spotlight on health With Alzheimer’s, Early Intervention Offers Best Results (NAPSA)—While some change in memory is normal as we grow older, the symptomsof Alzheimer’s disease are more than simple lapses in memory. People with Alzheimer’s can experience difficulties communi- dementia is an important step in getting appropriate treatment, care, and support. Many avenues are being explored to find new treatments for this debilitating disease, including several that are in clinical trials. Participation in clinical trials allows patients to play an active role in their own health care and cating, learning, thinking, and reasoning. To help family members and health care professionals recognize warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, the Alzheimer’s Association offers this checklist of common symptoms. 1. While it’s normal to forget appointments, names, or telephone numbers, those with dementia will forget such things more often and not rememberthem later. 2. People with dementia often find it hard to complete everyday tasks that are so familiar we usually do not think about how to do them, such as using a household appliance, or participating in a hobby. 3. Everyone has trouble finding the right word sometimes, but a person with Alzheimer’s disease often forgets simple words or substitutes unusual words, making speech or writing hard to understand. 4. It’s normal to forget the day of the week or where you're going. But people with Alzheimer’s disease can becomelost on their own street, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home. 5. No one has perfect judgment all of the time. However, those with Alzheimer’s may dress without regard to the weather, or Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is an important step in getting appropriate care. show poor judgment about money, giving away large amounts of money to telemarketers or paying for products they don’t need. 6. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease could forget how to balance a checkbook, what the num- bers are and what needs to be done with them. 7. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl. 8. Rapid mood swings—from calm to tears to anger—for no apparent reason maybe a sign of Alzheimer’s disease. 9. Personalities ordinarily change somewhat with age, but a person with Alzheimer’s disease can change a lot, becoming extremely confused, suspicious, fearful, or dependent on a family member. 10.The person with Alzhei- mer’s disease may become withdrawn or not want to take part in usualactivities. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or other disorders causing gain access to newresearchtreat- ments before they are widely available. One such treatment is being studied in over 20 U.S. medical centers. Called the COGNIShunt System, this medical device is designed to improve the clearance of harmful chemicals found in the fluid surrounding the brain that are believed to contribute to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Early clinical study results, published in the October 22, 2002 issue of the journal Neurology, indicated that the device may slow or stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. This multi-center pivotal trial is designed to demonstrate its safety andefficacy. Physicians across the country are currently enrolling patients who are: Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease; In the early to middle stage * 62 to 85 years of age; and Otherwise in good health. of the disease; To learn more, call 1-888-4MY- MIND(1-888-469-6463) for information about the ongoingclinical trial or visit www.eunoe-inc.com.
