El Centro Swank para el Cuidado de la Memoria y Consultas Geriátricas en ChristianaCare es el primer y más completo consultorio en Delaware para pacientes ambulatorios con trastornos de memoria y para sus familias. Alrededor de 19,000 personas en todo Delaware están lidiando con la enfermedad de Alzheimer o un trastorno relacionado. El Centro Swank para el Cuidado de la Memoria y Consultas Geriátricas ofrece a estos pacientes y a sus familias apoyo, educación y orientación esenciales desde el diagnóstico hasta el tratamiento.
Steven Huege, MD
Endowed Chair of the Swank Center for Memory Care
Geriatric Psychiatrist
Patricia M. Curtin, MD, FACP
Director, Clinical Strategy and Community Affairs
Lynsey E. Brandt, MD
Geriatrician, Medical Director
Carolyn O. Ianni, MD
Geriatrician
Joseph S. Handler, MD
Neurologist
Michelle K. Ritona, FNP-BC, MSN
Family Nurse Practitioner, Lead Advanced Practice Clinician
Amy S. Blake, FNP-BC, MSN
Family Nurse Practitioner
Alexandra Nixon, AGPCNP
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Aaron R. Block, PA-C
Physician Assistant
There are two main categories of treatment for Alzheimer’s disease: Symptomatic Treatments and Disease Modifying Treatments.
Symptomatic treatments such as cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) and memantine provide temporary improvement in cognitive symptoms such as memory loss but do not alter the overall course of the illness.
Disease modifying treatments are treatments that can alter the course of the illness and have the potential to slow the rate of memory/cognitive decline. Currently, there is only one approved medication available in this category, Leqembi (lecanemab). This medication is given as multiple infusions over several months. However, Leqembi is not appropriate for all patients. All patients seeking treatment with Leqembi must undergo extensive pre-treatment assessment and review, including genetic testing, neuropsychological testing, biomarker studies (PET scan or spinal tap), and brain MRI to determine safety and eligibility.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition in which one has memory and/or other cognitive complaints that are noticeable to the patient or others and create difficulty, but do not cause severe impairment in functioning. In other words, patients with MCI while needing reminders and other assistance, can still generally function independently. Patients with dementia, on the other hand, have cognitive complaints that do result in severe impairment in functioning. These patients struggle with activities of daily living (ADL’s) and their level of impairment is such that they have difficulty functioning independently.
Dementia, or what is also called major neurocognitive disorder, is a condition in which there are changes to the brain that cause significant impairment in functioning. Cognitive symptoms of dementia can include memory loss, difficulty with language, emotional disturbances, impaired judgment, psychiatric symptoms (depression, anxiety, psychosis), and changes in personality or behavior. Many conditions can cause dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, but other conditions also cause dementia such as Parkinson’s disease, Lewy Body disease, Frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, certain infections, and vitamin deficiencies amongst others. A thorough memory disorders assessment includes studies to rule out these conditions.
Questions of legal capacity related to health care decision-making, finances, exploitation or abuse, and living arrangements commonly arise in patients with memory disorders. These matters may require the involvement of the legal system and a judicial determination of competency. In order to maintain the integrity of the doctor/patient relationship, Swank providers do not perform capacity assessments, nor do we complete competency evaluation paperwork for legal purposes. The Swank Center provides outstanding clinical care to our patients. Our program is not designed to provide the forensic consultative services that are required under such circumstances.
Considere hacer una donación hoy mismo al Centro Swank para el Cuidado de la Memoria y Consultas Geriátricas.
Safe Steps de ChristianaCare ofrece un equipo de expertos que se especializan en medicina geriátrica y física y en rehabilitación.
Prevenir o frenar la pérdida de memoria.
Una serie de podcasts del primer consultorio ambulatorio integral de Delaware para pacientes con trastornos de la memoria.
Acuda al Centro Swank para el Cuidado de la Memoria y Consultas Geriátricas en esta etapa difícil.