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Older adults have health problems that are unique and common with aging. The most significant issue that is raised on a frequent basis in my office is impaired memory. People note that they have difficulty recalling the names of friends and acquaintances. These are people that they have previously been able to identify quickly without any difficulty. They become very concerned that they are developing Alzheimer’s disease. They would like to be screened for the disorder. They would like to consider medication or treatments that would help improve the situation or prevent further decline.
Most of us have a gradual decline in our cognitive ability starting in our late 30s. The decline is modest. Most of us compensate with hand held computers, written notes and other memory enhancing devices.
On occasion, people have a much more significant decline. This requires screening. In our office, we screen all adults over age 65 for memory disorders. The most significant memory disorder is Alzheimer’s disease. It is also the most common significant memory disorder. There are other identifiable conditions that can affect memory.
It is important to identify these issues and treat them. There have been significant advances in the early treatment and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Medications and treatment can be quite effective in improving the quality of a patient’s life. They can be quite effective in delaying the progress of the disease, and in some cases, improving function. On the horizon are vaccines and other advanced treatments currently being investigated by the Memory Clinic in Bennington, Vermont and other centers.
The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease increases as we get older. The most likely reason for the increased concern about Alzheimer’s disease is that we are all living longer and therefore at greater risk for the disorder. The reason we are living longer is that other issues in older adults are being screened and identified. We are screening regularly for breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. We are also screening men and women for heart disease on a regular basis. If these conditions are identified early, they can be treated successfully and allow patients to live well beyond the life expectancy of our parents.
General internal medicine is a delightful field that allows physicians such as myself to improve the quality of life of older adults. Our opportunities to improve health are advancing rapidly.
Dr. Daniel M. Sullivan is a Board Certified Internist at the Williamstown Medical Associates.