Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Parkinson's Disease Dementia: Patient, Family, and Clinician Working Together for Better Outcomes

by J. Eric Ahlskog

Overview

Patients, spouses, families, and caregivers dealing with dementia face a host of complex issues, particularly when they must confront Dementia with Lewy Bodies or Parkinson's Disease. Until now there has been no guidebook for the general public to help navigate these challenging disorders.

In Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Parkinson's Disease Dementia, Dr. J. Eric Ahlskog draws on 30 years of clinical and research work at Mayo Clinic to arm patients and families with crucial information that will enable them to work in tandem with their doctors. A diagnosis of dementia can be devastating, leaving families and caregivers struggling with a loved one's radically-impaired thinking and memory. When dementia is coupled with Parkinson's, which will develop in Parkinson's patients that live long enough, or with Lewy Bodies, which is the second leading cause of dementia behind Alzheimer's, the difficulties become even more daunting. And while these disorders are all too common, most people have little solid information about them. Too often doctors cannot spend the necessary time answering questions or discussing the specific challenges and treatments for these kinds of dementia during office visits. Arriving for a doctor appointment knowing the issues and treatment options beforehand gives patients and families an important head start. Dr. Ahlskog clearly explains all aspects of these disorders, their causes, symptoms, most effective drug treatments, proper doses, and which medications to avoid. He also discusses the complications that can arise in treating these conditions, given the variety of available medications and their possible side effects and interactions.

While a cure does not yet exist, in this accessible, highly informative guidebook, Dr. Ahlskog shows that optimal medical treatment can markedly improve the quality of life for both patients and family.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199977567
Publisher:	Oxford University Press, USA
Publication date:	09/01/2013
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	494,796
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Dr. Ahlskog is Professor of Neurology, Mayo Medical School and Chair of the Mayo Clinic Section of Movement Disorders, Rochester, Minnesota. He is a full-time clinician with most of his Mayo practice devoted to Lewy body disorders, including Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy Bodies. He has published over 200 manuscripts in peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals and authored two books.

Table of Contents

Preface

Glossary

Chapter 1. Background

Chapter 2. What is known about the cause

Chapter 3. Are there medications for slowing the progression?

Chapter 4. Defining the problems that require individualized treatment

Treatment Chapters

Levodopa-responsive problems
.
Chapter 5. Which drug for Parkinsonism? Walking, stiffness, tremor, slowness

Chapter 6. Using carbidopa/levodopa to treat parkinsonism

Chapter 7. Parkinsonism treatment among those already on medications

Chapter 8. Unstable responses and dyskinesias: later motor problems

Chapter 9. Other levodopa-responsive problems: anxiety, pain, insomnia

Problems exacerbated by Parkinson medications

Chapter 10. Hallucinations, delusions

Chapter 11. Pathological behaviors provoked by dopamine agonist drugs: gambling, sex, eating, spending

Cognitive problems

Chapter 12. Confusion, impaired thinking, judgment

Dysautonomia: blood pressure, bladder, bowels

Chapter 13. Blood pressure and orthostatic hypotension: faints, near-faints and lightheadedness

Chapter 14. Bladder problems

Chapter 15. Bowels and constipation

Other sleep problems

Chapter 16. Daytime drowsiness

Chapter 17. Acting out dreams: REM sleep behavior disorder

More general issues

Chapter 18. Depression

Chapter 19. General medical issues

Chapter 20. Importance of regular exercise

Chapter 21. Hospitalization and nursing facilities: Keeping everyone on the same page

Chapter 22. Families, caregivers, assistance