News and Music Discovery
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

[Audio] Neurologist: Early Detection is Key to Preventing Memory Loss and Dementia

Jenn King

Murray Neurologist Dr. Christopher King of Primary Care Medical Center was surprised at the large turnout at a community education meeting about memory loss back in May. He finds that the anxiety about memory loss and dementia leads to a feeling of isolation. He believes that early detection is important and there are resources that exist to help. On Sounds Good, Kate Lochte speaks with Dr. King about his concerns.

Dr. King says he makes it a point in his practice to focus on dementia, an issue he feels very passionately about. it's one of those things that people are afraid to talk about and it touches so many lives. It's something he sees multiple times a day, every day and it need s to be discussed, he says.

The core message is educating people about dementia and diagnosing early. Early diagnosis is key to treating it effectively, Dr. King says. There is no cure, so the earlier treatments start the better off they will be: the longer they can stay at home, live independently, and function fully. He encourages people to seek help if they are worried.

"It's sort of a taboo subject. No one wants to talk about the fact that they're having trouble with their memory and it's something that can be hidden very well for many years. People learn the right things to say and they learn the right way to say them so that if you're talking with someone with early dementia, unless you're asking very pointed specific questions, it is very easy to miss it."

One of the ways to see if someone may have dementia or memory loss is to learn how to read their facial cues. If you ask someone 'how are you doing today?' or 'tell me what city you're in' as a questioner, you might not pick up on the fact that they don't know what you're asking. They might be able to read your facial cues to give the answer you're expecting. If you ask a question and slightly nod your head, they might return with a head nod and a "yes" or "good." Something Dr. King says he does with stroke victims who might have aphasia (the inability to speak) is to ask the question shaking his head "no" to see if that person is instead reading facial cues rather than understanding the question.

Once you catch on, it's easy to start asking the right questions, he says. His grandmother had dementia and knew the right answers to hide her suffering. It wasn't until she slipped and fell that they were able to really help her. He says living with dementia is like walking on the edge of a cliff - it doesn't take much to blow you off if it, and if you fall, you drop hard. Also, other issues like an infection can lead to unusual reactions or aggressiveness, another sign of dementia. If you see your father or sister acting in a way that's sudden and not normal, it could be a red flag that something else is going on, he says.

Murray Neurologist Dr. Christopher King of Primary Care Medical Center will be back on WKMS from time to time to continue talking about resources for patients and caregivers dealing with memory loss and other neurological disorders.

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
Related Content