Dementia and Alzheimer’s 101
Speaker: Dr. Gary Figiel, geriatric psychiatrist
Tuesday, March 18 at 7 p.m.
East Cobb Senior Center
3332 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta 30066
770-509-4900
RSVP: http://cobbseniors.eventbrite.com?s=21456105
What’s the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?
Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability that hinders daily living. Memory loss is an example. There could be many causes.
Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia and the most common form. It is an irreversible brain disorder with no known cure.
What do medications do?
Current medications cannot cure Alzheimer’s or stop it from progressing, but they may help lessen symptoms, such as memory loss and confusion, for a limited time.
Source: Alzheimer's Association
Alzheimer’s Association provides a 24-hour helpline for caregivers, both professional and family members, to call with any questions or concerns. The Georgia Chapter also provides training for caregivers statewide. This information can be obtained by calling the helpline at 1-800-272-3900.
For more information about Alzheimer’s, visit http://www.alz.org/georgia/
When Dr. Gary Figiel, a geriatric psychiatrist, lectures on Alzheimer’s disease, more often than not it is to an audience of family caregivers confused and frightened at the task in front of them.
Their questions are elementary: What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia? What do the medications do?
“They feel lost in a maze. Very few of them are getting the right information,” Figiel said.
So the Atlanta physician, who specializes in early diagnosis and management of memory disorders, leads them through a quick beginner’s course, sort of an Alzheimer’s 101. He dispels myths and lays out the facts in laymen’s terms.
Educating the public is also a priority of the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter. While an estimated 120,000 Georgians are now living with the neurological disorder, half of those have yet to be diagnosed, said Kathy Simpson, director of advocacy.
Seniors may be reluctant to see a physician about dementia because they consider it normal aging, but that’s a myth, said Simpson. Alzheimer’s — the most common form of dementia — is a progressive and incurable disease where brain cells malfunction, then die. Early intervention and treatment is helpful in slowing the symptoms.
The diagnosis is also tricky because there are no blood tests or brain scans that tell you someone has Alzheimer’s. It is a clinical diagnosis made after interviewing family members and the patient, and one that most physicians are not properly trained to make, Figiel said.
He said half of all persons who are diagnosed have been living with symptoms of Alzheimer’s for five to 10 years.
Once the diagnosis is made, getting the proper care and community support is paramount. One challenge for state health officials and aging services has been getting accurate statistics.
A state task force has recommended establishing an Alzheimer’s Disease Registry within the Georgia Department of Public Health. This comprehensive database would assist with elder care planning so those with various types of dementia can receive services in their communities, Simpson said.
Advocates for the nonprofit recently spent a day at the state Capitol rallying support for the registry bill and distributing information about Alzheimer’s.
Jessica Gill, director of Cobb County Senior Services, said the data would be helpful in supporting those with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.
“We will also be able to focus on research, safety and community support, as well as identify funding mechanisms and collaborative partnerships for programs and services with this kind of registry,” she said.
Gill also encourages early assessment and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. She envisions future partnerships with health care entities where Cobb Senior Services can help connect individuals with the appropriate medical provider.
Cobb and other counties now offer caregiver support groups, respite care, senior day care and other programs to make life easier.
The Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association provides educational classes for caregivers, as well as a 24-hour helpline. Simpson used the resources herself when she took care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s.
“It helped to know I wasn’t alone in the journey,” she said.
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