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Official Health Sourcebooks
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ICON Health Publications Official Health Sourcebooks |
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook
on
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
(Alzheimer's type senile dementia; presenile dementia; primary degenerative dementia; uncomplicated senile dementia)
Revised and Updated for the Internet Age
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| Pages | : | 608 |
| Price | : | $28.95(USD) |
| ISBN | : | 0597838496 |
| Published | : | 2004 |
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Synopsis |
A comprehensive manual for anyone interested in self-directed research on Alzheimer's disease. Fully referenced with ample Internet listings and glossary. |
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Related Conditions/Synonyms |
| Alzheimer's type senile dementia; presenile dementia; primary degenerative dementia; uncomplicated senile dementia |
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Description |
This book has been created for patients who have decided to make education and research an integral part of the treatment process. Although it also gives information useful to doctors, caregivers and other health professionals, it tells patients where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to alzheimer's disease (also Alzheimer's type senile dementia; presenile dementia; primary degenerative dementia; uncomplicated senile dementia), from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research. The title of this book includes the word official. This reflects the fact that the sourcebook draws from public, academic, government, and peer-reviewed research. Selected readings from various agencies are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on alzheimer's disease. Given patients' increasing sophistication in using the Internet, abundant references to reliable Internet-based resources are provided throughout this sourcebook. Where possible, guidance is provided on how to obtain free-of-charge, primary research results as well as more detailed information via the Internet. E-book and electronic versions of this sourcebook are fully interactive with each of the Internet sites mentioned (clicking on a hyperlink automatically opens your browser to the site indicated). Hard-copy users of this sourcebook can type cited Web addresses directly into their browsers to obtain access to the corresponding sites. In addition to extensive references accessible via the Internet, chapters include glossaries of technical or uncommon terms. |
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Table of Contents |
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Introduction Overview Organization Scope Moving Forward PART I: THE ESSENTIALS Chapter 1. The Essentials on Alzheimer’s Disease: Guidelines Overview What Is Alzheimer’s Disease? What Causes AD? What Are the Symptoms of AD? How Is AD Diagnosed? How Is AD Treated? Is There Help for Caregivers? Research For More Information More Guideline Sources Vocabulary Builder Chapter 2. Seeking Guidance Overview Associations and Alzheimer’s Disease Finding Associations Finding Doctors Finding a Neurologist Selecting Your Doctor Working with Your Doctor Broader Health-Related Resources Vocabulary Builder Chapter 3. Clinical Trials and Alzheimer’s Disease Overview Recent Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease Benefits and Risks Keeping Current on Clinical Trials General References Vocabulary Builder PART II: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ADVANCED MATERIAL Chapter 4. Studies on Alzheimer’s Disease Overview The Combined Health Information Database Federally Funded Research on Alzheimer’s Disease E-Journals: PubMed Central The National Library of Medicine: PubMed Vocabulary Builder Chapter 5. Patents on Alzheimer’s Disease Overview Patents on Alzheimer’s Disease Patent Applications on Alzheimer’s Disease Keeping Current Vocabulary Builder Chapter 6. Books on Alzheimer’s Disease Overview Book Summaries: Federal Agencies Book Summaries: Online Booksellers The National Library of Medicine Book Index Chapters on Alzheimer’s Disease Directories General Home References Vocabulary Builder Chapter 7. Multimedia on Alzheimer’s Disease Overview Video Recordings Bibliography: Multimedia on Alzheimer’s Disease Chapter 8. Periodicals and News on Alzheimer’s Disease Overview News Services and Press Releases Newsletter Articles Academic Periodicals covering Alzheimer’s Disease Vocabulary Builder Chapter 9. Physician Guidelines and Databases Overview NIH Guidelines NIH Databases Other Commercial Databases Other Commercial Databases The Genome Project and Alzheimer’s Disease Specialized References Vocabulary Builder Chapter 10. Dissertations on Alzheimer’s Disease Overview Dissertations on Alzheimer’s Disease Keeping Current Vocabulary Builder PART III. APPENDICES Appendix A. Researching Your Medications Overview Your Medications: The Basics Learning More about Your Medications Commercial Databases Contraindications and Interactions (Hidden Dangers) A Final Warning General References Vocabulary Builder Appendix B. Researching Alternative Medicine Overview What Is CAM? What Are the Domains of Alternative Medicine? Can Alternatives Affect My Treatment? Additional Web Resources General References Vocabulary Builder Appendix C. Researching Nutrition Overview Food and Nutrition: General Principles Finding Studies on Alzheimer’s Disease Federal Resources on Nutrition Additional Web Resources Vocabulary Builder Appendix D. Finding Medical Libraries Overview Preparation Finding a Local Medical Library Medical Libraries in the U.S. and Canada Appendix E. Alzheimer’s Disease: Unraveling the Mystery Overview Introduction The Impact of Alzheimer's Disease A Walking Tour Through the Brain Inside the Human Brain Neurons and Their Jobs Plaques and Tangles: The Hallmarks of AD The Changing Brain in Alzheimer's Disease Preclinical AD Mild AD Moderate AD Severe AD Then and Now: the Fast Pace of Development in AD Research The Search for Causes Genetic Factors at Work in AD Other Factors at Work in AD New Techniques Help in Diagnosing AD The Search for New Treatments Improving Support for Families and Other Caregivers Appendix F. Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: Acute and Long-Term Care Services Overview Providing Care to People with ADRD Current Themes Affecting ADRD Care Balance between Community and Institutional Care “New” Forms of Care for People with ADRD Health Services Questions Changing Government Policies Client Preferences and Ethical Concerns Measuring Therapeutic Effectiveness Recommendations Appendix G. Genetics of Alzheimer’s Disease Overview Alzheimer’s Disease: Not a Single-Gene Disorder ApoE in Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Questions For More Information Appendix H. 2000 Progress Report on Alzheimer’s Disease Overview The Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s Disease: An Urgent National Health and Research Priority The AD Research Effort Alzheimer’s Disease: More Pieces of the Puzzle Fall into Place What Are the Main Characteristics of AD? Structure and Function of the Brain What Causes AD? What Do We Know about Diagnosing AD? Chromosomes and Genes: The Database of Life How Can Alzheimer’s Disease Be Treated? 2000 AD: Research Advances: Taking the Next Steps Understanding the Etiology of AD Additional Genetic Links to AD Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease: Two Diseases or One? Prion Diseases Familial British Dementia and Associated Disorders Possible Therapeutic Approaches for Abnormal Protein Deposition Aging and AD Development Early Life Events and Other Factors Improving Early Diagnosis Clinical-Pathological Correlations Slowing, Delaying, or Preventing the Disease Estrogen Anti-Inflammatory Agents Inflammation Antioxidants Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Other Neurotrophic Factors Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Trials Database Clues to Healthy Aging Found in Lifestyles Improving Support for Caregivers Pursuing Innovative Mechanisms for Funding AD Research Enhancing the Efficiency and Effectiveness with which Research Is Conducted Support for AD Research by Other NIH Institutes Outlook for the Future Appendix I. NIA Alzheimer’s Disease Centers Program Directory Overview Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Georgia Illinois Indiana Kentucky Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Missouri New York North Carolina Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Texas Washington National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) ONLINE GLOSSARIES Online Dictionary Directories ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE GLOSSARY General Dictionaries and Glossaries INDEX |
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Excerpt (Introduction) |
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Overview Dr. C. Everett Koop, former U.S. Surgeon General, once said, “The best prescription is knowledge.” The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) echoes this view and recommends that every patient incorporate education into the treatment process. According to the AHRQ:
As the AHRQ mentions, finding the right information is not an obvious task. Though many physicians and public officials had thought that the emergence of the Internet would do much to assist patients in obtaining reliable information, in March 2001 the National Institutes of Health issued the following warning:
Since the late 1990s, physicians have seen a general increase in patient Internet usage rates. Patients frequently enter their doctor’s offices with printed Web pages of home remedies in the guise of latest medical research. This scenario is so common that doctors often spend more time dispelling misleading information than guiding patients through sound therapies. The Official Patient’s Sourcebook on Alzheimer’s Disease has been created for patients who have decided to make education and research an integral part of the treatment process. The pages that follow will tell you where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to Alzheimer’s disease, from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research. The title of this book includes the word “official.” This reflects the fact that the sourcebook draws from public, academic, government, and peer-reviewed research. Selected readings from various agencies are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on Alzheimer’s disease. Given patients’ increasing sophistication in using the Internet, abundant references to reliable Internet-based resources are provided throughout this sourcebook. Where possible, guidance is provided on how to obtain free-of-charge, primary research results as well as more detailed information via the Internet. E-book and electronic versions of this sourcebook are fully interactive with each of the Internet sites mentioned (clicking on a hyperlink automatically opens your browser to the site indicated). Hard copy users of this sourcebook can type cited Web addresses directly into their browsers to obtain access to the corresponding sites. Since we are working with ICON Health Publications, hard copy Sourcebooks are frequently updated and printed on demand to ensure that the information provided is current. In addition to extensive references accessible via the Internet, every chapter presents a “Vocabulary Builder.” Many health guides offer glossaries of technical or uncommon terms in an appendix. In editing this sourcebook, we have decided to place a smaller glossary within each chapter that covers terms used in that chapter. Given the technical nature of some chapters, you may need to revisit many sections. Building one’s vocabulary of medical terms in such a gradual manner has been shown to improve the learning process. We must emphasize that no sourcebook on Alzheimer’s disease should affirm that a specific diagnostic procedure or treatment discussed in a research study, patent, or doctoral dissertation is “correct” or your best option. This sourcebook is no exception. Each patient is unique. Deciding on appropriate options is always up to the patient in consultation with their physician and healthcare providers. Organization This sourcebook is organized into three parts. Part I explores basic techniques to researching Alzheimer’s disease (e.g. finding guidelines on diagnosis, treatments, and prognosis), followed by a number of topics, including information on how to get in touch with organizations, associations, or other patient networks dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease. It also gives you sources of information that can help you find a doctor in your local area specializing in treating Alzheimer’s disease. Collectively, the material presented in Part I is a complete primer on basic research topics for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Part II moves on to advanced research dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease. Part II is intended for those willing to invest many hours of hard work and study. It is here that we direct you to the latest scientific and applied research on Alzheimer’s disease. When possible, contact names, links via the Internet, and summaries are provided. It is in Part II where the vocabulary process becomes important as authors publishing advanced research frequently use highly specialized language. In general, every attempt is made to recommend “free-to-use” options. Part III provides appendices of useful background reading for all patients with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders. The appendices are dedicated to more pragmatic issues faced by many patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Accessing materials via medical libraries may be the only option for some readers, so a guide is provided for finding local medical libraries which are open to the public. Part III, therefore, focuses on advice that goes beyond the biological and scientific issues facing patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Scope While this sourcebook covers Alzheimer’s disease, your doctor, research publications, and specialists may refer to your condition using a variety of terms. Therefore, you should understand that Alzheimer’s disease is often considered a synonym or a condition closely related to the following:
In addition to synonyms and related conditions, physicians may refer to Alzheimer’s disease using certain coding systems. The International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) is the most commonly used system of classification for the world’s illnesses. Your physician may use this coding system as an administrative or tracking tool. The following classification is commonly used for Alzheimer’s disease:
For the purposes of this sourcebook, we have attempted to be as inclusive as possible, looking for official information for all of the synonyms relevant to Alzheimer’s disease. You may find it useful to refer to synonyms when accessing databases or interacting with healthcare professionals and medical librarians. Moving Forward Since the 1980s, the world has seen a proliferation of healthcare guides covering most illnesses. Some are written by patients or their family members. These generally take a layperson’s approach to understanding and coping with an illness or disorder. They can be uplifting, encouraging, and highly supportive. Other guides are authored by physicians or other healthcare providers who have a more clinical outlook. Each of these two styles of guide has its purpose and can be quite useful. As editors, we have chosen a third route. We have chosen to expose you to as many sources of official and peer-reviewed information as practical, for the purpose of educating you about basic and advanced knowledge as recognized by medical science today. You can think of this sourcebook as your personal Internet age reference librarian. Why “Internet age”? All too often, patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease will log on to the Internet, type words into a search engine, and receive several Web site listings which are mostly irrelevant or redundant. These patients are left to wonder where the relevant information is, and how to obtain it. Since only the smallest fraction of information dealing with Alzheimer’s disease is even indexed in search engines, a non-systematic approach often leads to frustration and disappointment. With this sourcebook, we hope to direct you to the information you need that you would not likely find using popular Web directories. Beyond Web listings, in many cases we will reproduce brief summaries or abstracts of available reference materials. These abstracts often contain distilled information on topics of discussion. While we focus on the more scientific aspects of Alzheimer’s disease, there is, of course, the emotional side to consider. Later in the sourcebook, we provide a chapter dedicated to helping you find peer groups and associations that can provide additional support beyond research produced by medical science. We hope that the choices we have made give you the most options available in moving forward. In this way, we wish you the best in your efforts to incorporate this educational approach into your treatment plan. |
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Words Defined in the Vocabulary Builders |
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