Coconut oil likely won’t help memory loss

April 28, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I would like to know what you know about pure coconut oil being a good supplement for improving several kinds of dementia. My husband and I are both in our early 80s and don’t have many health problems but recently we have been concerned about memory problems. We saw a webmail and video about a doctor’s husband having Alzheimer’s. She gave him pure coconut oil and he improved over a period of time. Our primary doctors have given us both memory tests and will be checking us regularly in follow-up.

DEAR READER: Coconut oil is a tropical oil made from the nut of the coconut palm tree. One single tablespoon of the oil contains 117 calories – not a big deal – but 13.6 grams of fat, which is. Over the years the product has been touted as a cure-all for hypothyroidism, heart health, Alzheimer’s disease, as an energy boost, weight loss product, and a great deal more. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With: , , ,

Aricept for Alzheimer’s

August 19, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I understand Aricept is not intended to reverse the process of brain degeneration in Alzheimer’s patients but is expected to slow the process down. I am a retired physician and have been on it for about two years, and at age 88, I feel that I am probably having the normal expected results. I am slowly getting worse, primarily because of memory loss, etc.

Do you know of any recent research that has led to any improvement in the actual treatment of Alzheimer’s? I appreciate your response.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With:

Research advances support staying the course

May 21, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My 73-year-old father seems rather forgetful these days. When I took him to his doctor, he was diagnosed with pre-Alzheimer’s disease. I’ve heard of Alzheimer’s, but what exactly is pre-Alzheimer’s?

DEAR READER: It is estimated that more than 5 million Americans suffer from a form of Alzheimer’s, the leading cause of dementia in the Western world. There are new guidelines available for diagnosing early-stage Alzheimer’s (pre-Alzheimer’s), indicating that a state of mental decline can begin years prior to the occurrence of other, more classic symptoms.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With: , , , , ,

Sundowner’s linked to Alzheimer’s

May 5, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Please write something on sundowner’s syndrome. It seems as though this is fairly common. Thank you for all the great information I have read.

DEAR READER: Sundowner’s, or sundowning, is confusion that generally occurs late in the day, although it has been known to occur during early-morning hours as well. The cause appears elusive and is often misunderstood.

The disorder is commonly seen in hospital or nursing-home settings where an older individual may be forced to adjust to a different setting. Or, in some cases, it can manifest following illness or surgery. Sundowner’s may be temporary for some but prolonged in other instances. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With: , , , ,

Pick’s disease resembles Alzheimer’s

April 15, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Some years ago, you wrote an article on Pick’s disease that I misplaced. Can you discuss it once again?

DEAR READER: Pick’s is a rare but permanent form of dementia similar to Alzheimer’s disease. It has a tendency to affect only certain areas of the brain and can affect people as young as 20; however, it is more common in people closer to 55 or 60. People with Pick’s have abnormal substances known as Pick bodies and Pick cells inside nerve cells within damaged areas of the brain.

Tissue in the temporal and frontal lobes of the brain shrink over time and result in impaired thought processes, behavioral changes and difficulties with speech. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With: , , , ,

Alzheimer’s link concerns daughter

April 8, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I recently had an MRI that showed some brain atrophy. A few days ago, I read a report that people whose mothers had Alzheimer’s show more rapid progression of brain atrophy.

I’m 67, and my mother had what I believe was the Alzheimer’s/vascular combo dementia. No autopsy was performed. She showed symptoms in her early 70s, died at 85, and had two sisters who also had dementia.
The recent MRI will have to be my “base.” How soon should I have another to monitor possible deterioration? What is the probability of me getting Alzheimer’s?
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With: , , , ,

Magic pill for Alzheimer’s?

January 26, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: What is the latest information about the early-Alzheimer’s pill? How early or at what age or at what signs should it be taken?

DEAR READER: My guess is that you are referring to Rember, what we all hope will be a breakthrough drug. It is a new formulation of methylene blue, an old product. More than two years ago, British scientists reported a new drug that was designed to slow Alzheimer’s disease. The trial involved 321 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s in the United Kingdom and Singapore. The patients were divided into four groups, three of which took different doses of Rember, and the fourth was provided a placebo. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With: , ,

Alzheimer’s a concern for the aged

December 30, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have an average of three dreams nightly, some of which are upsetting. This started after my wife passed away. I dream about her a lot, but there are many other dreams such as losing my way and trying to get back home, worrying about my family worrying about me, losing my billfold, car being stolen, coming out of church and can’t find the car, church happenings and many other miscellaneous things. I sometimes wonder if this is the doorway to Alzheimer’s. I’m 90 years old and a World War II veteran. I don’t think my problem is normal, but my doctor can’t help me so I will have to rely on you.

DEAR READER: The gradual loss of brain cells causes Alzheimer’s. As we age, we tend to take longer to think things out, yet learning, memory skills, intelligence, judgment and organizational skills should remain intact. Once these skills diminish, when there is trouble with long- and short-term memory loss, remembering names and finding appropriate words, it may be an indication of early Alzheimer’s.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With: , , , ,

Alzheimer’s gene testing not necessary

February 16, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My father has Alzheimer’s disease. Should I be tested for the APOE 4 allele? I would like to know what I’m facing.
DEAR READER: Your short note has a complex answer. I must start by asking some questions. How old is your father? At what age was he diagnosed? What are his symptoms? Is there any doubt of the diagnosis? Is he under the care of a neurologist or other physician familiar with Alzheimer’s disease? Does anyone else in your family have Alzheimer’s or other neurological conditions? How old are you? Are you displaying any symptoms or early-warning signs? The more information readers and patients provide, the more accurate the answers they will receive. Given that I don’t know these things, I can only provide a general overview. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With: , , ,

Dementia Patient Given Inappropriate Medication

April 11, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am writing to thank you from the bottom of my heart for writing the article about Seroquel being risky for elderly patients.

My wife is 82 years old and has had dementia for many years. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and given many different medications to try but nothing worked. When she started getting worse her physician prescribed Seroquel.
About four or five weeks into taking the medication, she became really confused. She would wake up at night and want to go home without realizing that she already was home. It scared me so much that I was afraid to go to sleep in case I didn’t hear her get up.

After reading your column, I took my wife off the Seroquel and noticed a dramatic change within a week. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column Tagged With: , , ,
«Older Posts