Symptoms of Alzheimer's
Some change in memory is normal as we grow older, but the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are more than simple lapses in memory. People with Alzheimer’s experience difficulties communicating, learning, thinking and reasoning — problems severe enough to have an impact on an individual's work, social activities and family life.
The Alzheimer's Association has developed a checklist of common symptoms to help you recognize the difference between normal age-related memory changes and possible warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
There’s no clear-cut line between normal changes and warning signs. It’s always a good idea to check with a doctor if a person’s level of function seems to be changing. The Alzheimer’s Association believes that it is critical for people diagnosed with dementia and their families to receive information, care and support as early as possible.
10 warning signs of Alzheimer's
1. Memory loss. Forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs of dementia.
What's normal? Forgetting names or appointments occasionally.
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. People with dementia often find it hard to plan or complete everyday tasks. Individuals may lose track of the steps involved in preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game.
What's normal? Occasionally forgetting why you came into a room or what you planned to say.
3. Problems with language. People with Alzheimer’s disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech or writing hard to understand. They may be unable to find the toothbrush, for example, and instead ask for "that thing for my mouth.”
What's normal? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
4. Disorientation to time and place. People with Alzheimer’s disease can become lost in their own neighborhood, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home.
What's normal? Forgetting the day of the week or where you were going.
5. Poor or decreased judgment. Those with Alzheimer’s may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold. They may show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money to telemarketers.
What's normal? Making a questionable or debatable decision from time to time.
6. Problems with abstract thinking. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are for and how they should be used.
What's normal? Finding it challenging to balance a checkbook.
7. Misplacing things. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
What's normal? Misplacing keys or a wallet temporarily.
8. Changes in mood or behavior. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may show rapid mood swings – from calm to tears to anger – for no apparent reason.
What's normal? Occasionally feeling sad or moody.
9. Changes in personality. The personalities of people with dementia can change dramatically. They may become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member.
What's normal? People’s personalities do change somewhat with age.
10. Loss of initiative. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may become very passive, sitting in front of the TV for hours, sleeping more than usual or not wanting to do usual activities.
What's normal? Sometimes feeling weary of work or social obligations.
Diagnosing Alzheimer's
If your relative shows any of these symptoms, please consider bringing him to a doctor, who then, might perform some of the following:
Take a medical history - this should include questions about past illnesses, prior injuries and surgeries, and current chronic conditions in order to identify other possible causes for Alzheimer's-like symptoms. For instance, if you suffered a serious head injury any time in your past, it could account for the problems with memory or concentration that you're currently experiencing. If your loved one has cardiovascular disease, that could be reducing blood flow to the brain and causing forgetfulness.
Take a medication history - this should include allergies, experienced side effects from past medications, and a list of current medications and dosages. Not only will this inform any future prescription decisions; it also might reveal a medication interaction or over dosage that accounts for your or your loved one's confusion and other symptoms. Medications such as the over the counter sleeping medication might impair memory.
Evaluate mood - the evaluation should include an assessment for anxiety or depression, which can create Alzheimer's-like symptoms in older people as well as occur concurrently with Alzheimer's or another dementia. Depression, in particular, can result in a set of symptoms collectively known as pseudodementia. If a mood disorder is detected, it can be treated thus resolving symptoms. Certainly Alzheimer's on its own can generate anxiety and depression too.
Do a mental status exam - to assess memory, concentration, and other cognitive skills. The mental status exam is a research-based set of questions that results in a score that indicates a general level of impairment. If you or your loved one scores high on a mental status exam, there is less of a chance that Alzheimer's is the culprit; another (possibly treatable) condition may be responsible for the symptoms. However, highly educated individuals have scored high on mental status exams even though they do have Alzheimer's disease.
Complete physical exam - to assess hearing, vision, blood pressure, pulse, and other basic indicators of health and disease. A current physical exam can detect acute medical conditions such as an infection that might be causing Alzheimer's-like symptoms.
Appropriate laboratory tests - these will vary according to your or your loved one's medical history and current symptoms. For example, if you are exhibiting pre-diabetic symptoms, a blood glucose test would be ordered. Infections such as a Urinary tract infection can manifest as memory loss in the elderly.
Neurological exam - this should include an examination of the motor system (movement), reflexes, gait (walking), sensory functioning, and coordination in order to detect problems with the nervous system that may be causing problems with thinking and behavior.
Imaging procedures - detailed pictures of the brain, such as a CT scan (computerized tomography), an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), or a PET scan (positron emission tomography) to identify changes in brain structure or size indicative of Alzheimer's, or to look for brain tumors, blood clots, strokes, normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), or other abnormalities that might account for Alzheimer's-like symptoms.
There is NOT ANY SINGLE TEST that can actually diagnose Alzheimer's on its own.
Treatment of Alzheimer's
We will focus on the treatment of the two parts. The first part is treating cognitive Symptoms, which include problems with thought processes like memory, language, and judgment. Two types of medications have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease:
1. Cholinesterase inhibitors increase the levels of acetylcholine in the brain, which plays a key role in memory and learning. This kind of drug postpones the worsening of symptoms for 6 to 12 months in about half of the people who take it. May be used from the very beginning of the diesease. Cholinesterase inhibitors most commonly prescribed for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease include Aricept (donezepil HCL), Exelon (rivastigmine), and Razadyne (galantamine). Because of varying side effects and possible interactions with other medications, doctors may try different cholinesterase inhibitors until the most effective one is found for the individual.
2. Namenda (memantine) regulates glutamate in the brain, which plays a key role in processing information. This drug is used to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease and may delay the worsening of symptoms in some people.
The secong type of symptoms to treat are behavioral Symptoms. Often the most challenging for caregivers, behavioral symptoms include agitation, suspicion, and depression. Although caregivers often take personally the behaviors exhibited toward them, it’s important to remember that behavioral symptoms are just as much a result of damage to brain cells as are cognitive symptoms. Behavioural symptoms can be treated with medications or counseling.
Some medications are useful for managing behavioral symptoms. For instance, anti-anxiety medications can treat agitation and aggression, while anti-psychotic medications have been used to address suspicion and paranoia. However, the risk of drug reactions and/or interactions runs high among those with Alzheimer’s, so caution should be used when medications are prescribed to deal with behavioral issues. A combination of drug and non-drug treatments often works best.
Non-drug treatments involve analyzing the behavior, identifying what may have triggered it, and devising an approach that either changes the person’s environment or the caregiver’s reaction to the behavior. For example, excessive noise can worsen agitation in individuals with Alzheimer’s. Simply creating a calmer environment may eliminate the behavior.
Alternative Medicine for Alzheimer's
First of all an organic fresh fruit and veggetable diet is recommended. Vitamins A, C and E are recommended, along with Vitamin B12. Instead of processed foods, raw and unprocessed foods are recommended too.
Detoxification with fruit juices fasting techniques is encouraged, even if it is as little as once a month (1 to 3 day fast with juices ). A Super Green's drink in the morning could help the detox too.
Supplements that might help with Alzheimer's include: Phosphatidylserine, Bacopa, Ginkgo Biloba , Vitamin B12, Omega 3 Fatty acids (2-5 grams ) and Acetyl-L-carnitine.
In China, they tend to use Cordyceps sinensis ( a fungus ) to boost memory.
Essential is also to provide a relaxing environment to the patient, work with massage, acupressure or acupuncture to reduce stress.
Alzheimer's Disease Video PART I
Alzheimer's Disease Video PART II
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