| Alzheimer’s numbers are growing |
By: EMILY KERLING, Special to the News
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Posted: Monday, November 9, 2009 10:46 pm
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Every 70 seconds someone develops Alzheimer’s disease and this shocking number is on the rise. AD is a progressive, irreversible disease of the brain with no current cures. AD is more than just forgetting where you put your keys, it is forgetting that you own a car.
AD attacks the nerves of the brain by causing plaques and tangles. These plaques and tangles are permanent and cannot be reversed, although there are medications available to “slow down” the process and hopefully will prolong a great loss of memory all at once.
Alzheimer’s disease can be very taxing on the caregiver of the person with AD. In the beginning of the disease (mild or early stages) the affected person can hide the telltale signs of the disease by relying on the caregiver to know the next appropriate word or move. Some people mistake the signs as “normal aging,” or in women, they may attribute it to menopause. As AD progresses it becomes harder for the affected person to hide the symptoms, and they will begin to exclude themselves for family functions and public outings, fearing everyone will know. At this stage (moderate or mid-stage), they start to rely on their caregiver, usually the spouse, to assist them with normal actives of daily living. Severe, or late stage Alzheimer’s disease, is the end stage, and at this point they rely completely on the caregiver for everything to maintain life. The AD person will forget how to speak, swallow and become incontinent of bowel and bladder. Death from AD is usually do to kidney failure or pneumonia. Because the progression of the disease from onset to death can be over a period of many years, Alzheimer’s disease is referred to as the “long good bye.”
The 10 signs of Alzheimer’s disease are:
• Memory loss that disturbs daily life
• Solving problems and planning become difficult
• Difficulty performing familiar tasks at home or work
• Disorientation with time and place
• Visual problems
• Problems with speaking and/or writing
• Misplace items and unable to retrace your steps
• Poor judgment
• Withdraw from social activities
• Mood and personality changes
For more information, visit the Alzheimer’s Association Web site at www.alz.org.
— Emily Kerling is a registered nurse at Evergreen Lodge Memory Care of Northfield Retirement Community. |
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