Early detection key to Alzheimer's care

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By Kristy Wallace

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Those who wanted to learn more about Alzheimer's disease and dementia gathered at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre in Ottawa on Jan. 19 for a talk hosted by Dr. Andrew Frank, medical director of the memory disorder clinic at Bruyère Continuing Care.

Kristy Wallace, Ottawa West EMC

Those who wanted to learn more about Alzheimer's disease and dementia gathered at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre in Ottawa on Jan. 19 for a talk hosted by Dr. Andrew Frank, medical director of the memory disorder clinic at Bruyère Continuing Care.

EMC News - Jeff Marier had no idea his mother, Mary, was showing the signs of Alzheimer's disease until he broke his leg back in 2005.

Stuck at home, he suddenly started noticing his mother would repeat stories to him. She would ask him the same questions over and over again, and would even get lost in the house.

"I filed it in the back of my mind," said Marier, who spoke at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Jan. 19 at an information session about Alzheimer's and dementia.

Six months later, Marier found out his mother had Alzheimer's when he read a pamphlet about it at the doctor's office. She was referred to a memory clinic, and was diagnosed.

"It wasn't the best news we'd ever gotten," said Marier, adding that he retired about three years ago and has now taken on a new full-time job - caring for Mary.

"I gradually inherited more and more responsibilities ranging from cooking, cleaning laundry, transportation ... it's a full time job, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year," he said. "There's no time off, and I can't phone in sick. I hope in the future, no one will have to deal with Alzheimer's - not a patient, nor caregiver because it impacts both of you immensely."

The event also featured Dr. Andrew Frank, a cognitive neurologist and medical director of the memory disorder clinic at Elizabeth Bruyère Hospital.

Frank gave an overview of Alzheimer's and what medications are on the market to help slow down the process of memory loss.

"There's a massive effort around the world to find new treatments," he said. "There's a great, great need for more."

Frank also distinguished between what constitutes normal memory loss and when memory loss could be a sign of Alzheimer's.

"Some degree of memory loss may be normal as someone gets older," he said. "You might have difficult remembering someone's name ... forgetting why you've entered a room ... you may remember later, but it just took a while to get there."

Then there are signs when memory loss isn't normal.

"When they're not aware, and it's others who are noticing it, they're forgetting that they're forgetting," Frank said. "That's dangerous."

He also distinguished between Alzheimer's and dementia, saying that Alzheimer's is the cause while dementia is the effect.

The best thing people can do, according to Frank, is to get tested early.

"An early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease opens the door to earlier medication therapy, but also enables learning and support groups to provide coping assistance," he said.

He also said a new treatment could be available within the next two to five years or it could be even longer.

"One day there will be a world where there's no Alzheimer's," he said. "I think that will happen one day, I just don't know when. But let's hope it's sooner rather than later."

kristy.wallace@metroland.com