Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky) Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky)

5 Early Signs of Memory Loss You Shouldn’t Ignore

We all forget things from time to time — where we put our keys, why we walked into a room, or someone’s name we just met. But when forgetfulness becomes frequent or starts to interfere with daily life, it may signal something more than normal aging.

In my practice at Shreveport Direct Care, I see many patients from Shreveport and Bossier City who come in worried about their memory. Some fear they’re developing dementia, while others simply want reassurance. The good news is that many memory problems are reversible or preventable when caught early.

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Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky) Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky)

Signs of ADHD in Adults — More Common Than You Think

When most people think of ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), they picture energetic kids who can’t sit still or stay focused in class. But the truth is, ADHD doesn’t go away when childhood ends — it simply looks different.

Many adults in Shreveport and Bossier City have lived with undiagnosed ADHD for years. They’re often intelligent, hardworking people who describe feeling constantly distracted, overwhelmed, or “behind” — no matter how hard they try.

At Shreveport Direct Care, I see adults every week who come in saying, “I’m just tired of feeling disorganized.” They often don’t realize that ADHD could be part of the picture. Once they understand it, everything starts to make sense.

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Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky) Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky)

Why Diets Fail — and What Works Instead in Shreveport

If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, you probably know how it feels: at first you’re motivated, you see a few pounds drop… and then the weight comes right back. Maybe you’ve tried keto, low-carb, low-fat, intermittent fasting, or calorie counting — but nothing seems to stick.

The truth is simple: most diets fail not because people lack willpower, but because the diet itself is broken. At Shreveport Direct Care, we help patients understand why that happens and how to create real, lasting results — without starving or stressing over every bite.

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Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky) Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky)

How Direct Primary Care Reduces Employee Sick Days

If you run a business in Shreveport or Bossier City, you know that your greatest expense — and your greatest asset — is your people. But when employees miss work due to illness, stress, or chronic health problems, productivity drops and costs climb quickly.

What if you could prevent many of those absences before they happen? What if healthcare for your team could be affordable, easy to access, and genuinely effective?

That’s exactly what Direct Primary Care (DPC) offers.
At Shreveport Direct Care, we partner with small and medium-sized businesses across northwest Louisiana to improve employee health, reduce sick days, and control long-term healthcare expenses.

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Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky) Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky)

When Everyday Tasks Become a Struggle — Difficulty With Familiar or Routine Tasks

It’s normal to occasionally forget a step while cooking or need help with new technology. But when you start having trouble with tasks you’ve done for years — cooking a favorite meal, balancing a checkbook, or following the rules of a game you’ve always enjoyed — this may be a red flag for concerning memory changes.

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Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky) Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky)

ADHD Is More Than Hyperactivity

When Sarah was in school, her younger brother was always in motion—running around the house, blurting things out in class, and getting sent to the principal’s office. He was quickly diagnosed with ADHD. Sarah, on the other hand, spent hours quietly staring out the window, forgetting homework assignments, and losing track of conversations. Teachers praised her for being “well-behaved,” and no one ever suspected she had ADHD.

This is a common story. For years, ADHD has been stereotyped as the “hyperactive little boy bouncing off the walls.” But the truth is: ADHD is much more than hyperactivity. In fact, many people with ADHD—especially girls and adults—struggle more with inattention, disorganization, and internal restlessness than with visible hyperactive behavior.

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Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky) Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky)

Reduced Absenteeism & Increased Productivity — The Hidden Cost Savings of Direct Primary Care

When small business owners think about healthcare costs, they often focus only on premiums, deductibles, or claims. But there’s another hidden cost that quietly chips away at your bottom line every year: lost productivity from employee absenteeism.

Every time an employee calls in sick or spends half a day waiting at an urgent care clinic, you lose not only wages paid but also output, efficiency, and sometimes even customers. For a small team, one person’s absence can throw off the entire operation.

Direct Primary Care (DPC) addresses this problem head-on by giving employees fast, convenient access to their doctor — often the same day. That simple shift doesn’t just improve employee health; it dramatically reduces absenteeism and boosts productivity.

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Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky) Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky)

ADHD Is Not Just a Childhood Disorder

When Marcus was a child, his teachers constantly sent notes home: “Daydreaming in class,” “Not finishing assignments,” “Too talkative.” Everyone assumed he would “grow out of it.” By his mid-30s, Marcus was still struggling—this time with missed deadlines at work, forgetting bills, and tension in his marriage. He began to wonder if something was wrong with him.

This story is common. For decades, ADHD was thought of as a condition children simply outgrew. But research is clear: ADHD is not just a childhood disorder. While symptoms may change with age, many individuals continue to experience significant challenges well into adulthood.

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Empathize Without Solving Immediately – How to Be Present Without Taking Over
Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky) Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH (Ricky)

Empathize Without Solving Immediately – How to Be Present Without Taking Over

Your teen walks through the door, backpack slung low, eyes downcast.

You ask how their day went.

“Awful,” they mutter. “I totally bombed my history test, and now I probably won’t pass the class.”

Your instinct kicks in:
“Did you study enough?”
“Why didn’t you ask me to help?”
“We can fix this. Let’s talk to the teacher.”

But before you finish the sentence, your teen’s eyes glaze over. They mumble “Forget it” and disappear into their room.

Sound familiar?

If so, you're not alone. This scenario plays out in countless homes every day.

The mistake isn’t caring. It’s fixing too fast.

The art of empathizing without immediately solving is one of the most powerful — and hardest — communication skills for parents of teens to master.

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