Alzheimers Disease - General Information
Alzheimers Disease is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain in which brain cells die and are not replaced. There are over 100 different types of dementia but Alzheimers disease is the most common. Vascular dementia and Lewy body are also common. There are many causes of dementia, such as depression, intoxication, nutritional deficiencies, drug abuse and thyroid imbalances. The symptoms can be similar to those related to Alzheimers Disease. Dementias caused by strokes can also have similar symptoms.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Alzheimers Disease can vary widely with different people. The main characteristics are memory loss, confusion and changes in personality. The ability to understand may also be affected with the person suffering from Alzheimers Disease needing instructions to be repeated.
Personality changes may include suspicious or aggressive behaviour, mood changes with the person suddenly changing from one emotional state to another. When a person realises that his or her abilities are being affected and that they can no longer do some of the usual things, depression can be the resulting symptoms.
Diagnosis
A medical diagnosis is critical at an early stage when symptoms first appear because there are a number of potentially reversible causes and less serious conditions that resemble dementia. The person with dementia may not complain about vision or hearing problems, toothache or other pain but these should also be assessed and treated.
Anticipating The Future
It is impossible to predict exactly how Alzheimers Disease will affect each person since the symptoms and rate of progression vary. The progression from one stage to the next is seldom smooth or neat. A patient may seem to skip a stage altogether or may exhibit at an early stage some characteristic usually associated with an advanced stage. With each stage there is deterioration.
Generally the initial symptoms are:
- Problem with short term memory
- Disorientation in time or place
- Difficulty making decisions
- Loss of interest in skills and activities
- Signs of depression and agitation
Then as the disease progresses:
- Difficulties with day to day living
- Forgetfulness of recent events and family names etc
- Difficulty living alone
- Unable to cook, clean
- Lacks interest in personal hygiene
- Dressing becomes a problem
- Wandering
Finally the person reaches a stage of total dependency. This presents greater problems for the primary carer.
The person:
- Experience difficulty walking
- Suffer bladder and bowel incontinence
- Have difficulty understanding or interpreting events
- Have difficulty eating
- Be confined to bed
There are over 4,000 people over 65 years suffering from Alzheimers Disease in counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon.
Reference: Harvard Health Letter Special Report, Commonwealth, Dept. of Health