Dr. Nana Yaw Adu-Sarkodie: Just like the regular muscles in your arms and legs, the more you exercise it, the bigger and stronger they get. Your brain is elastic. It can be trained to do different things. If you have a stroke, you can get physical therapy, to train it to make new connections. Neurons will grow back to a certain degree.
Brain games are important:
Dr. A: You really have to do brain games. Do a lot of reading, puzzles, math problems, etc. In this population that we have right now, with sedentary lifestyles, poor heath habits, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc., we are seeing an increase in incidences of Alzheimer's. In 2018, there were 5.7 million people in the US with Alzheimer's disease. That's almost 2% of the population. The lifetime cost is about $300,000 to $400,000 just to treat one person. In the African-American & Hispanic community, we are more likely to develop Alzheimer's. Twice as likely for African-Americans & 1.5% likely for Hispanics. Why? It could be the environment, the food, lack of exercise, etc.
Dr. A: You really have to do brain games. Do a lot of reading, puzzles, math problems, etc. In this population that we have right now, with sedentary lifestyles, poor heath habits, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc., we are seeing an increase in incidences of Alzheimer's. In 2018, there were 5.7 million people in the US with Alzheimer's disease. That's almost 2% of the population. The lifetime cost is about $300,000 to $400,000 just to treat one person. In the African-American & Hispanic community, we are more likely to develop Alzheimer's. Twice as likely for African-Americans & 1.5% likely for Hispanics. Why? It could be the environment, the food, lack of exercise, etc.
Exercise is important:
Dr. A: Aerobic exercise lets the blood flow throughout the brain & the body.
It gives blood to the brain and as your brain is bathed in all the nutrients, it sustains itself a little longer.
Dr. A: Aerobic exercise lets the blood flow throughout the brain & the body.
It gives blood to the brain and as your brain is bathed in all the nutrients, it sustains itself a little longer.
Beets & Antioxidants:
Dr. A: Antioxidants break-up the free radicals that float around through your body. Those free radicals are what kills the cells in your brain and the rest of your body too. If you get rid of those, you decrease your risk. Medicine is all about mitigating risk.
If you change your lifestyle when you're younger, by the time that you get 65 or older, you may have modified your risk, so that all these things don't happen to you later on.
Dr. A: Antioxidants break-up the free radicals that float around through your body. Those free radicals are what kills the cells in your brain and the rest of your body too. If you get rid of those, you decrease your risk. Medicine is all about mitigating risk.
If you change your lifestyle when you're younger, by the time that you get 65 or older, you may have modified your risk, so that all these things don't happen to you later on.
Karen: "Your life is a sum total of your decisions."
Dr. Michelle Yeboah: People make the mistake, in terms of behavior of,
'Well, I've been smoking for years, I'm going to keep on smoking.'
If you stop smoking today, it will absolutely elongate your life. So just because you've been doing something, doesn't been that you should continue.
'Well, I've been smoking for years, I'm going to keep on smoking.'
If you stop smoking today, it will absolutely elongate your life. So just because you've been doing something, doesn't been that you should continue.
Caregivers & Depression:
Dr. A: Two-thirds of Alzheimer patients are women and the majority of caregivers for Alzheimer patients are women. If you have sons and daughters, it will more likely be the daughter that takes care of the family member. Most of the time, we (as caregivers), are our own worst enemies. It's not about you. It's about the patient. Caregivers have high rates of depression. They have poor access to health care for themselves because they are so busy taking care of their loved one.
Dr. A: Two-thirds of Alzheimer patients are women and the majority of caregivers for Alzheimer patients are women. If you have sons and daughters, it will more likely be the daughter that takes care of the family member. Most of the time, we (as caregivers), are our own worst enemies. It's not about you. It's about the patient. Caregivers have high rates of depression. They have poor access to health care for themselves because they are so busy taking care of their loved one.
If you don't take care of yourself,
you can't take care of anybody else.
you can't take care of anybody else.
Dr. A: Respite care is really important. Find an outlet for you to allow someone to come to the house and give you a break. You need that. If you have other family members, get them.
There are tons of community resources. Every state has a council on aging that can assist. In the African-American community, we have a lot of pride in the fact that we take care of our own but at the same time, we don't reach out to others and we suffer the consequences too. So, even though we feel great about taking care of mom & dad, at the same time it's hurting us and that leads to poor outcomes. It's okay to say that you need help. Most of the time, we're suffering silently.
There are tons of community resources. Every state has a council on aging that can assist. In the African-American community, we have a lot of pride in the fact that we take care of our own but at the same time, we don't reach out to others and we suffer the consequences too. So, even though we feel great about taking care of mom & dad, at the same time it's hurting us and that leads to poor outcomes. It's okay to say that you need help. Most of the time, we're suffering silently.
Difference between a tumor and a cyst:
Dr. A: A tumor is mostly solid tissue & a cyst is more fluid-filled.
Can a cyst turn into a tumor? Yes, especially if there are any other types of cells that come into it and also how long they last.
Dr. A: A tumor is mostly solid tissue & a cyst is more fluid-filled.
Can a cyst turn into a tumor? Yes, especially if there are any other types of cells that come into it and also how long they last.
A caller considering a second opinion about the lemon-sized tumor on his brain:
Dr. A: If you've already been evaluated by one doctor and want more advice,
see a neurosurgeon or neurologist because that's their field.
Dr. A: If you've already been evaluated by one doctor and want more advice,
see a neurosurgeon or neurologist because that's their field.
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