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Today's Alzheimer's: Medications and innovations keep brain active |
| Channels » Home » News » Today's Alzheimer's: Medications and innovations keep brain active |
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April 3, 2005 |
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By Julianne Taylor
Tribune staff writer
“If you don’s use it, you lose it.” The saying is commonly heard among people with brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, and their families.
Duane Sprinkle of Kokomo was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 10 years ago at age 57. His wife, Wilma Sprinkle, said he worked as a truck driver when he was diagnosed.
“He had an accident and he had to quit driving,” she said. “It was hard to take.”
She said eventually she had to take Duane’s car keys away from him.
“That was the hardest thing to do,” she said.
Brain teasers
Jane Toor, speech-language pathologist at St. Joseph Hospital, said she likes to put things in place to help the family after a diagnosis.
“We work with them early on and with the family,” Toor said of Alzheimer’s patients. “We ask them, ‘What tasks are difficult? How can we modify it?’ We want them to stay as independent as possible.”
To help Alzheimer’s patients with tasks, Toor suggests procedure cards with simple steps to complete the tasks. The procedure cards are kept in a plastic cover so patients can mark off the steps with a dry erase marker, once they are completed.
“This organizes the steps to a task, such as getting ready in the morning, making breakfast, leaving the house or using the phone,” she said. “It can be as detailed as needed, depending on the stage of Alzheimer’s.”
She said visual cues, such as procedure cards, help the memory. Toor also suggests using a planner with a schedule and an alphabetized index card box with photos by the phone.
“It’s important to practice emergencies,” she said. “You can practice with a play telephone. It’s important to talk it out and go through the steps.”
Wilma said she tries to do things with Duane that will stimulate his brain and bring back memories for him.
“It’s important to keep the brain active,” she said. “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
Some activities Wilma does with Duane include word search puzzles, board games and looking at family photo albums. She said she also asks Duane to say family members’ names, to help jog his memory.
“I just do little things to keep him interested,” she said. “I play the board games according to his level—I let him do as much as he can, such as moving the board pieces.”
Toor also suggests watching television programs, such as “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” and the national and local news to keep up on current events. Memory games are also good, she said.
“The games can be tailored to things the person knows, such as matching the photo of a person with the name,” she said. “Card games, such as solitaire and UNO, also are good.”
Resources for caregivers
Wilma said Duane knew he had Alzheimer’s, but he didn’t know what it would do to him.
“I wanted to understand it. I went to a lot of educational classes so I could know what was going to happen.”
She said she also went to support groups, which Duane attended with her.
“He had a great attitude,” she said. “He said he knew he had Alzheimer’s, but he was OK with it. I wasn’t OK with it. I wanted to know what lies ahead for us.”
Toor said it’s important that people with Alzheimer’s “embrace the new me.”
“You’re not going to be where you were before,” she said. “It’s important families realize that. Life is going to be different now.”
For the first eight years, Wilma cared for Duane in their home. Two years ago, he got to be too much for her to handle by herself, and Duane moved to Sycamore Village Healthcare [Center]. Wilma faithfully visits him every day and feeds him his dinner each night.
“He notices when I don’t come,” she said. “Every once in a while I take a long weekend or a vacation to take some time for myself.”
Medications
Wilma said Duane’s dementia has gotten worse over the years, but new medications have helped him have a better quality of life.
“I’m not sure how long the medications will be effective, but he’s been on the new medication for a year and he is much better than he used to be,” she said.
Dr. Nancy Frapier of Kokomo Neurology Associates, Duane’s neurologist, said Alzheimer’s medications slow the progression of the disease, but there is no known cure.
Frapier said there are four medications on the market, one of which was recently approved by the [Food and] Drug Administration. The medications include: Aricept, a product of Pfizer; Exelon, a product of Novartis; Reminyl, a product of Janssen Pharmaceutical Products; and the newest, Namenda, from Forest Pharmaceuticals.
She said the first three medications increase inhibitors in the brain, and Namenda protects the brain from destruction.
“Medications are most effective if they’re taken early on,” Frapier said. “It’s important that people come in as early as possible to receive the proper treatment.”
Frapier also pointed out it is important for families to have discussion on how things should be handled in the case of severe dementia or death.
“Everyone should have a living will and know who should have power of attorney, if needed,” she said. “Too often, families get to this point and they don’t know what their family member’s wishes are. This should be discussed before the person is unable to relay this important information.”
Julianne Taylor may be reached at (765) 454-8570 or via e-mail at julianne.taylor@kokomotribune.com.
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