Thursday, March 4, 2010

Alzheimers Disease

By Alfred Patrick

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.

Memory loss is normal. While it might be normal to become a little forgetful as we age, serious memory loss is not normal. Any severe loss of memory, such as that associated with Alzheimers or other forms of dementia, is not normal under any circumstance.

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During the early stages of alzheimers there are people who will be able to cope very well with the disease but as time progresses, the later stages may prove all too much as the severity of the condition takes its toll and sufferers are sometimes not able to do anything for themselves and become bed-ridden.

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The day to day functions of the person will be greatly affected depending on what stage of the disease they are at. You need to learn about the day to day problems that you can expect to face as a caregiver. This information will give you a better understanding of the realistic capabilities of the patient. Take some time to ask how you can help them to keep their independence and a feeling of control.

Alzheimers can be described as the death of the mind before the Body, and as such is a very difficult and depressing condition for any family to have to deal with. Alzheimers is reckoned to be a fatal disease, but the usual cause of death is normally another illness (like pneumonia) which can develop as a complication in an individual already severely weakened by Alzheimers.

If diagnosed with Alzheimers you must accept the fact that it is serious health issue and take proper care of yourself and body. Don't just take a few pills each day prescription drugs or not. Focus on that your brain has a disease and it is progressive so commit time to tackle the problem and if nothing else lets slow the disease.

Senile dementia is the most common and important form of dementia of the Alzheimer type. The incidence of senile dementia increases with age: 0.4% of the population at 70 years, rising to 5.2% at 90 years. It is important to realize Alzheimers does not simply describe a 'normal' pattern of aging and neuropsychological tests can demonstrate this

The major symptom or indication of Alzheimers disease is the loss of one's memory. Most people over 65, seem to get concerned when they with Alzheimers disease at the first signs of forgetting things. Although forgetfulness is an actual sign of the disease, there are other signals associated with the condition.

Read about alzheimers disease.

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1 comment:

Unknown said...

My father passed away from Alzheimer's and the illness is terrifying in how it captures the loved one's personality and essence. Thank you for featuring advice and help for our senior parents.