Preventing Alzheimer's: Ways to Help Prevent, Delay, Detect, and Even Halt Alzheimer's Disease and Other Forms of Memory Loss

by William Rodman Shankle, Daniel G. Amen

Overview

Drs. William Rodman Shankle and Daniel G. Amen reveal the latest research and treatment methods for preventing, delaying, and treating the devastation of Alzheimer's disease.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780399531606
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	06/07/2005
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.76(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

William Rodman Shankle, M.S., M.D., a neurologist with expertise in dementia, established the University of California, Irvine, Alzheimer's Disease Clinic in 1988 and served as its medical director for ten years.

Daniel G. Amen, M.D., is a clinical neuroscientist, a psychiatrist, and the director of clinics in California, Washington state, and Virginia. In addition to operating a private practice, he is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry and human behavior at the University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine. He is the author of Healing ADD, Healing Anxiety and Depression, and Change Your Brain, Change Your Life.

Table of Contents

1.	The Power of "Prevention Through Delay"	1
2.	The Healthy Brain	11
3.	Seven Ways to Lose Your Mind: How Memory Loss Starts	26
4.	Know Your Risk: The Shankle-Amen Early Dementia Detection Questionnaire	69
5.	Reduce Your Risk	75
6.	Steps to Prevention	120
7.	Finding the Right Diagnosis	162
8.	Treatment for Mild Memory Loss and Early Alzheimer's and Related Disorders	179
9.	Treatments for the Future	206
10.	For Caregivers and Their Families: Resources	226
Appendix A	PreventAD.com	235
Appendix B	How to Find the Help You Need	238
Appendix C	Frequently Asked Questions About Brain SPECT Imaging	242
	References	245
	Glossary	254
	Resources	262
	Product Sources	266
	Acknowledgments	268
	Index	270

Editorial Reviews

The concept of "prevention through delay" as presented by Shankle, a neurologist, and Amen, a psychiatrist, is a proactive approach to thwarting dementia. They break this process down into three components that involve knowing and reducing those risk factors you can control; having a regular memory screening to detect problems early; and obtaining an accurate, early diagnosis and treatment. The authors include their Shankle-Amen Early Dementia Detection Questionnaire as a screening tool to assess risk factors, and follow with discussions on ways to reduce risks and take steps for prevention. Useful tables abound, providing a synopsis of environmental, acquired and modifiable risks for dementia; as well as a review of effective prevention agents. The chapter devoted to finding the right diagnosis offers practical advice on how to get a thorough assessment and drives home the importance of this step by telling readers that 95% of persons with dementia are diagnosed by their primary care doctor four or more years after symptoms first appeared. The authors go on to offer an in-depth approach for patients to work with their doctor to make reversing memory loss "a reality." Although there is plenty of information on treating early dementia, much of it may be too technical for lay readers, and the accompanying photos (showing the brain before and after treatments) do little to elucidate treatment and prevention options. However, an excellent section on resources for caregivers and their families, as well as the aforementioned tables, are extremely helpful. Agent, Faith Hamlin. (June 1) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

As America's population ages, the incidence of memory disorders is predicted to increase dramatically. Both of the University of California, Irvine, noted neuroscientists Shankle (founder, Alzheimer's Disease Clinic) and Amen (psychiatry; Change Your Brain, Change Your Life) offer ways to delay the onset and to slow the progress of dementia and other serious memory disorders. They detail the delicate and amazingly complex nature of the human brain and its vulnerability to alcohol, drugs, diabetes, certain cancer treatments and heart surgeries, head injuries, and other causes. In addition, the authors explain how early detection and prompt treatment can allow those with mild memory loss to live full and active lives. Also covered: state-of-the art diagnostic techniques, available treatments (e.g., medications, herbs, vitamins, lifestyle modifications such as exercise and diet), risk reduction, and preventative methods, all illustrated with case stories. Finally, there are promising future treatments and a copy of the authors' Shankle-Amen Dementia Screening Test. Although the text lapses at times into technical terminology and acronyms, much of the information is summarized in table format for easy reference. A list of the numerous medications mentioned and their uses would have been helpful. Still, this is cutting-edge information from two leading researchers. An excellent addition to all aging, health, and mental health collections. [Expect demand from the authors' April appearance on Oprah. Ed.] Karen McNally Bensing, Benjamin Rose Lib., Cleveland Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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