- With Mayo Clinic health education outreach coordinator
Angela Lunde
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Angela Lunde
Angela Lunde is a dementia education specialist in the education core of Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the Abigail Van Buren Alzheimer's Disease Research Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Angela Lunde
The transfer of information about dementias, as well as understanding the need for participation in clinical trials, is an essential component of the education core.
Angela is a member of the Alzheimer's Association board of directors and co-chair of the annual Minnesota Dementia Conference. She is a member of the Dementia Behavior Assessment and Response Team (D-BART), a multidisciplinary outreach service assisting professional and family caregivers in understanding and managing difficult behaviors often present in dementia. She facilitates several support groups, including Memory Club, an early-stage education and support series, and more recently, helped to develop and now deliver Healthy Action to Benefit Independence and Thinking (HABIT), a 10-day cognitive rehab and wellness program for people with mild cognitive impairment.
Angela takes a personal interest in understanding the complex changes that take place within relationships and among families when dementia is present. She is particularly interested in providing innovative and accessible ways for people with dementia and their families to receive information and participate in valuable programs that promote well-being.
"Amid a devastating disease, there are tools, therapies, programs and ways to cope, and it is vital that families are connected to these resources," she says.
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Alzheimer's blog
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March 4, 2010
Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's empowers people
By Angela Lunde
Thanks to all of you for your candid comments about the importance of early diagnosis and the need for more supportive services after a diagnosis.
I just completed delivering another session of a program called HABIT (Healthy Action to Benefit Independence and Thinking). Persons in this program have a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or early stage Alzheimer's disease. Many of these participants talked about the challenge of having their memory concerns validated and receiving a clear diagnosis. Fortunately, these folks were able to get a diagnosis early and are pro-actively taking steps to compensate for their impairment and possibly slow down decline.
I feel strongly that persons are empowered when they receive an early diagnosis. They begin to understand that the changes and challenges are likely part of a disease process — not a lack of effort, motivation, or sign of weakness. An early diagnosis offers the patient and their family time to arm themselves with knowledge and take full advantage of existing strengths. And early diagnosis allows for psychiatric symptoms such as depression to be identified and treated. I don't want to imply that an early diagnosis provides individuals and families with rose colored glasses (nobody wishes for the diagnosis and the journey will not be easy), but instead it does help them with an understanding and a plan for whatever the future will bring.
If you're concerned about memory changes in yourself or a loved one, the Alzheimer's Association has a document that can be helpful to complete and take to your doctor. You can find the checklist on the Resources tab above, and a link to the Mayo Clinic memory training program.
28 comments posted
April 9, 2013 10:36 a.m.
I have had increasing anxiety over forgetting what I came into a room for, recall of my social security #, peoples names,etc. With the exception of names I recall the data quickly after the question has been presented. My hand writing and spelling is getting worse. I just turned 62. Shoul I be concerned?
- Pat
January 15, 2012 6:02 p.m.
Are ther different levels to this? Someone asked me that does not have access to the internet and told her I would try and find out. If all possible let me know lpease?
- Debi
October 22, 2011 8:06 p.m.
How can you stop or just not feel so angry al the time? After being a caregiver for a loved done with this damned disease for many years. I'm 53 and I am angry as hell, it isn't supposed to be like this. Yes my neuro psychologist has her hands full!!!
- Billy
September 30, 2011 9:30 p.m.
I was diagnosed early onset Alzheimer 2007, the decline, hitting us hard depression gets worse. But the best thins I started taking University class, just one, at time, to hope it slows the disease. Today I receive letter from Social Security Judge, declaring Alzheimrrs isn't life threatening, or disabling! Which of us is confused?
- Wendy W.
August 23, 2011 10:35 a.m.
If one goes to their doctor and finds out they have MCI (for example) doesn't that preclude getting Long Term Health coverage?
- Blaine
July 21, 2011 3:39 p.m.
I was 54 when our Dr did the gene test, my mother had just pasted away with Alzheimer’s. He said he wanted to do some tests, I said sure. What I wasn’t ready for was when his nurse called to set up a visit in his office. That’s when the bomb dropped; the report showed I had an 80% chance of having some sign of Alzheimer’s before my 60th birthday. (What the Dr didn’t know was I was adopted). Well this changed my life. I brooded for a will trying to decide what to do. I tried to buy long term health care but the test showed up in there research and I was turned down. I up dated my Will changed a lot of my finances, to protect the wife and kids from the extreme cost of having Alzheimer’s and to beat the laws on long term care. I retired at 55 I’m keeping my grand kids after school and in the summer. We are going on vacations and having a ball. I may or may not end up with Alzheimer’s but I’m not going set around and wait for it. Were planning one year at a time, and will leave the rest up to God. TIM
- Tim
August 31, 2010 7:35 a.m.
My mother was diagnosed with early stage late onset alzheimers about a year and a half ago. She is taking aricept and namenda. Her confusion has cleared up remarkably and I have seen no further signs of decline. My father is 97 and in really good health considering his age... still drives, walks the track at the local health club, but still at 97 we know he has congestive heart failure and had a stroke over ten years ago - so whe I say he is in good heath I use the term because he is so atypical from the norm at that age~ There are no adult children living in their city and I am the closest at 100 miles away. We have encouraged them to move to our town where my brother (who is a physician) also lives. I know my mother wants to move but my step father refuses. I can't blame him for not wanting to leave his familiar surroundings. I feel strongly that we need to get them moved before its too late.... I am wondering who out there has been through this part of the journey and how you convinced a parent to move. Selfishly, I want to be able to spend time with my mother while I still have "her" - so much left to learn from this wonderful lady!
- Virginia
August 18, 2010 1:37 p.m.
I posted about three weeks ago. I visited with some people I used to work with and they told me that I seemed less disorganized. I attribute that to galantamine. Hurray! Thinking too much makes me SO TIRED so I guess that's a good reason for completely closing down my business. Walking up and down hills has really increased my energy level, unless I start trying to think too much. I am feeling pretty optimistic right now. To Pat, My doctor also encouraged mental exercise. I'm doing Karuro puzzles, which might be in your newspaper. If not, go to www.krazydad.com/puzzles I also took up piano again (combines brain and physical coordination) as well as daily walking. Life is sure different not working... but it's good to not be exhausted. 62 yr and praying for many more years - Kathy
- Kathy
July 29, 2010 7:38 p.m.
I was diagnosed in March 2010 with Dementia with Lewy Bodies at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. I am doing very well with Aricept and Mestinon, exercise, aqua therapy, walking, reading and researching about my condition and preparing for my future when I am no longer to make decisions on my own. Actually, I am now better than I have been for 5 years. My driver's license was taken away, but I have since retested and have gotten it back. A question I have for anyone to respond to is.....what's all this talk about some special kind of water AZ patients should drink? I'd be very interested in knowing what it is as I have accepted my condition and am doing everything possible to slow the progression. Any adivce would be appreciated. BTW, I am 66 years old.
- Pat
July 8, 2010 4:23 p.m.
I'm "just" 62 and have just been diagnosed with early Alzheimer's d/o. I realized I was having trouble with my memory but chalked it up to stress, as I have been in excellent health. Well, stress was part of it, but not all of it. I have a PhD and am making plans to reduce the stress (and workload) and and also take lots of notes to compensate for my memory problems. (If I can get things on paper, at least I can read them to remind myself!-at least now) Fortunately we live near a university with a large neuroscience dept, and the doctor (who specializes in dementia) has been very thorough and helpful. No hesitation to order MRI and PET as well as neuropsych eval. He recommended certain kinds of memory "exercises" and activities based on research in slowing the progression of AD. (I'll personally continue doing Kakuro puzzles which I just discovered, brush up on the piano, and start walking the hills in our neighborhood.) He's also started me on galantamine and is adding one medication to it. (Can you believe I forgot its name, but my husband wrote it down.) I am not stopping work yet, but am decreasing it! My mother had dementia for many years, but we called it "atypical" as it did not seem to fit any particular kind as she had had surgery to remove a growth in her brain. That may have been combined with Alzheimer's. I sure don't want to end up like that. Guess I'll just have to trust God.
- Kathy
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