By Dr. Suzanne Smith
Medical Director, MCG Memory Disorders Clinic
MCG Health System 

Many seniors have a difficult time talking about memory loss even with their own doctors. Seniors who do talk about memory loss usually do so only with their spouses. Approximately 4.5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, a form of degenerative brain disease resulting in progressive mental deterioration. By the year 2050, that number is projected to swell to between 11.3  and 16 million.

It’s vital that people who experience memory loss seek treatment early, rather than later. Fear of a diagnosis may lead people to avoid visiting their physicians even when there is an obvious problem. But as with any disease, early diagnosis can make a huge difference in a person’s well-being.

In the case of Alzheimer’s disease, early diagnosis can mean time to slow progression and provide the patient with more time for planning. Medications such as cholinesterase inhibitors work to block the enzymes that break down acetylcholine, ensuring that more of this chemical is available to the brain. Acetylcholine deficits have been found in the brains of those with the disease.

These inhibitors can help improve cognitive function and behavior, and can delay the progression of Alzheimer’s for six to 18 months. In addition, once a diagnosis is made, patients and family members have time to seek out resources and find help. One of the most important goals of the MCG Memory Disorders Clinic, the region’s only clinic dedicated to diagnosing and treating memory loss, is supportive care for patients and families through education and awareness.

Signs of Alzheimer’s disease include:

• Memory loss.
• Difficulty with language.
• Disorientation.
• Misplacing things.
• Difficulty with the activities associated with daily living.
• Changes in personality, mood or behavior.

When someone begins to have memory loss, their first thought can be that they have Alzheimer’s, but that may not be the case. There are other conditions that can cause memory impairment including depression, metabolic imbalances, thyroid conditions, and stroke and head trauma.
 
MCG Health System is composed of three organizations - MCG Health, Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty of the Medical College of Georgia and the members of the MCG Physicians Practice Group. MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Medical Center, MCG Children’s Medical Center, the MCG Sports Medicine Center, MCG Ambulatory Care Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services. MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia, and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by providing an environment for delivering the highest level of primary and specialty health care. For more information, please visit www.MCGHealth.org.