In the early course of Alzheimer's your affected family member or loved one may have only mild impairment of their thought processes which may manifest as problems with short term memory and lapses in judgement. You may notice subtle changes in their general personality and mood on a daily basis with occasional periods of agitation or withdrawal. At first these symptoms may be mild but over time they will likely become more pronounced as the disease progresses. Up-to-date Alzheimer's disease information is critical early in the course of the illness in order to make the right decisions regarding long term care of your loved one.
Alzheimer's disease may progress at a variable rate depending on the individual. An affected person may have only mild symptoms and maintain a fairly normal lifestyle for many years. Others will progress rapidly, requiring constant monitoring and around the clock care early on. It's important that your affected loved one undergo a thorough physical exam, mental status exam, and functional status evaluation to determine their level of functioning. At this point, your doctor will be able to give you more in depth Alzheimer's disease information relating to long term prognosis.
Once the diagnosis is made, your doctor may start your loved one on one of a several medications that have been shown to slow down progression of the disease by acting on certain brain biochemicals. While these medications may delay progression of Alzheimer's symptoms, they're not a cure. Thus, it will be important to plan for the long term welfare of the patient.To do this, your doctor may recommend additional specialists such as a psychiatrist, therapist, or counselor along with consultation with a neurologist to help you get the best care for your family member. They can make recommendations as to what level of care the patient will need.
Other resources for Alzheimer's information relating to care of your loved one include Alzheimer's support groups where you can interact with other family members dealing with Alzheimer's disease, your local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, as well as the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center. These groups can provide you with the support you need to get through the challenges of caring for an Alzheimer's patient.
By having the best Alzheimer's disease information resources available to you, you'll be able to make the appropriate decisions necessary to provide for the long term well care of your loved one.
