Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease is a brain disorder in which nerve cells
in the brain die, making it difficult for the brain's signals to be
transmitted properly. A person with Alzheimer's has problems
with memory, judgement, and thinking, which makes it hard
for the person to work or take part in day-to-day life. Most
patient's symptoms progess slowly over a number of years.
Smyptoms may not be noticed early on. Sometimes, it is
only when family members look back that they realize when
the changes started to occur.

Commom Symptoms

Impaired memory and thinking
The person has difficulty remembering things
or learning new information.

Disorientation and Confusion
People with Alzheimer's Disease may get lost
when out on their own and may not remember
where they are or how they got there.

Misplacing things
The person forgets where they put thinks used
every day. Like glasses, hearing aid or keys.

Abstract thinking
They may find certain tasks like balancing the
check book more difficult and forget what
numbers mean and what to do with them.

Trouble performing familiar tasks
They begin to have difficulty doing simple things
like eating, dressing and grooming.

Changes in personality and behavior
They become unusually angry, irritable, restless
and quiet or confused, paranid or fearful.

Poor or decreased judgement
May go out on a cold day without coat or shoes.
They may go out wearing their pajamas.

Inability to follow directions
They do not understand simple commands or directions.

Problems with language and communication
The person has difficulty recalling words, names, objects,
sizes, shapes or understanding the meaning of words.

Impaired visual and spatial skills
They are unable to arrange items in certain order
or recognize shapes.

Loss of motivation and initiative
They may become very passive, requiring prompting
to become involved and interact with others.

Loss of normal sleep patterns
The person may sleep during the day and be wide
awake at night.

Summary
It is important to visit your Doctor if you or your love one has
any of these symptoms so you can receive proper evualation
and diagnosis. Your Doctor can only diagnose after a
thorough medical, psychiatric and neurologic evaluation.

CARE GIVING
The approach to take for people with Alzheimers's Disease
will differ depending on their symptoms and the progession
of the disease. These factors help to determine how much
and what types of assistance are needed for the person and
his or her family. It is important to remember that lost skills
will not be regained. However proper management of the
disease and its symptoms can make living wih the disease
or the person - - a little easier.

Physical exercise, proper nutrition, good general health
and socialization are important for people with Alzheimer's.

Plan daily activities to help provide structure, meaning
and a sense of accomplishment for the person. Establish
a routine with which the person can become familiar.

Choose the best time to do activities according to the
part of the day when the person is usually at his/her best.

aAs functions as lost, adapt activities and routines to
allow the patient to participate as much as possible.

Keep activities familiar and satisfying, and keep
instructions simple.

Allow the person with Alzheimer's to complete as many
things as possible even if you have to initiate the activity.

Provide "cues" for desired behavior. For example if you
label a drawer according to what it contains- - it will be easier
for patient to put things in their correct place.

Keep the individual out of harms way by removing things
that could endanger them. Hide the car keys and matches
and keep the enviroment safe. What appears safe to you
may not be safe for the patient.

As the caregiver, it is important to understand and act
according to your own physical and emotional limitations.
Be sure to take care of yourself, and allow periods for
rest and relaxation.

DEMENTIA

Dementia is the loss of mental function, such as thinking,
memory and reasoning, that is severe enough to interfer
with a person's daily function. Dementia is not a disease
itself, but rather a group of symptoms that are caused by
various diseases or conditions. They include changes
in personality, mood and behavior. In some cases, the
demenia can be treated and cured because the cause
is treatable. Examples of this include dementia caused
by drugs or alcohol, or hormone or vitamin imbalances.
Severe depression can be causing the symptoms. In
most cases, however, dementia cannot be cured.

Dementia devlops when the parts of the brain that are
involved with learning memory, decision-making and
language are affected by oe or more of a variety of
infections or diseases. The most common cause is
Alzheimer's Disease.

WHAT CAUSES DEMENTIA

Degenerative diseases of the nervous system such
as Alzheimer's, Lewy Body, Parkinson's and Huntington's.

Diseases hat affect blood vessels. such as stroke, or
multi-ifarct demenia, which is caused by multiple strokes
in the brain.

Toxic reactions, like excessive alcohol or drug use.

Nutritional deficiences, like vitamin B12 and folate.

Infections that affect the central nervous system, such
as AIDS dementia complex and Creutfeldt-Jakob disease.

Certain types of hydrocephalus, an accumulation of
fluid in the brain that can result from devlopmental
abnormalities, infectios, injury or brain tumors.

Head injury- -either a single severe head injury or
longer term smaller injuries, like in boxers.

Illness other than in the brain- -kidney, liver, and lung
diseases can lead to dementia.

WHAT DEMENTIAS ARE TREATABLE

From long term drug use

Tumor that can be removed

Subdural hematoma, a swelling of blood beneath the
outer covering of the brain that results in a broken blood
vessel as a result of a head injury.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus

Metabolic disorders such as vitamin B12 deficiency

Hypothyroidism, a condition that results from an under
active thyroid.

Hypoglycemia, a condition that results from low
blood sugar.

WHAT DEMETIAS ARE NON-TREATABLE

Alzheimers disease

Multi-infarch dementia

Dementias associatd with Parkinsn's disease and
other similar disorders

AIDS dementia complex

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) a quickly progressing
and fatal disease that consists of dementia and musle
twitching and spasms.

**Material contained herein is for information only as is in
no way intended to replace your Doctor or any other
medical care provider.**

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