Blog
Delirium: What is it and How is it Different from Dementia?
Delirium is a sudden and severe brain function change that causes a person to appear confused or disoriented or to have difficulty maintaining focus, thinking clearly, and remembering recent events....
Your Brain on Gratitude
It's been a year. We've all had terrible things to face. It might be financial distress as our industry shuts down because of the pandemic. It might be the loss of a loved one to COVID-19. The...
Vascular Dementia—The Problem Most Don’t Know About
Everyone has heard of dementia. And everyone worries about dementia. At age 60, 10 percent of us will have dementia. By age 80, 40 percent of us will.Dementia is damage to the brain, just as heart...
Create Your Own “Blue Zone” And Live To 100
Every so often, people will start to get excited about a small town where people routinely live to be 100. That town might be on the Japanese island of Okinawa, or the mountains of Sicily, or in a...
Managing Pain in Elders
By Elizabeth Landsverk, MD Older adults are more likely to experience pain than the general population but they may be less likely to be treated for it. The most common reason that pain in elders is...
Beware Of Internet Scams
Alas, grifters have always been with us. Just think of the saying, "If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you!" That saying has its roots in a con more than a century old: George...
Stop Aging! Prevent Dementia!
As I care for the families of those with dementia, nothing drives me crazier than the myriad businesses/practitioners/physicians who seek to separate people from their money by offering miracle...
The Low Down on Leaky Gut
No one likes to talk about it much, but "leaky gut," or the inability to completely control one's bowels, is one of the most common problems I face as a geriatrician. This condition usually has its...
The Meds Matter: Adverse Drug Reactions
Adverse drug reactions are an all-too-common cause of hospitalization for elders. About half of Americans age 65 and older take five or more medications daily and many mix prescription and...
What is Lewy Body Dementia
Many families who consult our practice are surprised to find that there are many kinds of dementia. It's not just Alzheimer's disease that can cause cognitive decline. One of the most confounding...
Chronic Pain? Tylenol is a Good First Step
As a geriatrician who primarily takes care of elders with dementia, chronic pain is a problem that I must address daily. It's not news that chronic pain affects us as we age. A recent study found...
Why is Sugar so Scary?
In an average year, Halloween trick-or-treating kicks off a two-month sugar binge we call the holidays. Bowls of Halloween candy empty just about the time Thanksgiving desserts beckon. And then,...
Connected Horse: Sparking Joy in those with Dementia
As a geriatrician doing house calls and specializing in working through difficult situations, one of my core messages to families is that people with dementia can still have meaningful lives....
A Will Is Not Enough
In America, we don't like talking about mortality. Nor do we like planning for it. About 60 percent of us die without a will. This is a tragedy. Lack of planning can lead to all kinds of problems as...
Vaccines Can Save Your Life
Nothing frustrates me more than all the controversy about vaccines. This tool, the vaccine, has saved uncounted millions from early and terrible deaths. I think many misunderstandings about vaccines...