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 Welcome to the Center for Memory and Aging, a part of Pacific Center for Neurological Disease, Inc.
An exciting new concept in comprehensive memory and cognitive care for the elderly, the CMA is the first private center of it's kind in San Diego County. Conveniently located in the prestigious Rancho Bernardo area and with an experienced staff of neurologists and neuropsychologists trained in geriatric memory and cognitive disorders, we offer state-of-the-art evaluation methods and technologies to diagnose complex cognitive disorders in the elderly and also provide comprehensive treatment, counseling, and support for patients and their caregivers. We also provide access to the latest clinical drug trials in Alzheimer's disease and dementia disorders. As we get older, Memory and Cognition can decline... |  |
As we get older, memory loss can be disconcerting, because there is a fear of getting the dreaded Alzheimer's disease. Yet, it seems like everyone we know is being diagnosed with this disease. So, do they really have Alzheimer's disease? How can you tell if it is?? How do you know if memory loss is just a part of normal aging? As experts in dementia and memory evaluation, we feel that it is critical to be able to distinguish among all the causes of memory loss and changes in thinking and behavior and separate them from disorders like Mild Cognitive Impairment or from simple Normal Aging. Not all memory loss is just "dementia." It is so important for elderly individuals to know what is causing their memory problem and if it will get worse. The right diagnosis leads to the right treatment or maybe no treatment if normal. Because of this, we decided to establish the Center for Memory and Aging, a one-stop comprehensive clinic where patients can get all their testing done, treatments administered and questions answered.  | What really is dementia and Alzheimer's disease? |
Dementia is really not a diagnosis (although it is frequently used as one with patients and their families). It is a syndrome, a grouping of symptoms including memory or cognitive problems that get worse over time, leading to behavioral disturbances and decline in the ability to do daily activities like grooming, shopping, driving and taking care of bills and finances. For all causes of dementia, Alzheimer's disease is the most common in most parts of the world. In the US, there are over 4-5 million individuals affected. Alzheimer's disease is a gradual disorder of memory loss, behavior and loss daily activities that is more common in the elderly. Malfunctional proteins such as amyloid and tau form abnormal structures in and out of brain nerve cells (see picture above), causing irreversible damage to them and to their connections with each other (synapses). This leads to a "short-circuit" of the brain and the symptoms that we see everyday. It gets worse over time, and early diagnosis and treatment leads to a better quality of life. Experts believe that Alzheimer's disease is actually a spectrum starting early in the 30s and then showing early symptoms as something called Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). MCI maybe only a isolated loss of memory without any impact on daily functioning and life, but it could be a precursor to some forms of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Studies show that about about 12% of people with MCI with memory loss alone, can later develop Alzheimer's disease. It is so important, then, to identify MCI as soon as possible, because many efforts at treating Alzheimer's are now directed at preventing the disease from ever happening at the MCI stage. Other causes of dementia are out there as well. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) causes behavioral disturbance and disinhibition. Lewy Body Dementia looks like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease combined, and guess what, after 5-10 years, Parkinson's disease itself also leads to mild dementia. 
| The Center for Memory and Aging Story |
Because we feel passionately about dementia and memory loss and helping people with these issues, we decided to establish our own private memory center to diagnose and treat patients, provide support and also conduct studies to better understand why these diseases occur. As a group of academic / university-trained dementia experts, we knew that for the last several decades, great strides had been made in understanding Alzheimer's disease. Special centers were set up at universities all over the world to conduct research. In this modern day, a shift in thinking has occurred, demanding a translation of this knowledge and experience to taking care of patients in local communities...local communities like ours! More that that, excellent research can be effectively done at the community level, leading to great contributions to scientific knowledge in the field. We, in collaboration with PCND Neurology, our parent company, set out to do just that: to build a great community memory center to serve the people of PPH district, Rancho Bernardo area and all of San Diego! Please consider us for your memory care needs or contact us if you have an interest in participating in clinical trials! To diagnose dementia and cognitive/memory loss, we offer:  Easy access from Rancho Bernardo, Poway, Scripps Ranch, Escondido
Neurocognitive Evaluation by Dementia/Behavioral Neurologist Accurate Computerized Testing and MCI Memory Screening Neuropsychological Testing for Dementia and Memory Loss Volumetric Brain Analysis based on MRI Scan Information Expert treatment and followup with yearly cognitive reassessment Geropsychiatric Assistance for Behavioral Disturbance in Dementia Cognitive Training Programs to Enhance Memory and Learning Dementia Social Support and Care Resources Access to Clinical Drug Trials in Alzheimer's disease, dementia, other. Location and Contact Information For information contact, Gilbert J. Ho, MD, CMA Director, at: The Center for Memory and Aging (858) 674-1289
Fax (858) 674-9796
Del Norte Terraces
15644 Pomerado Road Suite 401
Poway, CA 92064 | |
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