One of the most frightening prospects of getting older is the prospect of losing one’s mind. Some of us are just naturally at greater risk for dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease because of genetic predisposition beyond our control. But some of us are at greater risk because of factors that we can control. U.T. Health Science Center nurse practitioner and gerentology specialist talks about Alzheimer’s and dementia in this post to HealthConnection.TV.
What is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease? (first question)
What are the risk factors for developing dementia or Alzheimer’s that can’t be changed? (skip to 1:25)
What about factors that we can do something about now to reduce the risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s? (skip to 1:51)
There is a new study that links diabetes with a significantly higher risk for all types of dementia. What can you tell us about this study? (skip to 2:43)
Why would things such as high cholesterol and atherosclerosis increase the risk for dementia? (skip to 3:20)
What is the connection between Homocysteine blood levels and dementia? Explain Homocysteine blood levels. (skip to 4:07)
What effect does smoking and alcohol use have on the risk for developing dementia? (skip to 5:04)
What about other risk factors such as high blood pressure, depression and high levels of estrogen? (skip to 5:41)
Are there any promising treatments on the horizon for dementia? (skip to 7:09)
Diabetes is a very serious disease in and of itself. But it doesn’t stop there. Ongoing clinical research is revealing that diabetes has causal or complicating links to a range of other serious health problems including the most common cancers, hearing loss, dementia, heart attack and stroke. In the latest post to HealthConnection.TV, the U.T. Health Science Center at Tyler’s Dr. David Shafer answers questions on the diabetes links.
What is diabetes and why does there appear to be links between it and other serious diseases? (first question)
Are the links to other diseases equally attributable to Type I and Type II diabetes? (skip to 1:32)
What is the link between diabetes and heart attack or stroke? (skip to 3:23)
Why do people with diabetes have a greater risk of hearing loss? (skip to 4:18)
What is the connection between diabetes and cancer? (skip to 5:29)
Why would someone with diabetes be more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or dementia? (skip to 7:03)
What is the link between diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure)? (skip to 9:30)
Are these risks increased irrespective of how well diabetes is managed by the patient? (skip to 10:40)
As the population ages, so does the incidence of devastating cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. The U.T. Health Science Center’s Dr. Thomas Belt joins us in this latest post to HealthConnection.TV to talk about the future of Alzheimer’s and dementia.