Facts About Alzheimer's Disease
Saturday, September 10, 2011
, Posted by Immel at 3:27 AM
"Alzheimer's
Disease" is the term used to describe a dementing disorder marked by certain
brain changes, regardless of the age of onset.
Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging - - and it is not
something that inevitable happens in later life. Rather, it is one of the dementing disorders,
a group of brain diseases that lead to the loss of mental and physical
functions. The disorder, whole cause is
unknown, affects a small but significant percentage of older Americans. A very small minority of alzheimer's patients
are under 50 years of age. However, most
are over 65.
Alzheimer's
disease is the exception, rather than the rule, in old age. Only 5 to 6 percent of older people are
afflicted by alzheimer's disease or a related dementia - - but this means
approximately 3 to 4 million Americans have one of these debilitating disorders. Research indicates that 1 percent of the
population aged 65-75 has severe dementia, increasing to 7 percent of those
aged 75-85 and to 25 percent of those 85 or older. As out population ages and the number of
alzheimer's patients increases, costs of care will rise as well.
Although
Alzheimer's disease is not yet curable or reversible, there are ways to
alleviate symptoms and suffering and to assist families. And not every person with this illness must
necessarily move to a nursing home. Many
thousands of patients - - especially those in the early stages of the disease -
- are cared for by their families in the community. Indeed, one of the most important aspects of
medical management is family education and family support services. When, or whether, to transfer a patient to a
nursing home is a decision to be carefully considered by the family.
The
onset of Alzheimer's disease is usually very slow and gradual, seldom occurring
before age 65. Over time, however, it
follows a progressively more serious course.
Among the symptoms that typically develop, none is unique to Alzheimer's
disease at its various stages. It is
therefore essential for suspicious changes to be thoroughly evaluated before
they become inappropriately or negligently labeled Alzheimer's disease.
Problems
of memory, particularly recent or short-term memory, are common early in the
course of the disease. For example, the
individual may, on repeated occasions, forget to turn off the iron or may not
recall which of the morning's medicines were taken. Mild personality changes, such as less
spontaneity or a sense of apathy and a tendency to withdraw from social
interactions, may occur early in the illness.
As the disease progresses, problems in abstract thinking or in
intellectual functioning develop. You
may notice the individual beginning to have trouble with figures when working
on bills, with understanding what is being read, or with organizing the days
work. Further disturbances in behavior
and appearance may also be seen at this point, such as agitation, irritability,
quarrelsomeness, and diminishing ability to dress appropriately.
The
average course of the disease from the time it is recognized to death is about
6 to 8 years, but it may range from under 2 years to over 20 years. Those who develop the disorder later in life
may die from other illnesses (such as heart disease) before Alzheimer's disease
reaches its final and most serious stage.
The
reaction of an individual to the illness and the way he or she copes with it
also varies and may depend on such factors as lifelong personality patterns and
the nature and severity of the stress in the immediate environment.
As
research on Alzheimer's disease continues, scientists are now describing other
abnormal chemical changes associated with the disease. These include nerve cell degeneration in
certain areas of the brain. Also,
defects in certain blood vessels supplying blood to the brain have been studied
as a possible contributing factor.
There
is no way at the present time to determine who may get Alzheimer's
disease. The main risk factor for the
disease is increased age. The rates of
the disease increase markedly with advancing age, with 25 percent of people
over 85 suffering from Alzheimer's or other sever dementia.
Other
things often noticeable may be depression, severe uneasiness, and paranoia or
delusions that accompany or result from the disease, but they can often be
alleviated by appropriate treatments.
Alzheimer's
disease has emerged as one of the great mysteries in modern day medicine, with
a growing number of clues but still no answers as to its cause. Researchers have come up with a number of
theories about the cause of this disease but so far the mystery remains
unresolved.
Because
of the many other disorders that are often confused with Alzheimer's disease, a
comprehensive clinical evaluation is essential to arrive at a correct diagnosis
of any symptoms that look similar to those of Alzheimer's disease. In most cases, the family physician can be
consulted about the best way to get the necessary examinations.
Stress
on the family can take a toll on both the patient and the caregiver alike. Caregivers are usually family members - -
either spouses or children - - and usually wives and daughters. As time passes and the burden mounts, it not
only places the mental health of family caregivers at risk. It also diminishes their ability to provide
care to the diseased patient. Hence,
assistance to the family as a whole must be considered.
As
the disease progresses, families experience increasing anxiety and pain at
seeing unsettling changes in a loved one, and they commonly feel guilt over not
being able to do enough. The prevalence
of reactive depression among family members in this situation is disturbingly
high - - caregivers are chronically stressed and are much more likely to suffer
from depression than the average person.
If caregivers have been forced to retire from positions outside the home. They feel progressively more isolated and no
longer productive members of society.
The
likelihood, intensity, and duration of depression among caregivers can all be
lowered through available interventions.
For example, to the extent that family members can offer emotional
support to each other and perhaps seek professional consultation, they will be
better prepared to help their loved one manage the illness and to recognize the
limits of what they themselves can reasonably do.
