By Causenta Wellness
When you hear Alzheimer’s disease, you undoubtedly think of an older person who can’t remember things and is not quite sure who the people around them are. But Alzheimer’s, which is the most common cause of dementia, affects more than just the memory; it is sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but treatments are available to alleviate symptoms. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, on average, a person with Alzheimer’s lives four to eight years after diagnosis. Research on better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, and prevent it from developing continues to give hope to patients and families.
The Causes
The exact cause of this brain disease is unknown, but researchers believe that changes to cells in the brain ultimately cause the memory loss and other cognitive issues that are experienced by those with Alzheimer’s disease.
While scientists are currently unaware of where the breakdown occurs, it is largely accepted that as the various cell systems in the brain begin to malfunction, the damage spreads and leads to irreversible changes in the brain exhibited in the symptoms of Alzheimer’s we can see through behavior.
Aging is the most well-defined risk factor. Most people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease are over the age of 65.
However, there is a growing population of individuals experiencing early onset dementia, which means they experience symptoms at a younger age.
Currently, there are 200,000 Americans battling early onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Early Signs and Symptoms
As with most progressive diseases, the earlier you are diagnosed and begin treatment, the better you can manage symptoms and delay progression. Being aware of what to look for with Alzheimer’s can help you or a loved one manage the disease to best of your ability.
Here are nine questions that may help you uncover early signs of Alzheimer’s:
- Does memory loss disrupt daily life?
- Are you (or a loved one) having a hard time taking in visual cues?
- Are you (or a loved one) having difficulty completing everyday tasks?
- Are you (or a loved one) experiencing confusion regarding time or places?
- Are you (or a loved one) having new difficulty in planning ahead or staying organized?
- Are you (or a loved one) experiencing new challenges with finding words when speaking or writing?
- Do you (or a loved one) have decreased judgment?
- Are you (or a loved one) misplacing things or having a hard time remembering what you just did?
- Are you noticing mood or personality changes, including withdrawal from social situations?
Stages of this Progressive Disease
What does progressive disease mean? It means symptoms worsen over time.
For a person with Alzheimer’s disease, symptoms may be mild at first, but in the later stages of the disease, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment.
The rate of this progression varies based on each person’s genetic make up and when interventions are started.
Like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease has stages that help us understand disease progression. However, these stages are fluid and may include overlapping symptoms.
It is also important to note that Alzheimer’s begins to develop years before signs and symptoms can be seen. This phase is known as preclinical Alzheimer’s.
Mid-Alzheimer’s Symptoms
This is the early stage of Alzheimer’s and, in it, those diagnosed with the disease can still lead independent lives.
People can usually still drive, go to work, and participate in normal day-to-day activities, but may notice memory lapses or have trouble finding things or remembering common words. Family members and doctors may also notice that the patient has difficulty concentrating.
Specific symptoms of mid-Alzheimer’s include:
- Difficulty remembering the right word or name
- Forgetting new facts and names
- Losing or misplacing objects regularly
- New challenges performing tasks in social or work settings
- Decreased ability to plan ahead or stay organized
Moderate Alzheimer’s Symptoms
This is the middle stage of disease progression. It is also the stage that most people suffering with Alzheimer’s remain in the longest, even for many years.
As this stage progresses, patients require more care and their independence will begin to wane. Dementia symptoms will become more obvious and once mundane tasks like paying bills can become difficult or impossible.
While people dealing with moderate Alzheimer’s can still remember significant events from their life, they may feel confused and frustrated about how to handle current situations.
Specific symptoms of moderate Alzheimer’s include:
- Refusal to attend to personal hygiene needs such as bathing daily
- Confusion about daily items – the date, where they are, what might be happening tomorrow
- Forgetfulness of events or personal details like address, phone number, names of important people or places from their past
- Sleep concerns – inability to sleep at night and sleeping during the day
- Mood changes – acting withdrawn or distant during social situations or being suspicious of once trusted people
- Being unable to independently choose appropriate clothing for certain weather or occasional needs
- Difficulty controlling bodily functions such as bladder and bowel
- Compulsive behaviors such as shredding paper or wringing the hands
- An increased risk of wandering and becoming lost
Severe Alzheimer’s Symptoms
This final stage of Alzheimer’s is when the symptoms become most severe, hence the name. People will become unable to respond to daily life such as carrying on a simple conversation.
Eventually, individuals with Alzheimer’s also lose the ability to control movement. It can be difficult for family members as well because as symptoms progress, significant personality changes often take place and extensive daily caretaking becomes a necessity.
Specific symptoms of severe Alzheimer’s include:
- The need for 24/7 care to help with daily activities, such as showering, using the toilet, eating, etc.
- Ability to say words or phrases, but regular communication is difficult or impossible
- Increased chance of getting sick, especially from infections such as pneumonia
- Inability to recall recent experiences or events
- Difficulty recognizing their surroundings or loved ones
- Limited or lack of physical abilities, including walking, sitting, and, eventually, swallowing
Alzheimer’s Treatment Options
Because there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, patients and their families can tackle the symptoms and treat them as they arise.
Alzheimer’s treatment options include medications for memory loss and therapies for behavioral and emotional changes. As changes in sleep patterns become a factor, individuals and families can consider Alzheimer’s treatment with technologies available at Causenta such as the Halo that can help with insomnia.
There is also some research that shows certain vitamins – such as DHA – may assist in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s. The team at Causenta always stresses that eating a healthy diet full of colorful fruits and vegetables boosts overall health. You can download our rainbow diet guide for free.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and are seeking a personalized and holistic treatment plan, call our caring team for a complimentary 30-minute consultation today. Our goal is help patients live their best lives as long as possible.