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Alzheimer's - What you should know...
What is Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer’s disease is a national crisis, with more than 6 million American living with the disease and 11 million friends and family serving as caregivers. In addition, as many as 200,000 individuals with Alzheimer’s in the United States are under age 65, living with the younger-onset form of the disease (The state of U.S. health1990-2016). About 1 in 9 people (10.8%) age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s dementia in the United States (Tan ZS, et al). African Americans are at the highest risk of developing Alzheimer’s according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys healthy brain cells (neurons). As a result, the destruction and death of nerve cells cause a decline in memory, thinking, concentrating, language skills, and lack the ability to carry out the simplest of active daily living tasks. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia.
The Warning Signs...
1. Memory Changes that disrupt daily life
One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's, especially in the early stages, is forgetting recently learned information. For example: asking for the same information over and over. Relying on memory aides (reminder notes).
Typical age-related changes: Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.
2. challenges in planning or solving problems
Some people may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before. Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. Some people may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills.
Typical age-related changes: Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.
3. difficulty completing familiar tasks
People with Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks such as: driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work, or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
Typical age-related changes: Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or record a television show.
4. Confusion with time or place
People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.
Typical age-related changes: Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.
5. trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
Some people may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not realize they are the person in the mirror.
Typical age-related changes: Vision changes related to cataracts.
6. new problems with words in speaking or writing
People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name.
Typical age-related changes: Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
7. misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time.
Typical age-related changes: Misplacing things from time to time.
8. decreased or poor judgement
People with Alzheimer's may demonstrate unusual changes in judgement or decision making. For example: they may use poor judgement when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.
Typical age-related changes: Making a bad decision once in a while.
9. withdrawal from work or social activities
A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.
Typical age-related changes: Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.
10. changes in mood and personality
The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They may be easily upset in places where they are out of their comfort zone. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious.
Typical age-related changes: Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.
Educating Communities
Physicians in specialize Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) centers can now diagnose Alzheimer’s with up to 90percent accuracy. Early diagnosis has advantages:
- Doctors can rule out other conditions that may cause dementia.
- It it is Alzheimer Disease families have more time to plan for the future.
- Treatments can start earlier, when they may be more effective.
- It helps scientists learn more about the causes, development and treatment of AD.
There is no treatment that cures Alzheimer’s disease. Medicines may slow the progression. Proactive management, memory screening and Alzheimer’s research can improve the quality of life in our communities
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