As
you grow older, it is a normal phenomenon to become a little absentminded and
forget things easily. Most people
consider forgetfulness and impaired memory as a sign of growing old, however is
it just that or could it be a warning sign of a more serious concern? Let us dwell into this subject and take you
through a common disease that is associated with the brain known as the
alzheimer’s disease.
What
you should know about the disease
Alzheimer’s disease known to be a progressive disease that cannot be
reversed and as the condition graduates, it slowly deteriorates a person’s
memory power and thinking ability. In
this condition your brain is affected to such a large extent that eventually
you would depend on others to carry out the simplest of the tasks as well. In majority of the people the signs start to
show up in the mid 60’s however it is not a definitive age and people may get
the disease early or even later. There are
growing instances of this disease and it is almost one of the leading diseases
that can cause death.
In
case of alzheimer’s there is a primary degeneration of the brain cells that
takes place and this happens in various stages.
Stage
1: Early Stage: In some cases, alzheimer’s may show up early
for individuals leading to symptoms like forgetfulness, absent mindedness, lack
of communication abilities and changes in behavior. When you notice these early signs of
alzheimer’s, you should speak to your family or doctor about it rather than shying
away from it. Early detection of the
disease can really help in managing the symptoms better.
Stage
2: Middle Stage: In this stage there is a larger amount of
deterioration that takes place affecting your cognitive and functional
skill. Memory continues to worsen,
however there is some amount of awareness.
People in this stage may still be able to do most of their routine
chores independently with little or no assistance.
Stage
3: Late Stage: The later or the more
advanced stage of Alzheimer’s disease is a rather severe stage wherein communication
verbally also may be a challenge. Once
you reach this stage you are almost dependent on others for all your needs and
you may require constant support and care.
At this stage the family members must equip the patient with adequate
care and support to maintain a certain quality of life.
Alzheimer’s
and Dementia
Dementia is a medical
condition wherein one loses complete cognitive functioning including memory,
reasoning and the ability to think. The condition impairs the patient to such
an extent that everyday chores and activities are also a challenge. Dementia is
not really a disease but a state that is reached by the mind due to symptoms. Almost
60 to 80 percent of the cases of Dementia are caused due to alzheimer’s
disease.
Early
signs of Alzheimer’s you should know about
Alzheimer’s
as a disease is not only disturbing for the patient but also for the loved ones
caring for the patient. The disease is
not only impairing but also causes a lot of burden emotionally. One question everyone has on their mind when
they see either themselves or their loved ones suffering is - did we miss any
signs or symptoms? Had we known earlier, could the disease be prevented had we
seen the symptoms earlier? Well, the
answer is that yes early signs and symptoms are available of this disease. Following
are some of the early signs that can help you notice the disease early and
prevent the same from deteriorating and hampering the quality of life.
• Loss of memory: One of the most prominent symptoms of the
alzheimer’s is loss of memory. Generally people suffering from alzheimer’s are
likely to forget recent incidents and recently learned information. Other than
this one also tends to forget important dates, events and other relevant
information.
• Thinking
challenges: Persons suffering from the
early symptoms of alzheimer’s are unable to think and reason clearly as they
were able to do before the disease started showing symptoms. They have greater challenge in focussing and
take longer time in completing simplest of the tasks.
• Mind is in a state of
confusion: Persons suffering from the
alzheimer’s disease are often confused as their mind is unable to decipher
simple information such as place, time etc.
There are times when they are not able to relate happenings and may even
forget simple information like how did they reach a particular place from
another place.
• Difficulty in
analyzing visual images: Some patients
find it difficult to read, judge distances and are unable to distinguish
colors. Parking and driving is often a challenge for such people.
• Problem in verbal
communication: If you have symptoms
wherein you are unable to remember words while talking and find communication
in general difficult as your mind forgets while having a conversation; it could
be an early sign of alzheimer’s
disease.
• Forgetting and losing
things: It is very common for people
suffering from alzheimer’s disease to easily forget where they have placed
important things like their phone or keys.
It is one thing to forget things as a one off case; however an
alzheimer's patient does it way too often.
They keep their things in unusual places and are then unable to trace
them back.
• Mood changes: People suffering from symptoms of alzheimer’s
can get depressed easily. They are
confused, scared and anxious even when it comes to do everyday chores. Such people can get upset easily at home or
at the workplace.
Whether
you are experiencing these symptoms or a loved one is they need urgent and
immediate medical attention and under no circumstances should they be
ignored. Alzheimer’s is an irreversible
condition but with timely medical intervention and alternative therapies a lot
can done to improve the quality of life which will otherwise suffer. In the later stages alzheimer’s can affect
the memory to such a large extent that one can even forget whether they have
eaten or used the washroom which can be very depressing and devastating. There are a number of support groups that can
help patients suffering from alzheimer’s. In case you or your loved one needs to seek help from such groups, the
same should be facilitated to deal with the disease better.
