Health Expert David Roeltgen, MD shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/118/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/118/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/118/index http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/59080/top-alzeheimer Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:45:00 -0500 David Roeltgen, MD Over the last months, we have had some interesting and provocative comments from our readers and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for both reading this blog and taking the time to put their thoughts into words and replying. Also, I would like to address some of the important issues that the comments raise.   First, in October 2008, Sharon and Nhoffman raise some important concerns about beta blockers.  Beta... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/59080/top-alzeheimer http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/57183/forms-protection Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:00:00 -0500 David Roeltgen, MD In my last blog I reviewed how, and to some extent why, a person might enter into a research study.  We left off after a brief discussion of consent forms.  Many of you may already have some experience with consent forms.  If you have ever had surgery or any procedure, such as a biopsy or an injection, including a flu shot, you probably signed a consent form.  Did you read it?  If you are like me or most of my... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/57183/forms-protection http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/55595/member-alzheimer Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:02:00 -0500 David Roeltgen, MD Why should you or a family member join an Alzheimer study? Or, what do you need to know about the research study process?   I work at a university or teaching hospital.  One of the roles of a university or teaching hospital is conducting research.  Research on Alzheimer’s disease commonly requires patients with Alzheimer’s disease to be part of a study.  Most people who are not involved with health care have... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/55595/member-alzheimer http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/52638/alzheimer-disease Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:46:00 -0500 David Roeltgen, MD Happy holidays everyone!  Thanksgiving has now come and gone, as has that great shopping day, the Friday after Thanksgiving and some of us are probably giving thanks that these couple of days are over.  Of course if you had a 4-day weekend and it is over, you may or may not be giving thanks, but wishing it would come again!  No matter whether we did or did not give thanks that Thanksgiving was over, during Thanksgiving many of us... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/52638/alzheimer-disease http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/51241/amyloid-alzheimer Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:57:00 -0500 David Roeltgen, MD One of the very confusing and commonly misunderstood features of Alzheimer’s disease is how we make the diagnosis.  In previous blogs I have discussed this topic from what is typically called the top-down approach.  The top-down approach is the typical clinical approach, the typical way health care professionals attempt to make a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.  We take a history from and perform an examination of... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/51241/amyloid-alzheimer http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/47502/tips-independence Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:49:00 -0500 David Roeltgen, MD As we have discussed many times, Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disorder.   Over time skills and abilities decline.  What someone with Alzheimer’s can do one week is not necessarily what he or she can do the next week.  So we all must acknowledge that a time will come when the patient with Alzheimer’s disease cannot live independently.  What we as health care professionals and you as family and... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/47502/tips-independence http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/43990/agree-diagnosis Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:55:00 -0400 David Roeltgen, MD I would like to revisit three topics that I covered previously: the issue of depressive “pseudo-dementia,” the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment and the fact that health care professionals do not always agree on a diagnosis.         Each week I take part in our memory disorders consensus meeting.  Usually there are 3 neurologists, 1 psychiatrist and 3 nurse practitioners, all of whom have... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/43990/agree-diagnosis http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/43096/introduction Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:20:00 -0400 David Roeltgen, MD For the last year, I have blogged about Alzheimer’s disease.  I have discussed the diagnosis, the treatment, driving issues and many related topics.  One thing I have not done is put Alzheimer’s disease in the context of the body part that is failing in this disease, the brain.  For many people this topic may sound intimidating or perhaps unrelated to the disease.  However, I will attempt to make this discussion... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/43096/introduction http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/40200/driving-dementia Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:45:00 -0400 David Roeltgen, MD Last year I discussed an important topic that I believe is worth revisiting. I say this because in our weekly patient discussion, it is discussed more often than any other topic, except for the individual diagnosis for each patient. The topic that I am referring to is driving.  For personal, economic, social, medical and many other reasons, driving is an important part of our lives.  It allows independence and mobility and, for... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/40200/driving-dementia http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/39435/ready-make-change Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:49:00 -0400 David Roeltgen, MD In previous blogs, in the spring of 2008 and the fall of 2007, I discussed different behavioral strategies for which there is some support indicating that they may help prevent or delay the mental impairments in Alzheimer’s disease.  Today I would like to briefly review a couple of those and extend the discussion.   I have indicated that physical and mental exercise may help in this regard.  Animal studies and some... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/118/39435/ready-make-change