The impact of Alzheimers disease on the South Florida medical community is far reaching. From the concerned husband who brings his wife to see the family doctor worried about the first signs of dementia, to the 9-1-1 call after a fall, to the counsel on end-of-life care, our regions Alzheimer numbers are large and growing.
According to the Alzheimers Association, ten million baby boomers will develop this progressive and debilitating brain disease in their lifetime. As people are living longer because of advancements in technology and early detection interventions, many of us will develop some form of dementia or Alzheimers. Florida, with its ever-growing older population, will have among the highest numbers. In the year 2000, the number of Floridians aged 65 or older with Alzheimers disease was 360,000, and this number is expected to increase 25 percent by 2010. A 2007 University of Florida study found that 435,000 Floridians already had Alzheimers and that South Floridians accounted for about one-third of that population.
At this time, there is no cure for Alzheimers disease, but new treatments are becoming available to alleviate many symptoms. The management of this disease currently consists of medication based and non-medication based treatments organized to care for the patient and family. Unfortunately, treatments aimed at changing the underlying course of the disease to delay or reverse the progression have so far been largely unsuccessful. However, medicines that restore the defect, or malfunctioning, in the chemical messengers of the nerve cells have been shown to improve certain symptoms. There are also medications available to help manage the psychiatric manifestations of Alzheimer’s disease such as psychosis and high levels of anxiety. In late July, promising clinical trial results for three anti-dementia drugs were announced at the Alzheimers Association International Conference on Alzheimers Disease. Therapies like these raise hope for new and better treatments of the disease
We are learning that staying active, socializing, and challenging the memory with stimulating brain exercises, can delay the onset and slow down the progression of dementia and Alzheimers disease. Studies are showing that those people who exercise their brain regularly will enhance problem-solving abilities, have the ability to think faster, and improve their reasoning and logical skills. Conversely, if the brain is not regularly challenged, it can grow weak, and its functions will decline. Most importantly, by regularly exercising the brain, patients could be protecting themselves from the development of brain-related illnesses.
Challenging the memory through the introduction of new experiences will wake up the unused areas of the brain enabling it to function better. No need to invest money in computer software; encourage your patients to try simple at-home activities such as tasting new foods, listening to different kinds of music, learning to play an instrument, socializing with new people, and enjoying new hobbies.
With each new breakthrough medication or treatment discovered, we are one step closer to preventing and treating Alzheimers disease. In the meantime, we now know that there are lifestyle choices that keep the mind and body healthy and fit and are proving to delay the onset of early Alzheimer’s disease.
