Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/432137
4 LIVE IT UP! FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014 SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL At 85, she is still beautiful. She doesn't realize she raised five children, doesn't remember she played classical piano, doesn't understand how to use a fork. My mother started showing signs of dementia around 78, with a repeated story on the telephone. We didn't know what to call it or how far it would go. Today, we call it Alzheimer's disease. "One in every 6 to 8 people over 65 has Alzheimer's in this country," says geriatric specialist Dr. Naghmeh Pooya, of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Santa Cruz branch. "After age 65, the incidence doubles every five years. An estimated 45% or more persons over 85 have Alzheimer's, the most common cause of dementia." Because of its prevalence, dementia is an active area of research. Certain drugs help manage symptoms: anti-inflammatories like Advil and Motrin, statins used to lower cholesterol, and antioxidants ginkgo biloba and turmeric. "Early detection is important because dementia is a progressive disease," says Dr. Pooya. "Medications act like a parachute; the patient will fall, but these drugs can slow the rate of decent. Until we understand the cause and the cure, it is important to have conversations within families to prepare for when the patient loses the capacity to make medical, practical and financial decisions." So far, the best prevention is a life well lived – a healthy lifestyle, engaged mind, and love. LIVING WELL is the BEST MEDICINE by Lisa Crawford Watson Dr. Naghmeh Pooya, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Santa Cruz Branch