By Julie Carrico, MBA, CCRC
I recently had a conversation with a friend “Jane” who told me she is worried about her mother’s memory issues. Jane shared these concerns with me because she knows of my work at the Clinical Research Center with Alzheimer’s disease projects and she isn’t sure where to turn. In fact, Jane said she wasn’t sure she would even want to know if her mother had Alzheimer’s disease. In this blog we’ll discuss why symptoms of cognitive impairment, such as memory loss, mustn’t be ignored, and why it should be evaluated by medical professionals.
First of all, there are lots of reasons for cognitive impairment, so no one should assume Alzheimer’s disease is the cause. For example, over or under treatment of underlying medical conditions can cause cognitive impairment and that’s why it’s important to start with an evaluation by the patient’s primary care physician.
In this case, I was concerned because Jane’s mother has Type 2 diabetes and the research is pretty clear on the link between poor blood sugar control and cognitive impairment. In addition, I knew that Jane’s mother had recently suffered a broken leg from which her recovery was complicated and protracted. Research has shown a link between stress hormones and blood sugar control, furthering my thoughts that Jane’s mother needed a full evaluation by her physician – one that would undoubtedly include an assessment of the patient’s blood sugar control.
I encouraged Jane to speak with her mother about the memory issues and perhaps offer to attend the next doctor appointment with her mother so they can discuss it together. If appropriate, the physician will refer Jane’s mother to a neurologist who can conduct a thorough assessment.
I can sympathize with the position of many people who profess they would rather not be informed of an unfavorable diagnosis such as Alzheimer’s disease. Now let me tell you why I believe it is better to know. There are interventions available now that may change the course of the disease. For example, numerous studies show that a healthy diet, exercise, proper sleep and mental stimulation can be helpful. And, while there are some medications currently available to boost memory, other treatments that aim to slow and/or halt disease progression are now being tested in large scale clinical trials.
In this case, ignorance is not bliss! If you or a loved one are experiencing concerning changes in memory, etc., talk with your doctor – you might be able to make adjustments and/or lifestyle changes that will protect your brain health.
The Clinical Research Center is currently seeking volunteer patients in studies for Alzheimer’s disease, Type 2 diabetes, those with very high triglyceride levels, and COPD.
If you are interested in learning more about clinical trials, contact the Clinical Research Center at 541-766-2163, or send an email to research@corvallisclinic.com or fill out our Research Study Information Request form. And, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/corvallisclinicresearch.
– Julie Carrico is Associate Coordinator of The Corvallis Clinic Clinical Research Center
