Alzheimers is the Death of the Mind Before the Death of the Body. Alzheimer's disease has been identified as a protein misfolding disease, or proteopathy, due to the accumulation of abnormally folded A-beta and tau proteins in the brains of AD patients. Alzheimers' is an incurable, progressive, but often slow-to-progress disease, the diagnosis isn't the end of the world but the early of a process and you and your mother just have to have the attitude you'll deal with it. A 2006 pilot study showed small but significant improvements in various cognitive rating scales in patients with Alzheimer's disease after treatment with etanercept, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor fusion protein, which binds to tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and decreases its role in inflammation of nervous tissue. Approximately 30% of the patients also develop illusionary misidentifications and other delusional symptoms. Alzheimer's disease, sometimes known as Alzheimers, is the single most common form of dementia but a number of other cases are also known.
Alzheimers is not normal in the course of aging, and its more than a decline in memory. However, studies have not really proved that aluminum is really related to the Alzheimers disease. Alzheimers is actually a form of dementia. Confusion memory loss and frustration are making the person behave irrationally and you can't "argue" them out of it. The overall nervous system regulating bodily activity is damaged so greatly that incontinence, difficulty in coordinating body movements and sometimes seizures results.
At the moderate stage, progressive deterioration seriously hinders the possibility of independence. Being a caretaker can takes its toll on you as an individual. Caregivers are often in a high risk category when it comes to developing issues that are both emotional and physical. You need to be aware of these risks so that you can take the steps that are necessary to take care of yourself. After all, if you're experiencing your own issues, how can you be a good caretaker to someone who is counting on you? Genetic factors are clearly indicated as dominant mutations in three different genes that account for the small number of cases of familial, early-onset AD that have been identified. Because the median age of the industrialized world's population is increasing gradually, Alzheimer's is a major public health challenge. If someone in your family has just been identified with Alzheimer Disease, the news can be upsetting and frightening for everyone. Alzheimers is the most common type of disease called dementia, which prevents people from being able to think, remember, and use language. You'll be worried about the changes that you're going to be seeing this person go through as well as what the future holds for you as a family. Alzheimers holds no boundaries, Alzheimers is located cross culturally and Alzheimers is found in both sexes in equal proportions. Don't become isolated and lonely when you become weighed down with the emotions of being a caregiver.
Correspondingly, advancing age is the primary risk factor for the disease. Different articles have criticized the design of studies reporting benefit from these drugs, concluding that they have doubtful clinical utility, are costly, and confer many side effects. For instance, boldly colored tableware aids those with severe AD, helping people overcome a diminished sensitivity to visual contrast to increase food and beverage intake. Currently available medications offer relatively small symptomatic benefit for some patients and some medications do slow disease progression. Intellectual stimulation, such as playing chess or completing crossword puzzles,[83] regular physical exercise,[84] and regular social interaction[85] all have a positive effect on the disease. Cognitive and behavioral interventions and rehabilitation strategies may be used as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment, especially in the early to moderately advanced stages of disease.
Clinical signs of Alzheimer's disease are characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration, together with declining activities of daily living and by neuropsychiatric symptoms or behavioral changes. It is the most common type of dementia. Plaques which contain misfolded peptides called amyloid beta (Aβ) are formed in the brain many years before the clinical signs of Alzheimer's are observed. More than 4 million Americans today are affected with Alzheimer's disease, and that number is expected to escalate to approximately 12 million within the next 30 years. This serious disease is plaguing America in such a way that just about every individual has had an experience with someone with Alzheimer's in one way or another. Alzheimer's is a devastating disease that affects the mind, and more specifically your memory. 1 in 8 individuals over the age of 65 will develop it.
Risk Factors:
We currently don't know what exactly causes Alzheimer's, and it remains a disease that is diagnosed by eliminating other possibilities. However, experts have found a number of factors that reoccur in Alzheimer's patients. It is believed that a combination of the following factors can cause a person to be predisposed to develop Alzheimer's.
1. Family history of the disease ? especially a parent or sibling. 2. Heart-disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, and diabetes. 3. Previous head injury 4. Environmental toxins 5. Advancing age 6. Stress- high levels of anxiety
What Are the Symptoms of AD?
AD begins slowly. At first, the only symptom may be mild forgetfulness, which can be confused with age-related memory change. Most people with mild forgetfulness do not have AD. In the early stage of AD, people may have trouble remembering recent events, activities, or the names of familiar people or things. They may not be able to solve simple math problems. Such difficulties may be a bother, but usually they are not serious enough to cause alarm.
However, as the disease goes on, symptoms are more easily noticed and become serious enough to cause people with AD or their family members to seek medical help. Forgetfulness begins to interfere with daily activities. Main Stages of Alzheimer's Disease:
Experts have identified a number of stages to help define and group people suffering from this devastating and difficult disease. With no cure the best thing you can do is be aware of what this disease may bring in the future and use this knowledge to help plan care for your loved one.
The following are the Three Main Stages:
1. Early-State ? In the early stage, the individual will suffer memory loss and possibly some other cognitive difficulties, however, they can continue to function independently.
2. Mid-Stage ? In the mid-stage, the disease has progressed past basic memory troubles and the individual's mental abilities have continued to decline. They start to suffer personality changes and physical problems, and in turn become more dependent on caregivers.
3. Late-Stage ? The late-stage is the most severe. Individuals will suffer complete deterioration of the personality and loss of control over bodily functions. They will become totally dependent on caregivers for even basic daily needs.
There is no set time as to when a person will progress from one stage to the other. One individual may move quickly from the early-stage to the mid-stage, while another may stay in the early-stage for several years. Every person is different. Here is a basic break down of the types of symptoms and their severity for each stage:
How is the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease made?
As of June 2007, there is no specific "blood test" or imaging test that is used for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed when: 1) a person has sufficient cognitive decline to meet criteria for dementia; 2) the clinical course is consistent with that of Alzheimer's disease; 3) no other brain diseases or other processes are better explanations for the dementia.
Treatment
Currently, there's no cure for Alzheimer's disease. Doctors sometimes prescribe drugs to improve symptoms that often accompany Alzheimer's, including sleeplessness, wandering, anxiety, agitation and depression. But only two varieties of medications have been proved to slow the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's.
What can I do to help myself?
The first thing is not to worry unnecessarily. A problem with forgetfulness doesn't mean that you have dementia.
If you find yourself forgetting certain things, you could try to give yourself memory prompts. If (for instance) you find that you forget to buy food, leave notes in your kitchen cupboards near the back, reminding you to go to the shops. So when you come across the notes, keep them on you until you have bought more food.
This may seem cumbersome, but it's only an extension of the 'to do' lists that people make in everyday life.
Both Wray R. Herring, Jr & Fred are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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