Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia

Learn More About Geriatric Medicine: Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia

Memory or cognitive concerns can have many causes, including Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Though more common in those who are older, these conditions can affect anyone. Visit us if you or a family member have noticed any concerning changes.

What Is Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It affects the brain and causes problems with memory, thinking, judgment and behavior. It is the fourth leading cause of death in adults, after heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Men and women are affected almost equally.

Medical professionals diagnose people with Alzheimer’s disease using a variety of tools including questionnaires, laboratory tests and brain imaging. There are also new medications that can be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

Some symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease may include:

• Memory loss that affects job or home skills
• Difficulty finding the right word
• Disorientation to time and place
• Poor or decreased judgment
• Difficulty learning new tasks
• Mood changes
• Behavioral changes
• Loss of initiative

How Do We Manage Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia?

If you start having memory problems that could be signs of Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia, your primary care provider will refer you to a geriatric specialist. Our geriatricians and geriatric psychiatrists at UConn Health Geriatrics and Healthy Aging Clinic are specially trained to diagnose and treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

Your specialty provider may prescribe treatments that can ease some symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and slow its progression.

Recently, the FDA approved new medications for treating patients with early Alzheimer’s disease. Whether these medicines are appropriate for you or your family members depends on many individual factors. We have providers with expertise in diagnosing and treating Alzheimer’s disease who are available for consultation.

 

Coordinated Transitional Care

Moving between different levels of care can be hard for you or your loved one. It can make getting the right care for older patients challenging, and you need a comprehensive approach to care.

UConn Health has partners who help with this transition, including community-based care providers in long-term care and skilled nursing facilities. Our strong connections with these providers will make the transition smooth and ensure you have the same level of quality senior care.