MENTAL HEALTH EXPLAINED

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Sunday, August 17, 2008

Alzheimer's Disease

Introduction
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, which causes thinking and memory to become seriously impaired. It is the most common form of dementia. (Dementia is a syndrome consisting of a number of symptoms that include loss of memory, judgment and reasoning, and changes in mood, behaviour and communication abilities. Related diseases include: Vascular Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Lewy body Dementia.)

The disease was first identified by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in 1906. He described the two hallmarks of the disease: "plaques" - numerous tiny dense deposits scattered throughout the brain which become toxic to brain cells at excessive levels and "tangles" which interfere with vital processes eventually "choking" off the living cells. As well, when brain cells degenerate and die, the brain markedly shrinks in some regions.






The image below shows, a person with Alzheimer's disease has less brain tissue (right) than a person who does not have the disease (left). This shrinkage will continue over time, affecting how the brain functions.

As Alzheimer’s disease progresses and affects different areas of the brain, various abilities become impaired. The result is changes in abilities and/or behaviour. At present, once an ability is lost, it is not known to return. However, research is now suggesting that some relearning may be possible.





















   
 


Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease. Symptoms
include loss of memory, difficulty with day-to-day tasks,
and changes in mood and behaviour. People may think
these symptoms are part of normal aging but they aren't.
It is important to see a doctor when you notice any
of these symptoms as they may be due to other conditions
such as depression, drug interactions or an infection.
If the diagnosis is Alzheimer's disease, your local
Alzheimer Society

can help.


To
help you know what warning signs to look for, the Alzheimer
Society has developed the following list:




  1. Memory loss that affects day-to-day function

    It's normal to occasionally forget appointments, colleagues'
    names or a friend's phone number and remember them later.
    A person with Alzheimer's disease may forget things more
    often and not remember them later, especially things that
    have happened more recently.


  2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks

    Busy people can be so distracted from time to time that
    they may leave the carrots on the stove and only remember
    to serve them at the end of a meal. A person with Alzheimer's disease may have trouble with tasks that have been familiar
    to them all their lives, such as preparing a meal.

  3. Problems
    with language


    Everyone has trouble finding the right word sometimes,
    but a person with Alzheimer's disease may forget simple
    words or substitute words, making her sentences difficult
    to understand.

  4. Disorientation
    of time and place


    It's normal to forget the day of the week or your destination
    -- for a moment. But a person with Alzheimer's disease can
    become lost on their own street, not knowing how they
    got there or how to get home.

  5. Poor
    or decreased judgment


    People may sometimes put off going to a doctor if they
    have an infection, but eventually seek medical attention.
    A person with Alzheimer's disease may have decreased judgment,
    for example not recognizing a medical problem that needs
    attention or wearing heavy clothing on a hot day.

  6. Problems
    with abstract thinking


    From time to time, people may have difficulty with tasks
    that require abstract thinking, such as balancing a cheque
    book. Someone with Alzheimer's disease may have significant
    difficulties with such tasks, for example not recognizing
    what the numbers in the cheque book mean.

  7. Misplacing
    things







    Anyone can temporarily misplace a wallet or keys. A person
    with Alzheimer's disease may put things in inappropriate
    places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the
    sugar bowl.

  8. Changes
    in mood and behaviour


    Everyone becomes sad or moody from time to time. Someone
    with Alzheimer's disease can exhibit varied mood swings
    -- from calm to tears to anger -- for no apparent reason.

  9. Changes
    in personality


    People's personalities can change somewhat with age. But
    a person with Alzheimer's disease can become confused, suspicious
    or withdrawn. Changes may also include apathy, fearfulness
    or acting out of character.

  10. Loss
    of initiative


    It's normal to tire of housework, business activities
    or social obligations, but most people regain their initiative.
    A person with Alzheimer's disease may become very passive,
    and require cues and prompting to become involved.



1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Some great info here. Thanks.

www.alzheimersteam.com