“We remember their love when they can no longer remember.” (Jureifa Halim)
Alzheimer’s disease is named after Dr. Alois
Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue of a
woman who had died of an unusual mental illness. Her symptoms included memory
loss, language problems, and unpredictable behavior.
After she died, he examined her brain and
found many abnormal clumps (now called amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of
fibers (now called neurofibrillary or tau tangles). When the topic of Alzheimer’s
disease comes up, many seniors fear memory loss. It’s scary to think about not
having all the memories (both good and bad) that you’ve collected over a
lifetime.
Age is the single most significant factor
with this disease. The likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease doubles
every 5 years after someone reaches 65. Around 1 in 20 people
with the condition are under 65. This is called early-onset Alzheimer's
disease, which can affect people as early as the age of 40. The genes you
inherit from your parents can also contribute to your risk of developing
Alzheimer's disease. Here are some tips for an older adult to maintaining a
better functioning memory:
Eat well and drink plenty of fluids-To help maintain
your memory, eat foods that contain omega-3s that help brain health. You will
also want to eat fruits and vegetables and limit saturated fats. Drinking 64
ounces of fluid daily is critical because dehydration can cause memory loss.
Exercise regularly-Not only is exercise
good for your body, it is good for your brain, too, because it allows your
brain to get more oxygen and reduces stress.
Get help if you are depressed-Depression can take
its toll on the brain, and can actually lead to memory issues. With treatment,
these issues often go away.
Get plenty of rest-Getting on a regular
sleep schedule of 7-9 hours of sleep to
help your brain. Your memory is consolidated and memory-enhancing activities
happen during sleep.
Limit your alcohol intake-Your brain cells are
killed by alcohol. So, limit consumption to help maintain your cells and
memory.
Minimize your use of medications-Some medications can inhibit your memory and
thinking. So, prior to getting on a new medication, talk to your doctor about
the effects.
There are 10 warning signs and symptoms that
you could have Alzheimer’s disease. If you notice any of them, don't ignore
them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor:
1.
Challenges in planning or solving problems: Some people living
with dementia 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 a typical age-related change: Making occasional
errors when managing finances or household bills.
2.
Changes in mood and personality: Individuals living with Alzheimer’s
may experience mood and personality changes. They can become confused,
suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home,
with friends or when out of their comfort zone. What's a typical age-related change: Developing very
specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is
disrupted.
3.
Confusion with time or place: People living with Alzheimer's can lose
track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding
something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where
they are or how they got there. What's a typical age-related change: Getting confused
about the day of the week but figuring it out later.
4.
Decreased or poor judgment: Individuals may experience changes in
judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when
dealing with money or pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves
clean. What's a
typical age-related change: Making a bad decision or mistake once in a while, like
neglecting to change the oil in the car.
5.
Difficulty completing familiar tasks: People with
Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes they may have
trouble driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list or
remembering the rules of a favorite game. What's a typical age-related change: Occasionally
needing help to use microwave settings or to record a TV show.
6.
Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps: A person living
with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things
and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. He or she may
accuse others of stealing, especially as the disease progresses. What's a typical age-related
change:
Misplacing things from time to time and retracing steps to find them.
7.
New problems with words in speaking or writing: People living with
Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop
in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may
repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have trouble naming a
familiar object or use the wrong name (calling a "watch" a
"hand-clock"). What's
a typical age-related change: Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
8.
Memory loss that disrupts daily life: One of the most
common signs of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the early stage, is
forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important
dates or events, asking for the same questions over and over, and increasingly
needing to rely on memory aids (reminder notes or electronic devices) or family
members for things they used to handle on their own. What's a typical age-related
change:
Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.
9.
Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships: For some people,
having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. This may lead to difficulty
with balance or trouble reading. They may also have problems judging distance
and determining color or contrast, causing issues with driving. What's a typical age-related
change:
Vision changes related to cataracts.
10.
Withdrawal from work or social activities: A person living
with Alzheimer’s disease may experience changes in the ability to hold or
follow a conversation. As a result, he or she may withdraw from hobbies, social
activities or other engagements. They may have trouble keeping up with a
favorite team or activity. What's a typical age-related change: Sometimes feeling uninterested in family or
social obligations.
“The thing about
Alzheimer’s is that it's sort of like all these little, small deaths along the
way before they actually physically die.” (Lucinda Williams, musician and daughter of
Alzheimer’s parent)[i]
[i] Adapted from:
· “Alzheimer's disease: Causes” by NHS
· “Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet” by
NIH
· “Memory Loss & 10 Early Signs of
Alzheimer’s” by alz.org
· “Tips for seniors to Prevent Memory
Loss” by McGregor PACE
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| Alzheimer protein responsible for this disease |
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