By MARY NUGENT – Staff Writer
There’s no cure for it, and you can’t prevent it. But you can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
“I believe there are things we can do, not to prevent it from happening, but to delay five or 10 years that first symptom,” said Michael K. McCloud, M.D. and geriatrician with UC Davis Medical Center.
He brought this idea and many more to Chico Tuesday when he discussed “Memory and Aging: What’s Normal, What’s Not and What We Can Do About It.” A crowd of 200 filled Family Masonic Center to hear him. He also spoke last year in Chico.
McCloud suggested people who are physically active, keep their minds busy and are socially involved are more likely to stay healthy in general.
He explained how memory and intellect are organized in the brain. Normal aging includes slowed reaction time and difficulty remembering names and numbers, he said. Dementia, delerium and depression are not signs of normal aging.
While not everything is known about what causes Alzheimer’s, people can assume some personal responsibility, he said. “Do your homework, the Alzheimer’s Web site has a lot of information. Avoid diabetes, avoid smoking and avoid head trauma.”
People who have had a concussion at any time in their life combined with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease are at greater risk of getting Alzheimer’s later, he said.
Diet can make a difference, McCloud said. It’s a good idea to include foods rich in folic acid (green, leafy vegetables), and Omega 3 fatty acids (fish, especially salmon).
He suggested taking a daily dietary supplement. “The main reason is to get vitamins E and B12,” he said, adding expensive brands are unnecessary. “A generic brand is fine.”
Some things aren’t proven, but McCloud believes they deserve attention. “There is less Alzheimer’s in India than anywhere else in the world. They eat a lot of tumeric, which is found in curry.”
He also said the initial diagnosis for whether a person has Alzheimer’s should be addressed by a family physician.
“Agitation and delusion are medical problems. I believe a family physician should be the ship’s captain for this diagnosis.”
A family physician, he said, will consider possible problems with diet, medications, depression, eye
sight and hearing, among other things. The physician will know if a neurologist or any other specialist is needed.
“The problems may be other than what you think,” said McCloud.
He said alcoholism, HIV, syphilis and other conditions can increase the risk of dementia, along with Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease.
“If in doubt, call a physician.”
When visiting a physician for the first time, McCloud said a list of all medications should be brought along, including any herbal products.
When there is a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, McCloud said it’s not necessarily bad news. “I have to credit a physician who has the guts to say it. And it is great news because although it’s not curable, it’s treatable. We can buy some time: We can stop using antihistamines, eliminate alcohol and increase social involvement.”
Tranquilizers and sleeping pills are not a good idea for a person with Alzheimer’s, he said, because they can tend to make memory worse.
Stress can affect memory, he said. He also set the record straight about Ginkgo biloba, an herbal supplement believed to improve memory.
“It’s a beautiful tree,” said McCloud. “But there is no confirmation that it helps or treats Alzheimer’s — it is unimproved with Ginkgo.”
McCloud was asked if genetic testing is a good idea for people with a family history of Alzheimer’s. “No, it’s not necessary. It won’t tell you any more than you already know,” he said. “There is more than genetics involved and we know that from watching identical twins.”
He suggested using aspirin. “Ask your physician; but it can help because it prevents stroke. After 50, it’s smart to get a small amount of daily aspirin.”
McCloud also said a daily concoction of medications is harmful. “If you’re taking eight, nine, or 10 medications a day, it’s a real insult to the brain. We have to be careful of our noggins, especially with alcohol and chemicals.”
McCloud lives in Davis. Trained at Duke University, he had a private practice in San Francisco for 15 years and directed clinical geriatrics at Yale University. He is a board member of the Medical Scientific Advisory Council, Alzheimer’s Association, Northern California and Northern Nevada.
His presentation was sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, North Valley Area Office in Paradise.
Staff writer Mary Nugent can be reached at 896-7764 or firstname.lastname@example.org.