Alzheimer’s disease, and the dementias in general, are among the most-feared consequences of being lucky enough to survive into older age. Between ages 65 to 74, about 3% of the population will show signs of Alzheimer’s, rising to 30% or higher among those 85 and older. Many others as they age will suffer from dementia from other underlying conditions, such as mini-strokes.
Barry Gordon, a nationally recognized expert on memory and memory disorders, draws on recent research to shed light on these debilitating conditions and provides guidance on what people need to know to take the most informed and active steps if faced with them—whether personally or in a family member or friend.
He explains how the syndrome of dementia is defined, and some of the many specific diseases that may cause dementia, including Alzheimer’s, the vascular dementias, Lewy body disease, and the frontotemporal dementias. He discusses some of the causes of dementia that are treatable, and some conditions that can mimic it but do not necessarily cause permanent harm. He examines the role family history and an individual’s own conditions and activities may play in the development of Alzheimer’s disease or some of the dementias, and how to estimate your own risk of developing one of these.
Gordon also discusses what can be done to try to prevent, delay, or mitigate dementia. Will doing crossword puzzles or online memory games help? Physical exercise? What about treating problems such as prediabetes, diabetes, sleep apnea, and hypertension? What are the chances of benefitting from those steps, and what are their potential drawbacks?
Gordon addresses when an individual should be concerned that someone may have early dementia—even yourself—and when the alarm should be raised. He details the steps to expect a doctor to take to find out what is wrong. He also discusses the current treatments available for Alzheimer’s and other dementias, including drugs and behavioral treatments, such as enriched activities, and the treatments and preventions that may be on the horizon. The evening concludes with Gordon answering questions from the audience.
Gordon founded the Memory Clinic at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, where he is also professor of neurology and cognitive science.
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