Alzheimer’s Disease
Some choices will be determined based on available alternatives or options that are possible given the residential community. Decisions can often be made as a team (patient, doctor, care facility staff) and other decisions are of a personal nature. Sometimes the decisions, especially in the beginning can be made with input from the person who has Alzheimer’s but because of the cognitive decline that is the hallmark of the disease, it will soon become impossible for the patient to have much input. This is where having a living will may come in handy if the will is made prior to the individual being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Community resources may be available that can aid you in making many of the choices involved in caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. These community resources include the doctor’s staff, support groups, counseling programs, and volunteer Alzheimer’s groups or organizations. Many communities offer structured day programs to assist with the care of Alzheimer’s patients and are staffed by professionals. Other choices are in-home support help, short-term respite care, and professional’s set-up to help with financial and legal issues facing someone with Alzheimer’s.

Decisions need to be made about personal and daily care needs, when the individual with Alzheimer’s should stop driving or cooking on their own and even when it is safer for them to stop living on their own. It is better to discuss these issues before crisis situations arise to force the decisions.

Guidelines for making these essential and important decisions include: Focus on understanding all the needs and preferences of the one with Alzheimer’s, discussions can be sensitive especially at first - resistance is normal so be patient, allow for personal input from the patient for as long as possible, don’t be afraid to come back when the individual is having a better day for communicating, recognize that the individual with Alzheimer’s has rights and respect them as much as possible while at the same time keeping an eye out for safety and for what is best for good health.

The earlier Alzheimer’s symptoms are detected, the better it is for the patient. Early detection can not only improve their overall quality of life, but can also extend it.

By diagnosing the disease early, patients are able to access critical care, recreation and therapy programs and even drugs that can help reduce the effects and onset of the disease.

For more information on diagnosing and understanding Alzheimer’s, along with information on its symptoms, read on.

Diagnosing and Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease does not have a cure. It affects close to 4 million Americans and is prevalent among older individuals. However, many patients are often misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, often because the associated symptoms are similar to those connected with other forms of senile dementia.

Essentially, Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease that progresses continuously as it attacks the brain. The result is memory loss, reduced emotional capabilities, reduced intellectual functions and a possible breakdown physically as well as mentally.

Alzheimer’s disease is very common and is considered to be the leading form of senile dementia, particularly in adults beyond 85.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s symptoms vary. However, they typically include chronic depression, forgetfulness, bouts of fatigue, poor dietary decisions, disorientation and possibly even paranoid or aggressive behavior.

However, a diagnosis of symptoms is never definitive while the person suffering the effects is alive, and a surefire diagnosis can only be obtained through a postmortem autopsy of the brain. Because of this, many instances of other forms of senile dementia are often incorrectly determined to be Alzheimer’s even when they are not.

Differentiating Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia

The symptoms of many forms of senile dementia are frequently very similar to the symptoms typically associated with Alzheimer’s. Therefore, it’s important that medical professionals eliminate alternative or other possible diagnoses.

For example, even certain types of toxic reactions - for example to food, alcohol or environmental triggers like carbon monoxide, aluminum and diesel fumes - can cause symptoms of dementia. Identifying and removing those possible underlying root causes could help to improve the onset of the disease.

How Alzheimer’s is Treated

Not surprisingly, nutrition and nutritional supplements have been demonstrated to instill positive change and even improvement in many Alzheimer’s patients. Whether it’s nutritional supplements like a blend of B6, iron and coenzyme Q10 or simply improving a patient’s diet to reduce toxins, the results are often profound. Like many diseases, healthy diet and exercise can have a very positive impact.

What to Do if You Suspect Alzheimer’s Disease

If you or a loved one has recently started to exhibit some of the Alzheimer’s symptoms listed above, then it’s critical that you speak with your doctor as soon as possible. Early identification can make a huge difference in both treatment and ongoing quality of life.

How do you know that you need to do a colon cleanse now? Sure, you probably know in some recess of your mind that a colon cleanse is a good idea and that your body will thank you for doing it, but did you know that there are a number of symptoms that should compel you to do a colon cleanse today? The list is short and sweet:
<li>Do you look and feel tired, depressed, worn out, and just do not seem to be able to get it together to live energetically each day?
<li>Do you feel depressed or anxious for no apparent reasons?
<li>Are your legs or ankles swollen and does your lower back hurt?<li>Is your skin dull, flaky, oily, and given to outbreaks of acne?
<li>Are you unable to concentrate and instead seem to be on autopilot for various periods of time throughout the day?
<li>Has your sex drive lessened or deserted you altogether?

If you answered in the affirmative to any of these questions, then your body is fighting dangerously high levels of toxins and pollutant buildups and you must start a colon cleanse regimen today! You will most likely not notice that fecal matter is not completely being evacuated from your colon and that some stays behind – sometimes for years or even decades! You may not feel cramping, bloating, or any other kinds of symptoms until the waste products have been in your body for a while, and usually once you do become aware of discomfort, the onset is so gradual that you will not pay much attention until the levels of bodily toxicity is so great that the symptoms are obvious and can no longer be ignored. Even then, many will seek over the counter remedies to clear up the skin, increase the sex drive, and jar them awake with massive doses of caffeine or various other drugs and supplements. Sadly, the most obvious solution – taking care of the body’s health from the inside out – is most commonly overlooked.

Generally speaking, a colon cleanse is little more than a procedure that permits the gastrointestinal tract to sweep out any fecal matter that has stayed behind. Depending on your lifestyle, eating habits, and voluntary as well as involuntary ingestion of toxins, the odds are good that some waste products remained in your body and attaches themselves to the interior lining of the intestines. Instead of being forced out, they remain and solidify and in so doing present an attractive substance for other fecal matter to attach itself to. Before long, several pounds of unshed sewage are found inside your colon, and some go so far as to say that it is not uncommon for a person to have at lest five pounds, but in some cases even 10 to 20 pounds of such fecal matter buildup! Colon cleansers seek to liquefy the waste, get it moving out of the body, and then gently scrape the insides of the colon to ensure that nothing continues to adhere to the lining of the colon. As the fecal matter is evacuated from the body, the symptoms that indicate your need for this procedure will diminish as well, and you will be surprised how much better you feel!

Of all the different types of dementia that affect the elderly, it is Alzheimer’s disease that has become the most famous in recent years. Estimated at affecting 1 in 10 people over the age of 65 Alzheimer’s affects the memory centers of the mind.

The world started focusing on the disease only about thirty years ago and its effects are not even fully understood today. Getting older is the main risk surrounding Alzheimer’s according to research. Unfortunately, the person experiencing the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s will know something is wrong but won’t admit it to others or even to themselves.

Dementia covers quite a broad spectrum of problems but they are all, including Alzheimer’s disease, currently treated in a similar fashion. Some drugs can now slow down and sometimes improve the symptoms but so far no treatment has been discovered that can cure the disorder. Most Alzheimer’s disease sufferers will be prescribed one of the following drugs Donepezil, Tacrine, and Rivastigmine.

Patients with mild to severe Alzheimer’s who are already receiving Donepezil are now given Memantine as an alternative. Fortunately, Memantine has few side effects as 80 percent of the drug is passed in urine unchanged and so far it is the only drug that has proved to be of real benefit to patients with moderate to severe symptoms.

Alzheimer’s disease has become a major issue as it is already the fourth largest killer in the United States. Although contracting the disease is a tragedy, the cost of treatment and care for sufferers is causing economic vibrations. Another large body, the National Institute on Aging spent almost half of its yearly budget on Research into the condition with scientists worldwide looking for a treatment for the disease.

The only way to improve the risk of not developing dementia is to adjust the way you live and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Some researchers into the disease have found that patients who are happy and healthy with Alzheimer’s slow down the rate of their mental decline. Fortunately this disease is still mainly affecting elderly people but there have been recent occasions where younger persons have developed this disease.

For More Information on Dementia Types and Alzheimer’s visit:

dementia overview

Some of the changes you need to watch for are memory loss; small everyday tasks may turn into a hard struggle for them. There are many changes to watch for as the Alzheimer’s start to progress. Getting dressed, forgetting how to do the buttons, or maybe putting something on upside down whatever it maybe just watch and be sure to put all of these into a journal.

A journal is important for the doctor and whoever is caring for your loved one. Your doctor will need all the information you can provide to him to help with the treatment.

There is no cure for Alzheimers disease so you’ll see a lot of new change everyday. Your life and the loved one will have to learn how to adjust to all new changes as they occur. Aricept is one medication for treatment that helps to slow down the process and let them live a longer normal life if caught at an early stage. Aricept has helped many Alzheimer’s patients with slowing down the process by letting them keep in touch with themselves longer.

You will need to learn new skills in order to make your loved one feel comfortable and safe. It isn’t an easy job and could become a full time job eventually. Sometimes it takes 10 years before your loved one will be in the final stages. Getting prepared and planning for the future will help everyone and make things go more smoothly. See a lawyer and have a power of attorney appointed, maybe let the loved one make out their living will before they progress to the stage that they are to confuse to do on their own.
You will see and experience many changes as the Alzheimer’s progresses. There are three stages that, which include mild, moderate, and the server stage. The mild stage is the beginning where the patient can still do for himself or herself. Time goes on and disease will keep progressing to the moderate stage heading to the server or final stage.

During the mild stage, your loved one can still function with little or no supervision. The moderate stage you will notice more changes more and more. Arguing more, seeing things, depression might set in, they will get lost even in their own home, forgetting more each day, so many things changing all the time.

Severe Alzheimer’s will start causing them to have even harder times. They might have a hard time talking and communicating with their caregivers. Communicating is a hard task for them when they are getting more and more confused each day. To help them communicate talk slowly in a soft tone, keep good eye contact; don’t treat them as a baby remembers they are adults. Listening very carefully will help them when they are trying to talk; it will confuse them more if you have to keep asking over and over what they are saying to you; making the angry. Remember your loved one doesn’t want to be a burden so try to keep things simple.

Number one, stay active physically and mentally.  A number of studies have suggested a positive correlation between exercise and cognitive function.  Regular exercise also keeps the mind healthy.  You can help maintain mental health by doing stimulating activities like crossword puzzles, sudoku, reading, or other activities that stimulate the brain.  These activities help combat neurological degeneration that causes Alzheimer’s.

Vitamin supplements are recommended for anyone older than 50, and can help for those who are at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.  A multivitamin can be beneficial to maintain general function, but there are a few specific vitamins that may help combat Alzheimer’s.

Vitamin C and vitamin E should be taken together daily to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.  If memory function is already declining, patients should take these vitamins twice daily. Vitamin B12 and folate will also help protect the brain and they can help keep homocysteine under control.

High cholesterol levels are never healthy, and lowering them can help you combat Alzheimer’s.  High levels of bad cholesterol are often associated with arteriosclerotic vascular disease, which is related to heart disease and stroke.  Eating a healthy diet low in animal fat and high in fish oils will help lower cholesterol, and improve cognitive function.  The Omega three fatty acids in fish oils are directly related to improved mental cognition.

The most prevalent risk factor associated with Alzheimer’s disease is being female.  Loss of estrogen due to menopause can increase the likelihood of the disease.  Many menopausal women are prescribed synthetic estrogen hormones under the supervision of a physician.

A healthy eating regimen is one of the easiest and best ways to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.  It doesn’t take a lot of effort, and you can benefit in many ways, including lowering your risk for Alzheimer’s

The first test is a medical interview. The patient will also fill out a medical questionnaire administered by the physician.the interview will mainly concentrate on a patient’s medical history, including previous sicknesses and the use of drugs.

The second type of test for Alzheimer’s disease is a thorough physical examination. The physical will include examination of the patients blood pressure heart rate and eyesight.

The third kind of test to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease involves further laboratory examination. This includes blood and urine samples to check for blood count, liver functions, glucose levels, etc.

The fourth type of test for an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is neuropsychological testing. Patients will be required to perform abstract thinking, problem solving tests, and be examined in their vision-motor coordination. These tests are designed to isolate problem areas, which can also provide a doctor with information on the source of the illness

Finally, an Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be checked with a brain-imaging scan. This may be a CAT or MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, uses radiology to produce images of the internal structures of the body.

After all these tests have been completed, and depending on what the results were, the doctor will conclude whether or not the patient may have Alzheimer’s disease. The only way that is 100% sure to give a correct Alzheimer’s diagnosis is an autopsy, where the brain tissue of the patient can be thoroughly examined.

Alzheimer’s disease is technically a “progressive brain disorder.”that means the effects on the brain continue as the memory is slowly destroyed in the capability to learn, make judgments, communicate, and carry out normal tasks becomes diminished to the point of extinction. It is painful and difficult to watch a family member waste away in their own mind. Healthy family members often struggle to maintain their sanity, and may end up distancing themselves from the sufferer.

Easing the pain that comes through the isolation of Alzheimer’s disease is possible through having full information available to family members. Encourage family members to learn more about the disorder, to ask questions, and to be open and available for discussion. Family members should have some basic understanding of Alzheimer’s disease so that they can provide the requisite compassion, care, and treatment without making the sufferer feel inapt or silly.

It is almost too obvious to mention, but Alzheimer’s is not contagious.there are no cures, but effective care and constant support are the best way is to deal with its effects and to help prevent depression or other mental afflictions to follow and the destructive wake of Alzheimer’s.

Here are 10 signs that, while they could be part of normal behavior, or may be related to an entirely different disorder, are generally considered basic warning signs for Alzheimer’s disease:

1. Memory Loss
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks
3. Language problems
4. Becoming disoriented
5. Poor judgment
6. Problems with complex mental tasks
7. Misplacing items
8. Mood or behavior changes
9. Confusion and fear or suspicion
10. Loss of initiative

As our bodies age, we will often experience many of these symptoms. Alzheimer’s is more a combination of these symptoms, or a progression from one to another. As people lose these capabilities that they once had, due to Alzheimer’s, they feel lonely and isolated and that they are not just losing their abilities, but that they are losing their minds.

The first place to look for information is the patients doctor. Make sure you accompany your loved one to all appointments so you can ask questions. part of the doctor’s job is to provide you with the information you need to take care of your loved one. Do not count on the patient to tell you what the doctor said; instead become a part of the healthcare process

Look in your area for support groups or organizations for caretakers. They can provide information on Alzheimer’s, as well as share personal experiences and knowledge. These groups can also provide you with temporary care so that you can take a break or attend an event. Your loved one will still be well taken care of. Hospitals maintain databases with these types of support groups, and you can also find the information in many local newspapers.

You can also get a lot of Alzheimer’s information on the Internet. The National Institute of Health maintains an Alzheimer’s information website, including current information on diagnosis and treatment. They also provide information specifically for caregivers, which is written in layman’s terms, rather than scientific terms. Alzheimer’s support groups also maintain websites which contain helpful information and allow you to connect with other caregivers. This is often an easier alternative than attending in person support groups.