Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. More than 6 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, and by 2050 this number could double. Alzheimer’s is just one of the many conditions that can cause dementia, along with Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body disease, and others.
We asked Dr. Thomas Habiger, a neurologist with Village Medical™ in Arizona, to answer some common questions about memory loss and Alzheimer’s Disease.
When should patients talk to their primary care doctor about memory loss?
The primary care setting is a critical step in the early detection and diagnosis process for dementia. If you have memory concerns or other mental complaints, discussing them with your doctor during your next appointment is important. Many factors can affect your memory, including mental health and chronic disease. Your primary care doctor will talk with you about your family history, any recent injuries, and ongoing health issues to determine if there are any possible underlying causes for these issues.
How is Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed & when should patients see a neurologist?
Primary care doctors evaluate patients to determine if further assessment is needed using screening tools like the General Practitioner’s Assessment of Cognition (GPCOG) and the Mini-Cog. Patients on Medicare can receive a mental assessment as part of their Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. Neither of these tools are diagnostic, and their only purpose is to help your doctor determine if you need a specialist referral or additional assessments.
Most referrals to a neurologist come from a primary care doctor. The neurologist will complete additional testing and will usually arrange for the patient to have a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) done. Early identification of issues can improve a patient’s quality of life, allow for innovative new treatments, and give patients and their families more time for care planning.
What are the treatment options for Alzheimer’s Disease?
There is a monumental shift in the treatment of Alzheimer’s and related conditions if patients are diagnosed early. Most current treatments for Alzheimer’s disease are focused on improving symptoms of memory loss and problems with thinking and reasoning. Currently, there are three new treatments in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process that have been shown to slow down mental decline. Results from these treatments are encouraging with patients showing much better results with fewer side effects. Even with new treatments on the horizon, more research into Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is still needed.
Is there anything patients can do to reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease?
It is never too late – or too early – to work on your brain health. Not sure where to start? Even small things like getting more sleep and exercising regularly can reduce your risk of mental decline. The Alzheimer’s Association and the National Institute on Aging both have lots of great resources available for those looking to improve their bran health, for people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and for caregivers.
Is Village Medical™ participating in any research around Alzheimer’s Disease?
Recently, we were one of three site collaborators selected to participate in a two-year study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and led by Together Senior Health and the University of California San Francisco. Researchers have found that patients with undiagnosed Alzheimer’s and related dementias have warning signs in their claims, demographics, and health care data, such as history of stroke, recent visits to the emergency room, and not showing up for scheduled doctor’s appointments. Through this study, we will help refine a tool to help identify people with undiagnosed Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia using electronic health record (EHR) information, insurance claims, and other data.
Want to talk a primary care doctor about brain health and cognition? Make an appointment with a provider at Village Medical today.