What If It's Not Alzheimer's? (Updated and Revised)

Download or read book What If It's Not Alzheimer's? (Updated and Revised) written by Lisa Radin and published by Prometheus Books. This book was released on with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Includes Vital Information on Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)Foreword by John Q. Trojanowski, MD, PhD, Director, Alzheimer's Disease Center, University of Pennsylvania HospitalAlthough the public most often associates dementia with Alzheimer's disease, the medical profession now distinguishes various types of other dementias. This book is the first comprehensive guide dealing with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), one of the largest groups of non-Alzheimer's dementias. The contributors are either specialists in their fields or have exceptional hands-on experience with FTD sufferers.Beginning with a focus on the medical facts, the first part defines and explores FTD as an illness distinct from Alzheimer's disease. Also considered are clinical and medical care issues and practices, as well as such topics as finding a medical team and rehabilitation interventions. The next section on managing care examines the daily care routine including exercise, socialization, adapting the home environment, and behavioral issues. In the following section on caregiver resources, the contributors identify professional and government assistance programs along with private resources and legal options.This newly revised edition follows recent worldwide collaboration in research and provides the most current medical information available, a better understanding of the different classifications of FTD, and more clarity regarding the role of genetics. A completely new chapter 5 enlightens the reader about the various drugs that are now being used with FTD patients and also delves into a number of nonmedical options. The wealth of information offered in these pages will help both healthcare professionals and caregivers of someone suffering from frontotemporal dementia.Lisa Radin and her son, Gary Radin, provided complete care for father and husband Neil Radin over a four-year period. Based on this firsthand experience with a devastating illness, they compiled this collection of expert articles on FTD by medical specialists, healthcare professionals, and fellow caregivers. Gary and Lisa founded in 1998 the Neil L. Radin Caregivers Relief Foundation and were both involved in planning and coordinating the Multidisciplinary Conference on Picks Disease & Frontotemporal Dementia held in May 1999 in Philadelphia; the proceedings of this conference were published in Neurology. Lisa also provided organizational support for the Frontotemporal Dementia and Pick's Disease Criteria Conference held at the National Institutes of Health in July 2000 in Bethesda, MD.