Alzheimer’s Disease

The three most common forms of dementia are: Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease involves the loss of cells in the areas of the brain vital to memory and other mental functions. The first sign of Alzheimer’s is usually forgetfulness. The precise cause of the disease is unknown, but people’s risk increases with age.

Vascular dementia occurs when arteries providing blood flow to the brain become narrowed or blocked. The onset of symptoms is usually sudden; occurring most commonly after a stroke. In some incidences, vascular dementia occurs progressively thereby making it difficult to distinguish from Alzheimer’s disease.

Lewy body dementia sees abnormal round structures (known as Lewy bodies) develop within cells of the midbrain. This dementia shares characterizes with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. It causes confusion, impaired judgment and memory loss and is commonly accompanied by a shuffling gait and flexed postures—hallmark signs of Parkinson’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative neurological disease that affects the brain and many of its functions such as language, intellect and spatial orientation. The illness develops gradually. It is difficult to notice the onset of symptoms as they resemble ordinary memory lapses. Diagnosis is easier when lapses become more frequent. People with Alzheimer’s disease lose the ability to learn and remember anything new.

Several changes occur in the brains of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Brain cells decrease in size and are replaced by dense, irregularly shaped spots or plaques impacting brain function. Another indicator of the disease is threadlike tangles within existing brain cells which eventually invade healthy brain cells. As Alzheimer’s disease affects each area of the brain, certain functions or abilities are lost resulting in specific symptoms and behaviors. Because brain cells can rarely regenerate, once the function/ability is lost, relearning isn’t usually possible.

Over time, people with Alzheimer’s disease can no longer remember family and friends’ names or find their way around places that were once familiar. They avoid social situations because they often experience difficulty understanding conversations which makes them feel powerless and frustrated. To deal with this frustration, a person with Alzheimer’s may break into tears, strike out or run away. They may become suspicious and develop delusions—talking to imaginary people or accusing family and friends of being imposters.

In the later stages of Alzheimer’s, people may have difficulty dressing, feeding themselves or performing other aspects of self-care because they cannot hold a thought long enough to form a goal. Research has found skills are often lost in the reverse order in which they were learned.

People with Alzheimer’s often pace or wander aimlessly and commonly experience difficulty sleeping. They may wander due to being too hot or cold, hungry, in pain or trying to recreate a situation from the past. Wandering may become a potential safety concern, so consider having the person with Alzheimer’s wear an identification bracelet and register them with the Alzheimer’s Society to help find them if they go missing.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, Alzheimer’s disease is not a part of the normal aging process. It affects both sexes, is more common in older ages (over 65), cannot be directly linked to arthrosclerosis (the hardening of arteries) and is not the result of stress. The following may be potential causes of Alzheimer’s:

Family history – there appears to be a definite connection to family history. The heredity connection is not well understood.
Environmental – researchers are exploring if exposure to certain chemicals in the air, soil and water are potential causes.
Body – some theories suggest Alzheimer’s may be a slow virus that causes an imbalance in the immune system.

Researchers are starting to believe there is no one single cause of the disease; rather it is a combination of factors.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s and its progression is unstoppable. Treatments include medications designed to help reduce symptoms with varying success rates. Perhaps one of the most important treatments for Alzheimer’s is the help provided to both patients and family members. Families are often called upon to be care givers in some form or another. Care giving can take an immense toll making it important to access respite care and support groups as needed.

****Check out Apple-A-Day for more information about Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s Centre is located under the Disease and Conditions section!****

Source:

Apple-A-Day
Canadian Alzheimer’s Society