Alzheimer's disease and dementia are health conditions that most older people worry about. Alzheimer's is a progressive form of dementia, caused by degenerating brain tissue. It is ongoing and there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease or the other forms of dementia. The tangling of nerve fibers in the brain and the build up of certain protein deposits in the brain causes the health problem of Alzheimer's. The early signs of Alzheimer's and dementia often go unnoticed and are chalked up to the normal natural aging process that healthy older adults experience, such as forgeting someones name, or losing your keys. The early symptoms are usually noticed by friends and family first, and the person who is having symptoms should consult a doctor. Some of these early signs of Alzheimer's include mood and personality changes, such as depression, anxiety, paranoia, and childish behaviors. Other symptoms could be confusion and disorientation, and the loss of memory for things that happened recently. People with early signs of Alzheimer's often have trouble learning new things and misplace things more than a normal, healthy person would. Losing your keys occasionally is a normal part of aging. Dizziness and equilibrium problems are also common health issues with Alzheimer's. The health issues and problems associated with Alzheimer's also tend to get worse at night. As Alzheimer's progresses, daily activities become impossible. The person's memory, comprehension and speech deteriorate. For some this is very rapid, for others it takes longer. It can depend on the state of their health before the Alzheimer's began, as well as other things. It often becomes impossible to care for people with Alzheimer's at home, and many are placed in nursing homes or other private facilities designed for this type of disease and the accompanying symptoms and health issues. The two risk factors that have been identified for Alzheimer's include age, because Alzheimer's is most common in people over the age of 65, and a family history of Alzheimer's' as it seems to be a somewhat hereditary health problem. Women also tend to get it more often than men. Sources: webmd.com |
