Alzheimer's Disease is the most common kind of dementia. Sadly, it worsens as it progresses and there is no known cure. It is estimated that 5.1 million Americans may currently be living with the disease.
The first symptoms often appear when the person is about sixty years old. The symptoms initially are: an inability to remember recent events, confusion, irritability, aggression, mood swings and difficulties with their reasoning abilities. The first warning signs are cognitive loss, however, not everyone with memory problems, or any of the other symptoms, will necessarily have Alzheimer's Disease. Long-term memory loss will also be affected as well as difficulties with word finding and visual/spatial issues. These will indicate the early stages of the disease.
When Alzheimer's is in the moderate stage, memory loss and confusion will become worse and sufferers may even have difficulty recognizing their family and friends. They may have problems getting themselves dressed or have hallucinations and behave impulsively.
In the final stage, brain tissue will have shrunk considerably and eventually their bodily functions will be lost as well. Those with the disease will lose their ability to carry on a conversation or to be able to respond to their environment. They will be completely dependent upon others for their care, likely spending most of their time in bed and their body will eventually begin to shut down.
Alzheimer's Disease can progress without being diagnosed for years. There are no known treatments that will stop or reverse the progression of this terrible disease. Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease and one of the most costly diseases for society. It accounts for fifty to eighty percent of all dementia cases.
It is not considered to be a normal part of aging although the risk does increase with age. Although there is as yet, no cure, research is ongoing. It is thought that the disease progresses over two to twenty-five years with most patients experiencing symptoms in the eight to fifteen year range of the illness.
Most sufferers of Alzheimer's don't usually die from it but rather from their inability to be able to swallow or from pneumonia symptoms. Each sufferer's ability to cope with the disease will depend upon the severity of it and on their own personalities. Such symptoms as depression, paranoia or delusions, as well as some of the other symptoms, can be treated and alleviated in some way, at least until the final stage.
Alzheimer's Disease is dreaded by everyone. Some believe, but don't know for sure, that keeping your brain active, maintaining a physical lifestyle, eating a healthy diet and by keeping involved in activities, may ward off the onset of Alzheimer's. At any rate, it certainly can't hurt.
Sylvia Behnish has published 'Rollercoaster Ride With Brain Injury (For Loved Ones)', a non-fiction book detailing the difficult year following a brain injury; 'His Sins', a three generation family saga about how the actions of one person can affect future generations, and 'Life's Challenges, A Short Story Collection'.
She has also written numerous articles for newspapers, magazines and online on subjects relating to brain injuries, family issues and motivational topics.
For more information on both traumatic brain injuries and acquired brain injuries as well as brain health go to: http://www.progressofabraininjury.blogspot.com
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