Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia affecting behavior, thinking, and memory. Eventually, symptoms grow serious enough to interfere with day-to-day activities.
Understanding dementia and Alzheimer’s
- Alzheimer’s is the most typical cause of dementia, a general word for memory loss and additional cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with day-to-day tasks. Alzheimer’s accounts for 60% to 80 percent of dementia cases.
- Alzheimer’s isn’t a normal part of aging. The highest known risk factor is an increase in age; most people with Alzheimer’s are 65 and older. However, Alzheimer’s isn’t merely a disease of old age. Roughly 200,000 people in America under age 65 have younger-onset Alzheimer’s.
- Alzheimer’s disease grows worse over time. It’s a progressive disease in which dementia symptoms progressively worsen. In the disease’s early stages, memory loss is usually mild; however, with late-stage, people lose their capability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. It’s America’s 6th leading cause of death. Someone who has Alzheimer’s, on average, lives 4 – 8 years after diagnosis, yet may live as long as twenty years, depending upon additional factors.
- Alzheimer’s does not currently have a cure; however, research continues, and treatments for symptoms are available. Even though existing Alzheimer’s treatments can’t stop the disease from progressing, they temporarily may slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve life quality for those with Alzheimer’s and their caretakers. These days, there’s a global effort underway to discover better methods of treating Alzheimer’s, delay its onset, as well as prevent it from developing in the first place.
What are the Symptoms of Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s most common early sign is difficulty remembering freshly learned details because the disease changes usually start inside the area of the brain, affecting learning. As it advances through the brain, it’ll lead to increasingly serious symptoms, which include behavior and mood changes, disorientation; deepening confusion regarding events, place, and time; unfounded suspicions concerning friends, family, and professional caretakers; more severe memory loss and behavioral changes; and a hard time walking, swallowing, and speaking.
People who suffer memory loss or other potential indications of Alzheimer’s might discover it difficult to recognize that there’s a problem. Dementia signs might be more obvious to friends and family members. Anyone who experiences dementia-like symptoms ought to visit a physician as soon as possible.
The Brain and Alzheimer’s
Microscopic changes inside the brain start long before the initial indications of memory loss.
The brain contains 100 billion neurons. Each neuron connects with several other ones to form networks of communication. Groups of neurons have unique jobs. Some are involved in remembering, learning, and thinking. Other nerve cells help us smell, hear, and see.
To perform their work, these cells work like small factories. They generate energy, receive supplies, eliminate waste, and construct equipment. Also, cells store and process data and communicate with other nerve cells. Maintaining everything requires coordination and large quantities of oxygen and fuel.
Researchers think the disease prevents portions of a cell’s factory from working well. They aren’t certain where the problem begins. However, as with a real factory, breakdowns, and backups in a single system cause issues in other spaces. As damage spreads, nerve cells lose their capability to do their jobs and ultimately die, which causes irreversible brain changes.
What is the role of tangles and plaques?
Two irregular structures referred to as tangles and plaques are the main suspects in killing and damaging neurons.
- Tangles are twisted fibers of one other protein named tau, which builds up inside nerve cells.
- Plaques include deposits of a protein fragment referred to as beta-amyloid, which build up inside the spaces between neurons.
Although autopsy research shows that most folks develop some tangles and plaques as they grow older, the ones with Alzheimer’s usually develop much more and within a predictable pattern, starting in the spaces critical for memory before they spread to other areas.
Researchers don’t know precisely what role tangles and plaques play in the disease. Most specialists think they somehow play an important part in blocking communication among neurons and disrupting processes that cells require to survive.
The death and destruction of neurons lead to personality changes, memory failure, struggles carrying out day-to-day tasks, and other Alzheimer’s symptoms.
Progress and research
German doctor Dr. Alois Alzheimer, in 1906, originally defined “a peculiar disease” — a disease of microscopic brain changes and profound memory loss — a disease we currently understand as Alzheimer’s.
These days, it’s at the forefront of biomedical studies. Scientists attempt to uncover as many components of the disease and additional dementias as possible. Some of the most amazing progress has shed new light on how the disease impacts the brain. The hope is that this better knowledge will lead to brand-new treatments. Several possible approaches are presently under investigation around the world.
10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease
Memory loss disrupting day-to-day life might be a symptom of Alzheimer’s or additional dementia. As aforementioned, Alzheimer’s is a disease of the brain causing a gradual decline in reasoning skills, thinking, and memory. There are ten warning symptoms and signs. If you see any of them, do not overlook them. Arrange an appointment with a physician.
Memory loss disrupts day-to-day life
One common sign of Alzheimer’s is not remembering recently learned details, particularly early. Other signs involve forgetting crucial events or dates, repeatedly asking the same questions, and increasingly relying upon family members or memory aids for things they once handled on their own.
Challenges in solving problems or planning
Some folks with dementia might suffer changes in their capability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They might experience problems following a familiar recipe or tracking monthly bills. They might have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they once did.
A hard time completing familiar activities
Individuals who have Alzheimer’s frequently find it difficult to finish daily activities. Occasionally they might have problems driving to a familiar place, remembering the rules of a game, or organizing a grocery list.
Confusion with place or time
Folks who live with Alzheimer’s may lose track of seasons, dates, and passage of time. They might experience problems comprehending something if it isn’t immediately happening. Occasionally, they might not remember where or how they even got there.
Problems understanding spatial relationships and visual images
For some, having vision issues is an indication of Alzheimer’s. It might lead to a hard time with balance or struggles in reading. They also may experience problems determining contrast or color and judging distance, which causes problems with driving.
New struggles with words in writing or speaking
Folks who live with Alzheimer’s might experience problems joining or following a conversation. They might stop mid-way in the conversation and not know how to continue or repeat themselves. They might have problems with vocabulary, have difficulty naming a familiar object, or use the wrong name altogether.
Losing the capability of retracing steps and misplacing things
Someone who lives with this disease might place items in unusual locations. They might lose things and be unable to retrace their steps to locate them again. She or he might accuse other people of stealing, particularly as Alzheimer’s progress.
Poor or decreased judgment
People might suffer changes in decision-making or judgment. For instance, they might use bad judgment while handling finances or pay less attention to their grooming habits.
Withdrawal from social activities or work
Someone who lives with Alzheimer’s might suffer changes in the capability of holding or following a conversation. In turn, she or he might withdraw from social activities, hobbies, or other interactions. They might experience problems keeping up with a favorite activity or team.
Changes in personality and mood
Individuals who live with this disease might suffer personality and mood changes. They may become anxious, fearful, depressed, suspicious, or confused. They might easily be upset with friends, at home, or once out of their comfort zone.
What are the stages of Alzheimer’s disease?
Typically, Alzheimer’s disease progresses in 3 stages: early, middle, and late.
Early-stage
Within the earlier stage of this disease, a person might function independently. She or he might still work, drive, and participate in social activities. Despite this, he or she might feel like they are experiencing lapses in memory, like forgetting the location of everyday objects or forgetting familiar words.
Symptoms might not be that apparent during this stage, yet close friends and family might notice, and a healthcare provider would have the ability to identify symptoms through the use of specific diagnostic tools.
Some common challenges involve:
- Experiencing more and more trouble with organizing or planning.
- Misplacing or losing a valuable item.
- Forgetting material that was just read.
- Having a hard time doing tasks in work or social settings.
- Remembering names while introduced to new individuals.
- Thinking of the proper name or word.
In the early stage, people who have dementia can live well by taking control of their wellness and health and concentrating their energy on elements of their life that are the most meaningful to them. Also, it’s the perfect point to put end-of-life, financial, and legal plans in place because the individual who has dementia will have the ability to be involved in the decision-making process.
Middle-stage
Typically, the middle stage of this disease is the longest one and may last for several years. As Alzheimer’s progresses, the individual who has it will need a higher level of care.
In the middle stage, the symptoms of dementia grow more pronounced. The sufferer might confuse words, become angry or frustrated, and act in unpredictable ways, like refusing to bathe. Damage to brain neurons also can make it challenging for the individual to express thoughts and do regular tasks without assistance.
Symptoms vary from one person to another and might include:
- Exhibiting behavioral and personality changes, which include delusions and suspiciousness or repetitive, compulsive behavior such as tissue shredding or hand wringing.
- Demonstrating an increased tendency to become lost and wander.
- Suffering sleep pattern changes, like sleeping in the daytime and becoming restless at night.
- Having problems controlling their bowels and bladder.
- Requiring assistance selecting proper clothes for the occasion or the season.
- Being confused about what day it is or where they are.
- Not being able to remember information regarding themselves like their telephone number or address and the college or high school they attended.
- Feeling withdrawn or moody, particularly in mentally or socially challenging situations.
- Forgetting personal history or events.
During the middle stage, the Alzheimer’s sufferer still can be involved in daily tasks with help. It is vital to figure out what the individual may still do or ways to simplify activities. As the necessity for more intensive care grows, caretakers might want to consider respite care so they may have a temporary break from caretaking while the individual who lives with Alzheimer’s continuously safely receives care.
Late-stage
During the final stage of Alzheimer’s, symptoms of dementia are serious. People lose their capacity to respond to their environment, carry on conversations, and control movement. They still may say phrases or words, yet communicating pain becomes challenging. As cognitive skills and memory continuously worsen, marked personality changes might occur, and sufferers require extensive care.
During this stage, sufferers might:
- Become prone to infections, particularly pneumonia.
- Have a hard time communicating.
- Suffer changes in physical capabilities, including sitting, walking, and swallowing.
- Lose awareness of their surroundings and recent experiences.
- Need 24-hour assistance with day-to-day personal care.
The individual who lives with Alzheimer’s might not be able to initiate interaction as much in the late stage, yet she or he still can benefit from engagement in appropriate ways, such as listening to calm music or obtaining reassurance through soft touch. In this stage, caretakers might need to use support services.
For more information on our short-term memory loss care or hospice care services in Missouri City, TX, contact Optimum Personal Care at 281.565.4144.