http://blogs.ajc.com/better-health/2009/10/09/aging-caring-six-steps-to-diagnosing-alzheimers/ Advice and suggestions for taking care of you and your family Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:18:14 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://blogs.ajc.com/better-health/2009/10/09/aging-caring-six-steps-to-diagnosing-alzheimers/comment-page-1/#comment-2027 Laura_ICARAStudy Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:44:41 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/better-health/?p=1292#comment-2027 It is important for patients and families affected by diseases such as Alzheimer’s to consider participating in clinical studies. One such study is the ICARA Study (www.icarastudy.com), whose goal is to explore if an investigational drug, called Bapineuzumab, can help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. Clinical studies that test new treatments are the best chance we have for fighting this disease. Current therapies for Alzheimer’s treat the symptoms associated with it, not the disease itself. It is important for patients and families affected by diseases such as Alzheimer’s to consider participating in clinical studies. One such study is the ICARA Study (www.icarastudy.com), whose goal is to explore if an investigational drug, called Bapineuzumab, can help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. Clinical studies that test new treatments are the best chance we have for fighting this disease. Current therapies for Alzheimer’s treat the symptoms associated with it, not the disease itself.

]]> http://blogs.ajc.com/better-health/2009/10/09/aging-caring-six-steps-to-diagnosing-alzheimers/comment-page-1/#comment-1982 Joseph J. Sivak MD Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:51:10 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/better-health/?p=1292#comment-1982 An excellent article that is all encompassing. I can not emphasize the impotance of getting a good physician and seeing a specialist that works with AD victims. It is important to candidly ask you doctor what his or her philosophy is on treating the disease. AD is a medical and a social problem. There are many varying attitudes and philosophys amongst physicians on treating the disease. They range from apathy to all out gung-ho aggressive treatment. This is important to know since there is not a cure for the disease yet. The best treatments currently available can only and often slow the progression of the disease, but it still progresses. Most good doctors want to meet and help the family with wherever they are at emotionally and philosophically, and help guide them through the process. You want a doctor who is well-versed on the current treatments and the latest research. You want the doctor to partner with you through a difficult journey. It is a process that is not very pleasant or comfortbale but you want to be as open and confortable with your doctor as possible and have a sense that you understand their feelings on the disease. If you have this comfort and trust in your doctor it can sometimes make the process a bit less arduous. Joseph J. Sivak MD http://alzheimmers.blogspot.com An excellent article that is all encompassing. I can not emphasize the impotance of getting a good physician and seeing a specialist that works with AD victims. It is important to candidly ask you doctor what his or her philosophy is on treating the disease. AD is a medical and a social problem. There are many varying attitudes and philosophys amongst physicians on treating the disease. They range from apathy to all out gung-ho aggressive treatment. This is important to know since there is not a cure for the disease yet. The best treatments currently available can only and often slow the progression of the disease, but it still progresses. Most good doctors want to meet and help the family with wherever they are at emotionally and philosophically, and help guide them through the process.
You want a doctor who is well-versed on the current treatments and the latest research. You want the doctor to partner with you through a difficult journey. It is a process that is not very pleasant or comfortbale but you want to be as open and confortable with your doctor as possible and have a sense that you understand their feelings on the disease. If you have this comfort and trust in your doctor it can sometimes make the process a bit less arduous.
Joseph J. Sivak MD
http://alzheimmers.blogspot.com

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