November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am confronted daily with questions from patients with Alzheimer’s disease and their families: What should we do? Should we stay home and avoid all personal contact?
I saw the impact of the pandemic on these patients: social isolation with subsequent depression, lack of physical activity, deferral of routine follow-up visits, cancellation of elective procedures and loss of follow-up for chronic conditions.
Unfortunately, there are no large-scale studies to address the impact of the pandemic on patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Such studies likely will not be available for months, if not years. It is almost impossible to give a “one-size-fits-all” answer. It is a balance between the risk of exposure to the virus and the risks associated with lockdown. Apart from the well-known measures recommended for social distancing, face coverings and frequent hand washing, patients with Alzheimer’s disease are encouraged to continue their routine.
For instance, a patient with Alzheimer’s disease suffering from chest pain should seek medical attention, because the benefit outweighs the risks of exposure. They may be suffering from a heart attack or pulmonary embolism that needs to be dealt with quite rapidly. Uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes needs to be addressed with a healthcare provider. In general, acute changes in medical conditions are more worrisome than stable chronic ailments. Telemedicine visits, either by phone or by audiovisual media, can provide a good alternative to office visits.
Finally, patients with Alzheimer’s disease are encouraged to receive vaccinations, namely influenza and shingles vaccines, as recommended to mitigate the morbidity and mortality associated with these two conditions.
Information provided by Emad Shoukry, MD, a board-certified gerontologist who practices at the Louise H. and Joseph Z. Ornelas Center for Healthy Aging at UT Health North Campus Tyler. Call 903-877-7911 to schedule an appointment or visit uthealtheasttexasdoctors.com/location/ut-health-east-texas-physicians-north-campus-tyler-internal-medicine-endocrinology.