Blog Archive
In this post, I want to discuss treatment options for a person diagnosed with Dementia. By now, I hope that you have read the previous posts, including when memory changes are abnormal, different types of Dementia, and what a geriatric memory clinic evaluation entails. A person who has been diagnosed...
By Dr. Golnosh Sharafsaleh MD In this post, I will go over what happens when a person is seen in a memory clinic. Generally, when a person is evaluated by a memory clinic, they have already seen their primary care provider for initial assessment of cognitive changes. These changes include...
What is Dementia? In this post, I want to talk about Dementia. The word Dementia basically means loss of cognitive function. Cognitive function means impaired ability to remember, think, reason, solve problems, recognize date or time, difficulty with speech, and carry out routine day-to-day tasks. I often have patients ask...
By. Dr. Golnosh Sharafsaleh MD. As a geriatrician, who specializes in memory disease I see patients almost daily for memory-related issues. Sometimes patients self-present to the memory clinic due to concerns that they may be developing dementia. Other times family members bring loved ones in due to problems that they...
Osteoporosis and You Osteoporosis (aa·stee·ow·pr·ow·suhs) literally means "porous bone." The bones become weak as a result of the body losing too much or not creating enough bone. Unfortunately, weak, thin bones tend to break, and most people with Osteoporosis have no symptoms until they break a bone. It is estimated...
Do you ever wonder when it may be time to stop driving? In the United States, driving is an essential part of most people's lives. For older adults, driving can help maintain independence. Only a handful of cities in the United States are considered pedestrian-friendly, meaning most individuals need a...
Over-The-Counter medicines, also known as OTC's! Up to 46% of older adults take an OTC medicine with their prescription medicines. If you are an older adult, think twice about using an OTC medication. Consider the safety of these medications including the risks and their benefits. The way our bodies process...
We as geriatricians are doctors who specialize in the care of older adults, usually aged 65 years and older. We take a holistic approach to caring for older adults. A well known geriatrician, Dr. Frank Molnar describes “The Geriatric 5 M’s” in highlighting the particular health considerations unique to older...
Approximately 52% of older adults take dietary supplements with their prescribed medications. Americans spend as much as $35 billion annually on dietary supplements, with minimal to no evidence supporting their use. Although vitamins and herbs may seem harmless, they can be dangerous for older adults when combined with certain medications....
Frailty is a decrease in the body's ability to handle stress and is a predictor of poor outcomes. Frailty is an increasingly recognized geriatric syndrome. It is a chronic and progressive process described as an age-related decline in physical function and reserve in multiple body systems. It can be manifested...
Age should not be the reason older adults fall, it is only a small risk factor. Did you know that falls are one of the most common events that threaten the independence of older adults? Complications of falls are the leading cause of death from injury in people 65 years...
Am I taking too much Medicine? How much is too much? Are the Medications I am taking Safe? This post will discuss information related to medication side effects, which includes prescription medications, over the counter medications (OTCs), vitamins and herbal supplements. I will discuss aging changes that can increase the...
Updated: Mar 15 How do we age, and how does aging increase our risk of developing chronic disease? In this post I want to take both the concepts I know as a gerontologist and as a geriatrician to write about the impact of aging on physical health leading to chronic disease....