Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness
By Mather Neurology
Alzheimer's disease can seem frightening, mysterious and daunting. There are still a lot of unknowns about the disease, which afflicts more than five million Americans.
What is Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's is a disease that robs people of their memory. At first, people have a hard time remembering recent events, though they might easily recall things that happened years ago.
As time goes on, other symptoms can appear, including:
- Trouble focusing
- A hard time doing ordinary activities
- Feeling confused or frustrated, especially at night
- Dramatic mood swings -- outbursts of anger, anxiety, and depression
- Feeling disoriented and getting lost easily
- Physical problems, such as an odd walk or poor coordination
- Trouble communicating
People with Alzheimer's might forget their loved ones. They might forget how to dress themselves, feed themselves, and use the toilet. The disease makes brain tissue break down over time. It usually happens to people over age 65.A person can live with Alzheimer's disease for just a few years or for a few decades. More often, however, people live with it for about 9 years. About 1 in 8 people age 65 and over has the disease. Women are more likely to have it than men.
Diagnosing Alzheimer's usually involves a series of assessments, including memory and cognitive tests. Clinicians will also do a thorough medical work-up to determine whether the thinking and memory problems can be explained by other diagnoses, such as another type of dementia, a physical illness or side effects from a medication. Brain scans and spinal taps may also be conducted to check for corroborating evidence like the accumulation of amyloid, the hallmark protein of Alzheimer's, in the brain or spinal fluid.
Alzheimer's disease is treated at Mather Neurology in Port Jefferson, NY. Our dedicated team of healthcare professionals and staff are committed to providing quality patient care by utilizing the latest in medical advances and technology. We offer comprehensive treatments to improve the quality of life for our patients. We seek alternative therapies to medications, such as chiropractic, acupuncture, and physical therapy.