As promised, this week I am reviewing a bit more about the symptoms and behaviors that you may notice when someone you love has Alzheimer’s disease. I will also cover some basic tips for handling the difficult situations that could arise. In my last blog post, I left off with a description of anosognosia and the effect that this condition often has on other people. Namely, feelings of frustration when the person that you know and love appears to be in complete denial about th

Are you ready for a little Alzheimer’s disease 101? If your answer is yes, then let’s get started with a quick review from last week in addition to a few basic facts. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia and it is currently the 6th leading cause of death in our country. It is estimated that 2 out of every 3 people who develop Alzheimer’s disease are women. Ethnic minorities (specifically, African Americans and Hispanics) are more likely to develop Alzheimer

In honor of World Alzheimer's month, it seemed fitting to address a question that I am frequently asked by both patients and their family members alike. Namely, what exactly is dementia and how is it different from Alzheimer's disease? Let's start with the first part of this question. Dementia is a general term that encompasses a number of different symptoms, two of which broadly include (1) problems with your memory and thinking skills and (2) difficulty completing activitie

If you suffer from depression, or you have suffered an episode of depression in the past, then (hopefully) you've already spoken with your doctor to rule out the possible medical conditions that could be responsible for your symptoms. The list of possibilities is longer than you might think! However, this is a GOOD thing because knowing the cause of your symptoms can help you identify the most effective treatments. It is important that you see your doctor for annual physical