A focus on prevention, early-detection and treatment of dementia

By Sue Baldani

Dementia is a general term that refers to a group of illnesses affecting memory, thinking, or speaking. Historically, dementia was viewed as a disease of old people. However, now it is increasingly seen in younger people. Early-onset dementia is defined as the onset of symptoms prior to age 65.

Fortunately, diagnoses and treatments have dramatically improved, and while the disease cannot be cured, its progress can be slowed. “Once someone is diagnosed, we don’t wait,” says Galina Shenfeld, executive director and founder of the Memory Center. “There are things that should be done right away.”

Galina has a personal stake in staying on top of the latest research – her husband was diagnosed with dementia in 2019 and is successfully being treated in the center with revolutionary therapies.  

“We have a plethora of things we can do and we have incredible diagnostic cognitive tests. We also do specific blood work for genetic predisposition and signs of dementia. Health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, Lyme disease, and gingivitis increase one’s chance of dementia. We now know that the best treatment is prevention or early detection.”

Two-thirds of patients with Alzheimer’s are post-menopausal women, she says, so it’s important to improve their quality of sleep as well as their diets, and control weight and optimize medications, if needed.

The Memory Center is a multi-specialty clinic composed of an internist, neurologist, psychiatrist and staff trained in neurological and psychological testing. “Utilizing the latest medical technology, we’re seeing incredibly positive results,” says Galina.

401 S. Van Brunt St, Ste 302

Englewood, NJ, 07631

(201) 947-4777

MemoryCenter.org

Written for Suburban Essex Magazine in NJ.