It’s normal for people to become a bit forgetful as they age. So how can you tell a harmless "senior moment" from Alzheimer's disease? One in eight people 65 and older have this devastating form of dementia. In its first stages, Alzheimer’s may not be obvious to friends and family. But there are some early warning signs to watch for. In early Alzheimer’s, long-term memories usually remain intact while short-term memories become sketchy. Your loved one may forget conversations you had. She may repeat questions that were already answered. The disease also disrupts speech, so she might struggle to remember common words.
There’s no simple test for Alzheimer’s, so the doctor will rely on you to describe the changes in your loved one. A mental status test, sometimes called a “mini-cog,” or other screening tests can measure his mental skills and short-term memory. Neurological exams and brain scans may be used to rule out other problems, like a stroke or tumor, and they can provide other information about his brain.
Alzheimer’s causes nerve cell death and tissue loss throughout the brain. As the disease gets worse, brain tissue shrinks and areas that contain cerebrospinal fluid become larger. The damage harms memory, speech, and comprehension.
There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s and no way to slow the nerve damage it causes in the brain. But there are medications that appear to help maintain mental skills and slow the disease’s effects. If your loved one gets treatment early on, she may be able to stay independent and do her daily tasks for a longer period of time. more
There’s no simple test for Alzheimer’s, so the doctor will rely on you to describe the changes in your loved one. A mental status test, sometimes called a “mini-cog,” or other screening tests can measure his mental skills and short-term memory. Neurological exams and brain scans may be used to rule out other problems, like a stroke or tumor, and they can provide other information about his brain.
Alzheimer’s causes nerve cell death and tissue loss throughout the brain. As the disease gets worse, brain tissue shrinks and areas that contain cerebrospinal fluid become larger. The damage harms memory, speech, and comprehension.
There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s and no way to slow the nerve damage it causes in the brain. But there are medications that appear to help maintain mental skills and slow the disease’s effects. If your loved one gets treatment early on, she may be able to stay independent and do her daily tasks for a longer period of time. more
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There is an opinion gaining momentum that prolonging certain types of sicknesses by medication is getting unmanageable with even upper-middle-class population. Every sickness/disease has become so expensive that life long savings made during a person's service is spent on (mostly needless) surgeries, serious irreparable life style sicknesses like BP, Sugar etc. I may be harsh in putting this down, but I have seen children and even wife/husband praying to God to take the person away as partly they are not able to bear the expense of treatment and partly they are not able to see the patient suffering. But this has become a harsh reality of present day life. So, is it correct to say that newer medicines have been evolved to prolonge life ? more
May 20
Mild Alzheimer's The first stage usually lasts from 2 to 4 years. The symptoms include: 1.Having less energy and drive to do things 2.Less interest in work and social activities and spending more time just sitting, watching TV, or sleeping 3.Loss of recent memories, like forgetting conversations and events that just happened 4.Language problems, like trouble putting their thoughts into words or understanding others 5.Mild coordination problems, such as trouble writing or using familiar objects. 6.A hard time with everyday tasks, such as following a recipe or balancing a checkbook 7.Mood swings that involve depression or a lack of interest 8.Trouble with driving, like getting lost on familiar routes 9.When a person has one or a few of these issues, it doesn’t necessarily mean he has Alzheimer's. There are other medical conditions that can cause the same problems, such as: Conditions that affect metabolism, such as a thyroid problem Drug abuse Taking medications that don’t work well together Parkinson's disease Stress Depression Moderate Alzheimer's This is when memory loss gets worse and starts to cause problems in daily life. This stage can last from 2 to 10 years. Someone with moderate Alzheimer's may start to forget details about his life, like where he went to high school or when he got married. He may not recognize or remember family members and friends. He might also forget where he leaves things and can’t retrace his steps to find them. Other symptoms at this stage can include: 1.Rambling speech 2.Trouble coming up with the right words and using the wrong ones 3.A hard time planning or solving problems 4.Confusion about time or place. He may get lost in places he’s been before. Once he’s there, he may not know how or why he got to that place. 5.Not dressing for the weather 6.Getting angry or upset easily, sometimes lashing out at family or caregivers 7.Trouble sleeping 8.Wandering 9.Delusions, such as thinking a caregiver is trying to hurt him 10.Some people with moderate Alzheimer’s also become more aware that they’re losing control of their lives, which can make them even more frustrated or depressed. Severe Alzheimer's The third stage, also known as late Alzheimer's, is the most severe. It typically lasts 1 to 3 years. People in this phase might have some or all of these symptoms: 1.Major confusion about what’s in the past and what’s happening now 2.Can’t express themselves, remember, or process information 3.Problems with swallowing and control of their bladder and bowels 4.Weight loss, seizures, skin infections, and other illnesses 5.Extreme mood swings 6.Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t really there, called hallucinations 7.Can’t move easily on their own more
May 20
