ppa

primary progressive aphasia

Alternative Treatments

Practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use health care practices and products that are not considered a part of the conventional medicine practiced by holders of MD (medical doctor), DO (doctor of osteopathy), nursing and therapy degrees. The list of treatments considered CAM evolves regularly as therapies that are proven to be safe and effective in clinical trials become mainstream health care. It is important to remember herbal and alternative treatments may interact with prescribed or non prescription medications, and as with all treatments, possess the potential for side effects.

Using herbal treatments

Herbs are typically used in combination with each other and usually do not have serious side effects when used appropriately at suggested doses. It is not unusual for an individual to use complementary medicine and conventional medicine at the same time.

The risks of herbal treatments

Reducing Cognitive Impairment after Surgery

Older patients with neurodegenerative disease quite often need surgery for reasons unrelated to their cognitive problems. Both the hospital and surgical environments can be challenging for patients, but with some planning, these difficulties can be minimized. The suggestions that follow are not all inclusive, and we suggest discussing suggestions your physician/s may have prior to any surgical procedure.

Older patients with neurodegenerative disease quite often need surgery for reasons unrelated to their cognitive problems. Both the hospital and surgical environments can be challenging for patients, but with some planning, these difficulties can be minimized. The suggestions that follow are not all inclusive, and we suggest discussing suggestions your physician/s may have prior to any surgical procedure.

Prior to Surgery

Medications to Avoid

It is always good try to non-drug interventions before turning to medications but sometimes medications are necessary. Certain types of medications may actually increase confusion, and people with cognitive problems may be particularly sensitive to these effects. In addition, they may interfere with the medications used to treat cognitive problems.

It is always good try to non-drug interventions before turning to medications but sometimes medications are necessary. Certain types of medications may actually increase confusion, and people with cognitive problems may be particularly sensitive to these effects. In addition, they may interfere with the medications used to treat cognitive problems. Below is information about medications to try to avoid if you have cognitive problems.

Anxiety

What medications are commonly used for anxiety?

Dana Wagshal, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

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See articles written by Dr. Wagshal

Dana is a postdoctoral fellow in neurology working with Dr. Boxer at the Memory and Aging Center.

Raquel Gardner, MD

Clinical Instructor and Behavioral Neurology Fellow

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Dr. Gardner completed her BA degree in Neuroscience and Behavior at Columbia University in New York. She received her medical degree from Harvard University. She completed her inernship in internal medicine and residency in neurology at UCSF. She then joined the UCSF Memory and Aging Center in 2012 where she is a Clinical Instructor and a Behavioral Neurology Fellow. As a neurologist, Dr. Gardner evaluates and treats patients with various neurodegenerative disorders and provides them with follow-up care. Her current research focuses on understanding network degeneration in progressive supranuclear palsy using functional connectivity MRI.

Joy Lee

Clinic Coordinator

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Joy Lee is a clinic coordinator for the Memory and Aging Center. She is a certified Phlebotomy Technician (2008), studied medical terminology and is a certified medical biller and coder (2009). She has five years of dental background at the UCSF School of Dentistry and over seven years of experience in administrative and clerical support. She would like to pursue her career in the Memory and Aging Center. And she loves to bake!

Carrie Cheung

Clinic Coordinator

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Carrie, a San Francisco native, comes from a sales and public service background with over 10 years of management. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a creative writing degree and a minor in holistic health. She enjoys helping the public, learning new cultures and challenges, and writing about her experiences.

Nik Block

Research Coordinator

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Nik Block coordinates the study Frontotemporal Dementia: Genes, Imaging and Emotions. This observational study aims to better characterize neurodegenerative diseases such as frontotemporal dementia with the goal of developing better diagnostic tools for the diseases.

Carole Scherling, PhD

Postdoctoral Scholar

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Carole Scherling, PhD, is a postdoctoral student at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center. After undergraduate work at the University of Ottawa, she completed a masters degree in neurological sciences at McGill University and a doctorate in behavioral neurosciences at the University of Ottawa. Her past research focused on mild clinical impairments in both healthy and clinical populations using MRI and fMRI techniques, neuropsychological assessments and biological markers. Her current research centers on behavioral and neurophysiological measurements of insight and cognitive abilities in patients with neurodegenerative disease.

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