Walking into the Memory Disorder Clinic at the Roskamp Institute one might ask Wh y work with Alzheimers

patients and their families? The answers are manyfold. On e of the most rewarding aspects of working with Alzheimers patients is that they are most commonly our oldest citizens who have 60, 70 or 80 years of life experi ence behind them many of them have served their country in one form or another - frequently in the military but often times in businesses working for others o r their own companies. Many of those serving in the armed forces have captivati ng stories. One visitor to the clinic had parachuted into three war zones Norma ndy, the boot of Italy, and Germany. Remembering this tale this gentleman was mos t afraid of being shot by the Russians! Of course being able to recall these ol d memories is not unusual for Alzheimer disease suffers. In fact the tendency t o reminisce sometimes becomes a prominent feature of the disorder. Most caregiv ers are initially concerned by another aspect of the disorder namely the forgetf ulness for recently acquired or presented information. Such things as recent vi sits recent phone calls or recent conversations and events may not be remembered either in part or in full. This distressing symptom interferes with social act ivities and is a progressive aspect of the disease. Therefore one of the most r ewarding aspect of working with Alzheimers sufferers and their families is being able to convey to them the several treatment options that are available. This i ncludes, as well as those drugs approved by the FDA, new and experimental treatm ents including those that are being developed by the Roskamp Institute itself. Providing hope for patients and their families is a critical part of interfacing with them. In addition helping families to come to terms with a disorder that can impact many aspects of their love ones lives (including social interactions , pastimes and sports, financial transactions and medical legal issues) enables families to make the necessary adjustments to deal with the condition. Natural ly a particularly satisfying interaction can occur when certain elements of a pa tients health can be altered to improve the outcome once a diagnosis of Alzheimers has been made. For instance we know that cardio-vascular health interacts crit ically with Alzheimers disease and aversion of cerebrovascular events (such as sm all strokes or transient ischemic attacks) has a highly beneficial effect on the outcome of Alzheimers patients. In addition other conditions such as diabetes o r thyroid disease can interact negatively with the disease. These and many othe r treatable causes of cognitive dysfunction appear at the Roskamp Memory Clinic and are regularly amenable to intervention. Sometimes previous diagnoses are fo und to be incorrect and memory loss may be completely reversible. For instance people suffering from normal pressure hydrocephalus have a condition that is com pletely amenable to surgical correction. Another gratifying aspect of working with Alzheimers patients is being able to gi ve their families and loved ones a clear indication of what the treatment option s are and what the outcomes are likely to be. In addition family members are of ten concerned about their own risk for developing the disease it now being commo n knowledge that the disease has a familial aspect. All in all there is much to recommend a profession working and caring for Alzhei mers patients. Our elderly are frequently amongst our most valued citizens who ha ve contributed to the prosperity and safety of subsequent generations. Continui ng to work for their immediate care and finding new treatments to improve their long term prognosis are the premier interests of the Roskamp Institutes researche rs, physicians and clinicians. for more information on Alzheimers please visit: http://www.mullanalzheimer.com or http://www.mullanalzheimer.info