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Healthwatch 16: Focus on the Aging Brain

PLAINS TOWNSHIP — Pennsylvania has an older population, one of the highest in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Treating diseases common in...
hw aging brain

PLAINS TOWNSHIP -- Pennsylvania has an older population, one of the highest in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Treating diseases common in that population, specifically Alzheimer's, is important here, and will continue to be more so as the Baby Boomers age.

That has prompted Geisinger Health System to form an aging brain clinic.

Helen Gambal of Old Forge looks awfully good for 88 years old. it was her birthday just this week.

Her son David says she's doing well, but as she ages, he has a few concerns.

"The last couple years, she's been a little more repetitive, every once in a while, more forgetful of some things, but it's not been to a horrible point," said David Gambal.

David brings his mom to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center's aging brain clinic, headed up by Dr. Glen Finney.

Dr. Finney says hospital officials called him a few years ago with the idea for the clinic, which he called a new concept in health care.

"We have an aging population.  We have the resources to care for these people, but we need to take the game, here in PA and the places we serve, to the next level," Dr. Finney said.

The clinic's main feature is that, instead of a patient traveling to different doctors treating different things, they essentially come to the patient, then meet and discuss in detail his or her progress, treatment, and next steps.

It also features an emphasis on memory and cognitive function tests, along with the typical scans and blood tests.

"Last time we were here she had a certain score, and this time, it actually went up.  So I'm pleased to see that," said Gambal. "And we had our own questions of certain medications she's on, should they be up? Should she be taken off? Anything else we can be doing to fight this as best we could?"

Dr. Finney points out there's also an education and prevention aspect to what the clinic aims to do.  He says keeping the body healthy helps to keep the brain healthy.

For instance, he says the number one cause of dementia late in life is Alzheimer's.

"Number two is vascular dementia, a theoretically preventable and halt-able disease.  The number two cause of dementia we could stop!"

And we could do that by controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and smoking.

Dr. Finney also says he tells his patients how important it is not to isolate themselves.

"Emerging literature suggests the most important thing you can do as you get older to keep your brain healthy is to stay socially active," Dr. Finney added.

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