
both as victims of the disease and "second victims," as caretakers of family
members who have Alzheimer's.
The risk of Alzheimer's increases with age. Since women have a longer life
expectancy than men, more women than men suffer from this dementing ill
ness. Women make up 72 percent of the United States popula tion over age 85,
and half of those over 85 have Alzheimer's. In addition, 80 percent of
caregivers are women, so as wives, daughters and daughters-in-law, we bear
the burden of home care for the Alzheimer's victim.
Everyone on occasion will forget where he or she put the keys, or glasses,
or what was eaten for dinner three days ago. As women get older, it' s very
common to have a "senior moment," and have trouble remembering a word or a
name. Is this Alzheimer's?
The Alzheimer's Association has provided warning signs to help us decide if
our memory or language difficulties are just benign forgetfulness, or
worrisome signs of a progressive dementia. Those signs include:
Forgetting appointments, names or telephone numbers.
Having difficulty using common household appliances, such as the toaster or
coffee maker.
Frequently forgetting simple words, or substituting odd words so that speech
is difficult to understand.
Getting lost, even in familiar neighborhoods or in the house
Using poor judgment, such as agreeing to give money to telemarketers or
wearing a short- sleeved shirt in cold weather.
Experiencing mood swings, from tears to laughter to anger, with no apparent
reason.
Becoming paranoid or suspicious about family members.
Sitting for long periods quietly, staying in front of the TV for hours or
sleeping a lot during the day.
If you or someone in your family is concerned about memory loss, consider
these questions for your physician:
What are my "numbers:" cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and weight?
Do I need a brain scan? CAT scans and MRI scans of the brain are important
to exclude causes of dementia other than Alzheimer's. Multiple strokes, even
"silent strokes," can masquerade as Alzheimer's and may be treated
differently. There are other structural causes, some treatable, that can be
found on brain scans.
What laboratory tests are needed? It is extremely important to eliminate
treatable causes of dementia. Examples of potentially treatable causes of
memory loss include thyroid dysfunction, Lyme disease (prevalent in regions
with white-tailed deer, such as Northeast Ohio), anemia, certain autoimmune
illnesses and toxicity from heavy metals, such as lead.
Can depression, or mood disorder, be the cause of my disinterest or apathy
in things once enjoyed, or my wanting to sleep so much?
There are Food and Drug Administration-approved medicines for Alzheimer's
that can improve or stabilize memory and thinking skills, even in patients
at risk, but not yet diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Are these medicines right
for me?
A startling discovery resulted from a large-scale clinical trial enrolling
more than 161,000 women in the Women's Health Initiative launched by the
National Institutes of Health. Experts expected that female hormones,
estrogen in particular, would have a protective affect against the
development of Alzheimer's. In fact, the opposite was true.
In May 2003, researchers reported that women over the age of 65 who had been
taking combination hormone replacement therapy (estrogen and progestin) had
twice the risk of developing dementia as those who took a placebo.
The changes in brain cells that lead to Alzheimer's probably begin more
than five to 10 years before the first symptoms appear. Therefore, it's
never too soon to adopt a lifestyle that is "brain- healthy." Things to
consider include:
Obesity, which is linked to an increased risk of dementia. Even moderate
weight loss can be protective against this disease.
Walking, at least 1.5 hours a week, lowered the risk of cognitive decline in
women in a study by the Harvard School of Public Health published in
September.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland
recommend an active mental, as well as physical, lifestyle to protect
against Alzheimer's. Participating in social activities can invigorate your
mind.
Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet rich in dark leafy vegetables and
fruits. Many of these foods contain antioxidants, which may help to protect
brain cells.
Questions about women's health can be e-mailed to Tucker at
AskDrTucker@aol.com or mailed to Ask Dr. Tucker, The Plain Dealer Features
Department, 1801 Superior Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114. Tucker is a clinical
associate professor of neurology at Case Western Reserve University School
of Medicine and is directing medical-student education at the American
Headache Society.
© 2004 The Plain Dealer.
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