Schwartz Discusses Advances in Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment
Ronald L. Schwartz, MD, a physician with Hattiesburg Clinic Memory Center recently spoke with the American Medical Association about detecting and treating Alzheimer’s disease.
According to Dr. Schwartz, Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia and is a prominent concern for patients of all ages, but especially those moving into their 70s and 80s. He urges patients and physicians to look for early signs, including short-term memory loss, trouble with word finding, a nuanced set of personality changes or behavioral problems or sleep issues. By catching patients in the pre-Alzheimer’s stages, there is a greater opportunity to slow down or even prevent progression to later stages.
“Disease modification is only effective if we can intervene in the earliest stages of AD,” Schwartz said. “All too often, patients present for evaluation when they are past the point of benefitting from treatment. If you’re not paying attention or addressing it early, you’re missing the window to intervene,” Schwartz said.
At Memory Center, Schwartz and his team are constantly working on clinical trials for ground-breaking Alzheimer’s therapies, including immunotherapy infusion and anti-amyloid immunotherapy. “We are also working on a clinical trial with dual targets where subjects are treated with both an anti-amyloid and an anti-tau immunotherapy simultaneously,” Schwartz shared. “This has never been done before and we are thrilled to be able to offer this type of clinical trial for our patient population.
Follow the link to read the full interview: https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/robust-pipeline-new-tests-treatments-alzheimer-s-disease
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About Hattiesburg Clinic Memory Center:
Hattiesburg Clinic Memory Center operates as a clinical practice focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with memory disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and early pre-Alzheimer’s characterized as Mild Cognitive Impairment. Under the direction of a fellowship-trained, behavioral/cognitive neurologist, Memory Center works with patients to establish an appropriate care plan. Clinical trial activities are supported by skilled personnel who are trained on specific protocol requirements including study coordination, data/resource management, psychometric/cognitive assessment, administrative/financial oversight, laboratory assistance and technological support (neuro-imaging).
About Hattiesburg Clinic:
Hattiesburg Clinic is Mississippi’s largest privately-owned, multispecialty clinic. More than 60 years after its beginning, the clinic has grown to over 450 physicians and providers, caring for patients in more than 17 counties in South Mississippi. Along with over 2,500 professional staff employees, these physicians and providers come together for a common purpose, to serve the over 500,000 community members who live and work in South Mississippi every day.
