Alzheimers Help for Patients and Family
Alzheimers disease can be a terrible burden on the patient, caretaker, and family. There are many horrific tales of the victim not remembering his or her own children. There are stories where sweet old men become dirty old men. There are stories where simple processes one never thought anyone could forget, like eating, are forgotten. Unfortunately, all of these stories are true and non-embellished.
There is Alzheimers help for all those who have been affected by this disease. There are counselors who can deal with the patient to ease the fear that he or she may have of the upcoming changes in their psychological nature. There's help for the caretaker in dealing with the depression and abuse that is so common when dealing with an Alzheimers patient. There's help for the parent who must explain the situation to the grandchildren, and there's help for the grandchildren. One simply has to ask for it.
Help rarely walks up and tells you that you need assistance; help must be sought, before it's too late and the depressions of a situation with no silver lining strikes. There are many people who have dealt with Alzheimers, many who have watched it destroy members of their family. These people often wish nothing more than for the disease to simply vanish. Unfortunately, this isn't an option. You don't need to go through this alone. Even if there are others in your family who going through this with you, seeking assistance from an outsider can be helpful.
Alzheimers help is often in the form of a support group. This support group assists the members of that group in realizing that the most important thing to do is to take care of themselves and to cherish the time they have. This can be very difficult for anyone going through this pain, which is why a support group is so important. If you're dealing with by yourself, it's easy to fall into despair, but if you're in a support group, it's much less likely. If a support group isn't to your liking, a religious counselor may be of assistance. A trusted religious advisor could explain and help you deal with Alzheimers disease in a more private setting than a group. Another resource could by your doctor. He or she can help you with understanding the disease, however, they may be less effective helping with the emotional side of what's happening. The key thing to remember is: You don't have to be alone.
Alzheimers Symptoms: Early Warning Signs
Many people experience memory disturbances at some point in their lives. It is not unusual for people of all ages to forget the name of a book they just finished, where they put their wallet or even why they went to the grocery store. Age tends to intensify memory problems, making it hard to determine whether they're a natural part of the aging process or something more serious, but Alzheimers symptoms are more significant than forgetting someone's name.
In general, people suffering from Alzheimers disease suffer from forgetfulness which makes it difficult or impossible for them to complete the simple tasks of daily living. Someone who is forgetful might not remember that they placed their car keys next to the computer, but someone in the early stages of Alzheimers disease may repeatedly put the keys in inappropriate places, such as inside the cupboard or the refrigerator. A person with Alzheimers may put toothpaste on their toothbrush, but forget to brush their teeth. Then, when they find their toothbrush later, they may have no memory of how the toothpaste got there.
Some people with Alzheimers will dress inappropriately for weather conditions. They may wear a raincoat on a sunny day. They might venture outside in the winter time with only a robe and slippers, or they might pile layers of clothing on when it's 90 degrees outside.
Loss of time and space might also indicate Alzheimers disease. People with Alzheimers may know that it's 3 o'clock, but not have any idea whether it's 3 a.m. or 3 p.m. Someone who gets lost driving two miles to the grocery store when it's a route they've taken for 30 years may be in the early stages of Alzheimers.
People with Alzheimers disease may struggle to recognize significant people in their lives. While everyone occasionally forgets a name, people with Alzheimers might forget a co-worker's name in addition to the fact that they are a co-worker, making them seem like a virtual stranger.
Difficulty in communication can also be an early sign of Alzheimers Disease. A person with Alzheimers may know that they want to say, "It was a red car," but be completely unable to remember the word "red." Problems with communication can become obvious when someone abruptly stops speaking in mid-sentence and appears to be searching for a word or becomes agitated and frustrated.
Especially in the early stages of the disease, Alzheimers symptoms can mimic the aging process, but in cases where memory loss interferes with a person's quality of life, the best course of action is to seek the advice of a physician.
Life after an Alzheimers Diagnosis
Alzheimers diagnosis is very tricky. Though the symptoms are well-known, they can also be the symptoms of other illnesses. The only true way to diagnose Alzheimers is to examine the post-mortem brain for illness. MRI's are making it possible to see the Alzheimers disease affects in a living brain, but the truest method is still physical examination after death.
That is not to say that there are no treatments for Alzheimers disease, or that a loved one will not be diagnosed with Alzheimers based upon the symptoms. There are many ways to treat Alzheimers and many ways to help delay the onset completely. There are also ways to clinically declare an Alzheimers diagnosis.
Alzheimers disease can be diagnosed clinically based upon recall, behavior changes, and a change in one's brain patterns on an MRI. These clinical signs are extremely common to those who were found with Alzheimers after death, so it is reasonable to assume that someone who is displaying these signs has . It is very common to get an Alzheimers diagnosis on clinical signs alone.
There are treatments and preventive measures one can take to handle or prevent Alzheimers disease. One such measure of prevention is to take regular doses of vitamin E and maintain a physically and mentally active lifestyle. Studies have shown a link between physical and mental health, and by providing the body with exercise, as well as problem solving skills, a person is able to delay the onset of Alzheimers.
Once Alzheimers has set in, physical and mental activity can slow the progression. Medication can also be prescribed to help stabilize the condition. These medications can work in a few different ways. There are medications that block the amino acids that destroy the nerves and vital paths to memory and behavior. There are medications that help strengthen the paths and recall possibilities. There are mood stabilizers to help manage those who have not responded to the other medications.
Natural and Medical Alzheimers Treatments
Alzheimers disease was once thought to be untreatable. Now, as science's knowledge of Alzheimers disease grows, Alzheimers treatments are being developed and implemented every day. The most common and easiest of these treatments is enrichment, although there are now medications that can slow or even halt the progression of the disease, allowing for better days with loved ones.
When you hear the word "enrichment", you might think of an animal penned in a zoo cage with a block of ice as entertainment. This is enrichment, but for people it can be significantly more complex. For adult human's, enrichment can include crossword puzzles, suduku, and other intellectual games. Taking a walk and experiencing new and exciting things are also great ways to enrich the life of an Alzheimers patient.
Medications are also becoming a widely accepted member of Alzheimer's treatments. These medications work to slow the deterioration of the brain on a physical level. These controls are not affective for everyone, but for those who they are effective for, the results are generally within the week and significant. These medications do have nasty side effects that the enrichment by nature would not have. These side effects include dizziness, nausea, weight loss, and a lower blood pressure. This is a lot to risk with someone who is already weak from the disease. Enrichment may be the best starting answer. This is a decision for you to make with your doctor.
Mood stabilizing drugs are also often seen as Alzheimer's treatments. This is because as Alzheimers disease progresses, keeping one's moods from shifting, sometimes violently, can become extremely difficult. These medications help to control these shifts and allow some peace for those caring for the patient and for the patient themselves.
As the medical field advances the knowledge and understanding of Alzheimers, the treatment options will only increase. Eventually it will not be a matter of treating Alzheimers; it will be a matter of curing the disease and reversing the damage previously done by the disease.