Mary Caldwell, Alzheimer’s Association of Georgia (Episode 67, To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow)
On this edition of To Your Health, Dr. Morrow welcomed Mary Caldwell, Helpline and Early Stage Program Manager for the Alzheimer’s Association of Georgia, to discuss Alzheimer’s disease. Mary described its features, diagnosis, treatments, available resources such as The Georgia Memory Net, and much more. Dr. Morrow also addressed the current Omicron variant of Covid-19. To Your Health is brought to you by Morrow Family Medicine, a Member of Village Medical, which brings the care back to healthcare.
The Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter
The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.
The Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter, is Georgia’s leading volunteer health organization in Alzheimer’s disease care, serving 159 counties in Georgia with offices in Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Macon, Savannah, and Tifton. The chapter has been serving Georgia communities since 1982 by providing care and support such as care consultation, support groups, education, and social engagements for those with a diagnosis and their care partners. They also fund research globally and right here in Georgia.
Currently there are 150,000 Georgians living with Alzheimer’s and another 330,000 unpaid caregivers.
Morrow Family Medicine, a Member of Village Medical, is an award-winning, state-of-the-art family practice with offices in Cumming and Milton, Georgia. The practice combines healthcare information technology with old-fashioned care to provide the type of care that many are in search of today. Two physicians, three physician assistants and two nurse practitioners are supported by a knowledgeable and friendly staff to make your visit to Morrow Family Medicine, A Member of Village Medical one that will remind you of the way healthcare should be. At Morrow Family Medicine, a Member of Village Medical, we like to say we are “bringing the care back to healthcare!” The practice has been named the “Best of Forsyth” in Family Medicine in all five years of the award, is a three-time consecutive winner of the “Best of North Atlanta” by readers of Appen Media, and the 2019 winner of “Best of Life” in North Fulton County.
Village Medical offers a comprehensive suite of primary care services including preventative care, treatment for illness and injury, and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease. Atlanta-area patients can learn more about the practice here.
Dr. Jim Morrow, Morrow Family Medicine, and Host of To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow
Dr. Jim Morrow is the founder and CEO of Morrow Family Medicine. He has been a trailblazer and evangelist in healthcare information technology, was named Physician IT Leader of the Year by HIMSS, a HIMSS Davies Award Winner, the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce Steve Bloom Award Winner as Entrepreneur of the Year and he received a Phoenix Award as Community Leader of the Year from the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. He is married to Peggie Morrow and together they founded the Forsyth BYOT Benefit, a charity in Forsyth County to support students in need of technology and devices. They have two Goldendoodles, a gaggle of grandchildren and enjoy life on and around Lake Lanier.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorrowFamMed/
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The complete show archive of To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow addresses a wide range of health and wellness topics and can be found at www.toyourhealthradio.com.
Dr. Morrow’s Show Notes
Omicron, My Omicron
- The variant is rapidly taking over as the most common cause of Covid in the US.
- Most cases are already caused by Omicron and while a lot of these cases are mild,
- this still causes a tremendous threat to those who are most susceptible.
- Most cases are already caused by Omicron and while a lot of these cases are mild,
- The good news is that the mRNA vaccines are looking really good at preventing serious disease and death from Omicron and the other variants of the SarsCoV2 virus.
- It’s an important distinction to make in this regard that the virus is not mutating.
- Genetic code mutates.
- That is NOT what is happening here.
- The genetic code of this virus is the same in ALL these variants.
- What is changing is the protein sequence in the spike protein of the virus.
- See, viruses are composed of NOTHING but protein and genetic material.
- They are not alive.
- They are merely pieces of genetic code and amino acids,
- which when lined up or connected in a certain way form protein molecules.
- So, when you hear people talk about mutations, they are not informed correctly.
- This is probably splitting hairs, but I believe it is important for people to understand that the virus is not mutating,
- it is just having some changes in the amino acid sequence in the spike protein
- and none of these changes have made it resistant to the vaccine to this point.
- This is probably splitting hairs, but I believe it is important for people to understand that the virus is not mutating,
And About Treatments
- Some people tried to drag me into an argument about treatments on social media again yesterday.
- I do love it (air quotes here) when people say to me, “I got Covid and I took hydroxychloroquine and it cured me.
- As if they were not going to be cured at all if they did not take it.
- Just because you or someone you know took a substance and did not die, that does not mean that the substance worked.
- I know people who got Covid and chewed bubble gum and did not die.
- Does that mean that the bubble gum cured them?
- I hope not and if you do not understand that, then I’ll just have to let Darwin sort that out.
- And if you don’t get that reference, you have no business in this discussion anyway.
Alzheimer’s Disease
The Alzheimer’s Association works to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia —
o by accelerating research,
o driving risk reduction and early detection,
o and maximizing quality care and support.
Questions for Mary
- What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?
- What are some of the signs of Alzheimer’s?
- Where are we with early detection?
- What should people do if they notice a loved one is showing signs of Alzheimer’s?
- What’s happening with treatment?
- What should you expect if you or a loved one gets diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia?
- What are some of the resources that the Alzheimer’s Association has for caregivers and people living with Alzheimer’s?
- How can people get involved with the Alzheimer’s Association?
