Tag Archives: neurological disease

Living With Parkinson’s Disease

Life with a chronic, progressive disease is a major transition. A person who once thought of themselves as healthy must suddenly adjust to the thought of life with a disease that has no cure. Early in the progression of the disease, the psychological aspects of having the disease may be more of an issue than the motor problems. You may experience denial, disbelief and anger before eventually coming to terms with the fact that you have Parkinson’s disease. If you have Parkinson’s disease, you will never return to “normal”. Your treatment goal will not be eliminating all signs of the … Continue reading →

Parkinson’s Disease: Overview

Thanks to Michael J. Fox, a lot of people have heard of Parkinson’s disease in the last few years. But the disease has been around longer than that! You may know the name, but do you know the basic information about Parkinson’s disease? Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder caused by the loss of nerve cells in the substantia nigra part of the brain. In a normally functioning brain, these nerve cells produce dopamine — a chemical that allows coordinated function of the body’s muscles and movement. When eighty percent of the nerve cells that produce dopamine are damaged, we … Continue reading →

Eat Less To Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?

A new lifelong study of the diet of squirrel monkeys has shown that a reduced-calorie diet may help slow the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City will be publishing their results this November in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. The researchers studied a group of squirrel monkeys for their whole lives. Some were kept on a restricted calorie diet; the rest were allowed a normal diet. The squirrel monkeys that were on the reduced calorie diet were less likely to experience changes in their brains like those that signify Alzheimer’s … Continue reading →

About Alzheimer’s Disease: Treatments and Research

No treatment can stop Alzheimer’s disease… yet. After a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, patients live an average of eight to ten years. Some live with the disease for as many as twenty years. In the early and middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease, there are some drugs available to help slow the progression of memory loss. Generic name: tacrine Name brand: Cognex Generic name: donepezil Name brand: Aricept Generic name: rivastigmine Name brand: Exelon Generic name: galantamine Name brand: Reminyl/Razadyne There is a drug to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease, called memantine (name brand: Namenda). The effects of this drug … Continue reading →

About Alzheimer’s Disease: Symptoms and Diagnosis

Alzheimer’s disease usually begins slowly. Mild forgetfulness may be the only symptom for a long time — and it is easily confused with age-related memory loss. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, a person may have trouble remembering recent events or the names of familiar people or things. They may have difficulty performing familiar activities. These symptoms are bothersome, but usually aren’t serious enough to cause alarm. In the middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease, a person’s symptoms will become more noticeable. The forgetfulness will start to interfere with simple daily activities — a person may forget how to brush … Continue reading →

About Alzheimer’s Disease

You’ve probably heard of Alzheimer’s disease… but there may be a lot you don’t know! Alzheimer’s disease is just one form of dementia — a brain disorder that affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities. It is perhaps the most common (and best known) form of dementia among older people. Quick facts about Alzheimer’s disease As many as 4.5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer’s disease usually begins after the age of sixty, though it has been seen in younger people Approximately five percent of adults between the ages of 65 and 74 have Alzheimer’s disease Nearly … Continue reading →