Alzheimer's Management

Alzheimer's is a type of dementia and involves a deterioration of the brain. The chronic disease is the cause of about 60% of all dementia cases.

Who can get Alzheimer's disease?

Contrary to popular belief,  the disease does not only occur in old age but can also occur during middle age (often as early as 40 years).

The degeneration of the mental well-being of a person with Alzheimer's occurs in a progressive manner; starts slowly and worsens over time, interfering with daily activities.

Although it's normal to occasionally forget a few things some forms of memory loss could indicate the onset of Alzheimer's. The following are Alzheimer's symptoms;

• Disorientation and confusion

A person with Alzheimer's may not know where they are, what time it is or what their names are. The disorientation is similar to that of intoxication or that of accident trauma.

The person may not be able to distinguish people that they spend time with every day, or whether it's morning or night.

• Mood swings

An Alzheimer's patient may be irritable one minute and very happy the next.  The mood swings may last a few hours, or a few days, in which the person goes through the states of euphoria and depression.

• Paranoia

A person living with Alzheimer's may be suspicious of caregivers, family or friends. The person may be convinced that the people want to harm them and may start to avoid them or may develop a strong sense of dislike for them for no apparent reason.

• Forgetfulness

It's normal to forget once is a while. With Alzheimer's, the sufferer may have short-term memory loss, where they forget information as soon as you learn it, or even after getting answers and clarifications several times.

• Speech difficulty

A person with Alzheimer's might suffer from a neurological syndrome that neurologists refer to as Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). People with PPA find it difficult to string words to form a simple sentence. The problem may hinder the person from socializing with others, and they may prefer to keep to themselves. 

• Loss of motivation

A person who was previously a high achiever may lose interest in their work or goals and may prefer to sit around doing nothing. The person may stop going to work or together and may drop projects that they previously worked hard on.

The medical fraternity terms the following as Alzheimer's risk factors

• Ageing
• Genes
• Head injury
• Depression
• Hypertension

Is Alzheimer's preventable?

People who engage in physical activity, board games and eat healthy Japanese and Mediterranean diets often reduce the risk of developing the disease. Consuming food rich in mono-saturated fats and being inactive increases the likelihood of developing the degenerative disease.

Participating in games especially in social settings enhances moods and improved behavioral changes. Staying active also reduces chances of developing obesity, which physicians link to Alzheimer's development.

It's critical to note that people with Alzheimer's may not always know that they have a problem. They may find it difficult to come to terms with it and may live in denial. In such cases, the patient's quality of life could drastically decrease.

It is, therefore crucial to get help for your loved one if you notice any of the Alzheimer's symptoms. A qualified doctor can assess the patient, diagnose, and advise you on the best way forward.

There is still no cure for Alzheimer's, and the only treatment options available only lessen the severity of its symptoms temporarily. Since the patient becomes incapable of performing self-care activities for themselves, it is essential to look for caregivers to assist them.

Sometimes, the environment of the patient needs an alteration to make their lives easier. The caregiver may need to puree food or use tubes should swallowing issues arise.

Besides treating symptoms, there are a few other things that you can do to make a patient more comfortable, such as using a toilet with handles or having an easy to read clock and calendar.

There is still an ongoing research for a cure, and the research world hopes to find a cure or a prevention of the development of the disease altogether.