Cleveland Clinic

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, degenerative brain disease and the most common form of dementia in adults over the age of 65. According to the 2012 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report from the Alzheimer’s Association, one in eight older Americans has Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in the brain. This build-up leads to cell death in areas of the brain essential for thinking, memory and behavior. Increasing age is the primary risk factor for developing AD but family history, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can also contribute to the onset of this disease. Common symptoms of AD can include memory loss, changes in personality, and speech difficulties. With comprehensive testing, neurologists can diagnose probable Alzheimer’s disease early on with almost 90% accuracy.

Alzheimer’s disease is primarily treated through the use of drug therapy to temporarily improve or delay the worsening of cognitive decline but does not treat the underlying illness. Cleveland Clinic Florida’s Brain Health Program is an integral component to Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health; our experts here in Florida are equipped with the resources and technology to provide each patient with an individualized treatment plan. In collaboration with Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center and the Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinical Florida offers clinical research trials for a variety of neurological diseases and disorders. The two most common types of trials are interventional therapies including diagnostic treatments, medication therapies, infusion and device implantations. We also offer non-interventional trials including observations and on-going follow-ups by an neurological specialist to monitor the state of the disease or disorder.
The most effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease integrate medication therapy with lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise to improve motor functions and overall health.

Take this opportunity to have your questions answered about Alzheimer’s disease by Po-Heng Tsai, MD and learn about the treatment options available at Cleveland Clinic Florida to help patients manage cognitive symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Po-Heng Tsai, MD is the Director of the Brain Health Program and expert neurology specialist in the Department of Neurology at Cleveland Clinic Florida. His on-going collaboration with Cleveland Clinic’s Neurological Institue and Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and part of the Neurological Institute at Cleveland Clinic Florida. His areas of expertise include Alzheimer's disease, behavioral neurology, cognitive disorders, dementia, memory loss.

To make an appointment with Po-Heng Tsai, MD or any neurological specialists at Cleveland Clinic Florida, please call 877.463.2010. You can also visit us online at www.clevelandclinicflorida.org