Author Lauren Wellbank recently interviewed Dr. Sara Candler, Director of the Iora Care Team, for a special edition of Martha Stewart’s Health and Wellness.
The interview focused on dementia and its relationship to Alzheimer’s, which is a form of dementia. Since Alzheimer’s affects millions of Americans, most people reading this article will know someone who has or had the disease.
Last year there were approximately six million people in the U.S. known to have Alzheimer’s. That number doubles every five years among people who are sixty-five years of age and older.
Dr. Candler points out that many people use the terms dementia and Alzheimer’s interchangeably. However, although Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia, not all forms of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease.
The doctor explained that between sixty to eighty percent of dementia diagnoses annually are found to be a form of Alzheimer’s disease. The onset is usually mild, resulting only in memory loss. The patient’s physical well being is generally preserved until many years later
Other Forms of Dementia
Parkinson’s disease is also a type of dementia but usually has severe physical complications almost immediately. Dementia may occur after physical symptoms take hold.
Dementia: Progressive and Irreversible
Dr. Candler explains that with the exception of vascular dementia, most dementia disorders are irreversible. The vascular form of dementia usually occurs as a result of a stroke caused by a blood clot or a bleed causing the loss of certain body functions. However, it is sometimes possible to treat and reverse vascular dementia through rehab.
Memory vs. Brain Disorder
Dr. Candler discusses patients she has seen who are concerned about their memory. The patient may feel anxious, overwhelmed, or depressed. Most of the time it is not a loss of memory but a lack of focus. The patient may have been distracted by an overwhelming problem that caused a simple lapse of memory. Vitamin deficiencies or thyroid issues may also be responsible. It is important to see a doctor with full details of symptoms.
Rx for Brain Health
Dr. Howard Fillit founding director at Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation offers workout suggestions that benefit brain health. Dr. Fillit admits that there is no one type of exercise that has been proven to enhance brain or memory health. Therefore, he suggests that the best exercise would be one that you enjoy.
Dr. Fillit recommends jogging, brisk walking, swimming, or cycling. Each exercise benefits brain health. If you enjoy your exercise routine, there is a greater chance of your continuing over the long term. The right exercise, long term, can keep your mind and body fit.
