Treatment for Alzheimer’s Patients: Dr. Richard Hamer, MD
Though Alzheimer’s disease cannot be accurately diagnosed until after death, there are indicators in which your physician can deduce whether Alzheimer’s is the likely cause for your symptoms. Alzheimer’s is a common form of dementia, causing memory loss and impedes on individual’s cognitive abilities. Symptoms are typically slow to develop, however, the severity of the symptoms can interfere heavily with your day-to-day life.
Medical professionals like Dr. Richard Hamer are able to provide various tests to clarify the diagnosis conducting a physical exam testing your reflexes, muscle tone and strength, balance, coordination, and the patient’s sight and hearing. Doctors can also rule out other factors that may cause memory loss through blood tests and can assess patients’ memory and thinking skills through neuropsychological testing. Based on these results in addition to the information you provide, Dr. Hamer will be able to distinguish the disease from other causes of memory loss.
While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are treatments that can temporarily slow the worsening of symptoms and improve the quality of the patient’s life.
It’s important to remember that those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease need to be accommodated to their living needs. Minimizing activities that require recollection and strengthening routines are adjustments that can assist them with their day-to-day living,
Dr. Richard Hamer MD, describes what treatment is available to the 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
MRIs are able to detect whether other conditions may be affecting cognitive ability. It can also reveal whether there’s been a shrinkage in brain regions that could be related to the disease.
Computerized tomography (CT Scan)
CT scans can rule out tumors, strokes and head injuries by producing cross-sectional images of the brain that pick up on the latter.
Positron emission tomography (PET)
PET techniques are typically used for research settings or in clinical trials. It is able display parts of the brain that is not properly functioning due to the brain’s level of plaques and tangle abnormalities — both of which have been linked to PET.
Dr. Richard Hamer MD encourages patients to preserve their health by practicing things within their control in addition to treatment. Regular exercise, maintaining a diet low in fat and rich in fruits and vegetables, as well as participating in social engagement are all things that can help slow down the progress of the disease.
For more recommendations on how to treat Alzheimer’s disease, consult with Dr. Hamer.
