Health I recently attended an annual reunion dinner with some fellow senior physicians and sat beside a retired family doctor whom I had known for years. During our conversation, he disclosed that he had recently been diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and that this would be his last reunion. Having treated patients during his career with the same condition, he was well aware of the progressive deterioration which he could expect and was quite depressed over his condition. I noticed hardly any change in him other than his repeating several things and forgetting the names of a few of our mutual friends. During my medical training years ago, Alzheimer’s disease was included in the diagnosis of pre senile dementia which included a number of similar diseases resulting in gradual mental deterioration, often at that time leading to palliative care in a mental hospital. Since then, further delineation of specific diseases within that broad label has allowed physicians to make more specific diagnoses and initiate more appropriate treatment plans for AD and other causes of mental decline. AD is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that damages brain tissue, resulting in deterioration in thinking skills and memory loss. As of January 1, 2025, The Alzheimer Society of Canada estimates that there are 771,939 people in Canada, living with dementia; it is estimated that 70% are age 75 and older. AD is the most common cause of dementia, but others include Frontotemporal Dementia (Pick’s Disease), Lewy Body Dementia, Vascular Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease, as well as others. This shows the necessity for careful medical evaluation and investigation to determine the correct cause of the dementia, as treatments may differ. Early signs and symptoms of AD usually come on very gradually and may include a number of changes. Memory loss is common with aging, but the memory loss associated with AD is progressive and is often combined with repeated statements and questions, increasing over time. Patients can begin forgetting times, conversations, appointments or events. They may misplace things and reasoning and judgments may be difficult. As symptoms progress, individuals may experience mood and behavioural changes. There may be loss of interest in their favourite activities, social withdrawal and episodes of anger. If still driving, patients may become unfamiliar with roads and destinations. by Robert MacMillan MD Alzheimer’s Disease 30 | www.snowbirds.org
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