Alzheimer's disease
Kinds of Neurological Disorders
Alzheimer's disease attacks the brain; it is not a normal part of aging. People with AD have a gradual memory loss and difficulties with language and emotions. The progressive loss of intellectual abilities is termed dementia. As the disease advances, the person may need help in all aspects of life: bathing, eating, and using the restroom. Because of this round-the-clock care, families and friends of people with AD are greatly affected. The disease is irreversible and there is currently no cure.
Alzheimer's disease affects men and women about equally, and strikes all ethnic groups.
Alzheimer's disease ranks fourth in the cause of death among adults. About 100,000 people die per year as a result of AD.
Symptoms
- Memory loss especially of recent events and newly acquired information
- Communication problems
- Personality changes
- Erratic behavior
- Dependence and loss of control over bodily functions
- Dementia
- Poor judgement
- Depression
- Taking longer time for usual tasks
Prevention
As one gets old:
- One should try to stay active, both mentally and physically.
- Challenge your mind.
- Remember people's names.
- Work crossword puzzles.
- Do maths.
- Read.
- Learn new words.
- Play chess.
- Eating a diet that is high in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and that is low in sugar and fat.
- Switching from animal based oils and vegetable oil to extra virgin olive oil may also be a good habit to adopt.
Coping up with Alzheimer(for caregivers)
In most cases, the primary caregiver of a person with Alzheimer’s disease will be a loved one, a spouse, adult child or close companion. Caregiving is an extremely demanding, 24-hour-a-day task. Caregivers need to be flexible and understanding in dealing with changes in their loved one’s behavior and personality. They must also be able to communicate with family, friends and professionals about his or her condition.
Spouses who are caregivers are likely to be strongly affected by a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, as they process the profound changes their future holds. Many times spouses have their own health problems. Further, husbands and wives often are required to reverse roles and take on unfamiliar tasks. Finally, spouses need to accept that the person they have known and loved may change dramatically in personality and behavior, and there will almost without a doubt come a time when their loved one does not recognize them.
Adult children who are caregivers also need to adjust to the role reversal in caring for their parent. They may feel overwhelmed by the other responsibilities in their lives such as working within or outside the home and caring for their own children.
This is the time to begin to accept the future, build a support network, gather information to help alleviate fears and plan for the road ahead. Family members who do not live nearby should support the main caregiver and try to help with tasks that do not require them to be nearby.
Caregivers need to give themselves permission to be human. Caregivers are susceptible to exhaustion, illness and depression. To avoid this, caregivers first need to recognize the signs of stress. Some warning signs include feelings of denial, depression, irritability, anger and anxiety, as well as physical signs such as trouble sleeping, exhaustion and health problems. It is all right to:
BE ANGRY. Turn this energy into positive action. Clean a closet, take a walk, or talk with someone.
BE FRUSTRATED. Stop what you are doing, take a deep breath, and begin a different activity.
TAKE TIME OUT. Sit in a favorite chair in a quiet room, take a trip to the market, spend a few hours out with friends.
ASK FOR HELP. Explore family, friends, and local agencies for resource services.
RECOGNIZE YOUR LIMITS. You are a valuable person. Take care of yourself, too!
MAKE MISTAKES. Because no one is perfect, and they help you learn.
GRIEVE. It is normal to be sad over the loss of the way things used to be.
LAUGH AND LOVE. Now more than ever it’s important to have meaningful connections.
HOPE. Tomorrow, the day may go smoother, a friend may call, and new treatments may be found.
Everyday life
- If you're still working, explore potential work options such as a reassignment to a more manageable position or early retirement.
- Continue participating in your favorite and regular activities as long as you can, and as long as you still enjoy them.
- Do the difficult tasks at times of the day when you feel your best and most alert.
- Allow yourself plenty of time to complete the tasks. If a task becomes too difficult then never hesitate to take a break or ask for help.
- Organize your belongings so that things are easy to find.
- Put labels on drawers and doors can be helpful for finding things.
- Keep a written schedule handy to keep track of appointments, tasks, and medicines.
- Take adequate rest and do proper exercises.
