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Living Well

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Tbe Traition continues at the

Health

Fleischman Residence

Morrie Dubin, 79, of
West Bloomfield practices
optometry part time and
Frequent forgetfulness or unexplaina ble
cares for his wife, Donna,
confusion.
who has Alzheimer's disease.
Difficultk performing familiar tasks.
"I had my own practice and
Problems with language.
Donna was my office manag-
#.:Pisorientation to time and place.
er," says Dubin.
pOor or loss of judgment.
"About six years ago she
Problems with abstract thinking,
started complaining about
like balancing a checkbook.
stomach problems and I
Misplacing things.
noticed that she was forget-
hangs in mood and behavior.
ting things in the office.
hanges in personality.
She was evaluated by a neu-
*tiative.
rologist as having
Alzheimer's disease.
"Her condition slowly
percent of people over 65 and about
deteriorated. I'm going to do whatever
50 percent of those over 85.
I can to keep her at home for as long
Most memory problems result
as I can. We have someone who lives
from normal age-related changes in
with
us five days a week, hospice
the brain that slow cognitive process-
comes
twice a week, and I'm there on
es. As we age, it may be harder to
weekends.
She is totally dependent on
learn new things quickly, but new
others to care for her. "
things can be learned.
Dubin found the local Alzheimer's
The exact cause of Alzheimer's dis-
support group to be very helpful. "I
ease is still not known. In July in
have my moments; it's so painful to
Washington, D.C., at the largest con-
watch
it happen to someone you love.
ference ever held on the disease,
But
I
accept
the disease and that has
researchers from around the globe
made
it
easier
to live with.
reported on progress tracking down
"There
are
people
in our-support
genes that put people at risk for
group
who
have
never
told anyone
Alzheimer's disease. They debated
that their spouse has Alzheimer's dis-
whether Alzheimer's is caused by
ease. That must make the burden
abnormal beta-amyloid proteins or
unbearable."
some other factor resulting in a faulty
Gail Burstein's mother died of
chemical cascade of events in the
Alzheimer's
disease eight years ago.
brain.
Burstein
is
director
of development
"There has been a major shift in
for
the
Alzheimer
Association
Detroit
the thinking about Alzheimer's dis-
Area Chapter. "She's the reason I do
ease" says Dr. Rhonna Shatz, board
what I do," Burstein says. "I was com-
chairman of the Alzheimer
pletely helpless as I saw my mother
Association and division head of
unable to make any sense of the world
behavioral neurology at Henry Ford
and return to the fetal position.
Hospital in Detroit. "We now know
"I started out as a consultant, but
that it's not hopeless; the disease can
when
it affects your mother, finding a
be treated, slowing its progress.
cure
for
this disease becomes a mis-
"What's more, if we diagnose it early
sion."
Mild
cognitive impairment
and treat it, patients have a better
(MCI) falls between normal forgetful-
chance of extending the quality of their
ness and early Alzheimer's. How to
lives. Since we now know that memory
diagnose it is another issue in medi-
loss is not a normal part of aging, we
cine. What is important is that 12
encourage everyone to see their doctors
percent
of MCI sufferers progress to
if they find they have memory problems
full-blown
Alzheimer's each year, corn-
or behavioral changes.
pared
with
just 1-2 percent of normal
"Doctors are beginning to listen to
elderly
people
who get Alzheimer's
even the smallest complaints. We also
each year.
recommend that patients be evaluated
According to the Detroit Area
by a specialist, someone beyond their
Chapter in Southfield, Alzheimer's
primary-care physician, who has the
disease affects more than 70,000 peo-
newest information about treating the
ple in the Detroit metropolitan area.
disease.
Researchers estimate that by the year
"Physicians as well as patients need
2025, with the ability to spot the very
to more aggressively look for signs of
earliest symptoms, some 22 million
Alzheimer's disease, especially after the
age of 60, so that treatment can begin as people worldwide will have
Alzheimer's, an epidemic figure. ❑
quickly as possible," Dr. Shatz said.

Sias

'0,„tiat

t..Three Kosher Meals Daily
sRegistereo Nurse and Personal
Care Assistance
EMedication Administration
wHeattb Clinic
mAround the Clock Security
aDaityl Sbabbati and Hof- Ns
Services in our Synagogue
.Educational, Recreational and
Cultural Daytime and Evening
Programs
NTransportationi Laundry
Housekeeping
allosb Nook, Gift Shop,
Beauty/Barber Shop
Respite, Guest Rooms Available

.34

1"4

Ffeis‘nan Resioence/Biumbero Plaza

Jewish Home & Aging Services

248-661-2999
6.710 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield

Working in Partnership with

contact:

Tracey Proghovnick, M.S.W.,. C.S.W. - Director of Admissions

8/18
2000

96

C . 'I lv E tst,

available for weekend and evening appointments

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