Is knowing really worth it? BY CAROL BRADLEY BURSACK | 2.3.2017 Many people understandably wonder if there is any point in seeking an official diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia when there is no cure and doctors are limited in how much they...
We are living longer. The dramatic increase in life expectancy is one of the most notable achievements of the 20th century, with a ten-fold increase in the number of Americans over the age of 65. By 2060, people over 65 will number about 98 million, more than twice...
Recently, I saw an elderly old man who seemed to have Parkinson’s disease, and perhaps Lewy body dementia (see footnote). His family was having a terrible time coping with his behavior. Then, I noticed that he was taking two medications, Reglan (metoclopramide) and...
As I was clicking around the Internet recently, I came across a letter from the British Secretary of State for Health, calling upon local authorities to promote greater awareness of dementia, to try to diagnose dementia early and to encourage both patients and their...
This is the first question I ask of the patients I see as a geriatrician doing house calls in the San Francisco Bay Area. So often, I consult with the children of patients who are incredibly worried about their parents. They want their parents to be safe. They don’t...
I was recently corresponding with David Tate, a San Francisco Attorney who specializes in estates, trusts and elder/disability litigation. He told me that he’s seeing more cases of conservators having to justify the need for dementia care, and also the kind of...
