Alzheimer disease is a very well known disease that is on the forefront of research. Scientists are trying to discover how this disease works, and treatments that can be used to counter the progressive nature of the disease. The progression of Alzheimers disease can vary from patient to patient, but it does seem to travel in a similar manner.
The Typical Progression Of Alzheimers Disease
Through years of research, doctors have determined the progression of Alzheimers disease. The initial stage is considered stage 1. During this period, there are no symptoms or signs of Alzheimer disease.
The next step in the progression of Alzheimers disease is stage 2. During this stage little symptoms begin to show. Becoming forgetful is one of the classic symptoms during this stage of the progression of Alzheimers disease. People may experience forgetting where they put something like keys or glasses. The symptoms do not appear that obvious, and are sometimes associated with being too busy or just getting older.
The third stage is when other people begin to notice the changes in a person’s memory or abilities. This part of the progression of Alzheimers disease is when many begin talking to a physician and looking for answers to their forgetfulness. At this stage many people are beginning to have problems at work, reading something and then forgetting what it said. The symptoms are becoming more noticeable and severe.
The next stage in the progression of Alzheimer disease is stage four. The memory continues to decline and the ability to perform tasks becomes more of a problem. Just being able to plan an event, or do the checkbook is difficult.
The progression of Alzheimers disease then hits stage 5, where the individual may not remember their address, or phone number. They may become confused at simple questions. They will still be able to use a bathroom by themselves, but are becoming more confused during social situations.
The next two stages show an increase in the patient’s inability to physically take care of themselves. Stages 6 and 7 in the progression of Alzheimers disease are when constant care needs to occur. Patients may loose their ability to communicate, to swallow and they will need supervision. They may become unable to walk, sit-up by themselves and their muscles become rigid.
The average life span of a patient with Alzheimers is 8 years, but they can live anywhere from 3 to 20 years. The progression of Alzheimers disease is difficult for family members to watch as the stages indicate; it becomes a completely disabling disuse. If symptoms are noticed it is important to consult a physician for a complete evaluation.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Saturday, August 4, 2007
How to Recognize the Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease can be a difficult illness to recognize at first because the symptoms of Alzheimer’s come in stages, and can progress over a period of many years. Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s are not always as clear and the symptoms in the middle and later phases, which become the classic symptoms that you often hear about. For example, the inability to recognize family and friends or the potential for wandering away from home and becoming lost. It is good to have an idea of what the preliminary symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease look like as well, so that you can begin to prepare for the illness as early as possible.
Early Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
The early symptoms of this illness can surface a number of years before the disease progresses to the next phase of symptoms. These first signs can include a shorter attention span and a difficulty completing tasks. Lapses in memory, poor judgement and subtle personality changes can all be early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. You may notice that a family member is beginning to forget names more frequently, or that words don’t seem to come to them as easily in conversations. A patient in the early stages of Alzheimer’s may begin to put things in odd places, like his wallet in the dishwasher or socks in the refrigerator. Sometimes people who are beginning to show the signs of Alzheimer’s will appear more withdrawn, frustrated or angry than usual.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease in the Middle Stage
At this stage of Alzheimer’s disease, a person may begin to forget who family members are and get them confused with each other. The ability to follow written instructions fades, and even simple tasks like getting dressed can become confusing and difficult to complete. You may find that your family member will show symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease like confusion over the time of day or year. Urinary and fecal incontinence is also a sign of the mid-stages of this illness. This may become the time when an Alzheimer’s patient develops a tendency to wander and get lost, which becomes a huge safety issue for the family members who are caring for the person.
Late Stage Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
At the end of Alzheimer’s disease, many patients will lose the ability to walk unassisted, and some will not even be able to sit up without help. Many will no longer be able to speak and will become completely incontinent. Because the act of swallowing can cause choking at this stage, many will stop eating at this point as well. Some will live with this disease for only a few years and others will survive for a decade or more. The average life span for someone with Alzheimer’s is usually around eight years from the time of diagnosis. For those caring for someone with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, this can be a trying time indeed.
Early Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
The early symptoms of this illness can surface a number of years before the disease progresses to the next phase of symptoms. These first signs can include a shorter attention span and a difficulty completing tasks. Lapses in memory, poor judgement and subtle personality changes can all be early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. You may notice that a family member is beginning to forget names more frequently, or that words don’t seem to come to them as easily in conversations. A patient in the early stages of Alzheimer’s may begin to put things in odd places, like his wallet in the dishwasher or socks in the refrigerator. Sometimes people who are beginning to show the signs of Alzheimer’s will appear more withdrawn, frustrated or angry than usual.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease in the Middle Stage
At this stage of Alzheimer’s disease, a person may begin to forget who family members are and get them confused with each other. The ability to follow written instructions fades, and even simple tasks like getting dressed can become confusing and difficult to complete. You may find that your family member will show symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease like confusion over the time of day or year. Urinary and fecal incontinence is also a sign of the mid-stages of this illness. This may become the time when an Alzheimer’s patient develops a tendency to wander and get lost, which becomes a huge safety issue for the family members who are caring for the person.
Late Stage Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
At the end of Alzheimer’s disease, many patients will lose the ability to walk unassisted, and some will not even be able to sit up without help. Many will no longer be able to speak and will become completely incontinent. Because the act of swallowing can cause choking at this stage, many will stop eating at this point as well. Some will live with this disease for only a few years and others will survive for a decade or more. The average life span for someone with Alzheimer’s is usually around eight years from the time of diagnosis. For those caring for someone with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, this can be a trying time indeed.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
What Testing is used for Alzheimers Disease?
Testing for Alzheimers disease is an involved process, in reality it may be more of a series of tests rather than a single test. The reason for the complicated procedures involved when testing for Alzheimers disease is that it greatly resembles other forms of senile dementia. There are several classifications for the different testing for Alzheimers disease.
Patient History and Physical Exams
A patient’s history can be a very important indicator of whether or not they may be predisposed to Alzheimers disease or other forms of dementia. For example, if the patient had a parent and/or siblings that were affect by the disease they may be more likely to be affected by it as well.
Physical exams can help to eliminate other disease states that may appear to be Alzheimers or dementia. These exams also help doctors to get an overall picture of the patient’s health.
Mental State Exams and Laboratory Tests
Mental state exams are small tests that help doctors to see where their patient is at in regards to problem solving skills, attention span, and short-term memory. These tests can help to identify and problem areas.
Laboratory tests are standard when diagnosing many illnesses. There are literally hundreds of tests at a doctor’s disposal, many of which may come in handy when testing for Alzheimers disease. The most common laboratory tests are blood or urine-based. At times, testing spinal fluid may be done as well. There are new blood tests that can test for an Alzheimers gene with certain strains of Alzheimers.
Other Tests
There are a variety of other tests that doctors have had their disposal to help diagnose Alzheimers disease. The chest x-ray is a common diagnostic tool used by doctors mainly to rule out other diseases that could cause similar symptoms to Alzheimers disease. This tool shows doctors a picture of the inside of a person’s body with the use of small doses of radiation.
A CT or CAT scan (Computed Tomography) takes multiple pictures of a person’s body from different angles very quickly. These images are put into a computer which puts them together into images that show various areas of the body. These scans can be helpful when testing for Alzheimers disease because they may show atrophy (shrinking) of the brain (a common Alzheimers indicator) or possibly other causes for Alzheimers-like symptoms.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests can help when testing for Alzheimers disease by using radio waves to show images from a patient’s body. These images can reveal diseases like stroke or tumors that may cause Alzheimers-like symptoms.
Patient History and Physical Exams
A patient’s history can be a very important indicator of whether or not they may be predisposed to Alzheimers disease or other forms of dementia. For example, if the patient had a parent and/or siblings that were affect by the disease they may be more likely to be affected by it as well.
Physical exams can help to eliminate other disease states that may appear to be Alzheimers or dementia. These exams also help doctors to get an overall picture of the patient’s health.
Mental State Exams and Laboratory Tests
Mental state exams are small tests that help doctors to see where their patient is at in regards to problem solving skills, attention span, and short-term memory. These tests can help to identify and problem areas.
Laboratory tests are standard when diagnosing many illnesses. There are literally hundreds of tests at a doctor’s disposal, many of which may come in handy when testing for Alzheimers disease. The most common laboratory tests are blood or urine-based. At times, testing spinal fluid may be done as well. There are new blood tests that can test for an Alzheimers gene with certain strains of Alzheimers.
Other Tests
There are a variety of other tests that doctors have had their disposal to help diagnose Alzheimers disease. The chest x-ray is a common diagnostic tool used by doctors mainly to rule out other diseases that could cause similar symptoms to Alzheimers disease. This tool shows doctors a picture of the inside of a person’s body with the use of small doses of radiation.
A CT or CAT scan (Computed Tomography) takes multiple pictures of a person’s body from different angles very quickly. These images are put into a computer which puts them together into images that show various areas of the body. These scans can be helpful when testing for Alzheimers disease because they may show atrophy (shrinking) of the brain (a common Alzheimers indicator) or possibly other causes for Alzheimers-like symptoms.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests can help when testing for Alzheimers disease by using radio waves to show images from a patient’s body. These images can reveal diseases like stroke or tumors that may cause Alzheimers-like symptoms.
Therapy For Alzheiners Disease Showing Slow Promise
Currently, there are few questionable medications being used in therapy for Alzheimers Disease and there is no known cure. However, some promise is being seen in three drugs currently on the market, as well as in some herbs in treating some of the symptoms of the disease. There are three main areas in which a person with alzheimers may need medical intervention, memory, behavior and daily living.
One of the leading causes of alzheimers is aging and there is no known therapy for Alzheimers Disease caused by this natural process. There is also indication that a gene that may be responsible for Alzheimers causing it to run in families is exceptionally rare, indicating that other than age and other issues with degenerative processes of the brain are responsible. Without an absolute certainty associated with the cause of the ailment and no known cure, therapy for Alzheimers Disease is currently based on possible treatment of memory, behavior and daily living.
In its earliest stages, a person may suffer memory lapses or behavioral changes so subtle that not even close family members will probably recognize them. As the disease advances, patients can still perform most daily functions on their own, but due to a loss of some cognitive abilities may require assistance. In the third stage, they most likely cannot perform even the simplest tasks and will need help with most activities. The cognitive process may be damaged to the point they do not recognize even those people closest to them.
Some Progress Seen In Cognitive Therapies
In many recent studies the use of Ginkgo Biloba in the therapy for Alzheimers Disease has shown promise in helping reduce the effects of cognitive impairment and dementia, although as the disease progresses, its benefit may be reduced. Some recent alternative methods to be used in therapy for Alzheimers Disease suggests the use of Vitamin E, however it is also warned that too high of a dose can also cause cardiac problems.
As the disease’s degenerative traits continue to worsen, occupational therapy may provide some aid, but over time, the patient’s ability to perform simple, daily tasks will degrade to the point that occupational therapy for Alzheimers Disease will no longer be productive.
When the disease has reached a certain height in it attack on the brain, the person will require almost constant care. While many can survive at home with family members serving as full-time caregivers, some patients, especially those with other ailments, may be better receiving therapy for Alzheimers Disease in an assisted living arrangement.
One of the leading causes of alzheimers is aging and there is no known therapy for Alzheimers Disease caused by this natural process. There is also indication that a gene that may be responsible for Alzheimers causing it to run in families is exceptionally rare, indicating that other than age and other issues with degenerative processes of the brain are responsible. Without an absolute certainty associated with the cause of the ailment and no known cure, therapy for Alzheimers Disease is currently based on possible treatment of memory, behavior and daily living.
In its earliest stages, a person may suffer memory lapses or behavioral changes so subtle that not even close family members will probably recognize them. As the disease advances, patients can still perform most daily functions on their own, but due to a loss of some cognitive abilities may require assistance. In the third stage, they most likely cannot perform even the simplest tasks and will need help with most activities. The cognitive process may be damaged to the point they do not recognize even those people closest to them.
Some Progress Seen In Cognitive Therapies
In many recent studies the use of Ginkgo Biloba in the therapy for Alzheimers Disease has shown promise in helping reduce the effects of cognitive impairment and dementia, although as the disease progresses, its benefit may be reduced. Some recent alternative methods to be used in therapy for Alzheimers Disease suggests the use of Vitamin E, however it is also warned that too high of a dose can also cause cardiac problems.
As the disease’s degenerative traits continue to worsen, occupational therapy may provide some aid, but over time, the patient’s ability to perform simple, daily tasks will degrade to the point that occupational therapy for Alzheimers Disease will no longer be productive.
When the disease has reached a certain height in it attack on the brain, the person will require almost constant care. While many can survive at home with family members serving as full-time caregivers, some patients, especially those with other ailments, may be better receiving therapy for Alzheimers Disease in an assisted living arrangement.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease, and Can Anything Be Done About It?
When people ask “What is Alzheimer’s?” the answer is usually just as confusing as the disease itself. If you’re someone looking for information about what alzheimer’s is, but you want it in laymen’s terms, read on.
Alzheimer’s disease, in short, is known to be memory loss and ultimately dysfunction of the brain. Although this short description rings true, it is not everything there is to know about what alzheimer’s disease is. By understanding the main elementals of what alzheimer’s is, you’ll be able to understand the medical aspect of the disease more easily.
So, What Exactly Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Here’s the nitty gritty. What alzheimer’s disease is, is a brain disorder that not only inhibits the person’s ability to remember things, but the disease is also progressive in distorting the thought process, the ability to make decisions or even know where you are at times. In short, the person suffering from alzheimer’s disease will experience slow deterioration of the mind. Hallucinations and delusions are not uncommon when the disease has progressed a ways.
With millions of people around the world suffering from this disease, there has to be a cure, right?
What Can be Done?
Unfortunately, although so many people do suffer from alzheimer’s, there is currently no cure. Make no mistake that there isn’t a solution being worked on, but the breakthrough has yet to be found. However this doesn’t mean that there aren’t things you can do to help someone you know or love when it comes to alleviating some of the pain from the disease.
Knowing what Alzheimer’s is, is the first step. In the beginning stages of the disease, the most important thing you can do is learn all you can about it. Learn about signs and symptoms, what to expect from the person suffering from the disease, and learn to know that the disease doesn’t get better, it only gets worse. If you can recognize this fact and accept it, dealing with alzheimer’s is all that much easier.
In later parts of the disease, you can keep daily diaries for your loved one, and read it to them daily. Even if they’re at the point where they don’t remember much, reading them details of their life and the people in it works wonders for them and you. It’s a great form of therapy and a great place to start when dealing with alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease, in short, is known to be memory loss and ultimately dysfunction of the brain. Although this short description rings true, it is not everything there is to know about what alzheimer’s disease is. By understanding the main elementals of what alzheimer’s is, you’ll be able to understand the medical aspect of the disease more easily.
So, What Exactly Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Here’s the nitty gritty. What alzheimer’s disease is, is a brain disorder that not only inhibits the person’s ability to remember things, but the disease is also progressive in distorting the thought process, the ability to make decisions or even know where you are at times. In short, the person suffering from alzheimer’s disease will experience slow deterioration of the mind. Hallucinations and delusions are not uncommon when the disease has progressed a ways.
With millions of people around the world suffering from this disease, there has to be a cure, right?
What Can be Done?
Unfortunately, although so many people do suffer from alzheimer’s, there is currently no cure. Make no mistake that there isn’t a solution being worked on, but the breakthrough has yet to be found. However this doesn’t mean that there aren’t things you can do to help someone you know or love when it comes to alleviating some of the pain from the disease.
Knowing what Alzheimer’s is, is the first step. In the beginning stages of the disease, the most important thing you can do is learn all you can about it. Learn about signs and symptoms, what to expect from the person suffering from the disease, and learn to know that the disease doesn’t get better, it only gets worse. If you can recognize this fact and accept it, dealing with alzheimer’s is all that much easier.
In later parts of the disease, you can keep daily diaries for your loved one, and read it to them daily. Even if they’re at the point where they don’t remember much, reading them details of their life and the people in it works wonders for them and you. It’s a great form of therapy and a great place to start when dealing with alzheimer’s disease.
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