Alzheimer's Disease
Dementia is a condition in which nerve cells die, leading to loss of tissue throughout the brain. This leads prominently to memory loss, but also to a variety of other problems with a patient’s ability to think, a process we call cognitive dysfunction. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common and familiar type of dementia, but it is not the only type of dementia. Many things can cause memory loss, including dementia, normal aging, stress, anxiety, depression, medications and other systemic medical problems.
It is very important for patients with memory loss or cognitive dysfunction to be evaluated and treated by expert neurologists, like those at Watson Clinic, who are trained and experienced in determining the cause of a patient’s memory loss, and how best to take care of them. Watson Clinic offers state of the art testing and treatment for dementia and memory loss, including neurocognitive testing, which is very useful for determining the cause of memory loss. FDG PET imaging is also available at Watson Clinic Main. This scan detects the presence of amyloid plaque in the brain, which is an indicator of Alzheimer’s disease.
As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, patient’s encounter changes in their personality and behavior. They may experience trouble recognizing friends and family members. The typical symptoms include:
- Memory loss
- Inability to plan or solve problems
- Challenges with completing a familiar task
- Confusion, disorder and uncertainty with time and place
- Difficulty comprehending visual images and judging distances, colors or contrasts
- Experiencing a loss for words with speaking and writing
- Losing things
- Poor judgment
- Lack of grooming and cleanliness
- Abandon social and/or work functions
- Mood and personality changes
While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, there are treatments that can slow progression of the disease, to keep a patient functioning as well as possible for as long as possible. There are also many social aspects of dementia, greatly impacting the life of the patient and his or her loved ones. Our expert clinicians are experienced in helping patients and families navigate the course of the disease. They make sure the patient gets the best possible care and proper planning for future progression of the disease, in ways that are consistent with each patient’s personal values and beliefs.