NetWellness Alzheimer's Disease

Time to Take Aricept

Douglas Scharre MD — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:08:00 EST

Question: When is the best time of day to take aricept? (e.g. morning, afternoon or evening)

Answer: Aricept stays in your system a long time and so it doesn't matter what time of day it is taken from an efficacy point of view. However, it should be taken about the same time each day. It also doesn't matter if Aricept is taken with or without food as it gets absorbed equally well either way. Some p . . .

Ask an Expert: Douglas Scharre MD, Alzheimer's Disease

Result of Brain MRI

NetWellness Staff . — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:08:00 EST

Question: I have reproduced below the Brain:MRI Report for my mother-in-law. I would like to know more about her condition, disease and possible cures.

"There is evidence of diffuse cortical atrophy involving both cerebral hemispheres with secondary enlargement of supratentorial sulci and cisternal . . .

Answer: Thank you for visiting NetWellness. On this site, NetWellness experts try to answer general questions about health. Only the health professional who ordered the tests should interpret the results. However, NetWellness may have some general information available that you can access through our Ask an Expert: NetWellness Staff ., Alzheimer's Disease

Memory Delay

Douglas Scharre MD — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:08:00 EST

Question: I have been experiencing a type of memory problem. At times when I am driving or even in the home, I all of a sudden forget where I am. I don`t know what direction I am supposed to go (even though I have a suspicion as to where to turn) or reconigize what is around me. But usually within 10 to 20 se . . .

Answer: This sounds like you are describing jamais vu. This is a temporary sensation of unfamiliarity. Sometimes you get a sensation that something is new to you even though you've known it for a long time. It can be getting very briefly lost in very familiar places. Probably between 40% and 60% of the popu . . .

Ask an Expert: Douglas Scharre MD, Alzheimer's Disease

Number of Years with Alzheimer`s

Leopold Liss MD — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:06:00 EST

Question: Can a CT scan determine how long a patient has been suffering from Alzheimer`s?

Answer: If you want to know if a CT scan can tell you how many years the disease has lasted, the answer is: NO, a CT scan cannot tell you. If you ask a more general question, for instance, is the disease "early" or "very advanced", then the MRI may be of help.

Ask an Expert: Leopold Liss MD, Alzheimer's Disease

Fluid on the Brain from Dementia

Douglas Scharre MD — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:06:00 EST

Question: My mother had a CT for dementia or alzheimer disease. The doctor said there is fluid on her brain. Is it dangerous or is the brain shrinking?

Answer: Unfortunately, it would be impossible to make any comment on a scan that I have not seen. If there is shrinkage of the brain tissue than fluid would build up in its place naturally and the excess fluid would not have any inherent danger. If the fluid is trapped and is blocked from circulating, than . . .

Ask an Expert: Douglas Scharre MD, Alzheimer's Disease

Death From Complications of Alzheimer`s

Rebecca Davis RN, LISW — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:06:00 EST

Question:

It was the first diaper change of the morning. To soothe my mother`s restlessness I started to sing. She immediately joined in. After the diaper change, she vomited unexpectedly and before I could turn her onto her side, she had inhaled. . . her breathing was a combination of gurgles, gasping, an . . .

Answer:

Dear Family: When I read the question you submitted to the NetWellness Ask-an-Expert site I was immediately touched by your tenderness in the care for your mother. The sweetness of singing with her to help ease her restlessness is demonstration of a caregiver who understands that Alzheimer's may . . .

Ask an Expert: Rebecca Davis RN, LISW, Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer`s and Risperdal

Douglas Scharre MD — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:05:00 EST

Question: Hi, My 83 year old mother has Alzheimer`s and we have tried different things to control her behavioral problems. It`s been about 2 months now and it seems like the medication is not working as well. She is on 1/2 mg 2 times a day. With that we still have to give her Xanax so she will sleep at night . . .

Answer: There are many alternative medications to Risperidal and Xanax. Some patients work well with them and other do not. Ask her doctor for other possible medication trials to help with her specific behavior issues. Xanax can be addictive and build up a tolerance so that a lower dose may no longer work a . . .

Ask an Expert: Douglas Scharre MD, Alzheimer's Disease

Advanced Small Vessel Change - MRI Results

NetWellness Staff . — Sun, 24 May 2009 16:05:00 EST

Question: The Impression on my husband`s recent MRI was:"1) Nonspecific foci of increased T2 signal in the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres. The differential diagnosis includes advances small vessel change and demyelinating disease. Clinical correlation is required. 2) The intracranial findings a . . .

Aricept

Douglas Scharre MD — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:05:00 EST

Question: Can Aricept cause sudden abnormal behavior in someone. My mother began exhibiting headaches, memory loss and confusion over the past couple of months. A week ago, Mother was diagnosed with dementia and prescribed Aricept. Mother took her first dose on Thursday night. Early Friday morning, Mother wen . . .

Answer: There can be many causes for your mother's behavior: infection, inflammation, metabolic conditions, toxic conditions, dementia, among others. Any new medication is a possible cause. While Aricept usually does not cause this type of behavior, it is always possible in certain individuals. It is best t . . .

Ask an Expert: Douglas Scharre MD, Alzheimer's Disease

Aricept - Could Less Be Better?

Douglas Scharre MD — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:04:00 EST

Question: In January my mother was diagnosed with an untyped form of dementia. The Doctor felt it was not Alzheimer`s based on symptoms but likely related to earlier TIAs mother had. So they started her on Aricept. After 3 weeks she really was doing better, then after 4, they increased the dose from 5mg to 10 . . .

Answer:

For most individuals, Aricept 10 mg works a little bit better than 5 mg. However, if it seems that she is possibly having a side effect with the 10 mg, one can always back down to 5 mg and see if it makes a difference in her symptoms. The dose of a medicine may depend on other factors. Aricept is . . .

Ask an Expert: Douglas Scharre MD, Alzheimer's Disease