| In looking for tomorrow with the mind of | | | | from 100, becomes moody or withdrawn and |
| yesterday, we will continue part two with a look | | | | forgets recent events. |
| into "how do you find out it is Alzheimer's?" | | | | Stage five brings forth gaps in memory and |
| People with a memory loss or any of the other | | | | thinking and the patient will need help in managing |
| warning signs of AD generally find it hard to | | | | day to day activities. Bathing and dressing will |
| realize they have a problem and if they do | | | | become a problem, as they do not think they |
| recognize that they might, they resist it for as | | | | need to change their clothes. Patient will have no |
| long as they can. The warning signs may be | | | | problems with eating or using the bathroom and |
| totally visible to members of the family or friends, | | | | will still remember family and other significant |
| but convincing the person affected to see a | | | | details regarding family life. |
| doctor could be a tough job. | | | | Stage six is the beginning of moderately severe |
| Finding a doctor that is qualified and one that the | | | | changes. The patient will need help in order to |
| patient is comfortable with is not easy. A quick | | | | dress properly, will forget names of people |
| call to your local Alzheimer's Association should | | | | closest to them, can remember own name, but |
| actually be your first step. A patient's primary | | | | have trouble with their own personal history. May |
| doctor could also be a step in the right direction | | | | have trouble controlling their bladder or bowels |
| as he/she may know a specialist that deals in one | | | | and become more suspicious of people around |
| or more of the following fields: | | | | them. Some will begin a compulsive behavior such |
| Neurologist - a person who specializes in diseases | | | | as shredding tissues, hand wringing and having a |
| of the brain | | | | need to blow one's nose constantly. They may if |
| Psychiatrist - a person who specializes in disorders | | | | able to begin to wander and get lost. |
| that affect mood or the way the mind works | | | | Stage seven is the late stage of this disease. At |
| Psychologist - a person who has specialized | | | | this stage the patient will need help with much of |
| training in memory testing and other memory | | | | their personal care, will lose the ability to respond |
| function | | | | to the environment around them, carrying on a |
| There is no one test that shows and/or proves | | | | conversation is difficult. It is possible that they |
| that a person has Alzheimer's. | | | | may lose muscle control, swallowing may be |
| Diagnosing should include some of the following: | | | | impaired and the ability to sit without support is |
| Documentation of the kinds of symptoms the | | | | not possible. |
| person is having, along with when they began, | | | | There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease |
| how often they happen and if they have become | | | | and there is no way to stop the underlying death |
| worse. | | | | of the brain cells. However, there are drugs and |
| A review of the person's medical history, list of | | | | non-drug treatments that may help with both the |
| medications, a brief history of family members if | | | | cognitive and behavioral conditions. |
| possible and whether or not they have had AD. | | | | What can be done to help the situation? |
| The doctor should also do some memory testing, | | | | Keep things simple around the house - remove |
| which should include asking if the person is aware | | | | clutter, keep noise to a minimum and reduce glare |
| they are having problems. The doctor will also ask | | | | of bright lights |
| the person if they are aware of the date and | | | | Develop regular routines and rituals - soothing |
| time and where he/she is, along with giving them | | | | music and light touching helps |
| a short list of items to see if they can remember | | | | Provide if possible some exercise or other simple |
| words, and do simple math. | | | | activities |
| The doctor may also ask the patient to draw a | | | | Be sensitive to the frustration the person is |
| simple picture or to spell a simple word | | | | having in communicating with you and getting their |
| backwards. This is all done to determine the | | | | ideas across |
| degree of confusion that is present. | | | | Be aware of their personal comfort needs, are |
| The doctor will also evaluate the diet and nutrition, | | | | they warm or cool enough, are they hungry or |
| as both are key factors in some cases of | | | | thirsty |
| memory loss, along with possible vitamin | | | | Do not argue if at all possible, redirect their |
| deficiencies. | | | | attention to other things |
| A general check up of heart, blood pressure and | | | | Ask only yes or no questions - do not look for |
| other health procedures should be expected. | | | | long answers |
| Reflexes will be tested, along with coordination, | | | | Allow them to rest and keep activity or visits |
| muscle tone and strength, eye movement, | | | | from family and friends to short visits |
| speech and sensations. | | | | Use safety locks and gates for safety reasons |
| The doctor is looking for signs of small or large | | | | Remove any guns or other articles that could |
| strokes or possible Parkinson's disease. MRI's may | | | | cause harm to them or you |
| also be required to study the brain structure for | | | | Practice patience and tolerance - be kind to |
| signs of tumors or any head injuries. | | | | yourself |
| Once a diagnosis is made there are other things | | | | When Dr. Alzheimer first described the disease in |
| to consider. First ask the doctor if he/she is willing | | | | 1906, the average age a person here in the |
| or experienced enough to follow through with the | | | | United States lived to was about 50 years old. |
| forthcoming care. AD is a life changing disease not | | | | Very few people lived beyond that age and as a |
| only for the person diagnosed, but for the | | | | result this disease was considered rare and almost |
| caregivers and others close to them. | | | | unheard of. Scientists had little or no interest in |
| Anyone connected with a person with AD needs | | | | elderly mental health problems, as we were not |
| to know that even though there is not any cure | | | | living long enough to be of interest to them. |
| at this point, there are treatments that will help. | | | | There are new directions and new treatments in |
| Other things to consider are the need to provide | | | | the offing. Science is working on finding an end to |
| higher levels of care as the disease progresses, | | | | this disruptive disease. One promising target is |
| consider your options. You need to begin making | | | | beta-amyloid; this protein fragment builds up into |
| legal and financial plans while the person, who has | | | | the plaques considered one hallmark of the |
| been diagnosed can still participate in the planning. | | | | disease. Researchers have found several ways to |
| Decide if a "power of attorney" should be drawn | | | | clear up beta-amyloid from the brain or to |
| up and who should handle the financial and medical | | | | prevent it from forming. The first experimental |
| care on the behalf of the person with AD. You | | | | drugs are being tested now. |
| need also to provide for the safety of the | | | | Worldwide people are working on new approaches |
| person. | | | | and remedies. However, most scientists say one |
| What are the stages of Alzheimer's? | | | | of the strongest links to good brain health is good |
| Stage one is simply the person does not show | | | | heart health. The brain is nourished by your body's |
| any stages of impairment. There might be some | | | | network of blood vessels, which your heart |
| memory lapses, but not any more than a normal | | | | supplies, so it is important to keep your weight, |
| person might have. | | | | blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar within |
| Stage two will enter the picture with memory | | | | the recommended guidelines. Eat a low-fat diet |
| lapses; occasional forgetting of words, but the | | | | rich in fruits and vegetables, exercise daily and |
| medical profession does not see any radical | | | | stay mentally and socially active, by doing this you |
| changes. | | | | may help protect your brain and by encouraging |
| Stage three will show mild cognitive decline. Family | | | | your friends and relatives to follow suit you may |
| and friends notice the difficulties and doctors may | | | | be helping to protect them from this disease. |
| be able to detect a problem in memory or | | | | This is a disease that will try the patience of a |
| concentration, | | | | saint, the caregiver, in may ways is the one who |
| Stage three will also begin to show trouble | | | | suffers most as they have the pain of |
| remembering names, some trouble in doing | | | | remembering what once was. The person |
| normal tasks, forgetting what one has just read, | | | | suffering for the most part lives. in a world of |
| misplacing things and having trouble planning a | | | | their own and though it maybe frustrating for |
| day's activities. | | | | them at times, basically it is a fairly peaceful |
| Stage four begins the point when the medical | | | | world. The hard job is for us to remember that |
| profession can begin to find clear-cut problems. | | | | they cannot remember and not to force issues |
| The patient will begin to forget about their own | | | | upon them. |
| personal history, not be able to count backwards | | | | |