Memory Care: The Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic
by Garden of PalmsMemory Care: The Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic
For the most part, Western health care has historically focused on the treatment of disease rather than prevention. But as our collective knowledge advances, that landscape is rapidly changing, and the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center is a great example of this paradigm shift.
As a senior living community that provides specialized memory care services, Garden of Palms keeps up with the latest research on Alzheimer’s and other memory-related illnesses. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic, which belongs to one of the best memory care programs in the country.
An Innovative Approach
Established in 2013 by Dr. Richard Isaacson, the clinic is the first of its kind to focus on the prevention of Alzheimer’s. As part of its mission, the clinic sees patients as young as 27 and as old as 91, and most visitors have at least one family member who is affected by Alzheimer’s.
Each patient receives a thorough consultation which includes state-of-the-art testing and a full review of both medical records and family history. Using a comprehensive and research-based approach that involves nutritional and lifestyle factors, the clinic then develops a long-term personalized care plan for each patient that aims to monitor and reduce their risk.
Patients also have the option to be involved in research that studies the relationship between nutrition and other lifestyle factors, and memory care. This data helps scientists better understand Alzheimer’s disease, and develop new strategies for treatment and prevention.
The clinic also recognizes the importance of educating younger generations about the disease. Although Alzheimer’s is often thought of as an age-related disease, it actually begins to develop 20-30 years before any symptoms. As part of their strategy to reach younger adults and teenagers, Dr. Isaacson’s team created educational lessons and games which can be found online at Alzheimer’s Universe.
Closing Thoughts
Awareness and education are essential when it comes to Alzheimer’s, and because researchers are continually learning more about the disease, spreading awareness is truly an ongoing process. By focusing on educating the public about how Alzheimer’s works, as well as proven ways to reduce risk, the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic is helping shape the future of memory care.
At Garden of Palms, we provide compassionate and attentive memory care services in a comfortable and dignified environment. Our supportive staff uses innovative and scientifically-backed techniques that serve to fortify the whole person – mind, body, and spirit. For more information about our senior living community and memory care services, click here.