Alzheimers disease robs you of intellectual and social abilities and interferes with regular life. About 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimers Disease. The disease usually affects seniors over the age of 65. As the population ages this number is expected to quadruple.
There is no cure for Alzheimers disease. There is progress being made by researchers to improve the quality of life for those who have Alzheimers. Drugs are being discovered and studied which may lead to treatments of the disease.
If you have been a caretaker of a loved one with Alzheimers disease, or have a loved one suffering with it, you know that it takes patience and love to keep you and them going.
If you think a loved one may be showing early signs of Alzheimers Disease, what should you look for? One of the most prominent signs of Alzheimers Disease is forgetfulness. It starts out with occasional forgetting simple directions or recent events. It progressively gets worse until the patient may forget even family names and objects they see every day. They also may repeat things they've already told someone, and put objects down and forget where they placed them. On the other hand, they might put something away so they will remember where they put it, and put it in such an illogical place that no one can find it.
Early Alzheimers Disease patients have trouble conducting conversation and finding the right words to say. They may have a hard time following conversations or expressing their feelings. Eventually their reading and writing ability will also be affected.
Abstract thinking is something else that these patients with Alzheimers disease have. They may suddenly be able to deal with numbers, especially in balancing the checkbook. Disorientation causes them to lose track of time, and it is easier for them to get lost. They may feel they are in unfamiliar surroundings even if they are home.
They have trouble with everyday problems, such as knowing that food has been on the stove too long. Patients with Alzheimers disease eventually have problems dealing with planning, judgment, and decision-making. Familiar tasks become a struggle, even the basic activities like dressing or remembering to bathe.
One of the most distressing symptoms of Alzheimers disease is the personality changes that affect them. It is not uncommon for a patient with Alzheimers disease to have extreme mood swings and often accompanied by depression. They may begin distrusting those around them, be increasingly stubborn, and withdraw from family and friends. As their Alzheimers disease get progressively worse, they may become defiant, stubborn, aggressive, and take part in inappropriate behavior.
One report tells of a wonderful woman, whom was a good mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother that had been afflicted with Alzheimers disease. When her family was forced to put her in a nursing home due to the Alzheimers disease, she became aggressive to other patients and began using language she never would have dreamed of using before she fell victim to Alzheimers disease. The staff had a hard time in restraining her in the nursing home. They found she was sneaking in to other patient's rooms, uncovering them, and leaving them. This was so unlike the mother and grandmother they knew before the affliction of Alzheimers disease, they had a hard time even visiting. Most of the time, she wouldn't remember her daughter being there that morning. Finally, her family put an erasable board in her room so her visitors could write their name and the date they visited allowing the family to know who was there and when.
Unfortunately, families don't often recognize the onset of Alzheimers disease because it starts out so slow. There usually are no sudden changes in the personality to alert family members there is a problem. As the symptoms gradually get worse, or they realize memory is fleeting for their loved one, they may not realize until the patient is far into the advanced stages of Alzheimers disease.
How Alzheimers disease progresses and what the average survival rate will be depends on the individual. The average survival rate is eight years. Some live fewer years, and some could live up to 20 years with the disease. People with Alzheimers disease eventually will no longer be able to take care of themselves. This leaves loved ones with the burden of deciding whether to place the patient in a long-term care facility or try to take care of them at home. It's a difficult decision and everyone must realize that it takes considerable attention, love, and patience to deal with the problems that come with Alzheimers disease.
Related Articles
Are You at Risk for Getting Alzheimer's Disease?
By: Kris Kelkar | 15/09/2005 | Health
Of mental
decline in older adults. Alzheimer's gets worse over time, but
the course of the disease varies from person to person. Some
people may still be able to function.
Help For Alzheimers
By: Dan Farrell | 27/08/2006 | Non-Fiction
There are some treatments available for Alzheimer's. Nothing is a cure-all yet...but there is hope.
How to Go About Diagnosing Dementia
By: Alex Rider | 08/12/2006 | Non-Fiction
Dementia is a life altering condition brought about through changes made on the brain by diseases and conditons such as Alzheimer's, a stroke or other rare conditions. Early diagnosis of dementia is hugely beneficial to sufferers, their freinds and family alike.
New Hope For Alzheimer's Disease
By: Dan Farrell | 28/08/2006 | Non-Fiction
Scientists have discovered a possible way to treat Alzheimers with drugs in the near future.
Alzheimers Help, The Support And Care For Alzheimers Patients
By: Clive Jenkins | 28/08/2006 | Non-Fiction
The help, care and support available for sufferers of alzheimers disease.
Caring for Parents With Alzheimer's Disease
By: Boone Swann | 07/06/2007 | Diseases and Conditions
Alzheimer’s disease directly affects about four million people in the United States, though it affects many more of us indirectly. While we may not be suffering from the disease personally, many of us are in a position where it has become necessary to care for someone with Alzheimer’s.
A Look Into Alzheimers Medicine As We Know It
By: Clive Jenkins | 29/08/2006 | Non-Fiction
The diagnosis of Alzheimer's can be a tragic and frustrating time for anyone and their families, although it doesn't have to be seen as a life sentence. There are a diverse range of accessible Alzheimers medicines to improve patient's conditions in the short term, so keeping in close contact with your physician is key.
The Difficulty In Alzheimers Diagnosis
By: Clive Jenkins | 29/08/2006 | Non-Fiction
Likely indicators which would lead to an Alzheimers diagnosis are dementia as establish by means of examination, a progressing decline in movement and movement capabilities, undisturbed consciousness and the absence of brain diseases which could cause similar symptoms.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
My sister has been diagnosed with a lung infection ...
By: Joy | 22-07-2008
My sister has been diagnosed with a lung infection of mycobacterium gordonae. She is just getting over a yeast infection of the lungs and I'm afraid that the antibiotics she is taking for the latest infection are going to make her yeast come back and start the terrible cycle all over again. Is there a natural product that can effectively treat the mycobacterium gordonae without the side-effects of the prescription drugs she has been prescribed? Thanks so much for your time. Joy
Birds and ckd
By: TwistedRane | 20-07-2008
Cn someone with c.K.D. Have birds? I wonder due to the mass amount of germs in the birds fecal matter
Anosignosia
By: Bettyhere | 20-07-2008
Can you apply anosignosia to Alzheimer's?
Eye problems
By: beckys54 | 19-07-2008
I was diagnosed with graves disease. i started noticing fluid build up under my right eye, and now my eyes are swollen and runny. The whites are red and burn. I have been to several eye drs. and my endocronoligist says its allergies. anyone else had these problems?
Oral sex and Lyme disease
By: moray | 18-07-2008
can I have oral sex if I have Lyme Disease ?
Watermelon for dog with kidney disease
By: Tyler | 18-07-2008
My 10 yr old Shitzu was just diagnosed with kidney failure, I am scared and I know he has to stay hydrated he used to love watermelon, would that help or hurt him if I give it to him
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Fitness Articles
Different Type of Exercises
By: prabakar | 26/07/2008
People who suffer from sciatica will often feel pain in their leg which can travel from the back of their thigh up to the thigh and in some cases up to the hip or down towards the foot. Exercise is actually extremely important to our spine especially in order to keep the discs within the spine healthy. However the actual sciatica exercises a person will use to treat the problem will depend on what the actual cause of the pain is.
Asthma and the Stomach
By: Alien | 26/07/2008
More and more clearly there seems to be some relationship between bronchial asthma and stomach function. Asthmatics often suffer from digestive problems, frequently complaining about excess stomach acid.
Asthma and Related Illnesses
By: Alien | 26/07/2008
Althought asthma is a disease of the lungs, it may be influenced by illnesses that affect other parts of the body. In many asthma patients, treating these related illnesses even may improve their bronchial asthma condition.
Lower Body Exercise Secrets of the Stars
By: Lyla Feldman | 25/07/2008
There are many celebrities who are famous for their body parts and even get them insured for pricey amounts of money. For example, when you think of Jennifer Lopez or Kim Kardashian what comes to mind? Besides the fact that they are extremely talented and wealthy what do they have in common? Everyone wishes they had their behinds. The million dollar question is how do you get a nice, round attractive bottom without resorting to implants or butt pads?
Strength Training Exercise
By: prabakar | 25/07/2008
Take your time when toning your body. You can maximize the benefit of a biceps strength training exercise, a back strength training exercise, a chest strength training exercise, and so on, by doing them in small blocks of time every day. Don't be discouraged from your fitness walking regimen.
Best Workouts for Your Health
By: prabakar | 25/07/2008
Workouts For You custom designs each program based on individual needs, lifestyle and goals to ensure that each client is working out using exercises that are most efficient for them. Plus, if you ever have any questions about any part of your WFY training program, you can e-mail your trainer and you'll receive a quick response. Many workplaces now have showers, so you can freshen up afterwards.
Using Information From Testing
By: Alien | 25/07/2008
Perhaps clearer explanations of management methods are needed. There are several methods of managing insulin, as follows: Method 1: Complete Management by the Physician. The physician mayor may not have the patient do self-blood-sugar monitoring.
Diabetes - Gaining Their Support
By: Alien | 25/07/2008
You can help your family in many ways, some of which may be quite subtle. One way is to see that your family receives diabetes education. This gives them some understanding of how they can be of assistance.
More from Steven Godlewski
Skin Cancer Symptoms and Signs
By: Steven Godlewski | 05/06/2008 | Health
The signs of skin cancer include family history of skin cancer, multiple moles, a fair complexion, exposure to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, and radium, and severe sunburn as a child.
Camping at Nascar Races
By: Steven Godlewski | 23/05/2008 | Hobbies
Camping out at the races. The opportunity to see live feed, catch all the fun and excitement.
The Nascar Coca Cola 600 Race: Everything You Need to Know to Have the Time of Your Life
By: Steven Godlewski | 21/05/2008 | Travel
NASCAR is one of the most well enjoyed of the American pastimes, and for good reason. While many people have heard of the NASCAR Daytona 500 race, there are other races to attend as wellmany of them just as popular as the Daytona 500 itself.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
By: Steven Godlewski | 14/05/2008 | Health
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms:Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms are more common in women than in men and will usually strike an adult between the ages of 20 to 50
Steroids and Teenagers
By: Steven Godlewski | 08/05/2008 | Health
Few realize what some of the terrible side effects are for those who use anabolic steroids.
Exercise and Injuries
By: Steven Godlewski | 25/04/2008 | Health
The key to achieving your goal lies in your attitude, as exercising without causing injuries is the way to a healthier life.
Caffeine and Migraines
By: Steven Godlewski | 17/04/2008 | Fitness
Migraines: Caffeine withdrawal is the primary cause of caffeine-related migraines.
Phytonutrients and Antioxidant Foods
By: Steven Godlewski | 02/04/2008 | Health
Antioxidant:Phytonutrients are quite simply the best types of antioxidant foods that you can find anywhere.
Sports and Fitness 
