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Alzheimer's Disease
Definition •
Symptoms/Warning Signs • Disease
Facts
Caregiver Tips • Risk
Reducing Routine • Research Links
Disease Definition
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative,
irreversible, neurological disease of the brain that impairs
memory, thinking, and behavior, and ultimately, leads to death.
Individuals slowly lose the ability to remember, to communicate
and to care for themselves. Alzheimer’s disease is not
a normal part of aging.
Disease Symptoms/Warning Signs
The Alzheimer’s Association has developed
a checklist of common symptoms relative to Alzheimer’s
disease and other dementing illnesses. If several symptoms apply,
the individual with these symptoms should see a physician for
a complete examination.
- Recent memory loss that affects
job skills. It’s normal to occasionally forget
assignments, colleague’s names, or a telephone number,
then remember later. Those with a dementia may forget things
more often and not remember them at all.
- Difficulty performing routine tasks.
Busy people are easily distracted, occasionally leaving
carrots on the stove, only to remember to serve them at the
end of the meal. People with Alzheimer’s disease can
prepare a meal, forget to serve it, and forget they made it.
- Problems with language. Everyone has trouble finding the right word sometimes, but
a person with Alzheimer’s disease may forget basic words
or substitute inappropriate words, making his/her sentences
incomprehensible.
- Disorientation of time and place.
It’s normal to forget the day of the week or
your destination for a moment. However, those with Alzheimer’s
disease can become lost on their own street, not knowing where
they are, how they got there or how to get back home.
- Poor or decreased judgment. People can become so immersed in an activity, they temporarily
forget about the child they’re watching. People with
Alzheimer’s disease can completely forget about the
child under their care. These individuals may also dress inappropriately,
wearing several shirts or blouses at the same time.
- Problems with abstract thinking. Balancing a checkbook can be disconcerting if the task is
more complicated than usual. However, an individual with Alzheimer’s
disease can totally forget what numbers are and how they are
to be used.
- Misplacing things. Everyone
temporarily misplaces a wallet or car keys. A person with
Alzheimer’s disease may place items inappropriately
– such as an iron in the freezer, a wristwatch in the
sugar bowl.
- Changes in mood or behavior. Everyone becomes sad and moody sometimes. An individual with
Alzheimer’s disease can exhibit rapid mood swings –
from calm to tears to anger – for no apparent reason.
- Changes in personality. Our personality ordinarily changes somewhat as we age. But
an individual with Alzheimer’s disease can change drastically,
becoming extremely confused, suspicious or fearful.
- Loss of initiative. Although
it’s normal to tire of house or yard work, business
activities, and social obligations, most people regain their
initiative. The person with Alzheimer’s disease may
become very passive, requiring cues and prompting to become
involved.
Disease Facts
- Age is the greatest risk factor: Alzheimer’s disease strikes 50 percent of persons over 85 and 10 percent of persons over 65.
- A 5-year delay of disease symptoms can decrease the number of patients by 50 percent.
- There is an expected increase in diagnosis as baby boomers enter the age of highest risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Numbers will explode from an estimated 4.5 million today to more than 13 million by 2050.
- Seventy percent of individuals with memory loss are cared for at home by family members. There are more than 21,500 people with Alzheimer’s disease in our 20-county service territory.
- Without a research breakthrough or the development of new treatments in the next few years, Alzheimer’s disease will become the public health crisis of the 21st century. The disease will bankrupt family, state and federal budgets. There are currently several drugs that help slow the disease's progression in some individuals with Alzheimer’s.
- Fifty percent of nursing home residents have Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.
- There is no cure. No one is immune from this disease.
Caregiver Tips
As a caregiver, there are things you can do to help you better
manage the devastating effects of this disease. For additional
information and to learn about our Caregiver Series educational
programs, call 1-800-272-3900.
- Get a diagnosis as early as possible.
- Secure legal and financial planning advice.
- Educate yourself about this disease.
- Learn about available resources in your area.
- Ask your family and friends for help.
- Take care of yourself.
- Learn to manage your stress level.
- Learn to turn caregiving over to others.
- Be realistic.
- Give yourself credit for a job well done.
Risk-Reducing Routine
Current promising
research indicates the following hypothetical preventive regimen
may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Always check
with your physician before beginning any new health routine.
- Multivitamin that includes folic acid, B
vitamin that lowers blood levels of the protein building block
homocysteine. Elevated homocysteine raises the risk of heart
disease and may also increase Alzheimer’s disease risk.
-
Antioxidants like vitamin E.
-
Anti-inflammatory drugs, such an ibuprofen.
-
Low-fat, low-cholesterol diet that includes
salmon, mackerel, or other fish high in omega-3 fatty acids.
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Regular mental and physical activity.
-
Aggressive and early treatment of hypertension,
high cholesterol and other cardiovascular conditions.
“What’s good for your heart is good for your brain.”
Bill Thies, vice president, Medical & Scientific Affairs,
National Alzheimer’s Association
Reasearch Links
Alzheimer’s
research is advancing at an accelerating pace. Recent studies
support the belief we may soon be able to delay onset of the
disease and enable those with Alzheimer’s disease to function
independently for longer periods. The Alzheimer's Association, a major supporter of research,
has awarded more than $150 million in research grants since
1982. The federal government spent approximately $640 million
in 2003 for Alzheimer’s disease research. To learn more about treatment options and new drug therapies,
check out:
- Rush-Presbyterian – St. Luke’s
Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Southern Illinois University, Alzheimer’s Research Center,
Springfield, IL, http://www.siumed.edu/neuro
- Indiana University School of Medicine Alzheimer’s
Research Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
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