About Alzheimers

Jonty Smith asked:


Alzheimer’s disease is quickly developing into one of the most easily-recognized diseases in contemporary America. Almost everybody has heard about, been afflicted by, or maybe knows an individual affected by this awful disease. However, the more exposure Alzheimer’s gets, the more positive it is for everybody. More exposure equates to more funding research and, possibly, more manageable treatments in the future. One of the simplest and most conscientious ways to allow the world to know about Alzheimer’s disease is to sport an Alzheimer’s awareness bracelet as a symbol of hope and understanding.
The Alzheimer’s awareness bracelet is another method for Alzheimer’s organizations to bring in much-needed cash and aggrandize awareness regarding this debilitating disease that deeply affects many millions of individuals annually. Alzheimer’s disease afflicts the lives of those suffering from the disease, but also the lives of loved ones struggling to handle the care needed. Everybody involved in combating Alzheimer’s has the commitment, diligece, and belief required to consign this disease to history’s dustbin. However, they are desperate for your aid, and buying and wearing an Alzheimer’s awareness bracelet is a terrific way to join the war.
Obtaining the Bracelet:
As soon as you have decided that sporting an Alzheimer’s awareness bracelet is a gesture that you want to make, it can normally be obtained by contributing a nominal donation to a multi-national Alzheimer’s organization, like the Alzheimer’s Federation of America or the Alzheimer’s Association. You can know in some peace that any donation you make will go direct to the battle against Alzheimer’s, so by purchasing several Alzheimer’s awareness bracelets you will only increase the medical muscle in the war against the disease. Give the extra bracelets to friends and family and keep increasing the exposure.
Wearing the Bracelet:
As soon as you have been sent your Alzheimer’s awareness bracelet, wear it with honor on a daily basis. Sport the bracelet on your hand of choice or even as a scrunchie to keep your hair’s ponytail in place. Any method that can get the bracelet observed is a wonderful way to get people to quiz you about it. When inquire about the Alzheimer’s awareness bracelet, you can start to talk about the disease with them and how it afflicts millions of people’s lives.
With every Alzheimer’s awareness bracelet that you buy, some advice will be given to you as ways to inform yourself and others to the progress and optimism being generated today in the battle against this disease. Everybody is aware that education and knowledge make for a very potent amalgamation; however, it only functions if the education and information is taught and released and exposed to the world. One of the simplest ways to do this is through the Alzheimer’s awareness bracelet. Purchase one now, and start making a difference immediately.

Dorothy

Cha cha asked:


I’ll feed him then when i leave he will follow me to the living room, then he will sleep, then wake up and cry and cry and cry so i follow him into the kitchen and he sits and waits for his bowl to be filled then when i point to it to show him its still pretty much full he realises and starts eating it again.

He also falls asleep at his water bowl.

He is at least 11 or 12.

Thanks

Constance

MIKE SELVON asked:


Are you looking for an American Alzheimers society aimed at providing education, emotional support and practical assistance for your Alzheimers patient relative? The importance of seeking Alzheimers help cannot be overstated.

Two-thirds of Alzheimers caregivers suffer from depression. Since public assistance isn’t the greatest, most caregivers are family members who have to reorganize their lives, leave work early or quit their jobs and learn how to adapt to their loved one’s ever changing personality.

As humans, we naturally seek out like-minded individuals and others who we feel connected to in some way. As an Alzheimers caregiver, you will likely feel conflicting emotions and periods of depression, resentment or fear.

It’s recommended that you connect with others who are going through the same experience. You can participate in a “Memory Walk” with your loved one to raise money and awareness for Alzheimers research, which will help you feel like you’re taking control of an otherwise helpless-feeling situation. You can take a six-week course on “powerful tools for caregiving” or join an Alzheimers support group to discuss different techniques and air your emotions to maintain positive mental health.

Another reason to connect with an Alzheimers society is to find out about clinical trials and ways to get actively involved in finding a cure. Right now, Alzheimers is one of the most mysterious diseases affecting us, since little is known about how to halt or reverse the effects.

There aren’t many early screening tests or ways to prevent Alzheimers either. By 2025, 10 million more Americans will have this degenerative disease. While the statistics leave us feeling helpless, you can make a difference by actively lobbying for more funding, more research, more Medicaid benefits and more public awareness.

Whether you and your Alzheimers patient loved one participate in a “Memory Walk,” make a donation or participate in a study, you will feel like you’re taking charge of your life, which is an important component in evading the depression that affects many an Alzheimers caregiver.

“When my father passed away from Alzheimer’s disease, it was logical for me to spend time and money to fight it,” John Osher writes on an Alzheimers Society website. “I could see research was starting to round the corner and felt that my involvement could matter.” Whether donating, participating in clinical trials or raising public awareness, you have the power to make a large difference and place Alzheimers on top of the American agenda. Like with HIV or Cancer, a cure may be just around the corner, but it won’t get there without many voices raising a clamor!

Luis

mhager82190 asked:


i need information on the disease alzheimers for a report and need all the information i can get.

Chad

Corwin Brown asked:


Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906. Scientists have learned a great deal about Alzheimer’s disease in the century since Dr. Alzheimer first drew attention to it.

Alzheimer’s disease begins slowly. It first involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. People with AD may have trouble remembering things that happened recently or names of people they know. Over time, symptoms get worse. People may not recognize family members or have trouble speaking, reading or writing. They may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care.

Symptoms of Alzheimer

People with Alzheimer’s experience difficulties communicating, learning, thinking and reasoning - problems severe enough to have an impact on an individual’s work, social activities and family life.

Loss of judgment. Solving everyday problems, such as knowing what to do if food on the stove is burning, becomes increasingly difficult, eventually impossible. Alzheimer’s is characterized by greater difficulty in doing things that require planning, decision making and judgment.

An impaired ability to carry out motor activities (such as combing their hair) despite intact motor abilities, sensory function and comprehension of the required task (apraxia)

Mood and behavior changes (rapid mood swings, emotional outbursts, personality changes, increased fear or suspicion)

Memory worsens, words are used more and more inappropriately, basic self-care skills are lost, personality changes, agitation develops, can’t recognize distant family or friends, has difficulty communicating, wanders off, becomes deluded and may experience hallucinations.

Language problems (forgetting the names of objects, mixing up words, difficulty completing sentences)

They begin to have problems speaking, understanding, reading, or writing. Later on, people with AD may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, patients need total care.

Disorientation — It’s normal to forget the day of the week or where you’re going. People with Alzheimer’s disease can become lost on the street where they live, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home.

Misplacing Items — Anyone can temporarily misplace a wallet or key. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places — an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.

Causes of Alzheimer

Family history is another risk factor. The disease does seem to run in some families. However, fewer than 10% of cases of Alzheimer disease are familial. Familial Alzheimer disease often occurs at a younger age, between ages 30 and 60 years. This is called early-onset familial Alzheimer disease.

Possible role of tangles: The internal support structure for brain neurons depends on the normal functioning of a protein called tau. In people with Alzheimer’s, threads of tau protein undergo alterations that cause them to become twisted. Many researchers believe this may seriously damage neurons, causing them to die.

Environment to learn what role they might play in the development of this disease. Scientists are finding increasing evidence that some of the risk factors for heart disease and stroke, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and low levels of the vitamin folate, may also increase the risk of AD. Evidence for physical, mental, and social activities as protective factors against AD is also increasing.

Monica

Matt Traverso asked:


 
There are scientific advancements that look promising for preventing and even reversing the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive deterioration of the brain, first described in 1907 by the German neurologist Alois Alzheimer (1864–1915). It is the most common form of dementing, or mind-depriving, illness, affecting cells in an area of the brain important to memory.

Alzheimer’s disease or Alzheimer’s syndrome most commonly strikes elderly adults, but it has also been known to afflict people in their late twenties.

People with Alzheimer’s experience difficulties communicating, learning, thinking and reasoning – problems severe enough to have an impact on an individual’s work, social activities and family life.

Alzheimer’s is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the number of people affected. It is emerging to potentially become the largest medical problem facing the elderly in the 21st century.

Currently there are as many as 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050.

A new person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s every 71 seconds, and because people are living longer Alzheimer’s disease has become a serious health problem that governments must face; this disease is now the sixth leading cause of death in America alone. Alzheimer’s disease is becoming tragically common.

Over 12 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. The direct and indirect cost of caring for Alzheimer’s victims in the United States alone is more than $100 billion a year.

With these startling statistics, can anything be done to save our brains from this horrific deterioration? Will more seniors be able to avoid falling victim to Alzheimer’s as the elderly population increases? Are we finally getting close to a cure?

The conventional medical approach is limited to pain relief and controlling some of the related symptoms by using expensive prescription drugs riddled with side effects.

But in reality, extensive research reveals that proliferation of Alzheimer’s disease in society is a direct manifestation of our changed lifestyles. When people around the world experience similar problems, it’s not a random incident but a methodical process spreading across cultures and borders.

You see, our lifestyle choices have gotten us into this mess. We need to make the right choices to get us out.

The fact is the exponential increase in Alzheimer’s disease is really the result of the way our lives have changed. The bad news is we are used to living a certain way now and it isn’t easy to change. The good news is that change is in our power and with it better health.

One way to help lower the risk of dementia and one that you can have responsibility for is to change your habits of life, eat healthily and take regular exercise. Currently, researchers studying Alzheimer’s patients have noticed that those who stay healthy and take specific nutritional supplements have slowed down and even reversed the decline.

Yes, Alzheimer’s is NOT an incurable condition. Alzheimer’s is curable and CAN be reversed.

Everyday now more and more people are finding that they can start to reverse their Alzheimer’s.

Diane

David Mcfarlane asked:


Someone in your family has Alzheimers disease, and you have been gathering info on Alzheimers disease to try to help you make decisions about what to do next, but everything you find is so scientific and complicated. What can you tell your kids to make them understand why their grandfather or uncle does not recognize them anymore? The info on Alzheimers disease below is aimed at children and families, so read it together.

Alzheimers: What Is It?

Alzheimers disease is a form of a mental disorder known as dementia. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously hampers the brains ability to process rational or normal thought and inhibits the daily activities of its sufferers because of this. Alzheimers disease, therefore, affects the part of the brain that is responsible for thought, memory, and language.

Alzheimers disease is one of the leading causes of death in America. The German physician Alois Alzheimer first identified this disorder in 1907. This disorder is a serious illness that affects the memory ability of the brain, capability of learning, making rational decisions and capacity to function routinely.

Alzheimers disease robs millions of people each year of their memories, their personalities, and the ability to complete daily activities. For the longest time, it was believed that nothing could be done to prevent this awful disease; that it was simply something that people had to look forward to when they reached their golden years. However, new research indicates that there is a number of ways to prevent Alzheimers disease.

The hallmark sign of Alzheimers disease is the loss of memory. Generally, those 65 years of age or older, begin to concern themselves with this disease at the first episodes of forgetfulness. Although forgetfulness is a sign of Alzheimers disease, it is important to note that there are other signals that may herald the onset of this malady. Therefore, being knowledgeable about Alzheimers, through exhibited signs, and is paramount for our loved one’s health as well as our own.

Dealing With Alzheimers

Hearing the news that a family member has received an Alzheimers diagnosis can be an emotionally devastating moment in anyones life. However, before the Alzheimers diagnosis can be given to the patient and their family, the patient must undergo a variety of laboratory tests, such as medical assessments and laboratory measurements. There is no single test existing that will categorically give the Alzheimers diagnosis.

With this proactive stance, diagnosticians have been able to devise a set of Alzheimers disease testing tools that can detect symptoms of Alzheimers disease in its earlier stages. As of yet, there is no single diagnostic test that is able to determine if a person has Alzheimers disease, but the battery of testing that is available makes it possible for physicians to diagnose it with about 90 percent accuracy. Alzheimers disease testing can take anywhere from one day to several weeks to ensure accuracy and proper diagnosis.

An Alzheimers test is important to ensure that the person is not just going through the usual memory loss associated with age; however, sometimes an Alzheimers test is not necessary. Alzheimers disease doesn’t just affect a persons memory; it can make people see things that aren’t there, and even send them into screaming fits. If you think a loved one is starting to become senile or experience other symptoms of dementia, you may want that person to undergo Alzheimers testing. Unfortunately, there is currently no definitive test for Alzheimers disease that a person can undergo. The only way doctors diagnose Alzheimers with 100% certainty is through physical examination of the brain after the person has passed away. Rather than Alzheimers testing, what you want to look for is some type of psychological and behavioral screening coupled with extensive tests to rule out other types of dementia.

Living With Alzheimers

Living with Alzheimers can be a crippling experience for both the disease sufferer and the family that is involved. There are many moments of misunderstanding or confusion for most and the symptoms can become frustrating and difficult. The loss of memory and other associated factors can often cause immense separation in families and can create a nervous tension on relationships that is not necessary if suitable information is available and utilized by all parties involved.

Finding in-house Alzheimers help should not be an emotionally laden issue for the entire family. Tackling this need in an organized way, from evaluating to planning, is the key to making in-house Alzheimers help feasible. First, you should sit down and evaluate the needs of the family caregiver and the patient. From there, creating a job list and a set of guidelines becomes easy to make and follow.

Caring for someone with Alzheimers can be a daunting task. You will need all of the support you can get, along with the latest and most significant Alzheimers info and research. It is a confusing time, and the more you know, the more confident you will feel in your ability to give your loved one the best possible care and support. It is also important to build a support network that will help you to avoid the common problems associated with caretaker burnout.

Ben

Alien asked:


Alzheimer’s disease (AD), also known simply as Alzheimer’s, is a neurodegenerative disease that, in its most common form, is found in people over age 65. Approximately 24 million people worldwide have dementia of which the majority (~60%) is due to Alzheimer’s.

Clinical signs of Alzheimer’s disease are characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration, together with declining activities of daily living and by neuropsychiatric symptoms or behavioral changes. It is the most common type of dementia. Plaques which contain misfolded peptides called amyloid beta (A?) are formed in the brain many years before the clinical signs of Alzheimer’s are observed. More than 4 million Americans today are affected with Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is expected to escalate to approximately 12 million within the next 30 years. This serious disease is plaguing America in such a way that just about every individual has had an experience with someone with Alzheimer’s in one way or another. Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that affects the mind, and more specifically your memory. 1 in 8 individuals over the age of 65 will develop it.

Risk Factors:

We currently don’t know what exactly causes Alzheimer’s, and it remains a disease that is diagnosed by eliminating other possibilities. However, experts have found a number of factors that reoccur in Alzheimer’s patients. It is believed that a combination of the following factors can cause a person to be predisposed to develop Alzheimer’s.

1. Family history of the disease – especially a parent or sibling.

2. Heart-disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, and diabetes.

3. Previous head injury

4. Environmental toxins

5. Advancing age

6. Stress- high levels of anxiety

What Are the Symptoms of AD?

AD begins slowly. At first, the only symptom may be mild forgetfulness, which can be confused with age-related memory change. Most people with mild forgetfulness do not have AD. In the early stage of AD, people may have trouble remembering recent events, activities, or the names of familiar people or things. They may not be able to solve simple math problems. Such difficulties may be a bother, but usually they are not serious enough to cause alarm.

However, as the disease goes on, symptoms are more easily noticed and become serious enough to cause people with AD or their family members to seek medical help. Forgetfulness begins to interfere with daily activities.

Main Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease:

Experts have identified a number of stages to help define and group people suffering from this devastating and difficult disease. With no cure the best thing you can do is be aware of what this disease may bring in the future and use this knowledge to help plan care for your loved one.

The following are the Three Main Stages:

1. Early-State – In the early stage, the individual will suffer memory loss and possibly some other cognitive difficulties, however, they can continue to function independently.

2. Mid-Stage – In the mid-stage, the disease has progressed past basic memory troubles and the individual’s mental abilities have continued to decline. They start to suffer personality changes and physical problems, and in turn become more dependent on caregivers.

3. Late-Stage – The late-stage is the most severe. Individuals will suffer complete deterioration of the personality and loss of control over bodily functions. They will become totally dependent on caregivers for even basic daily needs.

There is no set time as to when a person will progress from one stage to the other. One individual may move quickly from the early-stage to the mid-stage, while another may stay in the early-stage for several years. Every person is different. Here is a basic break down of the types of symptoms and their severity for each stage:

How is the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease made?

As of June 2007, there is no specific “blood test” or imaging test that is used for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed when: 1) a person has sufficient cognitive decline to meet criteria for dementia; 2) the clinical course is consistent with that of Alzheimer’s disease; 3) no other brain diseases or other processes are better explanations for the dementia.

Treatment

Currently, there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Doctors sometimes prescribe drugs to improve symptoms that often accompany Alzheimer’s, including sleeplessness, wandering, anxiety, agitation and depression. But only two varieties of medications have been proved to slow the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s.

What can I do to help myself?

The first thing is not to worry unnecessarily. A problem with forgetfulness doesn’t mean that you have dementia.

If you find yourself forgetting certain things, you could try to give yourself memory prompts. If (for instance) you find that you forget to buy food, leave notes in your kitchen cupboards near the back, reminding you to go to the shops. So when you come across the notes, keep them on you until you have bought more food.

This may seem cumbersome, but it’s only an extension of the ‘to do’ lists that people make in everyday life.

Lillie

rosa g asked:


I have this one project and I am not sure if this disease is spelled with or without the s.

Terry

Ryan Arsendatama asked:


Before we consider compassionate touch or massage, and Alzheimer’s disease, we need to know what Alzheimer’s disease actually is. It is a neurological disorder characterized by a loss of memory, speechlessness and paralysis. It is a progressive disease that destroys parts of the brain, and is therefore incurable.
Compassionate Touch and Deciding on Massage Approach
For the person suffering from Alzheimer’s disease who has lost memory, your compassionate touch may be the one thing with which he or she connects. Hold your loved one’s hands, give a gentle massage to his or her feet, legs, or arms. Even if the one suffering from Alzheimer’s does not recognize you and cannot communicate verbally, this is one way of reassurance and love. Alzheimer’s massage decreases physical agitation and improves sleep patterns in people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
A 26-minute video available on www.terranova.org - “Compassionate touch: benefits and effects in Alzheimer’s care” - shows the use of attentive touch and gentle massage in caring for and relating to people with Alzheimer’s disease. Massage is therapeutic and its application in Alzheimer’s disease has shown reduction in behaviors such as wandering, aggression and agitation.
The stimulation provided by massage helps Alzheimer patients to communicate physically. The direct physical contact provides the Alzheimer sufferers to relax, and so reducing the anxiety associated with it. The compassionate touch therapy through massage offers immense relief and aids the drug therapy, which the sufferers of Alzheimer’s disease may have been prescribed with. The massage therapy can be effective in two ways: it can induce relaxation by alleviating some of the anxiety associated with Alzheimer’s, and it can stimulate the nervous system that is in decline because of the disease.
The elderly sufferers of Alzheimer’s generally experience a loss of sensitivity to touch and the compassionate touch of massage can help to re-invigorate it. Alzheimer’s massage can have other benefits as well. In addition to helping eliminate or reduce anxiety, massage can also decrease the amount of pain experienced by Alzheimer’s sufferers. Compassionate touch is an expression of intimacy and emotional connectedness and if carried out by family members, can elicit increased contact and improved communication.
The relations between compassionate touch and Alzheimer’s is only being realized now. Alzheimer’s massage benefits the sufferers not only by relieving pain, but also by their over-all protection. Building the nervous system’s response to stimuli enables the elderly Alzheimer’s patients to resist physical and mental decline.

Grace