Treatment for Alzheimer's, Dementia and Other Memory Disorders in New Jersey

There is no single test to diagnose dementia. While symptoms of dementia can vary greatly, at least two of the following core mental functions must be significantly impaired to be considered dementia:

• Ability to focus and pay attention
• Communication and language
• Memory
• Reasoning and judgment
• Visual perception

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia is based on:

• A careful examination of medical history
• A physical examination
• Laboratory tests
• Characteristic changes in thinking
• Changes in day-to-day function
• Behavior changes

Our highly specialized team members take pride in their expertise and commitment to state-of-the-art services including:

• Advanced care planning
• Medication therapy
• Cognitive stimulation 
• Behavioral interventions 
• Gait Training 
• Physical and occupational therapy 
• Nutrition therapy 
• Medication therapy 
• Social Services

Although every possible cause of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is still unknown, we do know that those affected tend to be older, have a family history of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease and have brain plaques and “tangles” that may harm healthy brain cells. Diet, environment and education may also play a role.

Researchers at Hackensack Meridian Health are testing several medications to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, as well as diagnostic techniques that can help doctors differentiate Alzheimer’s disease from other causes of dementia, such as Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal dementia.

It’s normal to have occasional bouts of short-term memory loss, such as missing a turn while driving, recalling a certain word or remembering where we put our glasses or phone. However, getting lost when driving or walking a familiar route, finding it difficult to speak or write, or struggling to follow a favorite recipe are symptoms that should be discussed with your doctor.

Other potential warning signs of dementia include:  

• Difficulty making plans 
• Confusion with time and place
• Impaired reasoning or judgment
• Trouble solving problems or completing familiar tasks
• Losing things/memory loss that disrupts daily life and losing the ability to retrace steps
• Inability to carry on a conversation 
• Changes in mood or personality.

The most common types of dementia include: 

• Alzheimer's disease or primary dementia is the most common type of dementia. affecting areas of the brain that control thought, language and memory. It progresses slowly, beginning with mild memory loss and gradually worsens to impede one’s ability to converse, perform simple tasks or respond to the surrounding environment.   
• Frontotemporal dementia symptoms include changes in behavior and personality, and problems speaking or understanding language. It can occur after damage to the frontal (front) and temporal lobes (sides) of the brain. 
• Lewy body dementia symptoms include problems balancing and moving, stiff movements, confusion, memory loss, daytime sleepiness and visual hallucinations. It’s caused by protein deposits in the brain.
• Mixed dementia includes more than one type of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Mixed dementia tends to occur in people aged 80 or older. 
• Vascular dementia symptoms include confusion, memory problems and difficulty concentrating and completing tasks. The second most common form of dementia, vascular dementia is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, such as following a stroke or several mini strokes. 

Dementia is classified according to common features, known causes and which parts of the brain it affects: 

• Cortical dementia: Impacts language, memory, thinking and social behavior. It occurs when the area below the brain's cortex, or outer layer, gets damaged.
• Subcortical dementia: Affects emotions, memory and movement and is associated with damage below the cortex.
• Progressive dementia: Most dementia types get progressively worse over time, although the timeline trajectory varies from person to person. 
• Primary dementia: Indicates the dementia didn’t result from another disease or condition. Alzheimer's disease is a type of primary dementia.
• Secondary dementia: Caused by injuries or diseases that affect the brain, such head trauma or Parkinson’s disease.