Mental health

The Alzheimer's Action Plan

The Experts' Guide to the Best Diagnosis and Treatment for Memory Problems

By P. Murali Doraiswamy, MD and Lisa P. Gwytherr, MSW

A recent study released by the Alzheimer's Association estimated that a staggering ten million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's disease in their lifetimes, with estimates of over 500,000 newly diagnosed cases per year by 2010 and a million new cases annually by 2050. In addition, research has also shown that Alzheimer's brain changes may start taking effect many years, even decades, before noticeable symptoms arise in people at risk and that widespread medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, or vascular disease may further increase the risk for memory problems. With these factors in mind, and especially considering that increasing numbers of Americans are developing the disease well before the age of 65, gaining an early understanding of the onset of Alzheimer's is no longer optional, but a virtual necessity.

So, in this new age of Alzheimer's, what do you do if you suspect you or someone close to you may have the disease? How do you determine if they are just experiencing minor memory loss or are actually in the early stages of Alzheimer's? How many doctors should they see? How will this affect your family's way of life? These and countless other questions are answered in The Alzheimer's Action Plan: The Experts' Guide to the Best Diagnosis and Treatment for Memory Problems by P. Murali Doraiswamy and Lisa P. Gwyther. This book is not only a comprehensive guide for people suffering from memory loss and their families, but also an engaging and empowering read that gives straightforward advice on everything from medical options to emotional well-being.

Combining the expertise of a world-class physician with a renowned social worker, The Alzheimer's Action Plan attacks the subject form a variety of angles and emphasizes a proactive attitude that will leave readers prepared for anything they might encounter once a diagnosis is handed down. Beginning with an essential question for the doctor, "What would you do if he/she were your parent?", this book encourages readers to take action and create a situation that is best for the individual and his/her family. With an easily referenced Q&A section in the back, full of tough-to-broach subjects, this book covers the full spectrum of Alzheimer's treatment and care, including:

• what early onset Alzheimer's looks like and why doctors often miss it
• the best drugs to treat Alzheimer's
• how to see a superspecialist with little or no wait times
• your eight rights as a parent, including the right to get the latest and best diagnostic tests, the right to know all test results, and the right to plan for assets and your future
• what good for your heart is good for your brain: diet, exercise, and supplements, and other tips for a brain-healthy lifestyle
• what behavioral and emotional changes you can expect over the early and middle stages of Alzheimer's and how to cope with them
• what looks like Alzheimer's, feels like Alzheimer's, but isn't Alzheimer's
• how to interview a doctor to determine the best course of treatment, including deciding whether a clinical trial is beneficial to you
• how to get a reluctant friend or family member to agree to a memory evaluation

With five million American currently suffering from Alzheimer's, an increasing number of young people being diagnosed every year, and a burgeoning epidemic on the horizon from the baby boomer generation, this book is more necessary now than ever. Presented in a friendly manner with easy-to-understand terminology, The Alzheimer's Action Plan is not only an essential resource for people living with memory disorders and their families, but is also the contemporary go-to guide for early stage Alzheimer's changes and treatment.