Chief of Geriatric Medicine George Hennawi, MD consults with a patient at the Center for Successful Aging.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive type of dementia that diminishes brain function over time. Characterized by memory loss, patients also experience changes in speech, attention, mood, abstract thinking, and judgment.
While most patients are diagnosed with Alzheimer's after age 65, developing the disease is not a normal part of aging. Talk with a doctor about any episodes of memory loss and other cognitive functions. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the chance of slowing progression of the disease.
MedStar Health is a national leader in Alzheimer’s research and treatment. Our neurologists collaborate with the Center for Successful Aging and geriatric specialists from Baltimore to D.C. to provide family-centered, whole-patient care. We provide personalized diagnoses and cutting-edge treatments to manage the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Types of memory loss
Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia, which is an umbrella term for conditions that cause cognitive decline and mood changes. The two terms are not interchangeable. The terms “senility” or “senile dementia” were commonly used to describe Alzheimer’s disease in the past, and memory loss and confusion were believed to be an inevitable part of aging. Now we can provide specific, individualized medical diagnoses to give patients with the care and respect they deserve.
Signs and symptoms
Memory loss is a well-known complication of dementia-related conditions. It’s just one of many symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease. You might notice one of these other warning signs, and if you do, it’s time to talk with a specialist:
- Apathy: Are they losing interest in work, hobbies, social activities, or personal relationships?
- Problem-solving: Are they having challenges with making plans and following through?
- Confusion: Are they losing track of time or place?
- Distraction: Are they misplacing items or unable to complete a daily task?
- Balance: Are they dropping things or having trouble judging distance?
- Judgment: Are they making decisions they wouldn’t normally make, or behaving erratically?
- Mood: Are they unusually irritable, anxious, or angry? Do they have unpredictable mood swings?
- Language: Do they often have difficulty finishing a sentence or finding the right words?
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease affects people in different ways. Memory loss, confusion, disorientation, and poor judgment are a few of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
Stages of Alzheimer's disease
While the age of onset and emergence of Alzheimer’s symptoms can vary greatly, the disease typically follows a progressive pattern:
- Early stage (mild symptoms): Memory loss, difficulty handling money, repeating questions, and wandering or getting lost.
- Middle stage (moderate symptoms): Forgetting names or personal history, inability to learn new things, decreasing attention span, anxiety in new situations, and emotional outbursts or behavior changes.
- Late state (severe symptoms): Inability to communicate, no awareness of surroundings, difficulty swallowing, and loss of control over bodily functions.
Each stage requires increased caregiving. Eventually, the patient will no longer be able to live independently.
Risk factors
While the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not yet known, several proven risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing dementia, including:
- Age: This is the most common risk factor. After age 65, the likelihood of developing dementia doubles every five years.
- Genetics and family history: Dementia, and particularly Alzheimer's disease, tends to run in families. If multiple relatives have developed dementia or Alzheimer's, your risk increases. The occurrence or likelihood of dementia within one's family also may be caused by a certain gene.
- Lifestyle: Researchers are studying whether environment, diet, and education play a role in developing Alzheimer’s disease.
How is Alzheimer's disease diagnosed?
Your care team will conduct a physical exam, blood tests, and medical screenings to help rule out other possible causes, such as vitamin deficiencies, infections, thyroid issues, or medication problems.
MedStar Health specialists will conduct special tests, ranging from neuropsychological screenings to comprehensive dementia exams. We work with your primary care provider to answer questions and make treatment and management recommendations.
Treatment options and preventive steps
Your care team will work closely with you to create a comprehensive treatment plan. You'll be surrounded by experts in brain diseases, aging issues, behavior therapy, and more. These specialists collaborate to coordinate appointments, medications, and home safety. Family and caregivers will be involved at every stage.
Medications
While there is not yet a cure for Alzheimer's, researchers are working on promising therapies. Many of these studies focus on clumps of amyloid proteins called plaques that affect brain cells.
Many people with Alzheimer's disease take medications that help maintain memory and thinking, behavioral issues, and sleep disruptions. Your neurologist will consider the severity of symptoms along with potential side effects and drug interactions.
Caregivers often find it difficult to keep track of the patient’s medications. A nurse with MedStar Health’s Home Care team can teach you how to organize prescriptions and set up reminders through our Medication Management service.
Supportive therapies
Prevention
There is no foolproof strategy to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are lifestyle changes that are proven to significantly reduce risk, including:
- Be proactive about warning signs: Talk to your primary care provider about any concerns regarding memory loss and other cognitive problems.
- Age healthfully: Maintain a healthy weight, avoid tobacco and excess alcohol, stay socially connected, and exercise your body and mind.
- Keep your heart healthy: Brain health is strongly linked to heart health. Your risk of developing dementia symptoms can be increased by conditions that damage the heart or blood vessels, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
- Protect yourself from head injury: Research shows that serious head injuries could potentially lead to Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia in the future.
Our providers
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Neurology
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Margaret Bassett, CRNP
Memory And Cognitive Disorders Neurology & Neurology
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Ahmareen Baten, MD
Epilepsy Neurology & Neurology
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James Lyle Bicksel, MD
Neurology & Memory And Cognitive Disorders Neurology
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Elizabeth M. Chandler, CRNP
Neurology
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Tracy Vu Fulton, MD
Neurology
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Jennifer Jean Haagensen, DO, MS
Neurology
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Kathleen Beatrice Johnson, CRNP, ANP-BC
Memory And Cognitive Disorders Neurology & Neurology
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Samuel Bennett Miller, MD
Neurology
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Gholam Motamedi, MD
Neurology
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Elizabeth Epstein Mundel, MD
Neurology
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Fernando Luis Pagan, MD
Movement Disorders Neurology & Neurology
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Bahareh Sianati, MD
Neurology
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Andrew Benjamin Stemer, MD
Neurology
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Amanda Grace Tinsley, MD
Neurology
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Gary Joseph Volkell, DO
Neurology
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Tian Wang, MD
Headache Medicine, Epilepsy Neurology & Neurology
Geriatric Medicine
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Sharareh Badri, MD
Geriatric Medicine
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Sarah M. Bayne, CRNP
Geriatric Medicine
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Guy Vin Chang, MD
Geriatric Medicine
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Urika D. Evans Mayo, AGACNP-BC
Geriatric Medicine
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George Hennawi, MBBS
Geriatric Medicine
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Cecilia S Kim, MD
Geriatric Medicine
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Nadia K Krause, AGACNP
Geriatric Medicine
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Pamela A. Mahoney, CRNP
Geriatric Medicine
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Diana May Ng, GNP-BC
Geriatric Medicine
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Chinyere Ijeoma Okeagu, ANP
Geriatric Medicine
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Carlie Micole Pierorazio, AGPCNP-BC, MSN, CRNP
Palliative Medicine & Geriatric Medicine
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Pinky S. Singh, MD
Geriatric Medicine & Internal Medicine
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George Taler, MD
Geriatric Medicine
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Elizabeth Park Tanner, MD
Geriatric Medicine
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Raj P Mathur, MBBS
Geriatric Medicine
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Anna T. Monias, MD
Geriatric Medicine
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New Patients Not Accepting New Patients
Clinical trials and research
MedStar Health patients may have access to clinical trials, which offer the latest Alzheimer’s disease therapies before they are widely available elsewhere.