Palm Beach Neurologist Emphasizes Importance of Early Detection and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Palm Beach, FL, October 02, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Michael M. Tuchman, MD, FAAN of Palm Beach Neurological Center in Florida wants to remind individuals and families of the early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is considered to be one of the top causes of disability and eventually death in the United States. It is a degenerative disease of the brain and is one of the most common variants of dementia. Memory loss is never normal.

"There are over five million individuals with Alzheimer's in the U.S. And in Florida, we have about half a million patients struggling with it. Based on studies, the number of people affected in the state increased by as much as 25 percent," shared Dr. Tuchman, one of the leading West Palm Beach Neurologists.

"As a Palm Beach Neurologist, I need to reiterate that while the other causes of death are on a decline, Alzheimer's is on the rise. Other fatal illnesses such as cardiac disease and stroke can be decreased or modified with lifestyle changes but this is not true for Alzheimer's," he added.

The diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's was updated by the Alzheimer's Association and the National Institute on Aging recently. It incorporates new insights and developments in technology to help improve diagnosis, reports brain changes in affected individuals, and pushes for more research to further improve the accuracy of diagnosis.

Some of the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's include memory loss, difficulty solving problems and planning things, confusion with place or time, familiar tasks become sort of unfamiliar, misplacing things, changes in mood, and withdrawal from social activities and work.

A Palm Beach neurologist will evaluate the patient's neurological health and identify conditions that might affect how a patient's cognitive thinking and memory are working. Other health professionals critical to the overall care of an Alzheimer's disease patient are psychiatrists, psychologists, and geriatricians among others.

"It is crucial to detect and treat the disease at the earliest possible time. This allows patients to manage their usual activities longer and have less behavioral and psychological symptoms," the West Palm Beach neurologist explained.

The biological signs of the disease may start a decade or two before the symptoms of Alzheimer's surface. Therapies for the disease are also being developed in the hope of slowing it down or stopping its progression according to studies.

"While the disease cannot be cured as of now, individuals who are diagnosed at an early stage can still actively plan ahead with their families. They can discuss their plans in terms of their finances or what the family should do in the event they are unable to care for themselves anymore," emphasized Rhonda Skiles, nurse practitioner at Palm Beach Neurological Center.

"Taking care of the elderly with Alzheimer's is not easy. Early diagnosis will help the family plan how things should be done for the patient in collaboration with health professionals. In Florida, for example, we have over a million caregivers that help take care of Alzheimer's patients," Skiles pointed out.

The Palm Beach Neurological Center is located at 3365 Burns Road, Suite 203, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. You can get in touch with Dr. Tuchman, a West Palm Beach neurologist, and his team through 561-694-1010 or 888-369-1010. You can also visit www.palmbeachneurological.com for more information.