Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a terrible condition that affects many people, but it’s not the end of the world. Read on to find out facts about Alzheimer’s disease, how to care for someone with Alzheimer’s, and lower your risk of manifesting the condition.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurologic disorder that causes your brain to shrink, leading to your brain cells dying. This disease is the usual cause of dementia, which is a condition that causes a continuous decline in your mental capabilities.
Facts About Alzheimer’s
Here are some facts about Alzheimer’s to help you understand the condition
- Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic condition
- People with Alzheimer’s experience mental degradation at different paces
- There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but it can be treated to slow its progression
- Alzheimer’s and dementia are different, but Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia
- Symptoms gradually come, and as they affect your brain, your mind will degrade
- People over 65 and those with a family history of Alzheimer’s are at a higher risk.
Alzheimer’s Risk Factors
Here are some risk factors that may increase your chances of getting Alzheimer’s
- Age: People who develop Alzheimer’s disease are usually 65 or older.
- Genetics: Certain genes can increase your chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease
- Family history: You’re more at risk if your immediate family has a history of Alzheimer’s
Please note that having one or more of the risk factors does not guarantee you will get Alzheimer’s disease. The risk factors simply increase your odds of getting Alzheimer’s.
Symptoms
Memory loss is the symptom often associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Its early signs are the inability to recall recent conversations and events. The disease will eventually progress and worsen, which will cause more severe symptoms to manifest. In the beginning, someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be aware of their difficulty remembering things and even organizing their thoughts.
Here are the brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease:
Memory
While everyone suffers from memory lapses occasionally, your memory loss from Alzheimer’s disease worsens and persists. This cognitive decline affects your ability to function at home or your work.
Here are symptoms associated with memory for people with Alzheimer’s disease
- Getting lost in familiar places
- Forgetting the names of family, friends, and objects
- Repeating statements and questions numerous times
- Having trouble identifying the right words to express thoughts
- Regularly misplacing possessions and putting them in illogical places
- Forgetting appointments and conversations and never remembering them again
Reasoning and Thinking
Alzheimer’s disease makes it difficult to think and concentrate, especially when it comes to abstract concepts like numbers. Multitasking becomes very difficult, as will managing finances. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may not be able to recognize numbers.
Making Decisions and Judgements
Alzheimer’s disease causes your ability to make reasonable judgments and decisions for everyday situations to degrade. You will be unable to properly interact with others in social situations and you will wear inappropriate clothes for the weather.
Performing Tasks and Planning
Routine activities such as cooking meals or playing games become more difficult as the disease progresses. At the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease, people will be unable to perform basic tasks such as bathing and dressing.
Behavioral Changes
The changes in your brain that occur due to Alzheimer’s disease can have the following effects on your behaviors.
- Apathy
- Depression
- Wandering
- Mood Swings
- Social Withdrawal
- Irritability and Aggressiveness
- Delusions where one believes something is stolen
Diagnosis
Your doctor can have you take several tests to diagnose whether or not you have Alzheimer’s disease.
Here is a list of possible tests your doctor may prescribe to check your condition:
The Mental status test will assess your short-term memory, your orientation of time and place, and long-term memory.
Here are some sample questions:
- What day is it today?
- Who is the current president?
- Can you recall a shortlist of words?
Physical exam checks your heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature to assess your health. Blood and urine samples may also be taken to the laboratory for testing.
Neurological exams can also be administered to rule out infections or strokes. They will test your reflexes, speech, and muscle tone during the exam.
Treatment
While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, you can use medication to temporarily improve your cognitive ability. Treating the condition may also slow the progression of your symptoms. As your cognitive ability declines, you will gradually lose the ability to function independently. In the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, you will need a caregiver to care for your needs.
The doctor may prescribe medications to maintain the neurotransmitters in your brain, which can aid your memory. There is also medication that blocks the effects of a chemical that damages your brain cells.
Your doctor may recommend anti-anxiety and antidepressants to help treat Alzheimer’s symptoms.
- Agitation
- Depression
- Aggression
- Restlessness
- Hallucinations
Please note that these medications can cause you to experience adverse side effects. It’s best to talk to your doctor about the risks of taking these medications.
Treatment
Dr. Carolyn Cook is an expert at lifestyle changes to minimize or prevent any discomfort Alzheimer’s brings to you or your loved ones. She can recommend natural treatments for you that cause little to no side effects when compared to pharmaceuticals.
Here is a list of tips to follow when someone has Alzheimer’s
Getting enough rest every day is paramount to keeping your loved one healthy. Dr. Cook can give herbal prescriptions to ensure your loved one gets the rest they need without the discomfort.
Staying calm can also help you minimize the negative effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Cook can help you by prescribing tea and other herbal treatments to help you stay calm. Acupuncture can also help relieve your stress by helping your body release endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain killers to help you relax.
Prevention
There is no foolproof way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, but you can make healthy lifestyle choices that minimize your risk of developing conditions that lead to cognitive decline.
Physical health tips
- Quit smoking
- Minimize drinking
- Eat a diet rich in antioxidants
- Maintain a healthy diet and avoid foods high in fats and refined sugars
- Exercise regularly such as doing cardio 30 mins a day and weights 2-3 times a week
Following these tips can prevent you from suffering from illnesses that cause cognitive decline. Avoiding these illnesses minimizes your risk of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia associated with strokes and heart attacks, which may cause brain damage.
Mental health tips
- Trying new activities
- Taking part in group sports
- Learning foreign languages
- Playing musical instruments
- Maintaining a healthy social life
- Playing games that require strategy
You must also care for your mental health to prevent your mind from degrading. What you really need to do is find ways of stimulating your mind. Playing games is fine because it forces you to strategize, but please be mindful not to gamble. Taking courses from the local community colleges to learn languages, play musical instruments, and participate in activities can be an inexpensive way of maintaining your mental health.
The advice given above fits for most people, but you still need to have a consultation from Dr. Carolyn Cook to get advice that is tailor-made for your condition.
In conclusion, learning about Alzheimer’s disease can help you get help and lower your risk of developing the condition. Dr. Carolyn Cook stands ready to help you and your loved ones care for someone with Alzheimer’s or prevent it from manifesting altogether.
Contact Dr. Cook for tailor-made advice for Alzheimer’s disease care and prevention!