Doctor Column
“The Long Goodbye” — The Five Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease
March 6, 2018
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Far more than a senior moment, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the “Long Goodbye.” The disease is not a part of normal aging. It is a gradual, deadly assault on memory, reasoning and behavior. It cripples a person’s emotional and physical health.
Alzheimer’s Disease A Healthcare Tsunami
February 25, 2018
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
“Everyone knows a cancer survivor, but no one knows an Alzheimer’s survivor.” This gloomy reality has energized hundreds of present day clinical trials in attempts by scientists to prevent the onset and/or find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
MoCA — Montreal Cognitive Assessment
February 15, 2018
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Much press coverage was given to the President of the United States when he passed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test in January of 2018 (30/30). This test is an easily administered10 minute screening tool to assist primary care physicians to detect Mild Cognitive Impairment, a clinical state that can progress to Alzheimer’s disease (dementia)…
Ten Secrets of the Microbiome and Its Hidden World
February 5, 2018
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Microbiome is a hidden world within and on the surface of our body that is crucial to our health. This world is composed of a number of communities that is as distinctive as your fingerprints. Most of the communities work hard and get along with each other. Others are dangerous and work hard at causing mayhem.
Functions of “Designer” Proteins: “The Linchpins of Life!”
January 25, 2018
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Proteins perform a variety of functions. We need them to repair a cut finger and to stop bleeding. We need them to turbo charge digestion and to transport oxygen to every cell and tissue in the body. We need proteins to provide energy when our diet is inadequate. We need them to stand up and sit down.
Protein: The Crucial Nutrient
January 15, 2018
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
“Why do we need proteins?” We need proteins to survive and thrive. They’re a vital part of every cell and are present in every living organism. Unlike fats, the body cannot store proteins for future use. This means we need this indispensible nutrient in our diet every day.
Centenarian Secrets: “How Can I Join Their 100 Year Old Club?”
January 5, 2018
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
On April 15, 2017 the world’s oldest person at that time died at the age of 117. The life of Emma Morano spanned three centuries. Born November 29, 1899, she was the last person born in the 1800s She died in Verbania, a small town on Lake Maggiore, Italy.
“The Boy in the Bubble” — Recurrent Infections in Children… “When Should I Worry?”
December 25, 2017
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
In the 1970’s, much notoriety was given to the “The Boy in the Bubble”. The youngster, David Vetter, lived alone for 12 years in a germ free plastic tent. His mother never held him in her arms. No one was allowed to touch him with their bare hands. The toll on his psyche and the heartache of his parents are immeasurable.
A Snapshot of the Immune System — Our Bodies’ Department of Defense
December 15, 2017
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Just as an apartment building uses a doorman and a surveillance system to identify and prevent unwanted visitors from entering the premises, the immune system uses an army of specialized cells, tissues and organs to survey and protect the body against foreign invaders.
Getting Old is Hard to Swallow — ‘Dysphagia in the Elderly’
December 5, 2017
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Trouble swallowing in the elderly has received keen interest in recent years. Oropharyngeal Dysphagia — “OD” involves difficulty moving food or liquids comfortably from the oral cavity, mouth and throat, to the esophagus (food pipe). Some have proposed to characterize OD as a geriatric syndrome, a clinical disorder especially prevalent in the elderly.
