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AccordingtotheCenterforDiseaseControl,Alzheimersdiseaseisacommoncauseofdementiacausing
asmanyas60to80%ofalldementiacases.Infact,Alzheimersisaveryspecificformofdementia.
SymptomsofAlzheimersincludeimpairedthought,impairedspeech,andconfusion.Alzheimersisafatal
diseaseofthebrainthatiscurrentlyaffectingover5millionAmericans.Alzheimersisthe7 thleading
causetodeath.
Onsetismostcommoninindividualsaged65andover,althoughpeopleintheir40sand50scandevelop
whatisclassedasearlyonsetAlzheimer's.
Alzheimer'stobethemostchallenginganddistressingeffectofthedisease.Thechiefcauseof
behavioralsymptomsistheprogressivedeteriorationofbraincells.
Noimpairment(normalfunction)
Thepersondoesnotexperienceanymemoryproblems.Aninterviewwithamedical
professionaldoesnotshowanyevidenceofsymptomsofdementia.
Stage2:
Verymildcognitivedecline(maybenormalagerelatedchangesorearliestsignsof
Alzheimer'sdisease)
Thepersonmayfeelasifheorsheishavingmemorylapsesforgettingfamiliarwordsor
thelocationofeverydayobjects.Butnosymptomsofdementiacanbedetectedduringa
medicalexaminationorbyfriends,familyorcoworkers.
Stage3:
Mildcognitivedecline(earlystageAlzheimer'scanbediagnosedinsome,butnotall,
individualswiththesesymptoms)
Friends,familyorcoworkersbegintonoticedifficulties.Duringadetailedmedical
interview,doctorsmaybeabletodetectproblemsinmemoryorconcentration.Common
stage3difficultiesinclude:
Noticeableproblemscomingupwiththerightwordorname
Troublerememberingnameswhenintroducedtonewpeople
Havingnoticeablygreaterdifficultyperformingtasksinsocialorworksettings
Forgettingmaterialthatonehasjustread
LosingormisplacingavaluableobjectIncreasingtroublewithplanningor
organizing
Stage4:
Stage5:
Moderatecognitivedecline
(MildorearlystageAlzheimer'sdisease)
Atthispoint,acarefulmedicalinterviewshouldbeabletodetectclearcutsymptomsin
severalareas:
Forgetfulnessofrecentevents
Impairedabilitytoperformchallengingmentalarithmeticforexample,counting
backwardfrom100by7s
Greaterdifficultyperformingcomplextasks,payingbillsormanagingfinances
Forgetfulnessaboutone'sownpersonalhistory
Becomingmoodyorwithdrawn,especiallyinsociallyormentallychallenging
situations
Moderatelyseverecognitivedecline
(ModerateormidstageAlzheimer'sdisease)
Gapsinmemoryandthinkingarenoticeable,andindividualsbegintoneedhelpwith
daytodayactivities.Atthisstage,thosewithAlzheimer'smay:
Beunabletorecalltheirownaddressortelephonenumberorthehighschool
orcollegefromwhichtheygraduated
Becomeconfusedaboutwheretheyareorwhatdayitis
Havetroublewithlesschallengingmentalarithmetic;suchascounting
backwardfrom40bysubtracting4sorfrom20by2s
Needhelpchoosingproperclothingfortheseasonortheoccasion
Stillremembersignificantdetailsaboutthemselvesandtheirfamily
Stillrequirenoassistancewitheatingorusingthetoilet
Stage 6 Severecognitivedecline
(ModeratelysevereormidstageAlzheimer'sdisease)
Memorycontinuestoworsen,personalitychangesmaytakeplaceand
individualsneedextensivehelpwithdailyactivities.Atthisstage,
individualsmay:
Loseawarenessofrecentexperiencesaswellasoftheirsurroundings
Remembertheirownnamebuthavedifficultywiththeirpersonalhistory
Distinguishfamiliarandunfamiliarfacesbuthavetroublerememberingthe
nameofaspouseorcaregiver
Needhelpdressingproperlyandmay,withoutsupervision,makemistakes
suchasputtingpajamasoverdaytimeclothesorshoesonthewrongfeet
Experiencemajorchangesinsleeppatternssleepingduringthedayand
becomingrestlessatnightThey may become restless or agitated
in the late afternoon or early evening, an experience often
called sundowning. Experts estimate that in late stages of
Alzheimers, individuals spend about 40 percent of their time
in bed at night awake and a significant part of their daytime
sleeping.
Needhelphandlingdetailsoftoileting(forexample,flushingthetoilet,
wipingordisposingoftissueproperly)
Stage 7 Final Stage
Final stage of this devastating disease. Complete care is required. The
patient will not recognize their surroundings or themselves. They will
lose the ability to walk, hold their head up, or communicate in a
meaningful manner. The patients muscles will become rigid. They will
also slowly lose their ability to swallow. They can hold their saliva in
mouth and not swallowing
may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.
feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.
10. Changes in mood and personality. The mood and personalities of people
with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious,
depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work,
with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. What's
typical? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable
when a routine is disrupted.
5. Trouble understanding visual images. having vision problems is a sign of
Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and
determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror
and think someone else is in the room.
They may not recognize their own reflection.
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems. Some people may experience
changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers.
They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly
bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do
things than they did before. What's typical? Making occasional errors when
balancing a checkbook.
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. People with Alzheimer's
may have trouble following or joining a conversation.
stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or
they may repeat themselves.
struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things
by the wrong name (e.g., calling a watch a "hand clock"). having trouble
finding the right word.
Further understanding of what exactly causes Alzheimers disease will help to clear
any confusion and hopefully lead to better treatments plans and, ultimately, a cure.
It's important to work closely with your doctor and other members of your health care team to
create the best treatment plan for you or the person in your care. Your treatment goals are likely
to change during your journey with Alzheimer's disease. Make sure you understand all the
available options and the benefits and risks of each choice as your treatment plan evolves.
An optimal treatment plan will take into account your:
Maintain regular times for meals and for going to bed and getting
up