Isle Casino Cape Girardeau to host Alzheimer's seminar

As baby boomers age, the stage is set for a generational spike in Alzheimer's disease diagnoses.

Alzheimer's Association St. Louis vice president of programs Stephanie Rohlfs-Young explained that even though someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer's disease every 67 seconds, early detection is as accessible as ever.

"We're seeing a lot of baby boomers who are at a point where they're moving into the age range where they're more likely to develop the disease," she said. "But now, Alzheimer's screening is included in the annual wellness exam."

In recognition of national Alzheimer's awareness month, Isle Casino Cape Girardeau will host one of six educational seminars throughout Missouri on Nov. 6.

She said the Isle of Capri "Care and Conquer" session is designed for baby boomers and their families, to help them to be on the lookout for cognitive symptoms that differ from those of natural aging and show them the resources at their disposal.

World-renowned Alzheimer's researcher Dr. John Morley is slated to be the keynote speaker for the evening, along with Wendy Boren, registered nurse at Chateau Girardeau in Cape.

Dr. Robert Gardner Jr, neurologist at Neurologic Associates of Cape Girardeau, explained that Alzheimer's is a disease of aging.

"There is an exponential increase with age starting in the upper 60s, such that by the mid-90s, nearly 40 to 50 percent of people have [Alzheimer's]," he said. "It can be difficult to distinguish between normal aging and early Alzheimer's, but [early detection] is important because the sooner ... medications are started, the longer the period of benefit they can provide."

Rohlfs-Young said that unfortunately, people often receive their diagnosis too late.

"People would end up at the hospital at a point where they could no longer feed themselves; people were simply not attuned to the initial stages of the disease," she said. "One of the things we have seen over the course of the last decade is an evolution in being able to use simple measurements in a primary care physician's office to determine whether or not a specialist is needed."

Dr. A. Basit Chaudhari, a neurologist at Southeast Neurology, said this type of training is important for family members to have, as patients' embarrassment sometimes makes an individual want to hide symptoms.

"[Alzheimer's] is generally apparent to the closest members of the family," he said. "Support groups are extremely helpful because interaction with other people and taking part in activities can gently stimulate new synapses in the brain to avoid further decline in cognitive and intellectual status."

The session goes from 6 to 8 p.m.; registration begins at 5:30 p.m.

tgraef@semissourian.com

777 N Main St, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701